《Spatial Farm Life: Raising My Kid, Abusing Scum, and Keeping Busy With Life》


 Chapter 1: Mother Will Always Be With You

    <h4>Chapter 1: Mother Will Always Be With You</h4>


    A beam of moonlight shone through the broken window onto a woman''s pale face.


    The woman leaned sideways and looked weakly at the dying baby in her arms.


    "Child, Mother can''t hold on anymore. Mother has let you down. I couldn''t make sure you had a full-term birth. It looks like you can''t make it much longer too. Mother will leave first. I will wait for you on the road to theherworld. Don''t be afraid. Mother will always be with you."


    She used all her strength to lean over and pecked the baby''s forehead with her lips. The corners of her mouth curled into a smile, filled with endless longing. She closed her eyes and lowered her arms. Her head rested on the hay, and tears flowed from the corner of her eyes.


    Her chest stopped heaving, and her pale face instantly turned ashen.


    The baby seemed to have sensed something and let out a low cry as if he was trying his best to wake his mother up so that the people outside could hear him and save them. Unfortunately, there was no movement.


    Perhaps due to the baby''s cries, the woman''s chest heaved up and down. Her face reddened, but it was still pale.


    She slowly opened her eyes. She was confused for only a moment, but her gaze immediately became calm, steady, and wise.


    Her body remained in its original state, and her eyes looked around quietly with an unfamiliar gaze.


    The Host was already dead. It was a fact. Then, who was this woman?


    She was the top student in a famous school in the 21st century. She was cute on the surface but a really tough woman on the inside.


    She was also an outstanding agent of a certain organization!


    It was nighttime, and this was a woodshed! At this moment, she was lying on a thickyer of straw. The night temperature was about ten degrees Celsius, but there was only a thin nket on her.


    Her body was weak, she was starving, and her lower body felt ufortable. What was this?


    Just as her gaze was about to shift to the baby in her arms, she felt a headache.


    She closed her eyes tightly and bit her lips without making a sound. After a long time, she opened her eyes and revealed an incredulous expression.


    Her gaze slowly shifted to the swaddling clothes. Under the moonlight, she saw a baby. His whole body was red, and his skin was wrinkled. He was small, thin, and dry. His breathing was weak, and he looked like he was about to die.


    She didn''t overthink it and closed her eyes subconsciously. However, she didn''t get the result she wanted.


    An annoyed expression appeared on her face. She had almost forgotten that she had transmigrated now. She was no longer a top student from a famous university, nor was she a soft and cute girl as everyone said, nor a special agent from an organization.


    Speaking of which, it was a little funny. After a mission, she came back just in time for the university''s graduation exam. After taking a subject, she was tired, so shey on the table and napped. Then, she inexplicably came here.


    She didn''t have the time to think about the original owner of her body, nor did she have the time to think about anything else. The most important thing at the moment was to save this child. It was such a cold night, and they were sleeping in the woodshed. With their current physical conditions, it was really dangerous.


    She used to have an interspatial ring on her left ring finger. That was why she wanted to bring her child into that space out of habit.


    She raised her left hand under the moonlight and stared at her ck, dirty, and wrinkled hand that looked like a chicken w.


    She shifted her gaze to her ring finger and confirmed that there was no ring. She was unwilling to give up and wished she could re a hole in her ring finger.


    What about the interspatial ring? Did she lose it through the transmigration?


    Without it, they were dead.


    Just as she was about to give up, she noticed a faint pattern on her dark fingers.


    At this moment, any mysophobia of hers was gone. She put her ring finger in front of her mouth and spat on it.


    Then, she rubbed her finger on the nket. The old coarse cloth was useful. In a few moments, her fingers, which looked like chicken ws, turned white.


    When she reached out her hand again and saw the familiar pattern, as if it was engraved on her finger, she grinned.


    Good, old friend, you''re still here. The heavens didn''t kill her.


    She gently kissed the pattern with her lips and thought of the scene when she activated it. Without hesitation, she opened her mouth and bit the finger.


    Blood gushed out and was absorbed by the patterns.


    The blood-sucking pattern shed. She knew that the ring had been activated.


    She quickly picked up the baby with both hands and appeared in her space with a thought.


    The space was about the size of an acre. There was a house in the middle, and the rest was filled withrge shelves. On them were all kinds of items, row by row, arranged neatly. These were her collections.


    Great, they''re all here. God, thank you for not cutting her off!


    Right now, she was relying on her willpower to support her body. This body was already an arrow at the end of its flight, and the child was the same.


    Inside the room was a bed, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, a desk, and all kinds of advanced weapons on the wall.


    She ignored everything and gently ced the baby in her arms on the bed. Then, she rummaged through the shelf.


    Milk powder, bowls, hot water, and small spoons. She quickly took them and immediately brewed arge bowl of milk, carrying it to the bed.


    She took a sip of the milk. It was neither hot nor cold, so she carefully scooped up a spoonful and gently brought it to the little fellow''s mouth.


    Tilting it, she slowly poured it into his slightly open mouth.


    She heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the baby swallow. She was afraid that the premature baby could not swallow, so she fed him little by little.


    Newborn babies could not be fed too much. Seeing that it was enough, she drank the rest of the milk in the bowl in one gulp.


    The baby seemed to have fallen asleep, and his breathing was normal. She reached out to touch the little guy''s forehead, and his temperature was normal!


    The temperature of her space was suitable. She hoped that she could survive.


    After she was done with the baby, she thought of herself.


    She went to the shelf again and found some ready-to-eat food. She sat down on the spot, opened the packaging, and stuffed the food into her mouth desperately, not caring if her hands were dirty.


    This body was starving. If it weren''t for the fact that she had to take care of the child first, she would have copsed long ago.


    Fortunately, after feeding the child, she drank almost an entire bowl of milk, which gave her some strength to look for food.


    When she was half full, she slowed down and sorted out the memories in her brain as she ate.


    The original owner was Qiao Mai, and she married into the Tian family of Peach Blossom Vige. The Tian family had three sons and one daughter, and they were all married.


    Qiao Mai married the youngest son, Tian Sanzhuang. Not long after they got married, Tian Sanzhuang went to serve in the military. When he was around, Qiao Mai''s life was better.


    Once he left, Qiao Mai had to live a hellish life.


    She and Tian Sanzhuang had shared a room to sleep in, but ever since her husband left, she was forced to live in the woodshed by her mother-inw.


    The empty room was given to her eldest grandson, the eldest son of the first branch.


    Whether it was winter or summer, she only had that tattered nket to cover her with. She did not even have a pillow.


    She had to get up before dawn, feed the pigs and chickens, and clean the yard. She couldn''t eat at the table and could only squat in the yard to drink a bowl of rice or noodle soup.


    The rest of the time, she would chop firewood, cut grass, dig wild vegetables, and go to the fields. Fortunately, she did not have to do the kitchen work. Otherwise, she would be worked to death.


    It wasn''t that the Tian family was kind, but her mother-inw was afraid she would steal the food. Qiao Mai was treated worse than a servant in the Tian family.


    A month after Tian Sanzhuang left, she had morning sickness. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell she was pregnant, but the Tian family pretended not to see it and continued to order her around as usual.


    They made her work and also scolded her for no reason, saying that the child in her stomach was a bastard and not Tian Sanzhuang''s.


    In short, whenever they were angry, they would vent it on her and say whatever was unpleasant.


    To protect the child in her stomach, Qiao Mai kept quiet and just worked.

 Chapter 2: I Must Take Revenge

    <h4>Chapter 2: I Must Take Revenge</h4>


    When she starved, she would cut pigweed and dig wild vegetables to consume. In the winter, she would chew on wild vegetables she had secretly dried to satisfy her hunger.


    Her seven-month-old stomach was not even as big as a normal five-month-old stomach. She was severely malnourished.


    Because of her heavy body, she worked a little slowly. The Tian family scolded her, and her mother-inw pinched her from time to time. The bruises on her body were all their work.


    The reason why she gave birth prematurely was because she was exhausted. She slept a little longer in the firewood room, which made her mother-inw unhappy.


    When her mother-inw saw that she did not want to get up, she came over and kicked her in the stomach, causing her to give birth prematurely.


    The Tian family didn''t even hire a midwife. She was the one who had gritted her teeth in the woodshed and gave birth to the child.


    Fortunately, there was no significant bleeding, and the child was still alive. She used her teeth to bite off the umbilical cord and tie it up. She removed the inneryer of her nket and used it as a swaddling cloth for the baby.


    No one cared about her. It had been three days, and she hadn''t drunk a single drop of water or eaten a single grain of food. They were asking her and her child to die.


    She cried while holding the child. She wanted to carry it back to her parent''s home secretly, but when she thought of what her parents had said to her, she gave up.


    That home was not worth going back.


    Her family was too poor, and she was often scolded for being a good-for-nothing. The only reason she could marry into the Tian family was because Tian Sanzhuang had used a hundred catties of wheat in exchange for Qiao Mai, this cheap daughter-inw.


    Ever since she got married, her family had never visited her once. She remembered that when she got married, her parents said she would not be allowed to visit home after three days and that she does not have to return home in the future.


    Since they had already said that, why would she still go back? Even if she died, she would die in her inws'' house.


    Qiao Mai died after giving birth, and because of long-term hunger, she didn''t survive.


    After sorting out all her memories, she took a deep breath. She was a little sad about the original owner''s encounter.


    Swallowing a mouthful of bread, shey down on the ground and looked up at the sky.


    "From now on, I will be you, Qiao Mai. Take care of yourself on the road to hell. I will work hard to keep your child alive. I will raise her well until she grows up. Although you have resigned to fate and did not leave with hatred, I am not to be trifled with. Take it as my repayment for using your body to be reborn!"


    She was full but couldn''t sleep even though she wanted to. She used her mind to look at the sky outside. She knew there was a tough battle to fight.


    She had to grit her teeth and endure the soreness, weakness, and difort in her lower body.


    She got up and returned to the house, stood in front of the dressing area, and looked at herself.


    Qiao Mai was less than 1.6 meters tall. Her hair was dry and messy like grass. Even though the hardships of life tortured her, her thin and sallow face could not hide her youthfulness.


    She even suspected that these ancient people were blind. Those scumbags had the audacity!


    Her father actually allowed his daughter to get married just like that? He let another man torture his own daughter.


    She nced at Qiao Mai in the mirror and secretly made up her mind. After settling the Tian family, she would definitely take good care of this body. There was still time.


    Then, she looked at her body. Her clothes were not even as good as the ones worn by the beggars outside. Other than not revealing her body, it was patched in various colors. Could this be the legendary Hundred Color Clothes?


    In her memory, the cloth was given to her by the original owner''s mother-inw. Her eldest grandson was studying in a private school in town and will take an examination in the future. No matter how she tormented the original owner, she could not let her expose her body, let alone affect her eldest grandson''s reputation.


    Her mother-inw had watched her patch up these holes. After she was done, she took away the needle and thread.


    Looking down, the area between her legs seemed to...?


    She didn''t need to guess. She could smell it. It was the blood and amniotic fluid left on her clothes duringbor. After a few days, it had been warmed dry.


    But why couldn''t she feel any remnantsing out of her lower body?


    Thinking about it, it made sense. She was as thin as a bamboo pole and gave birth prematurely. She had not drunk a mouthful of water or consumed food for three days. Where would the remnantse from?


    When she wanted to shift her gaze to the shoes, she inadvertently nced at the stains again.


    Hmm? Why did she feel that the stain was slowly disappearing?


    Could it be that this space had experienced transmigration and could purify? Mutated?


    Qiao Mai stared at it for a long time before she confirmed that her space did have a cleaning function. The blood stain on her pants was removed bit by bit.


    It seemed like the white spots on her hair were also gradually decreasing. She hurriedly returned to the ce where she had eaten just now. She remembered she had thrown the food packets on the ground.


    Why did it disappear? As she thought about it, Qiao Mai giggled.


    In the past, she was too busy and only used the space to avoid danger and store items. She never had the time to study it.


    Now, she didn''t have to go to sses or missions. She had all the time in the world to explore it.


    With this function, would she not need to wash her clothes?


    She raised her hand and looked at it. It seemed that her hand was purified as well.


    Oh, she couldn''t be too clean now. She had to be like before. That damned old woman was about to wake up.


    Qiao Mai returned to the bed and saw the child sleeping soundly. She opened the swaddling cloth to see if she had peed.


    "Oh, that''s great. It''s a little princess. Little Baby, I''ll be your mother in the future. Mother will protect you well, but you have to suffer a little now."


    She wrapped the child up and carried her out of the space. At this time, the old madam of the Tian family had already walked out of the upper room.


    She hadn''t called Qiao Mai for a few days, so she started to knock on the doors as soon as she got up.


    "Get up, get up! The sun is already up. What a group ofzy women. Hurry up and get to work."


    Qiao Mai held the child and brewed her emotions. She imitated the Host and walked out of the woodshed unsteadily. Her eyes were lifeless, and she did not look at Old Madam Tian. She walked straight to the courtyard door.


    The old woman''s surname was Li, and her household register was Madam Tian Li.


    When she saw Qiao Maie out, she was delighted, but she pulled a long face as if the Host owed her a lot of money.


    "If you''re up, go back to work. You''ve already rested for three days. Don''t be unsatisfied. Our family doesn''t raise people who eat for free." As she spoke, she even rolled her eyes at Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai turned around and stared at Madam Tian Li. Her gaze looked like she wanted to swallow her alive. Although Madam Tian Li was a little afraid, she had a ferocious look.


    "What are you looking at? Don''t think you''ll be meritorious just because you gave birth to a child. We still don''t know if it''s Sanzhuang''s child. If you dare to cheat with someone outside, I''ll beat you to death. Hmph!"


    "She''s dead. I''ll go bury her!"


    Qiao Mai''s voice was as cold as winter, causing Madam Tian Li to be stunned. She immediately ced her hand next to her nose and fanned it.


    "Looking at your unlucky face, I knew you wouldn''t recover. If it''s dead, then so be it. You should bury it further away. How unlucky. Someone died in my house! If I had known earlier, I would have chased you out yesterday. Hurry up and go so that you cane back to work."


    Qiao Mai lowered her eyelids and hid the killing intent in her eyes. She turned around and carried the child out of the Tian family.


    She looked up and saw Peach Blossom Vige. There were about ten families and hundreds of people in the gray adobe houses. She had the memories of the Host and walked along the vige road to the end.


    She met many vigers who came out to fetch water in the morning. They looked at Qiao Mai with sympathy in their eyes.


    Someone asked when he saw she was holding something in her arms.


    "Sanzhuang''s wife, what''s that in your arms?"


    Qiao Mai''s eyes reddened. Then, she sniffled and wiped her eyes as she replied with a choked voice.


    "It''s my daughter, who was born prematurely."


    Everyone was stunned. "Prematurebor?" Looking at her stomach, it was t.


    "How did you give birth prematurely?"


    "Three days ago, I was too tired and slept a little longer in the morning. Mother kicked me in the stomach. Then, it was gone."

 Chapter 3: I Can’t Survive Anymore

    <h4>Chapter 3: I Can''t Survive Anymore</h4>


    The original owner definitely wouldn''t say it. She wouldn''t say a word even if it rotted in her stomach.


    However, since she was here, she could not be a saint. She had to let the entire vige know about the Tian family''s torture of the original owner. Those gossipy women would spread it loud and clear.


    "What is it? Your mother-inw kicked you into prematurebor?"


    "My child, dead! Sob sob sob!"


    "Oh dear, how pitiful."


    "I''ll go bury her and head back to work. Mother is still waiting at home, but I haven''t eaten or drunk anything for three days. I can''t work anymore. Mother will scold me and beat me. I beg you, can you give me something to eat or drink? Please!"


    Qiao Mai entered a tragic scene. She looked at everyone pitifully. When she mentioned food, the vigers quickly lowered their heads and busied themselves with their work. The reason why they asked her just now was not because they cared about her but because they wanted to gossip.


    Qiao Mai turned around in disappointment, her eyes cold. It was said that farmers were generous, but they were unwilling to give up a little food.


    For people like this, she would not even lift her eyelids when they die in the future.


    She absentmindedly carried her child and walked towards the end of the vige, ignoring those people.


    The vigers whispered to each other behind her. "Tsk tsk, the Tian family''s madam really knows how to torture her."


    "Isn''t it because this daughter-inw''s family doesn''t care? She didn''t even have a dowry when she got married."


    "That''s equivalent to selling her to the Tian family. I heard it''s dirt cheap, only 100 catties of wheat."


    "So little? Then what was the point of dowry? The betrothal gifts given by the Tian family were so little. Others usually give five or six taels of silver!"


    "Hmph, in any case, the Tian family wouldn''t dare to bully the other two daughters-inw. They have several brothers, and their family background is powerful."


    Qiao Mai walked in front and listened to their conversation. She snorted coldly. The Qiao family also had two men, but she had never seen them stand up for her.


    When she came to a piece of barrennd, she lifted her leg and walked in. She turned around and saw that no one was following her. Then, she shed into her space with the child in her arms.


    She will temporarily keep the baby in her space and told the public it died.


    She found a nket in the cab. It was loose and soft, and it would not harm the child''s skin. She did not have any children''s clothes at the moment, so she gave her this as a swaddling nket.


    She then found a few pieces of her own clothes and folded them for the baby to use as a pillow. She did not have diapers in her storage, so she tore a piece of cotton cloth and made more than ten diapers. She folded them neatly and ced them on the bedside table.


    Only then did she open the tattered swaddling cloth and move the baby onto the nket. At this moment, the baby woke up and let out a low cry.


    She quickly put a napkin under the baby''s butt and carefully wrapped it in the nket. She let her head rest on the pillow and turned to make milk powder.


    She made a big bowl of milk and finished it in one go after feeding the little fellow.


    She had no choice. She needed nutrition too!


    She checked again and found nothing abnormal. The baby slept well after eating. Only then did she heave a sigh of relief.


    After being born in seven and a half months, she did not drink any milk for three days and stayed in her mother''s arms. She had to admit that the baby was tough.


    Shey on the bed for a while with her child. She couldn''t rest yet because she still had things to do.


    An hourter, she got up from the bed and left the space alone.


    As soon as she left the wastnd, she entered the ''state.'' As an excellent agent, she had to be good at reaching out and also have good judgment. She had to adapt to various environments and excel in acting.


    Qiao Mai walked to the vige in a daze. At this time, the entire vige knew that Madam Tian Li had kicked her daughter-inw to the point of miscarriage.


    She then neglected her daughter-inw for three days. She did not allow her to drink water or eat. As soon as her daughter-inw woke up, she wanted her to work. Her heart was really too vicious.


    There were also mothers-inw in the vige that disliked their daughter-inw, but the Tian family was the only one to this extent. Moreover, there was a schr in their family. What she did was too much.


    Qiao Mai lowered her head and listened to the gossiping women at the gates of the various courtyards. She snorted coldly.


    ording to her memory, she arrived at the vige chief''s house. She did not go up the steps.


    "Chief, chief, are you there?"


    Her voice was low at first but slowly rose to a high pitch. In the end, it became a shout.


    Not only did she call the vige chief out, but Qiao Mai also called all the vigers over. When Qiao Mai saw the vige chief, she immediately knelt.


    "Chief, I can''t survive anymore. Please help me!"


    This frightened the vige chief. He didn''t know whether to help her up.


    "Sanzhuang''s wife, what''s wrong with you?"


    The vige chief was about forty years old. He looked ordinary, neither fat nor thin. He was of medium height and had always been lenient at vige matters.


    "Chief, I just want to ask you, is it allowed byw for a mother-inw to torture her daughter-inw?"


    The vige chief was stunned. He thought for a moment and said, "That''s not the case."


    "Chief, Qiao Mai wants to ask you, how many families in the world do mothers-inw deliberately kick their daughter-inw to miscarry?"


    The vige chief gulped. He knew Qiao Mai had been wronged, but he was also helpless. This was the Tian family''s matter. He was not rted to the Tian family. It was great if they listened to his advice. If they did not listen, there was nothing he could do.


    "Sanzhuang''s wife, this is your family''s matter. I am in a difficult position."


    "Chief, my mother-inw kicked me into prematurebor. It''s fine that they didn''t hire a midwife, but she didn''t give me any water or food for three days. The child is dead, and I forced myself to bury the child. But she wants me to go back to work immediately. She''s forcing me to death. I''m not a ve she bought. Please help me!"


    The vige chief was in a difficult position. "Sanzhuang''s wife, I know you''ve suffered, but this is your family matter. Since ancient times, which woman hasn''t suffered under the hands of her mother-inw?"


    "Chief, if thew states that a mother-inw can beat and kill a daughter-inw, I won''t say anything. However, there''s no such thing, so I must fight for my life. If you don''t care, I''ll go to the mayor. If the mayor doesn''t care, I''ll go to the sheriff and ask them to judge."


    When he heard Qiao Mai wanted toin to the mayor, the vige chief shivered in fright. He couldn''t let this matter blow up. He would be scolded if he couldn''t even settle such a trivial matter. If the mayor got angry, he would change the vige chief. He couldn''t lose the official position!


    At this time, the Tian family heard the news and rushed to the scene.


    Dozens of vigers surrounded the entrance of the vige chief''s house. Old Tian and his family finally squeezed into the front.


    Qiao Mai didn''t even bother to look at them and kept kowtowing to the vige chief.


    "I beg the chief to be kind and give me a way out. If this continues, I will only die. My poor child, you didn''t even open your eyes to see your mother before leaving."


    "Sanzhuang''s wife, what are you doing? I told you to bury a child. You didn''te home for so long and wanted toin to the vige chief. Hurry up and go home to work. If you can''t finish it, don''t even think about eating."


    Madam Tian Li had a sharp and mean face as she roared. She rushed forward and wanted to pull Qiao Mai away. Qiao Mai was so scared that she screamed.


    "Mother, don''t kick my stomach. Don''t kill my child. I beg you! Chief, save me. Mother is going to kill me!"


    At this point, the vige chief naturally could not ignore it. He shouted.


    "Madam Tian Li, are you crazy? You have to remember that your eldest grandson is still studying!"


    After being yelled at by the vige chief, Madam Tian Li''s anger was suppressed again and again.


    "B*tch, are you going back or not?"


    "No, I''m not going back. I wake up early and stay upte every day. I do the work of a family. I''m only given a mouthful of rice and noodle soup for every meal. You, Sister-inw, and Second Sister-inw scold me openly and secretly. You pinch me and poke me. I don''t want to go back. I''ll die if I go back!"

 Chapter 4: I Want to Live

    <h4>Chapter 4: I Want to Live</h4>


    Qiao Mai cried as she rolled her sleeves, revealing her bruised arms.


    "Chief, look. This is all from my mother-inw and sisters-inw."


    The vige chief didn''t dare to look at her directly as he was a man, but many vigers saw it.


    Qiao Mai was afraid they wouldn''t believe her, so she rolled up her pants again.


    "Look, this is all because of them. I don''t dare to go back to such a home. I beg the vige chief to give justice to this woman!"


    The Tian family didn''t expect Qiao Mai to do this. Usually, no matter how they bullied her, she wouldn''t even make a sound. Did she explode because she lost her child?


    The vige chief nced at Old Tian. "Brother Tian, your family is doing well. Why are you treating your Sanzhuang''s wife like this? She''s capable!"


    Old Tian''s face turned red. "We men never interfere in family matters. I don''t even know about this. Perhaps there''s some misunderstanding?"


    Madam Tian Li was so angry that she pointed at Qiao Mai. "What misunderstanding? She''s just a piece of trash. She was pregnant right after Sanzhuang left. That child definitely isn''t my Sanzhuang''s."


    Qiao Mai naturally wouldn''t let her nder her.


    "Mother, I was married to Sanzhuang for two months before he went to serve in the military. I got pregnant half a month after he left. No matter how you count the days, it''s still his child."


    "You keep saying that I cheated. Let me ask you, who am I cheating on? You tormented me until I''m only left with a handful of bones. Who dares to want me? I could scare people to death when I came out at night."


    "Today, everyone heard Mother said I was cheating. Mother, please tell me, who exactly did I cheat on? If you can''t tell me, I''ll report you to the mayor."


    "I''ll risk my life to sue you for framing me. Also, you tortured your daughter-inw and deliberately kicked my stomach, causing my child to be born prematurely."


    "It''s all your fault. You''re a murderer. Chief, if you don''t care, I''ll go to the mayor''s house. If not, I''ll go to the county government. I don''t believe it. Their family isn''t poor, and there''s even a schr. Why are they so vicious?"


    The vige chief was helpless. He looked at the Tian family. "What do you think we should do?"


    Old Tian gave Madam Tian Li a look, and Madam Tian Li gestured to her eldest daughter-inw and second daughter-inw a look. The three of them wanted to drag Qiao Mai back.


    "I''m not leaving. I''m not leaving! Chief, it''s unfair for you to be the vige chief. You don''t care about the lives of the people. Tian family, you''re vicious and merciless. You killed my child. If I don''t die, I''ll sue your family at the county government! Even if I die, I will haunt you to the end of the world!"


    Qiao Mai fought the three women with all her might. She didn''t touch the other women and only focused on Madam Tian Li. Qiao Mai grabbed her hair and pulled it fiercely, refusing to let go.


    It was so painful that Madam Tian Li could not help but scream, "Ah, you b * tch, let go, let go!"


    This time, the vige chief could no longer smooth things over. He shouted.


    "Madam Tian Li, stop! Everyone stop!"


    When Madam Tian Li and her daughters-inw heard that the vige chief was angry, they stopped. Qiao Mai also hurriedly let go of her hand.


    He walked up to Qiao Mai and said helplessly,


    "Madam Qiao, don''t make a fuss. As long as you don''t go to the town or the county office, you can do whatever you want. Uncle will decide for you."


    Old Tian went over and tugged at his sleeve. "Chief, this is against the rules."


    The vige chief red at him. "If you want to make this matter known to the entire town, you can continue. When the timees, it''s hard to say whether your grandson can continue studying."


    "I just don''t understand why your family is so ruthless and kept tormenting her. Did she offend your family or something? Can''t you just live a peaceful life? Why did you have to force her to her death?"


    "This is great now. She wants to leave and will sue you if you don''t let her. No matter what you say, it doesn''t matter. You have to know that you don''t have her ve contract. If you kill someone, you will be sued, regardless of whether she is your daughter-inw."


    Old Tian fell silent when he heard these words. He retreated to the side and no longer asked about this matter.


    The vige chief looked at Qiao Mai. "Tell me, what do you want?"


    "I don''t want to go back to the Tian family. I want to split up!"


    "What? Our parents are still alive, and Sanzhuang is serving in the military. How dare you talk about splitting up? You little slut, you want to split up because you want no one to care about you so you can continue cheating." Madam Tian Li was anxious when she heard this.


    "Do I need you to continue tormenting me to death?"


    "You jinx! If you continue to cause trouble, we''ll divorce you!"


    Qiao Mai cursed in her heart. After a big ruckus, they finally relented.


    "If you dare to divorce me, I''ll go to the county and sue you for killing my child. I''ll sue your entire family for being reincarnated from animals. You''re all demons!"


    "You, you!"


    Although the vigers were pointing fingers in secret, they did not criticize the Tian family in person.


    Even so, Old Tian couldn''t take it. The Tian family had to provide for a schr. They could be considered a family that cultivated and studied.


    If today''s matter were to be spread out, they would be shameless, but their eldest grandson still had to study!


    Even if Qiao Mai did not seed in suing them, the news of them abusing their pregnant daughter-inw and causing her to give birth prematurely would affect the vige. The vige chief would not let their family off, and it would be difficult to exin to his eldest grandson.


    If the teachers in his school heard this, as well as his ssmates and friends, how could he still stay there? His grandson was good at studying, and the Tian family was counting on him to bring glory to the family. They could not let this matter affect him.


    Thinking of this, he suppressed his anger and said, "Sanzhuang''s wife, it''s impossible for us to split up. What else do you want?"


    "Then write a letter to release me. I can''t stay in your house. I want to live."


    Old Tian gritted his teeth." You have to know that your maternal family won''t let you go back. If you leave the Tian family, you will die."


    "So what if I die? I''m begging outside. I don''t have to work, and people won''t beat or scold me. Good-hearted people will even give me a bite to eat. But at your house, you abused me and only gave me work without food."


    "And the vigers? Don''t even mention leftovers. If I didn''t eat wild vegetables and grassroots, I wouldn''t have lived until now. I must leave your Tian family! Leave this vige!"


    The vigers blushed at Qiao Mai''s words. Many of them lowered their heads. No family could say they couldn''t go on. They all had food reserves. They knew Qiao Mai didn''t have enough to eat every day and was as hungry as a bamboo pole, but they didn''t give her any help. Their conscience was a little...


    "Alright, I''ll give you the letter on behalf of Sanzhuang, but you have to promise me one thing."


    "Speak!"


    "After leaving this door, you can''t badmouth the Tian family in the future. Do you agree?"


    Qiao Mai thought they were really naive. Who didn''t know about this? How could those gossipy women not tell their rtives? Sooner orter, the news would spread.


    "Alright, I promise you. After I get the letter of release, I will keep my mouth shut."


    "Swear it!"


    "After the separation, as long as your family doesn''t find trouble with me, I, Qiao Mai, won''t say anything bad about the Tian family. Otherwise, I''ll die a horrible death."


    "Good! Remember what you said."


    Old Tian looked at the vige chief. "Can you ask your second son to write two letters of release? My grandson isn''t home."


    The vige chief looked at Qiao Mai. This girl was diligent and didn''t like to talk. If the Tian family didn''t torture her too harshly and caused her child to die, things wouldn''t have turned out like this.


    "Madam Qiao, you really don''t regret it?"


    "Haha, I even want to sing and dance for a few days to be able to leave the Tian family. I won''t regret it even if I die!"


    It seemed she was really determined to leave. The vige chief turned around and said to his second son behind him,


    "Son, go and write two letters of release."


    "Yes, Father!"


    The vige chief''s surname was Liu, and he had three sons and two daughters. The eldest son used an ox cart to pull the horses in the vige. The second son was a schr and happened to be on break today. The third son was learning craftsmanship from someone in town. His two daughters were not married yet. His family was leading the best life in the vige.


    Just as the vige chief''s son returned to his room to write the letter of release, Madam Tian Li pointed at Qiao Mai and cursed.


    "Pah, you''re a cursed jinx. You stinky slut. I was really blind. When I let Sanzhuang marry you, I wasted our food. B*tch, b*tch, b*tch!"

 Chapter 5: Dream On

    <h4>Chapter 5: Dream On</h4>


    "That''s right. If I knew your family was full of animals, I would never have entered your house. Your family is just trying to take advantage of me. They''re trying to take advantage of my family''sck of respect for me. Your family is providing for a child''s education. Money is tight. Don''t act like you''re unlucky. You only used 100 catties of wheat to marry me. It''s really worth it to obtain a worker."


    Qiao Mai replied unhurriedly. She was not afraid of Madam Tian Li at all. She was like a different person from before.


    Today, she would fight to the death with whoever dared to force her to a corner. At most, she would die again. She had never been afraid of the word death!


    "You b*tch, you''re not even worth a bag of wheat!"


    "Yes, I''m not worth it, but I know that for aborer like me, working in a rich family for a day would earn at least ten coins, and I could earn two to three hundred coins a month."


    "How much is your 100 catties of wheat? I worked for ten months at your house. I should earn at least two taels of silver. You guys eat rice and noodles, and I drink soup."


    "Just based on this point, I don''t owe your family anything, let alone you hitting and scolding me. Your family is not losing money but profiting. In the future, it''s better not to mention anything like betrothal gifts. Otherwise, people willugh their heads off."


    "You, you!"


    It was the first time Madam Tian Li saw Qiao Mai so sharp-tongued. She was so angry that she lowered her head and wanted to find someone to beat Qiao Mai up.


    The vige chief roared. It wasn''t that he wanted to protect Qiao Mai, but he was too angry.


    He, the vige chief, was here to uphold justice. Qiao Mai was soon to leave the Tian family, yet Madam Tian Li dared to treat the victim like this. She did not put him in her eyes at all.


    "Madam Tian Li, she''s not a servant you bought. Do you believe I''ll make you sit in prison? How insolent! Anyone who dares to torture their daughter-inw like her in the future, think about how your daughter-inw will torture you when you''re old and can''t move! Humph!"


    When the surrounding vigers heard this, their hearts could not help but tighten. That''s right. If they tortured their daughter-inw for a moment''s joy, they would suffer when they were old and unable to move.


    If their daughter-inw died, their reputation would be ruined. Not only would their children and grandchildren lose their mother, but they would also have to spend money to marry another one for their son.


    However, if a daughter-inw lived past her parents-inw''s torture, would she still want to serve them? Dream on!


    Who knows, one day, they might die from a handful of rat poison. To the outside world, she could say that they were old and did not make it through. After all, it was normal for one to die at this age. Who would suspect her? No one reported it to the authorities, and the matter would blow past.


    Everyone looked at Madame Tian with a bit of schadenfreude. She was not only torturing her youngest daughter-inw but also torturing her eldest and second daughter-inw. It was just that her methods were not as terrible.


    Her two daughters-inw had bad tempers. Who knows, there might really be such a day.


    Thinking of their own family, they wanted to restrain themselves when they returned, lest drugged when they turn old. The vige chief''s unintentional words made the daughters-inw in the vige have better lives.


    Qiao Mai didn''t care what the vigers said. In any case, if the Tian family dared to say anything to her, she would retort ten times fiercer.


    The Tian family looked at her with such vicious eyes, but so what? She had to leave the Tian family today.


    She could not stay in the vige either. The people in this vige were too cruel. They would not even bear to give her any leftover food. She did not want to deal with them, nor did she have an excuse to use this body to turn the tides here.


    The only thing she could do was to leave, so she nced at the vigers. She still had to put on an actter.


    If they don''t help her today, don''t even think about getting her help in the future.


    Just as she and the Tian family were fighting with their gazes, the chief''s second son had finished writing the letter of release.


    He read the letter in front of the whole vige.


    The content did not offend anyone and even described the Tian family as a good person. Sanzhuang served in the military with an unknown status. As they could not bear to let their daughter-inw waste her youth guarding an empty room, they wrote this letter in Sanzhuang''s stead to release his wife. It was signed by Tian Laoshi.


    Upon seeing that both parties had no objections, Tian Laoshi and Madam Tian Li pressed their fingerprints on it. Qiao Mai followed suit.


    She took the letter and looked at it. Although she didn''t know much about ancient traditional Chinese characters, she could roughly guess them. Seeing no problem, she solemnly folded it and held it tightly.


    Old Tian was about to leave with his family when Qiao Mai called out.


    "Leaveter!"


    The vige chief frowned. What now? There were so many things to do with Madam Qiao. He was a little impatient.


    "What now?"


    Qiao Mai stood up from the ground. "Chief, please ask a few aunts to search my body."


    "What are you trying to do now?"


    "I''m afraid if I get rich after I leave, the Tian family will shamelessly say that I stole their assets."


    "You''re too calctive."


    "I have no choice. I''ll have to live alone in the future. It''s better to avoid trouble. What do you think, chief?"


    "Alright. Old Tian, wait a moment. Leave after you''re done searching!"


    Therefore, the vige chief asked his wife and a few other women in the vige to go forward and search Qiao Mai.


    Other than the letter in her hand, she didn''t have a single coin on her, let alone any other things. Even her hair was pinned up with a branch.


    Qiao Mai looked coldly at the Tian family. "There are so many witnesses. I, Qiao Mai, did not take a single cent from the Tian family. I even got this dress from my original family."


    "Hmph, you better die outside."


    "Don''t worry. I am diligent and will only get better."


    After saying this, Qiao Mai nced at the vigers.


    "Which kind-hearted person can help me? If I, Qiaomai, be sessful one day, I''ll return you ten times the amount. I won''t mind a penny or two."


    Hearing this, the Tian family members pursed their lips and left. The surrounding vigers also quickly dispersed. Qiao Mai looked at the vige chief.


    "After a while, when I recuperate, I''lle to you with the letter to register my identity?"


    "Find the vige chief wherever you live to settle it. Aren''t you very capable? You don''t listen to advice and insist on getting a divorce. You can use your own abilities. Remember what you said. Don''t let Peach Blossom Vige be implicated because of the Tian family."


    "Chief, you''re really childish. Even if I don''t say anything, do you think this matter won''t spread? Which gossipy women in the vige didn''t have rtives and friends? Let''s control their mouths first."


    "When did you be like this?"


    "Why? Should I lower my head and work every day and not say a word when bullied? I deserve to be bullied to death by the Tian family?"


    "Alright, alright. You can go. Don''t return to the vige in the future."


    "Who wants toe back?"


    Qiao Mai turned around and walked towards the vige entrance. The vige chief looked at her back thoughtfully. He seemed to have said something wrong just now. He had supported Madam Qiao, so what''s one more household registration?


    If she had a future, she would be grateful for his kindness, right?


    Now, he had said a few angry words just now and offended her.


    Fortunately, he was the vige chief. When Madam Qiao does her household registration, it will implicate him. At that time, they could ease their rtionship.


    Qiao Mai threw the letter into her space to store it. She walked alone on the vige road, thinking about how to settle down in town.


    There was a small town on the north side of the official road, which was close to the original owner''s mother''s house. She couldn''t go there. There was another town on the south side, which was close to Peach Blossom Vige, but it was more prosperous than the one on the north.


    After thinking about it, she decided to go to Tianshui Town in the south.


    Just the vige''s dirt road alone was two miles long. If she went south on the official road, she would have to travel at least ten miles.


    Although her body was full, she was weak after childbirth, especially her tailbone. It was sore when she walked, so she could only walk and rest.


    She had everything she needed in her space, including things that could be exchanged for money, but she couldn''t take any out.


    After being a secret agent for many years, she was meticulous in her work. She would not give anyone a chance to frame her, and she would try her best to avoid trouble.

 Chapter 6: Easy Deal

    <h4>Chapter 6: Easy Deal</h4>


    She hid the baby in her space and told the outside world that it was dead because she did not want the Tian family to use the child as an excuse in the future.


    It was fine if Tian Sanzhuang died, but if he didn''t die, it would be troublesome if he knew about the child''s existence.


    Qiao Mai thought as she walked. She looked up at the sky. It was blue, and the clouds were white.


    She took a breath of air and feltfortable in her lungs. She really liked this environment. Thank God for letting her transmigrate. She loved this ce!


    Along the way, she met vigers. They were all from the surrounding viges. Some were working in town, while others carried a load to sell goods in town. When they saw her unkempt hair, dirty face, and her clothes patched up, they all revealed curious gazes.


    She staggered and put on a weak appearance. Finally, she made it to Tianshui Town.


    Standing in front of the town sign, she looked at the scene in front of her. The ancient town was not big. An official road divided it into two parts. All the shops were concentrated on both sides of the road, and the residents were behind the shops. They were divided into small streets in an orderly manner.


    Vendors set up stalls by the roadside. The shops were seven or eight meters away from the official road, so it was convenient for people who came to buy goods to park their carriages.


    Qiao Mai slowly walked over and pondered as she looked at the shops.


    In her previous life, she was a special agent. Other than doing missions and studying, she liked those ancient things in her spare time, especially collecting embroidery. Sometimes, she would even embroider herself.


    Whenever she had no missions during the summer break, she would spend a high sum to learn from an embroidery master.


    She didn''t like antiques, so she didn''t collect them. However, she collected many pearls, agate, jade, and other things.


    She also had many traditional clothes. She bought them when she saw the ones she liked and put them in her space. When she was free, she would take them out and wear them. Qiao Mai was a sweet girl with a fashionable appearance, but she was an ancient heroine on the inside.


    Every time shepleted a mission, she would use all her money to collect these things.


    At the same time, she had space for everything from cars to daily necessities. She felt they were useful because they were sometimes used for outdoor work.


    She didn''t expect to be here. Qiao Mai can only say that it''s just what she wants!


    When she passed by the medicine shop, she shook her head because she didn''t know anything other than bandaging wounds. Even if other people needed such talents, she was a woman who had just divorced. The medicine shop wouldn''t want her. It would be futile to go in.


    When she passed by the pawnshop, she smiled bitterly. She hade out of Peach Blossom Vige without a penny. Could she pawn something in her space?


    That was impossible. If someone with ulterior motives found out, she would be in trouble.


    She didn''t bat an eysh while passing by a clothes shop.


    When she passed by an eatery, Qiao Mai pursed her lips. In her previous life, she only knew how to eat. She was aplete foodie. She had been to many high-end restaurants. However, the consequences of her cooking were unpredictable.


    Well, there was one thing she could do. The instant noodles that she cooked were chewy and delicious. Moreover, she had eaten them in various ways.


    She could cook the ordinary version and the luxurious version easily. Thinking of this, she swallowed and shook her head. Qiao Mai lifted her leg and walked past, not considering it.


    She walked past the grocery store, the cksmith store, and the carpenter store. Finally, she stopped at a door.


    Qiao Mai raised her head and looked at the shop''s name. Although she did not smile, her eyes were filled with joy. She had finally found an opportunity to make aeback.


    "Ruyi Embroidery Manor!"


    She took a deep breath and adjusted her state of mind. She saw that there were not many people inside. There was only a 12 or 13-year-old girl arranging the racks. A middle-aged woman who was still charming sat behind the counter, pulling an abacus to do the ounts.


    Qiao Mai walked in. Noticing a customer, the little girl turned her head and saw her. There was only a slight surprise in her eyes.


    "Sister, do you want to take on embroidery work, or?"


    She couldn''t say the word ''buy.'' How could such a poor persone to the shop to buy embroidery?


    Qiao Mai smiled at her. "I''m not buying or taking jobs. I want to talk to your shopkeeper or boss about something."


    The little girl turned around and said to the counter, "Mother, this sister is looking for you."


    The woman raised her head. When she saw Qiao Mai, she frowned and said, "Sister, tell me. I am the shopkeeper."


    Qiao Mai came to the counter. "Could you please find a piece of useless white cloth and bring me some needle and thread? I want to show you my skills."


    The woman sized her up. "Ruyi, prepare them."


    "Yes, Mother!"


    Qiao Mai saw a seat at the side. She didn''t need anyone to offer her and went straight to sit down. She was already tired after walking for half a day.


    "Sister, what''s your name?"


    "My surname is Qiao. You can call me Qiao Mai. What about you?"


    "Lu. They call me Lu Sanniang. That''s my daughter, Lu Ruyi."


    "You and your daughter look kind. One look, and I can tell that you''re good people."


    Lu Sanniang grinned. Based on her experience, the youngdy in front of her must be from a poor family. If she wanted to show off her skills, she would at most want to take on a job without a deposit.


    If that was the case, it was not impossible. Lu Sanniang had a long-term vision and was not a calctive person.


    This little woman looked like a kind person. Otherwise, she would not have let her see her craftsmanship first.


    The little girl quickly brought over the needlework. There was a white cloth inside propped up with a round support.


    "Sister, please!"


    Qiao Mai nodded at her and moved a finger.


    There were scars on her hands, frostbite, and dirt that had never been washed for a day. It was an eyesore.


    Qiao Mai calmly took an embroidery needle from the case and pulled out a thread. She skillfully identified it, picked up the cloth, closed her eyes, and thought of a pattern before starting to embroider.


    The woman stood up and walked to Qiao Mai''s side, watching her embroider every single needle and thread.


    It was not difficult to tell from her technique that Qiao Mai''s embroidery skills were decent. Why did she end up like this?


    An hourter, a perfect little bee was embroidered on a fresh flower to collect honey.


    Qiao Mai handed the cloth to Lu Sanniang. "Sister Lu, please take a look!"


    Lu Sanniang had been watching from the side for a long time, and her heart was itching. This craftsmanship was not just ordinary. It made her, who had been in the embroidery business for many years, praise it in her heart.


    She couldn''t wait to pick it up and look at it. She even stroked it from time to time with a smile on her face.


    "Not bad. Your embroidery skills are decent. Unfortunately, I don''t have any work suitable for your skills here. However, if you continue to work here, I can take on big jobs for you."


    "I don''t ept jobs."


    "You don''t want to take any jobs? Didn''t youe here to take on a job?"


    "Yes, I want to embroider my work and sell it here, such as screens, pce fans, and so on. I don''t ept work because the work customers request is usuallyplicated. It''s troublesome to do and easy to get into trouble."


    Shopkeeper Lu thought about it and agreed. After doing amission, the customer would eitherin about this or that. They wanted to take the opportunity to lower the price. If the finished product was sold directly, a customer could buy it as they like and leave if they didn''t. That was quite good.


    "That''s fine. I just don''t know if the customers will like it."


    "I''m sure they will. Sister Lu, look at the back."


    Lu Sanniang quickly flipped it over, and her eyes widened." This, this is double-sided embroidery?"


    "Yes, this is what I''m best at. I also know other embroidery techniques."


    "Double-sided embroidery can only be done by the famous embroiderers in the capital. Ah, it''s really better to see than to hear."


    Qiao Mai nced at her and slowly said," To tell you the truth, I''m currently in dire straits and need someone to help me. At the same time, I''m looking for a partner."


    Before she could finish her words, Lu Sanniang hurriedly said, "With your skills, I can''t wait to curry favor with you. How can I not be interested?"


    "Then can I make a few requests?"


    "Girl, what do you want? As long as I can do it, I will do it for you!"


    "First, can you help me rent a room in town? Second, can you help me buy some daily necessities? I can start to embroider after I recover. How about that?"


    "What happened to you?"


    Only then did Shopkeeper Lu size her up. She had only seen that Qiao Mai was not dressed well, but now that she looked carefully, something was wrong.

 Chapter 7: What a Bunch of Animals

    <h4>Chapter 7: What a Bunch of Animals</h4>


    "It''s a long story, but it''s not that I can''t tell you. You can know about this, but you can''t tell anyone else. I promised them when I left, or they wouldn''t let me go."


    "Tell me, tell me!" Lu Sanniang''s gossipy nature immediately sparked.


    "I had just married into my inws'' family for less than two months when my husband went to serve in the military. The Tian family didn''t treat me well when he was around. After he left, my mother-inw started torturing me even though I was pregnant..."


    Qiao Mai then told Lu Sanniang about the Tian family abusing her.


    Lu Sanniang gritted her teeth. "What a bunch of animals. Where is your family from? Why didn''t they back you up?"


    Qiao Mai''s eyes reddened. "My paternal family is from Lihua Vige. From the day I got married, they didn''t let mee home. They said that a married girl was like spilled water, so I should cut off all ties with my family in the future."


    "Your own flesh and blood can be ruthless to say these words. If the Tian family knew about your embroidery skills, they definitely wouldn''t treat you like this, right?"


    Qiao Mai sneered. "I secretly learned this skill from an elderly woman at my family''s home. I wanted to take on a job after I mastered it so that my family would be better off. In the end, before I could say anything, my family sold me to the Tian family for a betrothal gift of 100 catties of wheat."


    "The Tian family never knew that you knew embroidery?"


    Qiao Mai shook her head. "After seeing what my biological parents did, how could I dare to expose myself so easily? I nned to wait for a while before deciding. Who knew that they would treat me like this the moment I joined the family? Fortunately, I didn''t expose myself. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to step out of the Tian family for the rest of my life."


    "Why should you work\ and earn money for them? Sister, you did the right thing. You should leave."


    Lu Sanniang was furious. She held Qiao Mai''s hand and looked at it. Her eyes couldn''t help but turn red.


    "Don''t worry. With your embroidery skills, it won''t be long before your life bes better. Let''s go! There''s still a room under my name that hasn''t been rented out. You can stay there and take care of your body first."


    "Thank you, Sister Lu." Qiao Mai wiped her tears with her sleeve.


    "Don''t cry. You''ve hurt your body due to premature birth. It''s not good for your eyes to cry. Even if you do embroidery in the future, you can''t be so desperate."


    "Sister is a good person. It''s my blessing to meet you."


    "Alright, let''s not talk about it anymore. If we talk too much, we''ll get angry. You can''t be angry now."


    Lu Sanniang told Ruyi, "Go inside and tell your sister to stop embroidering. Come out and guard the shop with you. I''ll be right back."


    She walked behind the counter and took a key and a money pouch. She put them in her pocket and held Qiao Mai''s hand as they walked out.


    Knowing that Qiao Mai had just given birth a few days ago, she didn''t walk fast either, so sheforted her along the way.


    "Don''t worry. You can stay in my room for as long as you want."


    "Sister, I''m afraid I''ll have to trouble you in the future."


    "There''s no need to be so polite with me. We''re business partners. This is what I should do."


    After Lu Sanniang saw Qiao Mai''s craftsmanship and heard her story, she sincerely wanted to help her and also wanted Qiao Mai to stay as a business partner.


    When she passed the clothing store, she bought two sets of clothes for Qiao Mai. At the store, she also bought a thick mattress, a thick quilt, a thin quilt, and a pillow.


    They passed the grocery store and bought all the daily necessities. She held Qiao Mai''s hand and walked in front, followed by a few delivery men. They went to her house in an imposing manner.


    It was a courtyard house. It was very new and should have been built not long ago with green bricks and tiles. It was clean inside, and one could faintly smell the fragrance of wood.


    "Girl,e in quickly."


    Lu Sanniang brought her into the bedroom of an upper room. The delivery men put the things in the courtyard and left. Lu Sanniang took several trips to carry everything in.


    Sheid out the bedding, then ced arge cloth bag in the corner.


    "Girl, there are clothes inside. Change your innerwear too. I''ll burn the wood. You''re dressed so thinly, and your body is so weak. Hurry up and lie down under the nket."


    "Ah, then I won''t stand on ceremony with you."


    Qiao Mai was a little touched. She had to admit that this woman was straightforward, diligent, capable, and especially kind.


    From the beginning to the end, she had never despised her.


    Qiao Mai took advantage of Lu Sanniang''s absence to take off her clothes and change into a new set of inner garment. She didn''t care if her hands, feet, and face were dirty. She quickly got into bed. She really needed a good rest.


    The inside of the nket was made of fine coarse cloth, while the outside was made of old coarse cloth. The core was made of cotton, which was loose and soft. It feltfortable on her.


    At this time, Qiao Mai could not be particr about anything. She had to warm her body first.


    Lu Sanniang raised the stove and saw water in the vat. She boiled arge pot of water in the big iron pot.


    Then, she went out again and bought a charcoal stove, arge y pot, a bag of charcoal, a basket of eggs, a small bag of flour, and a millet. She ced them in the kitchen.


    She boiled a dozen eggs first, then washed the millet and boiled it in a y pot. Then, she made a big bowl of brown sugar water.


    With brown sugar water in one hand and a boiled egg in the other, she entered the bedroom.


    "Girl?"


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes. "Sister Lu."


    "Come, eat while it''s hot. I''ve boiled eggs for you with brown sugar water. Eat more so that your body can recover faster."


    Qiao Mai was really touched. Tears fell from her eyes.


    "Sister, you''re so nice!"


    "You don''t have to be touched. I''m treating you like this because I feel sorry for you. Secondly, I have high hopes for you. We''ll be working together in the future. You must keep your spirits up and take good care of your body. If youck anything, just tell me."


    "Sister, don''t worry. I''ll get better soon."


    Qiao Mai ate five eggs in one go and drank a big bowl of brown sugar water.


    Lu Sanniang covered the corner of the nket for her, then ced the bowl on the side of the brick bed. She touched the brick bed. The stove was already burning, and the brick bed was warming up.


    "Sleep well. I made some millet porridge for you in the kitchen. If you''re hungry, get up and warm it up."


    "Sister Lu, go ahead and do your work. Don''t worry about me. I can move."


    "I''ll leave after it''s done. I''ll lock the door for you from the outside. I''m worried about a woman like you, so I''lle back to see you tomorrow. Oh right, if you want to go to the toilet, go to the backyard."


    Qiao Mai sniffled. "Got it, Sister Lu."


    Madam Lu gently touched her face, then turned around and left the room, gently closing the door.


    Sighing softly, she went to the kitchen and boiled a small pot of millet porridge. She put out the fire in the kitchen, locked the door, and went back to her shop.


    Qiao Mai only opened her eyes when she heard Lu Sanniang had left and entered her space in a sh.


    The little thing was moaning. If she didn''te soon, she would have cried. She must be hungry.


    Qiao Mai first opened the swaddling cloth to take a look. When she saw feces and urine on it, she quickly cleaned it up for the child and changed it to a clean one.


    She took the dirty ones outside, found a shelf, and put the diapers on it.


    Qiao Mai came back and made some milk powder for the child. This time, she only made a little. After feeding the child, she turned her body sideways and patted her back gently.


    Seeing that the baby was asleep, she walked out of the house and looked at the diapers in a daze.


    Her space''s dirt removal function was especially strong. It had only been a while, but the diapers were almost clean. It was too convenient.


    Back in the house, shey down next to the child and covered herself with a silk nket. She fell asleep soon after.


    She had wanted to go back and sleep on the brick bed, but she thought her body was too dirty. The space had a cleaning function, so she nned to sleep and let the space clean the dirt on her body.


    Lu Sanniang returned to the shop. Her eldest daughter, Lu Ruxin, and second daughter, Lu Ruyi, were sorting out the goods collected in the shop.


    "Mother, why did you take so long? It''s almost dark."


    "You don''t know, but this little woman is too pitiful. She wobbles when she walks, and she''s so skinny that only bones are left."


    "There are too many pitiful people. You can''t help them all."

 Chapter 8: Call Me Auntie Qiao Then?

    <h4>Chapter 8: Call Me Auntie Qiao Then?</h4>


    "She is good at embroidery. Our embroidery shop can''t always do ordinary jobs. We can''t earn much money from it."


    "You want to befriend her?"


    "Yes, just buying those things today cost nearly ten taels of silver. This is not counting the house that Mother rented to her."


    "Mother, be careful that she''s an ingrate."


    "No, Mother is urate in judging people. If she were bad, she would not use this method to get Mother to help her."


    "Are you still goingter?"


    "I''m not going. I''ll go tomorrow. Hurry up and pack up. We''ll close the shop and go home for dinner."


    Lu Ruxin said, "Mother, why don''t you let me cook for her tomorrow? Since your daughter likes peace and quiet, why don''t you let me draw flowers and do some embroidery there?"


    "Alright,e over for lunch. After closing the shop in the afternoon, your sister and I will pick you up and bring you home."


    "Alright, Mother!"


    In Peach Blossom Vige, when the Tian family was having dinner, the two tables in the house were unusually quiet.


    The departure of one person did not affect his family. Qiao Mai had stayed in the firewood shed for three days, and his family survived. They didn''t die of exhaustion, just that some people had to work harder.


    It was just that he had suffered too much at Qiao Mai''s hands today, and he could not vent the anger in his heart.


    Old Tian pulled a long face and picked up his bowl to take a sip of porridge. Only then did the others dare to eat.


    "Whose maiden family is in Lihua Vige?"


    " Old Zhou''s eldest daughter-inw," said Madam Tian Li.


    "That bbermouth?"


    "Yeah."


    "When you are free, tell her to inform the Qiao family when she returns to her family. Although we don''t interact, the Qiao family is poor. If they know their daughter has divorced, they will definitely think of something to do with her. If she dares to divorce Sanzhuang, let her family sell her again. Even if they can''t sell her, they will at least make things difficult for her."


    Madam Tian Li knew her husband couldn''t swallow this anger and wanted to punish Qiao Mai. She pursed her lips.


    "I don''t even know if she can survive outside like that."


    "If I tell you to go, then go."


    "Got it!"


    Although Qiao Mai slept soundly in the space, she had always been vignt. It was a habit of being an agent for many years. She woke up when the baby cried and fed her before going to sleep. She did not eat anything the entire night.


    Once the sky was bright, she left her space and put on a thick coat, cotton pants, and cotton shoes. Then, she went to the kitchen with a bowl and sugar water.


    Seeing the neatly arranged pots and pans in the kitchen, she took a deep breath. She would definitely repay this favor.


    In movies and on TV, she had seen ancient people burning stoves. She knew how to make a fire in the wilderness.


    She opened the lid and saw the millet porridge inside. Qiao Mai added a handful of wheat straws in the kitchen and beat them with a flint before adding some firewood.


    Then, she went to the kitchen outside the bedroom and used the same method to burn the stove.


    Just as she returned to the kitchen and was about to dig in, the courtyard door rang. Qiao Mai looked outside and saw a girl who was a little older than Ruyi.


    "You are?"


    "I''m Shopkeeper Lu''s eldest daughter, Lu Ruxin. My mother is busy in the shop and sent me to take care of you."


    "Look, I can move. You don''t have to take care of me."


    "No, my mother said I have to guard you for ten days. Also, you can''t catch a cold."


    "I''m sorry. I can do it myself."


    "It''s okay. I''m used to doing this at home."


    As she spoke, Miss Ruxin entered the kitchen. "Go back to your room. I''ll heat some porridge for you."


    "I''ll eat here. It''s the same if I go back after eating."


    "Alright, sit down. I''ll do it."


    Ruxin put down the table and went to the courtyard to get a stool for her. She peeled the eggs and put them into the pot. She also added a few spoonfuls of brown sugar.


    Qiao Mai wanted to eat like this as well. She sat there obediently while Ruxin waited for the pot to boil. She felt that the eggs were already warm before scooping up arge bowl and cing it on the table for her.


    "Eat it while it''s hot."


    "Have you eaten breakfast?"


    "I only came after eating. I''ll go to the shop to eat with my mother and sister at noon."


    Qiao Mai blew on the spoon in her mouth while Ruxin sized her up.


    "You''re so skinny!"


    "In my inws'' house, I have two meals a day, and every meal is rice soup. How can I not lose weight?"


    Ruxin nced at her chest. It was t without any bumps. She looked down at her own chest and suddenly blushed.


    Qiao Mai saw her expression andughed in her heart.


    "How old are you?"


    "I''ll be fourteen soon. I''ll be of age in September, and my younger sister is twelve. There''s only Mother and us in the family."


    "What about your father?"


    "He was gone on a business trip. My mother didn''t remarry with us. Fortunately, my grandparents were great to my mother and supported her, so no one in town dared to bully us."


    "Mm, you guys have a good and supportive family."


    "Grandmother is also good, but she lives a little far, more than two hundred miles from here. My mother wanted to be closer to my maternal home, and coincidentally, there was no embroidery workshop in this town, so she opened this shop here."


    The little girl was talkative. Her eyes were clear and bright, and her appearance was beautiful. Her fingers were slender and long. One could tell at a nce that she was a clever person without any schemes.


    After breakfast, Qiao Mai went back to her room andy down. The bed was warm underneath her. Ruxin moved the table to the firece and ced the things she had brought with her on the table.


    "I don''t know what to call you. You don''t look very old, but you call my mother sister."


    Qiao Mai saw her conflicted look and burst outughing.


    "You can call me by name."


    "No, my mother calls you girl."


    "Then you can call me Auntie Qiao?"


    "I''m afraid I''ll make you old."


    "I don''t mind. Let''s just call me that."


    "Alright then. I''m here to take care of you, not to spy on you. I''ll draw on the table and won''t disturb your sleep."


    "I''ve slept all night. Why do I need so much sleep? Go ahead. I''ll sleep if I can. If I can''t, I''ll lie down for a while."


    "Alright."


    Watching the girl focusing on drawing, Qiao Mai stretched out her hand to take a look. Indeed, it was much cleaner. Those who didn''t know better would think she had taken a shower.


    Unfortunately, her hands, feet, face, and neck were often exposed to the outside. The mud was too thick, so it was difficult to clean them up in a short time. However, this was already not bad.


    Qiao Mai was afraid of dirtying the quilt, and her mild mysophobia returned.


    She quickly looked inside the quilt and was relieved to see no dirt.


    She said she had slept enough for the whole night, but once she got into the warm nket, she felt sleepy again.


    In the end, her body was too weak. Qiao Mai quickly fell asleep again.


    At noon, Ruxin made her a bowl of soup with several eggs.


    "Auntie Qiao, wake up. It''s time to eat."


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes, feeling rather embarrassed. "Thank you for your hard work!"


    "Eat it while it''s hot. Although it''s spring, the weather is still cold. I''ve changed the vor for lunch. Before I leave tonight, I''ll make some porridge and cook some eggs for you. You can eat it as soon as you heat it. Put the dishes in the sink. I''ll wash themter."


    Ruxin picked up the drawing, rolled it up, then waved at her and left.


    Qiao Mai sat up and quickly finished a bowl of hot soup on the brick table. Then, she shed into her space.


    The baby was already groaning. It was time to feed her.


    After taking care of the baby, Qiao Mai got up and searched the shelves outside.


    Her body was too weak, and she couldn''t just eat her fill. She remembered she had collected a few ginsengs. Those ginsengs weren''t bought. She got them on her missions.


    She found it on thest shelf. There were six ginseng boxes neatly ced. Qiao Mai took out the box on top and opened it.


    She was not good at this but knew it was not small. She heard that a few roots of aged ginseng were very useful, so she pulled a few and stuffed them into her sleeves.


    She went back to check on her baby. Seeing that she had fallen asleep again, Qiao Mai shed out of her space.


    By the time she reached the kitchen, Ruxin had already cleaned the pot.


    So, she boiled half a pot of water and added brown sugar. She put the ginseng root in and boiled it for a while. After drinking a bowl of red ginseng water, she was sweating all over.


    Qiao Mai knew the ginseng had taken effect.

 Chapter 9: Sisters Know How to Get Even

    <h4>Chapter 9: Sisters Know How to Get Even</h4>


    Qiao Mai found a thermos sk from her space and poured the ginseng water into it. She then put it into her space and cleaned the pot and the stove before returning to bed.


    When Ruxin came, she was sleeping. The little girl was diligent. She washed the dishes and then sat at the table to continue drawing.


    It had to be said that Lu Sanniang''s upbringing was really good.


    Her two daughters were polite, not snobbish, hardworking, and as kind as her.


    At night, she prepared the rice and brought it to the table. After she woke Qiao Mai up, Madam Lu and Ruyi also came.


    "Sister, are you feeling better?"


    "I''m much better. It''s just that it''s been too hard on Ruxin. Don''te tomorrow. I can take care of myself."


    "No, we''ve discussed it. We''ll take care of you for at least ten days. After that, we''ll see how you recover. Then, we''ll decide whether you''ll be alone at home or send someone to apany you."


    "Alright then, I''ll listen to you."


    Qiao Mai was not a shy person.


    "That''s more like it. You can eat. We''ll go home first?"


    "Yes, yes."


    Madam Lu left with her two daughters. Qiao Mai didn''t need toe out to close the door. They locked the courtyard door behind them.


    "Mother, Auntie Qiao looks like a good person."


    "You''ve only been in contact for a day, and you already know?" Lu Sanniang smiled and nced at Ruxin.


    "Yes, I think I get along well with her."


    "She is indeed a good person. Mother asked someone to ask around. What she said is true. She didn''t lie to us. How pitiful! A kind person is always bullied by others."


    "Mother, it''s a blessing in disguise. It''s also a good opportunity to escape from that devil''s den."


    "Let''s treat each other as a family in the future, okay?"


    "Sure, I like to have more people at home."


    In the blink of an eye, ten days flew by. Qiao Mai ate and drank to her heart''s content. Under the nourishment of the red ginseng water, Qiao Mai''s body was getting better day by day. Now, she did not feel the soreness in her tailbone even when she sat down.


    Every morning and night, she would exercise on the brick bed for fifteen minutes, and her body recovered quickly.


    It was sunny outside. When there was no wind, she would bask in the sun for a while.


    To heal her hand, she would use hot water daily and pour some vinegar into it for fifteen minutes. Then, she would dry it and apply some hand cream from her space.


    She slept in the space every night. She didn''t even need to shower and was already clean and refreshed. The parasites on her body had also disappeared, and her hair had a little luster.


    She wouldb her hair neatly every day, and Lu Sanniang even gave her a hairpin.


    In terms of appearance, she didn''t look like a married woman. Lu Ruxin would praise her every time she came.


    "Auntie Qiao, you''re getting prettier and prettier. If we stand together, people will say you''re younger than me."


    "Don''t praise me. Do you think I don''t know what I look like? I''m not pretty."


    Indeed, when Qiao Mai looked at herself in the mirror, it took her a long time to ept it.


    In her previous life, she was the super cute type. Now that she had be such an ordinary-looking woman, she could not ept it.


    However, she could not have everything she wanted. It was good when she thought about it. Without her beautiful appearance, her life would be more worry-free.


    As for remarrying? In her previous life, she had never considered a man. In this life, she looked ordinary. A good man would not fancy her, but she does not want to lower her standards. She might as well live by herself. Fortunately, she had a child to apany her, so she would not be bored.


    Half a monthter, Lu Sanniang gave her the house keys.


    "Sister, you can move now. We won''te over if there''s nothing else. If you''re bored, you can go for a walk on the street."


    Qiao Mai reached out and took it. "Look, my hand is almost healed. I''ll embroider a sample and put it in your shop in a few days. We''ll try to sell it first."


    "There''s no rush. It''s not toote to talk about this when you''ve fully recovered."


    "Let''s talk about it in advance. I happen to have something to discuss."


    "Go ahead. I am listening."


    "It''s like this. You know what my paternal family and my inws are like. I only want to live a quiet life and avoid trouble, so I want to ask you to get me a fake ve contract."


    "Fake ve contract?"


    "If my maiden familyes here to cause a disturbance, take it out and say that I sold myself to you to work in your embroidery workshop to survive."


    Lu Sanniang thought for a moment. "That''s possible."


    "Also, write a fake promissory note."


    "Do we still need a promissory note?"


    "Yes, I fell ill after giving birth. You cured me, and it cost you twenty taels of silver to treat my illness and recuperate my body."


    "Are you afraid someone from your family wille to further take advantage?"


    "Yes, if they can sell me once, they can sell me twice. Even if I sold myself, they would want my monthly sry. Since I owe money, they naturally have to pay it back. They won''t have any thoughts on me."


    "Thew states that after a youngdy marries, she will no longer be controlled by her family. They don''t have the guts to do that, right?"


    "Thew is thew. I can''t possibly report my parents to the mayor, right? I still have to be punished. Speaking of which, this is also a family matter. Usually, if the people don''t report it, the officials won''t investigate."


    "That makes sense. Alright then, I''ll prepare to put it on the counter tomorrow. If anyone dares toe to my shop and cause trouble for you in the future, I''ll use this to deal with them and help you vent your anger."


    "It''s Qiao Mai''s fortune to be able to meet you, sister. Let''s work together in the future and strive to earn more money."


    "Speaking of this, we have to settle ounts with each other. In the future, when your embroidery is sold in my shop, I n to split it with you 70 - 30. After all, the embroidery skills and materials are yours. If I paid for it, we''ll split the revenue in half."


    "I''ll listen to you. When the timees, we''ll write a document and put our fingerprints on it. Sisters still need to settle our ounts!"


    "Haha, yes. I will send it over in a few days."


    As she spoke, Lu Sanniang took a purse and stuffed it into Qiao Mai''s hand.


    "Here are ten taels of silver. Take it as your capital first. If the cloth shop in town doesn''t have good materials, take a car to the county. Many cars on the official road carry passengers back and forth."


    Qiao Mai asked when she mentioned the county.


    "Sister, I haven''t registered my household register yet. Back then, I insisted on leaving the Tian family and angered them."


    Lu Sanniang pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "Don''t be afraid. You can hold it for now. I''ll ask someone to see if it can be done directly. Oh, right, do you have your divorce papers?"


    "I keep it safely."


    "Don''t be anxious about this matter. With sister here, there will be a way to resolve it."


    After Shopkeeper Lu left, Qiao Mai went back to the yard and locked the door. She then returned to her room and locked the door again before shing into her space.


    The baby had been in her space for half a month. She ate and slept every day. She seemed to have grown a little taller and had some flesh on her body. Her skin was not so red anymore and looked like a normal child.


    Qiao Mai gently poked the baby''s little face. The baby sucked her little mouth and continued to sleep.


    Qiao Mai stood up and walked to the shelf. She picked up the fan and the embroidery and looked at them carefully.


    This entire row was filled with these items. It would be more than enough to open a shop. Most of them were bought, only ten pieces she embroidered herself. After all, she had limited time.


    Seeing that the weather was getting warmer, it was time for her to n.


    Shopkeeper Lu had invested a lot in her, so she had to let her see some results.


    Hence, Qiao Mai took ten taels of silver and locked the door before leaving the residence. She nned to familiarize herself with the environment first.


    She first walked around the area where she lived. She realized that the houses in this area looked the same. Other ces were not the same, except for her neighborhood.


    It seemed that all the people living here were foreigners and tenants.


    Could this be the slums of a small town? Or was it called Outsider Street?


    Was it simr to one of the foreign streets in her previous life? How fresh!

 Chapter 10: You Can Count It With a Palm

    <h4>Chapter 10: You Can Count It With a Palm</h4>


    Qiao Mai came to the roadside and went straight to the cloth shop. She was very disappointed when she entered.


    How could a small town possibly have high-end fabrics? Other than old and fine coarse cloth, and cotton cloth, there were at most a few rolls of silk on the disy case.


    She opened her mouth and asked, "Shopkeeper, do you have muslin here?"


    There were a few customers in the shop, and the shopkeeper and workers were all busy. When they heard her words, they turned around to look at her.


    When he saw she was dressed neatly and had a silver hairpin in her hair, the shopkeeper called another worker over. He personally came over to receive Qiao Mai.


    "Madam, we don''t have it here. However, if you want it, our shop can order it from the city."


    "How much for one?"


    "Five taels of silver for a horse. If you buy it yourself, you won''t be able to get this price."


    Qiao Mai understood there were coborations between people in the same trade, and they were taking the wholesale price.


    "When will it arrive?"


    "The day after tomorrow."


    "Alright, I''ll order a white muslin. Do you have the outer ring of the pce fan?"


    "No, this has to be customized too."


    "Do you sell fans here?"


    "Ordinary fan stores sell them. Not many households in our town can afford the expensive ones, so our shop usually doesn''t stock such goods."


    Qiao Mai didn''t ask any more questions. She paid the deposit at the cloth shop, took the receipt, and walked around the town.


    Initially, she wanted to try doing it herself, but after seeing the carpenter shop, she decided to order it from them.


    When she entered the shop, she saw that the shop assistant was busy working. He wiped his hands and came over to greet her.


    "Madam, do you want to customize carpentry?"


    "Can you make pce fans and round fan frames here?"


    "Yes, this is a delicate job. It has to be done by our master. No one else can do it."


    "Do fans of different shapes cost the same?"


    "Pure bamboo is one tael of silver. If the fan requires wood for decoration, the price will increase ording to the difference in the wood."


    "Be more specific?"


    "The yellow pear wood fan costs two taels of silver, the mahogany fan costs three taels of silver, the ck walnut fan costs five taels of silver, and the expensive sandalwood costs ten taels of silver."


    "Is it convenient for me to weave in the cloth myself?"


    "Of course. There are buttons inside the bamboo. After the cloth is evenly spread, you can buckle it in, and the cloth will be unfolded."


    Thinking that she only had five taels of silver left, Qiao Mai said," Then I''ll order a yellow pear wood fan first. If your master''s craftsmanship is good, I''ll order more in the future."


    "And you are?" The worker wanted to ask Qiao Mai what she did for a living.


    "I''m an embroiderer. I''ll be dealing with you guys often in the future."


    The shop assistant was happy when he heard that. Although Qiao Mai was not the young mistress of a wealthy family, she had a good job and would definitely order more in the future. He had to talk to his master about thister, so he became even more respectful.


    "Madam, I won''t give you a discount for this one. When you be a regr customer, I''ll report to my master and give you the most suitable price."


    "Alright."


    After Qiao Mai paid the deposit, she received the receipt again and left the carpenter shop. Next was the embroidery thread and needles.


    When she arrived at Ruyi Embroidery Manor, several women were working inside. When Lu Sanniang saw her, she waved at her and gestured, meaning to ask her to wait.


    Qiao Mai stood at the side of the shop and looked outside. While she was in a daze, a woman kept staring at her.


    Not to mention that Qiao Mai did not know many people when she first came here, even in the past, Qiao Mai did not know many people in her mother and inw''s vige.


    The woman looked at her for a long time and asked carefully.


    "Are you Madam Qiao from Peach Blossom Vige, who separated from the Tian family?"


    Qiao Mai turned around and nced at her. "You are?"


    "Ah, I knew you looked familiar. So it''s true. I haven''t seen you for half a month, and you''ve changed so much. You even wore a silver hairpin!"


    Qiao Mai looked at her coldly. This day woulde sooner orter, and she was mentally prepared for it.


    "Yes. No one in the vige helped me, so I came to town. Needless to say, even the townsfolk who don''t know me can feel pity for me, but my own vigers ignored me."


    The woman rolled her eyes. "Don''t point fingers at me. I''m not having a good time either. Besides, the Tian family is watching. If we help you and let the Tian family know, with Madam Tian Li''s temper, she''lle to our house and cause trouble. We can''t afford to offend her."


    "I''m not scolding anyone. I''m just telling the truth. May I ask who you are?"


    "I''m the eldest daughter-inw of the Zhou family, opposite the Tian family. My family is from the same vige as yours. My surname is Du."


    "Oh, got it."


    Qiao Mai was indifferent to her. After saying that, she looked into the distance and ignored her.


    Madam Zhou Du kept talking endlessly." I say, Madam Qiao, now that you''re rich, why don''t you return to your maternal family? Your family is suffering now, and they lead miserable lives."


    "They said that a married daughter is like spilled water. They forbid me from returning."


    "That''s just talk. It''s because of the Tian family that they told you that. Which parent doesn''t love their child?"


    "Yes, which parent doesn''t love their child?"


    Qiao Mai was about to continue when Lu Sanniang called her from the shop.


    "Madam Qiao,e in and work. If you don''t do your job properly, I''ll fire you."


    Madam Zhou Du turned around and looked at Lu Sanniang. "Shopkeeper, is Madam Qiao working for you?"


    "Yeah."


    Madam Zhou Du pouted and rolled her eyes at Qiao Mai.


    "I didn''t expect you to be so lucky. So you met a benefactor. She''s a famous rich woman in our countryside."


    Qiao Mai also rolled her eyes and turned to enter the shop. Madam Zhou Du snorted coldly and walked away.


    After she walked far away, she nced back.


    Lu Sanniang saw no one else in front of the shop and pulled her hand.


    "Why did youe out?"


    "I went to the cloth shop to order a muslin, then went to the carpenter shop for a pce fan. I''ll try to embroider a pce fan first. The weather is getting warmer and warmer. I''m sure thedies of rich families will have toe out. They would want a majestic fan."


    "How long did it take you to embroider this fan on both sides?"


    "Half a month."


    "Double-sided embroidery is time-consuming and eye-consuming. How much do you think this pce fan is worth?"


    "The cloth isn''t worth much. It costs five taels of silver for a bolt and only a small piece. The fan frame costs three taels of silver, and there''s a long tassel under the handle. Adding on my embroidery skills, the cost should be at least ten taels."


    "It''s not just ten taels. Based on your double-sided embroidery skills solely, it''s worth a lot of money."


    "Then let''s calcte it at the cost of 20 taels. This pce fan should be sold for at least 100 taels."


    Lu Sanniang''s eyes widened." I was thinking of selling it for 50 taels, but you want to sell it for 100 taels. Can we really sell it?"


    "Only those who have no money will haggle. Rich people won''t care about this small amount as long as the product looks good. Oh, right, I forgot to order a wooden box for the pce fan. It will elevate its grade."


    "Grade?"


    "It''s to increase its value, just like people. People rely on clothes, and horses rely on saddles, understand?"


    "Haha, now that you mention it, I understand."


    Qiao Mai went to the carpenter''s shop again and ordered a wooden box for the pce fan. The requirements were also high-grade.


    After taking the needle and thread from the embroidery shop, she didn''t wander around anymore. Qiao Mai already knew the market price here, so she went home.


    As soon as Madam Zhou Du returned to the vige, she ran to the Tian family opposite and pulled Madam Tian Li along to start talking.


    "Aunt, guess who I saw today?"


    "Spit it out if you have something to say. Could you have seen a ghost?"


    "Tsk, it''s your Madam Qiao!"


    "Bah, not anymore. I''ve long wanted to divorce that b*tch. Slut. Don''t let me catch that man. Otherwise, I''ll burn her to death."


    Madam Zhou Du shivered." Aunt, she''s in Tianshui Town now. I haven''t seen her for half a month, and she''s dressed really well. She''s even wearing a new cotton coat and has a silver hairpin in her hair."

 Chapter 11: Embroidery

    <h4>Chapter 11: Embroidery</h4>


    "Pah, I knew that bitch was dishonest. She must be selling herself in town. Otherwise, where would she get the money? Fortunately, she retired early. Otherwise, my Tian family''s reputation would have been ruined by her."


    Even the gossipy Madam Zhou Du felt ashamed of Madam Tian Li''s words. She was already an adult, yet she could nder others with ease.


    "No, Shopkeeper Lu of the embroidery shop took her in. She is now working inside."


    When Madam Tian Li heard this, she felt ufortable. She was annoyed by Madam Zhou Du''s nagging.


    "What does it have to do with me whether she''s doing well or not? If you have the energy to tell me, why don''t you go to her parent''s house and tell them she''s doing well?"


    "Aunt, she is learning embroidery from Shopkeeper Lu and helping out in the shop. She earns at least a few hundred coins a month. When she leaves her apprenticeship, one embroidery job can be enough to support a family for a year. You lost a money tree!"


    Madam Tian Li felt even more annoyed when she heard this. "Leave. Hurry up and go home to cook. Stop bothering me here."


    "Aunt, I''m here to remind you out of kindness."


    "I don''t care. Are you leaving or not? If you don''t leave, I''ll chase you away."


    Madam Zhou Du stood up angrily, her chest bulging.


    "Then don''te to me in the future, hmph!"


    She was a junior, so she naturally couldn''t fall out with Madam Tian Li, nor did she dare to. She returned home angrily.


    The dinner at the vige chief''s house was sumptuous because his youngest son had returned from town.


    "Father, Mother, I was working in the shop today and saw a woman who looked like the daughter-inw of the Tian family. If she wasn''t dressed well, I was afraid I had mistaken her."


    "Half a month ago, she asked the Tian family for a letter to let her go. It might be her."


    "So, it''s very likely to be her?"


    "Alright, let''s eat. Don''t mention her. I get angry by mentioning her. I''ve never seen someone like that. She can''t do anything and insists on separating from Sanzhuang. Since she met a benefactor, I don''t need to settle her household registration. Let her settle it herself."


    Qiao Mai had been waiting for the past two days. After breakfast, she went to the restaurant for lunch.


    She wasn''t greedy, but she wanted to taste the food of an ancient restaurant.


    She ordered two of the restaurant''s signature dishes and a bowl of rice. This meal was heartbreaking.


    She was unsatisfied with either of the dishes. Other than the good ting, it tastes too underwhelming. It could be said that it was difficult to swallow. The price was also expensive.


    Qiao Mai turned her head and looked at the customers. They were gobbling down the food happily.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if she was too picky.


    Qiao Mai resigned herself to fate and paid the bill. When she left the restaurant, she saw vendors selling roast chicken and braised meat. She bought a chicken and half a catty of braised meat. She asked the shop owner to cut and wrap them up before carrying them home.


    When she got home, she pushed the door open and ced the two dishes on the table. Then, she took out a bottle of white wine from her space.


    Qiao Mai first picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed it. Then, she quickly blew a mouthful of white wine and finally suppressed the evil taste.


    She couldn''t swallow the meat, throwing it into the freezer in her space.


    Then, she took out two packets of peanuts and a few other snacks from her space. She opened the packets and started eating.


    After wandering around the town for the past two days, she found too many business opportunities.


    After all, ancient times were backward. The food had too few seasonings, and the taste was not right. Other than water, there was only tea or wine. There seemed to be nothing else. The weaving skills were poor, the density was not enough, and the colors were few, especially the embroidery thread. There were only a few colors. She did not know if it was because of the cheap goods imported by Lu Sanniang or for other reasons. In any case, she did not like anything.


    Qiao Mai couldn''t help but miss the good things she had in the past.


    Qiao Mai also knew she had high standards, but she still liked the ancient times. She liked the fresh air, theck of pollution, and the ssical beauty.


    Of course, she had to ept it wasgging behind. There were pros and cons wherever she went.


    She sighed and finished all the food and half a bottle of white wine. It seemed that her body could drink quite well. She did not feel dizzy at all, and her legs were not weak.


    She turned her head and looked outside. The sky was getting dark, and no one woulde. She shed into the space.


    Qiao Mai threw away the food packet in her arms and entered the house. She smiled when she saw the baby gnawing on her hand with her eyes open.


    She walked up to her and wanted to talk. The baby was still young and probably couldn''t hear her. Qiao Mai couldn''t tease her even if she wanted to as she was too weak and small. She didn''t dare to touch this little thing.


    She changed her diapers and fed her milk, then picked up the swaddling clothes and patted her back gently.


    "Baby, grow up quickly. Mother is still a virgin. I have no experience raising a baby. I get excited when I see you."


    "Baby, what name should I give you? Mother hopes that you will grow up safely and healthily. How about Ankang? Uh, you''re a girl, and this name is too masculine. Why don''t you call yourself Qiao Wanling? Your nickname will be Ling''er. Hmm, not bad. It is gentle and beautiful. It will do!"


    After giving her a name, Qiao Mai ced her on the bed and fell asleep not long after.


    The space allowed her to rx, and the alcohol made her even warmer. The baby slept soundly and did not disturb her. She slept until the sun was high in the sky.


    When she opened her eyes, she was in disbelief at the fact that she slept for so long.


    She quickly took care of the baby and coaxed her to sleep before leaving the space.


    She didn''t even eat breakfast. After washing up, Qiao Mai went straight to the cloth shop to pay the bnce and get the muslin.


    She went to the carpenter''s shop and saw the fan holder and exquisite wooden box. Qiao Mai paid the bnce in satisfaction and went home.


    She was still a little nervous about the embroidery today.


    She fixed the muslin on the cloth support and ced the fan frame. She drew a circle on the cloth along the inner circle. She thought about it again. Girls generally liked flowers and cute little animals. Even those who were older were still childish and liked these things.


    So she took a paintbrush from her space, rubbed her hands, and moved her fingers. She sat down and lowered her head to start drawing on the cloth.


    All the adults, children, and elderly loved one animal, and that was cats. No woman could escape the cute appearance of cats, their cheerful temperament, and their clingy appearance. Their hearts could melt.


    She drew a picture of a little cat chasing after a butterfly. Her drawing skills were extraordinary. The cat was charmingly naive, and the butterfly danced in the air.


    Although it wasn''t colored, she still felt this painting was beautiful.


    Qiao Mai was about to start embroidering, but after some thought, she cut off a corner of the muslin and soaked it under the sun for a while. Seeing no change, she sat in front of the cloth and began to embroider.


    Time flew when there was work to do. In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.


    She didn''t feel hungry even though she didn''t eat in the morning or at noon. Qiao Mai was focused on her embroidery. If it weren''t for the sound of knocking, she would still be embroidering.


    Qiao Mai smiled when she opened the door and saw Shopkeeper Lu.


    "Sister, why are you here?"


    "You said you were going to the cloth shop today, so I wanted toe over."


    "Where are Ruxin and the others?"


    "They went home."


    Qiao Mai weed her into the house and to the table. Shopkeeper Lu picked up her cloth support.


    "Oh, you embroidered it as soon as you brought it back?"


    "Yeah, I''ve been eating Sister Lu''s food for free for 20 days. I can''t do nothing, right?"


    "How''s your body?"


    "Everything''s fine."


    "Don''t embroider at night. It hurts your eyes."


    "Got it."


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at the cloth support without raising her head. It seemed that she was very satisfied with the embroidery work. Qiao Mai used an entire afternoon to embroider a butterfly. Whether it was the color matching or the embroidery, she could pick no ws.


    "Tsk tsk, the cloth, paired with this embroidery, is really amazing."


    "I''ll bring the embroidery work to the shopter. If Ruxin and Ruyi can embroider, I can give them some pointers as long as they don''t mind."

 Chapter 12: The Space Has Really Mutated

    <h4>Chapter 12: The Space Has Really Mutated</h4>


    Shopkeeper Lu felt good after hearing this. It was something she would beg for.


    If both her daughters could learn double-sided embroidery from Madam Qiao, the matchmakers that came to propose marriage would have to re-weigh their importance. After marrying, their inws could not be negligent either.


    "Sister, why are you so likable? My two girls love to sew and mend. My embroidery skills are below average, so I can''t teach them anything. There''s no good embroiderydy around either."


    "It''s rare for you to have such a heart. I thank you on behalf of the children. This is a pie that fell from the sky! How can I dislike it? Oh, I owe you a big favor."


    "What are you talking about, sister? Without you, I wouldn''t even survive, let alone have the life I have now."


    "Hehe, I realized our personalities are really simr. Is this fate?"


    Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai chatted for a while before leaving. Qiao Mai closed the door and went to the kitchen. She looked at the oil and salt and was worried.


    She really didn''t know how to cook. She was already sick of porridge, eggs, and brown sugar water and wanted to change her taste.


    She used her mind to look at the space. The little fellow was chewing on her hand.


    Forget it. She won''t cook anymore. She''ll eat something ready-to-eat.


    After locking the door, she brought the embroidery into her space. She took care of Ling''er before looking for food on the shelf.


    She realized something big once she started searching.


    Qiao Mai stared at the bread for a long time. She remembered she had eaten three in one go. That ce should have been empty. Why was there still more?


    Also, why were the snacks she ate all still there?


    Wait, there was still the white wine. She quickly returned to the room and looked at the wine bottle on the table. The half-drunk wine was full.


    Oh my god, did she discover a new function in her space?


    As long as it was something in her space, it could be copied after consumption!


    Qiao Mai couldn''t believe it, so she took a bag of bread from the shelf and ate it quickly. She threw the packet on the ground, and it disappeared in a moment. She didn''t look at it but stared at the ce where she had taken the bread.


    About fifteen minutester, a bag of bread that looked the same appeared.


    The womanughed wildly and danced, wishing she could jump into the sky.


    "Space, I love you to death. This is too f*cking heaven-defying. Purification, replication... What other functions do you have? Hurry up and show up. Make my jaw drop! Haha, that''s great. I can win in ancient times. Hahaha!"


    Qiao Mai stopped embroidery and began to experiment with one thing after another.


    After that, she concluded that any consumable item could be replicated. For example, if she ate or used anything, it could be replicated into an identical item.


    She also tested the bullets in her silent pistol. Bullets should be considered consumables, right?


    However, the bullet shot out was not consumable because it was not damaged or lost its original appearance when fired. Therefore, the space would not replicate it.


    Only when something was truly gone or damaged and unusable would the space rece it.


    Presumably, this function only appeared after transmigrating here. It didn''t exist before. Did this mean that the space had mutated?


    Qiao Mai then thought of the red ginseng water in the thermos sk and immediately returned to her room to open the cap.


    The ginseng roots were still inside. The red ginseng water was filled up and hot.


    After such a long time, the ginseng water was still hot? Even a thermos had to have a time limit.


    She knew it. Why didn''t she suspect anything every time she poured water?


    Qiao Mai seemed to have discovered another function of the space, which was heat preservation. No, there was something else. She had been here for almost a month, but the temperature in the refrigerator was still the same. There was also the freezer. In other words, it also had preservation functions.


    Qiao Mai bit her lips and thought, "Before I came here, I had a power generation system in my space."


    In her previous life, she would connect the cable in the space to an external socket whenever she was free. At that time, the refrigerator, freezer, andputer all used this system. She could do whatever she wanted in the space.


    But now? There was no electricity in ancient times, so why was the refrigerator still functioning normally?


    Could the space also replenish the consumption of electricity?


    If that were the case, it would be too terrifying. This space was truly heaven-defying.


    Qiao Mai patted her chest to calm herself down. These functions were even more exciting than when she first activated the space.


    She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Then, she went into the room and looked at theptop on the desk.


    She had spent tens of thousands of yuan to buy it. It was unbelievably fast.


    She opened theptop nervously and pressed the power button. The main screen appeared three secondster.


    Her hand, holding the mouse, was trembling. She opened the browser and prayed to the heavens in her heart, hoping it was the one she was looking forward to.


    When she saw the scene in her mind, she stood up excitedly and ran out of the house to roar at the sky.


    "Haha, awesome!! Space, you''re really awesome. I''m impressed by you. This time, not only did you bring electricity, but you also brought the Inte."


    Qiao Mai was so happy she ran a few rounds between the house and the shelves. She was so excited.


    She would not be bored in ancient times anymore. With the Inte, she could learn things from ancient times and search for them online. It would not be a problem for her to cook if she wanted to.


    Did she have to be so awesome? She was going crazy!


    Qiao Mai couldn''t believe it and pinched herself hard.


    "Hiss, that hurts."


    She sat at the table again and browsed the web. When she saw the shopping website, she paused for a moment. If only she could mail the things from that world to this ce.


    It seemed that the express delivery service had not reached this level yet.


    Sure enough, she could see the product after clicking on it. However, she could not write a word in the buyer''s address column.


    It seemed that this function was still to be developed. As expected of a top student, she had thought too far ahead.


    After the excitement died down, it was alreadyte at night. Thinking she had to wake up early the next day, Qiao Mai turned off herptop andy on the bed.


    She couldn''t fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. The next morning, she had deep eye bags. It was obvious that she didn''t sleep well.


    After taking good care of Ling''er, Qiao Mai stayed with her for a while. Once she fell asleep, Qiao Mai shed out of the space.


    She washed up first, then ran around the house for more than tenps and practiced a set of fist techniques. She sweated all over and quickly entered the space to remove the sweat stains on her body.


    She took out a packet of instant noodles, ham, and a few prawns.


    She made a bowl of luxurious instant noodles for herself in the kitchen. After eating, she looked at the weather and ced the embroidery work in an exquisite basket. She hung it on her arm and locked the courtyard door before going to Ruyi Embroidery Manor.


    Not long after the shop opened, Shopkeeper Lu saw her and quickly waved at her.


    "You''re so early."


    "It''s consideredte. In the past, I used to wake up before dawn. Now, I don''t have to work and only care about myself. I''m already content to be able to sleep until now."


    "You''re destined to work. Did you stay upte yesterday?"


    "No, I just can''t sleep."


    Qiao Mai found a ce not in the way and sat. She took out the work in the basket and began to embroider.


    "Have you eaten?"


    "Yes."


    Shopkeeper Lu sat on her side and watched quietly. Not long after, her two daughters came over.


    "Mother, Auntie Qiao, good morning."


    "Morning!"


    There was nothing much to do at the moment. The two stood by Qiao Mai''s side and watched carefully.


    Qiao Mai raised her head and smiled at them. "Double-sided embroidery may seem magical, but it''s also one of the many embroidery techniques. When you embroider it, you must first cut the thread neatly, and the needle must be vertical. You can''t pierce the thread on the opposite side like this..."

 Chapter 13: I Will Definitely Keep It a Secret

    <h4>Chapter 13: I Will Definitely Keep It a Secret</h4>


    She embroidered slowly to let the two girls observe. The sisters already had a foundation in their embroidery skills, so she only needed to give them some pointers.


    One taught seriously, while the other two learned.


    "Alright, you guys find a piece of cloth to practice on first. You can''t bite off more than you can chew."


    "Yes, Auntie Qiao!"


    Shopkeeper Lu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed emotionally.


    "Why are you so generous? You teach them like it''s nothing. With such good craftsmanship, they should at least give you a master''s salute. If you teach them so casually, it will make us look petty."


    "If you feel bad about it, I can take them as my disciples. Ruxin and Ruyi are good children, and it''s not a bad deal. However, I''m a married woman who was divorced. I''m afraid it''ll be bad for their reputation if they take me as their master."


    "You didn''t do anything wrong. What''s there to lose your reputation about? What does learning embroidery have to do with your reputation?"


    Shopkeeper Lu quickly got up and went to the inner room to prepare tea. She called the sisters in and gave them some instructions before the family of three came out.


    The two formally bowed to Qiao Mai, and Qiao Mai dly epted these disciples.


    She liked embroidery, but it was only her hobby. She couldn''t make a living by doing it for years. She epted them so they could carry forward the embroidery she had learned and repay Shopkeeper Lu''s kindness.


    Shopkeeper Lu was so happy that tears welled in her eyes when she saw Qiao Mai take in her daughters as disciples.


    "Sister, I don''t even know how to thank you."


    "Sister Lu, there''s no need to be so polite with me. Compared to my life, this is nothing."


    "I''m not a fool. I know what''s light and what''s heavy. In short, I sincerely thank you."


    "In front of you three, I won''t say anything else. The fact that you acknowledged me as your master needs to be kept to ourselves. Don''t spread it. In the eyes of outsiders, I''m just a worker learning embroidery in the shop."


    "I know. I''ll definitely keep it a secret for you."


    After a while, customers came to the shop. Shopkeeper Lu started to get busy. Qiao Mai lowered her head and was embroidering in the innermost part of the shop.


    The people who came here were all girls and women from the nearby viges. Customers came every day.


    The news that Qiao Mai worked in the shop had been spread far since Madam Zhou Du recognized her.


    At the same time, Qiao Mai''s matter was also discussed as an interesting piece of news in the town and viges.


    In addition to Madam Zhou Du''s big mouth, some people who came to the embroidery workshop for amission all looked inside.


    Usually, there were only three people in the embroidery workshop. Now, there was a fourth person, and it was a young woman. They could guess who this person was.


    "Hey, is that Madam Qiao, who was almost tortured to death by the Tian family?"


    "It must be. Didn''t someone say she was working in Shopkeeper Lu''s shop? Shopkeeper Lu only had her two daughters here. That person was her, right?"


    After a while, a woman from Peach Blossom Vige came. Qiao Mai didn''t know her, but someone did.


    Everyone immediately pulled her and asked," Hey, Zhang. Look, is that person from your vige?"


    The Zhang family member scratched her head and curled her lips.


    "Who else could it be? The news has spread in our vige that Madam Qiao has won the favor of a benefactor and is now working in the embroidery workshop."


    "Oh, she''s really lucky."


    "Look, tsk tsk. She looks like a proper human now. She''s sitting there pretending. Why did this good fortune go to her? Pfft!"


    Some were jealous; some were mocking; some were disdainful; some were resentful.


    They thought Qiao Mai got lucky with a good deal. It should have been them. God was really blind.


    They didn''t dare to say anything in the shop and stood outside. Even so, Qiao Mai heard their conversation.


    Qiao Mai ignored such tant abuse. She just lowered her head and did what she should do.


    There were all kinds of people who liked to gossip. If she got mad about this, she would have died of anger long ago.


    Shopkeeper Lu also heard it at the counter. She coughed heavily and said loudly to the door.


    "Someone is still not poor enough. The ones starving and looking for food won''t talk behind people''s backs. If you don''t want to get a job, say it. Stop talking about my people. I don''t wee you!"


    When the women outside heard Shopkeeper Lu''s words, their faces all turned red. If it were a viger, they would have turned hostile long ago.


    They couldn''t afford to offend Shopkeeper Lu and didn''t dare to offend her either. Therefore, when they heard this, they immediately dispersed and went back to doing what they were supposed to do.


    Watching them leave, Shopkeeper Lu rolled her eyes and spat outside.


    "A bunch of vige women who love to gossip. I''m not afraid of them nagging, but I''m afraid they will turn white into ck. There are even people who jump into the river because of these people. It''s not an exaggeration to say that they can kill people. I hate people like this the most."


    Qiao Mai smiled but did not raise her head.


    "Suicide is too fragile. Other people have mouths. We can''t seal them all, right? It''s enough to know I am innocent."


    "You have a generous heart, but I don''t. If I find out which bastard dares to frame me, I''ll definitely smash their head."


    Qiao Mai smiled and didn''t say anything else. She didn''t want to talk. She rarely talked about things that could be solved with her fists.


    Therefore, she would not argue with those who were vile. If she were angered, she would only quietly settle the other party so they would never be able to bully her. She was not a good person.


    Before she came here, she had killed countless people. Some were good, and some were evil. Although she had no choice, she still killed them.


    Therefore, she would kill whoever touched her for Ling''er and herself in this ce. If someone wanted to kill her with their mouth, she would not be polite to that person and use her hands to finish them off.


    A trace of killing intent shed in Qiao Mai''s eyes. This type of person was not worth her taking action. She had to focus on the present and wait until she had a firm foothold here.


    In the blink of an eye, another ten days flew by. She had been here for nearly a month.


    In this month, she had gained nearly 20 pounds of meat. Her face had also swelled up, and her hands were no longer like chicken ws.


    It was easier to gain weight than to lose weight. After a month, her body had basically returned to normal.


    Qiao Mai''s little face was ruddy. Her eyebrows were thin and curved, and her single eyelids were especially lively.


    She smiled at everyone she met, making people involuntarily have a good impression of her.


    Her loose clothes covered her petite body. If it weren''t for her hairstyle, people would think she was a little girl.


    One day in the middle of March, she cut the embroidery thread, took a pair of scissors and cut it along the outer circle of the embroidery, and used a thread to sew the outer edge of the cloth neatly.


    Just as she was gesturing on the fan frame to see how to stretch the cloth, a couple came in from outside the shop.


    The counter was at the door, and Shopkeeper Lu was inside checking out today''s ounts. She felt that someone had entered the shop, so she looked up. It was not an important customer, so she would let her daughter handle it.


    However, she felt something was wrong. She raised her head again and looked at the couple.


    "Excuse me, are you here to buy embroidery or to take on a job?"


    "We, we''re looking for someone!"


    The angry couple looked as if they were looking for a fight.


    Shopkeeper Lu was a smart person. She looked at Qiao Mai and raised her head.


    When she saw the Tian family couple, she ced the embroidery work on the table and immediately walked over.


    "So it''s you guys. Are you here to look for me?"


    "Yes, you ck-hearted person. What did you say when you left the Tian family?"


    When Old Tian and Madam Tian Li mentioned this, Qiao Mai immediately understood what was going on.


    "It''s really the same as always. You can''t wait to me everything on me. There are so many people in the vige who know about this. Why did you only look for me?"


    "If I don''t look for you, who should I look for? You''re the one who''s spouting nonsense outside."


    Shopkeeper Lu was unhappy when she heard that. She immediately stood up and walked over to stand beside Qiao Mai.


    "Go inside and do your work. I''m here."


    Qiao Mai smiled at her and lowered her head to continued working.

 Chapter 14: What’s With the Trouble

    <h4>Chapter 14: What''s With the Trouble</h4>


    Shopkeeper Lu''s face darkened as she looked at the Tian family.


    "Back then, she was about to die when she came to town. It was I, Lu Sanniang, who spent a lot of money to save her life. Now, she''s working for me."


    "She rarely spoke, and I have never seen her tell anyone about her past. Don''te to my shop to look for trouble. Go back to your vige and ask those gossipy women."


    "How secretive do you think this was? If you continue to do what you did today and start to push sh*t on my people, be careful that I will make you suffer."


    Madam Tian Li''s anger was ignited. She wasn''t afraid of Shopkeeper Lu and immediately put her hands on her waist and puffed out her chest like a rooster in a fight.


    "What does it have to do with you that I''m teaching my daughter-inw a lesson?"


    "Bullsh*t! You wrote the letter of release for more than a month. Who is your daughter-inw? How shameless. Qiao Mai is my embroidery girl. I bought her with money. Who the f*ck do you think you are?"


    "Pah, don''t think I''m afraid of you because you''re running a small shop in town. My son is studying in town and will be a high official in the future. Be careful not to provoke me. I''ll make you go to prison."


    Shopkeeper Lu had one hand on her waist and the other holding a handkerchief as she pointed at Madam Tian Li.


    "He''s only been studying for two years. What are you showing off for? You can do whatever you want in your vige. It''s not like there aren''t any Elementary Schrs in town. Be careful that your grandson can''t get in when the timees. You can forget about your old face."


    Shopkeeper Lu returned Madam Tian Li''s insults with ten times the firepower. Madam Tian Li was a shrew in the vige, after all. If she couldn''t win, she would sit on the ground and y dumb.


    Lu Sanniang stood at the door of her shop and roared.


    "Who''s going to run errands and report to the mayor that someone is causing trouble in my shop?"


    "I, I''ll go!"


    Someone raised his hand and ran away. Madam Tian Li, who was on the ground, was so scared that she did not dare to cry. However, the show had already started. How could she get up without a way out?


    Madam Tian Li stole a nce at Old Tian and used her eyes to ask the head of the family.


    Old Tian knew his family was not in the right. Even the people in the nown. It was possible that the Qiao family also knew about it. This matter had spread a long time ago.


    They hade to cause a ruckus because they wanted to see if Qiao Mai was valued by Shopkeeper Lu.


    They wanted to inquire about the situation. They thought that Qiao Mai might not only have a monthly sry, but she could also learn craftsmanship. She used to like Sanzhuang quite a lot. If it was possible, it would be best if they could coax her back. That way, there would be someone to work at home, and she could earn more money.


    It was really too money-consuming to raise a schr. They would not let go of any ideas they coulde up with.


    Unfortunately, Shopkeeper Lu had stopped them outside the door and did not speak nicely. That was why Madam Tian Li started fighting with Lu Sanniang.


    When the two saw that someone had gone to invite the mayor, Old Tian shouted at Madam Tian Li.


    "What are you doing? Get up now. You''re embarrassing me."


    Madam Tian Li then quickly scrambled up and stood at the side as if afraid of men.


    Old Tian cupped his hands at Shopkeeper Lu. "I''m sorry. My wife was muddle-headed."


    "Humph."


    "The two of us came here to find Madam Qiao to verify. After all, my eldest grandson is studying, and this old man doesn''t want this matter to affect his future."


    "umte more virtue if you don''t want that to happen. The daughter you''re torturing is someone else''s daughter, not yours. You didn''t buy her either."


    "Yes, yes, I didn''t teach my wife enough."


    Shopkeeper Lu was knowledgeable. How could the couple be husband and wife if they are not the same type of people? Both of them looked mean.


    Putting everything else aside, Qiao Mai had already divorced, yet they still came to find her. They were shameless.


    They would plead their case in court if they had the ability. Even a fool knew why they came here.


    They thought Qiao Mai was still the same person who was easy to deal with. They would scare her and then coax her back after promising her some benefits.


    After observing Madam Qiao for the past two days, Lu Sanniang found that Qiao Mai was an opinionated person. She would not be tricked back by their words.


    Sure enough, just as Shopkeeper Lu stood up for Qiao Mai, Qiao Mai ignored the Tian family and calmly sat there and finished thest procedure of the pce fan.


    From this point, she could tell Qiao Mai had long given up on the Tian family and would not return at all.


    That was why they were scolding each other just now. She, Lu Sanniang, had been in town for many years. She was not someone to be trifled with. She was capable and shrewish. Most importantly, she did notck money.


    In awsuit, as long as she wanted to win, the other party would not have a good ending even if she was in the wrong once the money was in ce.


    Despite society praising farmers, everyone knew that those with no money or power were at the lowest level of the hierarchy.


    Don''t look down on merchants. At the very least, merchants have money in their hands, and their lives are better than those of peasants.


    Money could make the world go round. Without money, officials were still looked down upon.


    Old Tian knew this very well, so he did not dare to let his wife cause a ruckus with Shopkeeper Lu. After saying a few soft words, Old Tian was about to take Madam Tian Li away.


    After Qiao Mai finished the embroidery work, she put the fan into an exquisite wooden box and called out to Old Tian, who was about to leave.


    "Wait!"


    At this moment, the people in the town were crowded. She calmly came to the shop entrance and looked down at the people from the Tian family.


    "This is the first time and also thest time. I will definitely do what I promised you. Also, since I have left the Tian family, I will not return."


    "In the future, if you find an excuse to cause trouble, we''ll see each other in court. There''s nothing between us anymore. I won''t be beaten even if I sue you. I believe you won''t be stupid."


    Old Tian and Madam Tian Li snorted coldly after hearing this. They turned around and were about to leave. They did not expect that before the mayor came, Qiao Mai''s biological parents arrived. What a coincidence.


    Qiao Mai knew she would have to face them sooner orter. This matter had long spread to Lihua Vige. Now that they had found her, the Qiao family must have observed her for a long time before making up their minds.


    In the feudal era, no matter if a woman was divorced or separated peacefully, her reputation would be tarnished.


    Some maiden families immediately cut ties with their daughters when they heard of it. Some directly refused to see their daughters. If Qiao Mai''s health allowed it, she would have returned to her family. She would have cut ties with them if possible and ended everything once and for all.


    Shopkeeper Lu didn''t expect Madam Qiao''s inws and maiden family to arrive one after the other.


    "Sister?"


    "Sister Lu, don''t worry. Watch the show from behind. I can handle it."


    A couple squeezed into the crowd. The man was called Qiao Shicheng, and he was not tall. The woman was Madam Qiao Lu, and she was thin and weak. She was about forty years old, and her back was slightly arched. Her clothes were patched, and she looked haggard. She carried a bamboo basket on her back.


    When they saw Qiao Mai, they couldn''t believe she was their daughter.


    Madam Qiao Lu stared at Qiao Mai with a hesitant look, her lips trembling as she tried to call out.


    "Mai?"


    When Qiao Mai saw this couple, her memories were like a flood with an open gate. The bits and pieces of the original owner''s life in her maiden family seemed toe back to her.


    She stared at them and asked coldly.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Madam Qiao Lu''s tears immediately flowed out. "Are you really my Mai?"


    "Mai? No, I''m not your Mai. I''m Lihua Vige''s Qiao family''s money-losing b*tch."


    Madam Qiao Lu was about to speak when Qiao Shicheng, who was beside her, strode forward and attacked Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai dodged to the side, and he was so mad that he pointed at Qiao Mai and cursed.


    "You shameless slut. After marrying a man, you should stay in your inws'' house to serve your husband and raise your children. Who gave you the guts to ask the Tian family for a release letter? What? Since you were married, you would be a member of the Tian family in life and a ghost of the Tian family in death. Shameless thing. You''ve really disgraced my Qiao family."


    Qiao Mai suddenly felt relieved. No wonder the original owner didn''t have any hatred. It turned out that the girls taught in such a family lived and died for their inws when they grew up. What kind of nonsense was this?

 Chapter 15: F*cking Bullsh*t

    <h4>Chapter 15: F*cking Bullsh*t</h4>


    "Uncle, I remember that on the day I left the Qiao family, you said I would never be allowed to enter the door again. Does this mean that I, Qiaomai, have nothing to do with the Qiao family anymore?"


    "Bullsh*t. A married daughter is like spilled water. That''s because you want to devote yourself to your inws. Otherwise, do you think your mother and I woulde to settle scores with you after you did such a shameless thing? You unfilial thing, calling me uncle."


    Qiao Mai sneered, "So that''s what you mean? I really misunderstood. Other people''s daughters are pampered at their parents'' homes. When they get married, their parents will support them, but what about my parents?"


    "Why don''t you take a look at the conditions of our family?"


    Madam Qiao Lu wiped her tears and sobbed softly at the side. Qiao Shicheng, a man, argued with Qiao Mai.


    "Hmph, what conditions? We''re poor. I''m not afraid of suffering. I''m afraid of my own parents not treating me as a human being. Why would others pity your daughter?"


    "My life in the Tian family is worse than that in yours. I''m treated worse than an animal. I was kicked by my mother-inw and had a miscarriage. I don''t believe you guys in the neighboring vige don''t know."


    "You said I''m embarrassing myself, but tell me what I''m embarrassing myself about? Is it wrong for me to want to live? If I steal and cheat with a man, I won''t me you even if you beat me to death."


    "But look at what you''ve done! For a hundred catties of wheat, you sold your daughter to such an evil family. The child in my stomach was born prematurely."


    "It was done by the Tian family. My life didn''t stay in the Tian family, but my child''s life did. The murderer will be punished by the heavens sooner orter."


    "I don''t owe the Tian family anything, nor do I owe you anything. You sold me for a hundred catties of wheat, which provided you with a few meals so your grandchildren won''t have to starve anymore."


    "I, Qiaomai, have already used the life of the child in my stomach to repay your kindness. I left the Tian family and did not go back to look for you. Thew is clear."


    "I will follow my husband when I get married, follow my son when I don''t have a husband, and follow myself when I don''t have a son. I''m not under the control of the Qiao family now. I can make my own decisions. I don''t need you to lecture me here."


    The Qiao couple was stunned by her words. Was she still their daughter?


    "You... How can you say such disgraceful words?"


    "What? Is it wrong for me to want to live? Do I deserve to be tortured to death by the Tian family? Even if you are willing, I am not. My life is up to me, not the heavens. Whoever dares to take my life, I will fight to the death with them."


    Madam Qiao Lu looked at Qiao Mai with lingering fear. "You, you''re not my daughter. You''re not."


    "It''s the best if I''m not. Then what are you doing here?"


    Old Tian and Madam Tian Li initially wanted to watch the show from the side and let Qiao Mai''s parents deal with her.


    They didn''t expect that with these words, Qiao Mai had exposed the Tian family''s evil deeds. The two didn''t dare to get angry. There were too many people watching. They were afraid of being pointed at and affecting their grandson''s career.


    "Come home with us!"


    Qiao Shicheng still thought that Qiao Mai was easy to manipte.


    "Sure. Do you have the silver to redeem me from Shopkeeper Lu?"


    "What is it? You sold yourself to Shopkeeper Lu?"


    "What else? Do you think a dying person can appear before you alive?"


    The Qiao couple looked at each other when they heard that Qiao Mai had sold herself. Qiao Shicheng gritted his teeth.


    "You shameless thing. You actually learned how to sell yourself?"


    "Do you mean you want me to wait for my death?"


    Qiao Shicheng couldn''t care less about the others pointing at him. "How much did you sell? Give me the money!"


    "I''m sorry to disappoint you. The only reason I''m still alive is because Shopkeeper Lu saved me. From start to finish, she spent twenty taels of silver. Now, I''m working at her shop to pay off my debts. Even if I''m fine, how much can I sell a hundred catties of wheat for?"


    The couple didn''t hear anything else except Qiao Mai saying she still owed Shopkeeper Lu twenty taels of silver.


    Twenty taels of silver! His family only had one or two taels of silver to chew on in a year. This amount of silver could feed them for more than ten years without a problem.


    The husband and wife were heartbroken, and Qiao Shicheng was so angry that his body trembled.


    "You money-losing thing. You spent twenty taels of silver!? Are you worth that money? You prodigal thing, I, I''ll beat you to death."


    Shopkeeper Lu was beside Qiao Mai at this time. Looking at the faces of the Qiao family, she could not help but be angry.


    "Bah, try hitting her. If I didn''t save her, she would have died long ago. Do you still have the chance to cause trouble here? Motherf*cker, I''ve never seen people like you who don''t treat your daughter as a human being. It''s fine if you push her into the fire pit, but when your daughter escaped from the fire pit, you did not care about her. But rather, you insulted her. In your eyes, there was only that bit of silver. Madam Qiao really had eight lifetimes of bad luck to be born in your family."


    "Shopkeeper Lu, this is our family matter. Please don''t interfere."


    "Bullsh*t. She sold herself to me now. She''s my family. That''s a ve contract, understand? Don''t even think about asking for her sry in the future. She''s a person with a ve contract. It''s already good enough for me to give her warmth and food. What sry do you need?"


    "I, I don''t believe it. Master Lu, please let us take her home?"


    "Are you two stupid? She''s already divorced. She can go anywhere she wants. She''s no longer under your control. Also, she''s now a servant of my family, understand? If you want to bring her back, sure. Twenty taels of silver for saving her life, five taels of silver for needlework, clothes, jewelry, and food. I have to calcte all of them. She owes me thirty taels of silver. Pay up!"


    Qiao Shicheng''s face turned red from embarrassment. "Shopkeeper Lu, you''re making fun of me. How can a family like ours have so much silver?"


    "If you don''t have that much silver, why are you b*llshitting? Why did youe to my shop? You and the Tian family can''t leave today. We have to argue with the mayor."


    After saying that, a heavy cough sounded. "Lu Sanniang, I''ve been watching the show for a long time."


    The surroundingmoners hurriedly took a step back to let the mayor appear.


    The mayor''s surname was Qian, and he looked to be in his fifties. He had a beard, was of medium height, and was well-dressed. There were two guards behind him.


    Lu Sanniang covered her mouth and giggled. She took Qiao Mai''s hand and walked to the mayor.


    "Greetings to the mayor."


    The two bowed at him. He had seen Qiao Mai''s anger at the Qiao couple and the Tian couple just now.


    He was neither unhappy nor happy. There was no joy or worry on his face.


    In front of so manymoners, the mayor first nced at the Tian family.


    "Thew clearly states that a daughter-inw is also raised by her parents. She can''t be abused or killed. You didn''t handle this well, and this matter has spread like wildfire."


    "Not only was the reputation of Peach Blossom Vige damaged, but Tianshui Town was also dragged down. This was the first reason. Secondly, she was pregnant and should have been treated well at home."


    "However, you kicked a seven-month-pregnant woman just to make her work. You''re really vicious. It''s fine if you''re an ignorant vige woman, but you even have a schr at home. It''s too shameless."


    The Tian couple regretteding here. They had lost all their honor. They lowered their heads and listened to the mayor''s lecture.


    "I heard you even used the excuse that your daughter-inw was cheating to torture her. The Tian family is really a good example of a farming and schr family."


    The Tian couple''s heads were almost lowered to the bottom of their shoes as they sighed deeply.


    "Everyone is here today, so I have to say something. Farmers should be honest. You must not learn from the Tian family and bring shame to your vige and our town. If such a thing happens again, leave your vige and Tianshui Town with your family. We don''t wee such vicious families here."


    "The mayor is right. They have embarrassed us. What animals! After doing such evil deeds, they still have the face toe to the town and cause trouble. Shameless animals, get out of Tianshui Town!"


    Old Tian wanted to close his eyes and faint. He had lost a lot of pride today. In the future, when he came to the town, he would probably have to cover his face.

 Chapter 16: Breaking Off Kinship

    <h4>Chapter 16: Breaking Off Kinship</h4>


    After lecturing the Tian family, the mayor nced at the trembling Qiao couple. The two were so scared that their legs went weak.


    "As your daughter, it''s really unfortunate. You don''t feel sorry for your own flesh. Your daughter is about to be tortured to death. Instead of feeling sorry for her, youin. Let me tell you. She did the right thing. Your daughter is not a girl bought by the Tian family. It''s right that she doesn''t want to be abused by them. It''s also right for her to leave. You scolded her and found her embarrassing. Why do you want her home?"


    Qiao Shicheng didn''t know what to say. He couldn''t possibly say he wanted to sell his daughter again to feed the family, right?


    He couldn''t say it, nor did he have the face.


    However, his family was really in trouble. At this time, people were gued by famine. There was not much food left after paying the public grain. There were still two months left until the middle of May. It was impossible to open the pot.


    "M-Mayor, my family is really in a difficult situation. She''s not in the Tian family now and living so well, so, we, we¡­"


    "Wait, how is she well?"


    "She, she dresses well, and she doesn''t have to do farm work."


    "That''s it?" The mayor shook his head. "She was dressed well because she sold herself to Shopkeeper Lu. The clothes and jewelry belonged to Shopkeeper Lu, not her. She did not have to do farm work, but she had to do the work Shopkeeper Lu arranged for her to pay off her debts. You guys were still free, but what about her? Have you thought about it?"


    Qiao Shicheng''s head was stiff, and he looked unconvinced. It seemed he was determined to plunder some things from Qiao Mai today.


    "But it''s not easy for us to raise her."


    Qiao Mai looked coldly at this poor, cold, and heartless couple who only had their son in their eyes.


    "Didn''t you guys exchange a hundred catties of wheat for the favor of raising her?"


    "No, that''s a betrothal gift. We just didn''t give you a dowry."


    Qiao Mai understood he was going back on his words. Shopkeeper Lu''s heart also moved, but she did not interrupt.


    "Then tell me a number. Let''s see how I''ll repay your favor for raising me. I already owe Shopkeeper Lu twenty taels of silver, and my sry is a hundred coins a month. I have to repay Shopkeeper Lu for twenty years. Name your price and let me see if I can repay Shopkeeper Lu''s debt when I die."


    Her words made the surroundingmonersugh. She was openly mocking the Qiao couple.


    Anyway, it was not the first time they had encountered such ridicule. They were poor and short-sighted, thus discriminated against wherever they went.


    "F-five taels of silver?"


    This was the number Qiao Shicheng had said through gritted teeth. After all, it was much more than the 100 catties of wheat.


    "Write the Letter of Disownment and let the mayor be the witness. After you receive the silver, you are no longer my parents."


    "Then, then ten taels!"


    Qiao Mai''s eyes suddenly turned red. She wiped her tears and said sadly.


    "Alright, to repay you for raising me, I''m willing to sacrifice my freedom for the next few decades. We''ll go our separate ways and have no rtionship. Is there a kind-hearted person who can help write a disownment document?"


    "I''ll do it."


    The mayor nced at the unremarkable Qiao Mai.


    "Madam Qiao, have you thought it through?"


    "Yes. Father and Mother''s family are poor. There''s not muchnd at home. It doesn''t matter if I work to death for Shopkeeper Lu as long as they are alive."


    As she spoke, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and sighed.


    "Since ancient times, parents rely on their sons to support them in their old age. When a daughter marries, she belongs to the husband''s family. Even if she gets divorced, the family will not allow her to support them. I didn''t expect the Qiao family would rather break off their ties and ask for this money. There are really quite several people like this. It seems if they don''t study, they don''t know the etiquette. They don''t know what parents are and what kinship is. Sigh."


    The mayor was like a guide, exining to the townspeople.


    A kind bystander wrote two Letters of Disownment for Qiao Mai. The ink and pen were provided by Shopkeeper Lu. She asked the person to write a promissory note and handed it to Shopkeeper Lu.


    "This is a promissory note for ten taels of silver. In the future, I will work for you for another ten years."


    "Girl, think carefully. You''ll have to work for me for thirty years. By then, you''ll be old."


    "Let me return the favor to my parents first. They are waiting for the silver to buy food."


    Her words made it seem like Qiao Mai was a sensible and filial daughter.


    Qiao Mai borrowed ten taels of silver from Shopkeeper Lu and came to Qiao Shicheng with the Letter of Disownment.


    "If you press your fingerprint, this is yours."


    Qiao Shicheng took the document without hesitation. Qiao Mai handed over the ink pad with red eyes. He poked his finger inside and pressed it on the document.


    The Qiao couple both signed.


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath and handed over the silver.


    "After you take the silver, we will be strangers. In the future, you cannot disturb Shopkeeper Lu again. She is my savior."


    Just like that, Qiao Shicheng and his wife lowered their heads and walked out of the crowd with silver in their hands.


    Old Tian and his wife followed behind and rushed out of the crowd.


    They didn''t look at the calendar when they went out today. It was fine if they offended Shopkeeper Lu, but even the mayor had a problem with them.


    Originally, this matter only spread in secret. Now that it had been confirmed on the surface, how could the Tian family go out in the future?


    The Tian family was thick-skinned. They could bully their daughter-inw, so they were not afraid of others knowing.


    The only one who could not go out was their eldest grandson.


    Tian Yaozu, 13 years old, studying in a private school in town. He might have to take the exam this year.


    He had known about this for a long time but pretended not to know. Qiao Mai usually didn''t make a fuss and had been silently enduring it. At most, the vige would gossip a few words.


    What he didn''t expect was that Qiao Mai dared to rebel against the Tian family. This was something he never dreamed of.


    Moreover, it had even spread to his teacher and ssmates. His teacher and his ssmates asked, making his face burn.


    After he returned to the Qiao family during a break, he told his old man about this matter and asked them to solve it. It would be better if they could coax Qiao Mai back. If they couldn''t, they could go to town to show their face and express their concern.


    He didn''t expect things to go contrary to his wishes. With Madam Tian Li''s personality, she ruined things with just her mouth. She wondered how her grandson wouldin when he returned home.


    After the mayor chased away the onlookers, Shopkeeper Lu hurriedly bowed to the mayor.


    "Thank you, sir, for upholding justice for us women today."


    "This mayor is merely judging impartially. Later, I will remind the vige chief of Peach Blossom Vige and the Lihua Vige not to make this happen again. It will be too embarrassing if it spreads to other towns."


    "That''s right. Even though they''re happy to torment people now, they''ll definitely suffer when they get old. Such things must be properly managed. Otherwise, who would dare to marry off their daughter in the future? When the mother-inw and daughter-inw fight, it''ll be so chaotic. Don''t you think?"


    "That makes sense."


    The mayor smiled, nced at Shopkeeper Lu, and then turned to leave.


    The embroidery workshop finally regained its peace. Shopkeeper Lu pulled Qiao Mai into the room and screamed when she saw the finished product on the table.


    "Oh, this is really beautiful!"


    "Yeah. I didn''t have any money, so I ordered a yellow rosewood fan that cost three taels. It would be even better if I used sandalwood that cost ten taels."


    "This is already very good. I think it''s great. There''s no problem selling it for 100 taels. If you add a piece of red silk cloth as the bottom, anyone will like this fan!"


    Shopkeeper Lu turned around and went to the counter. She used a key to open the small cab behind her and took out a piece of red silk cloth. Then, she locked it and walked to the table.


    She spread the cloth inside and ced the pce fan on top.


    "Tsk tsk, what a beautiful pce fan!"


    "Why don''t we sell it in the shop?"


    "No, I''ve decided to bring it to the county town myself. I have a good friend who is the wife of a wealthy family in the county. I''ll sell it to her. She doesn''tck money. If someone fancies it, she will pass the message to me."


    "This is great. It can make our Ruyi Embroidery Manor famous faster, but I don''t ept orders."

 Chapter 17: Is There Something to Celebrate?

    <h4>Chapter 17: Is There Something to Celebrate?</h4>


    "I know, I know. I''ll make it clear to her. I''ll say that when there''s a good embroidery, I''ll send it to them or let theme to the shop."


    "This is okay."


    "Did you order this fan frame from the carpenter shop in our town?"


    "Yeah."


    "That old carpenter is the boss. His craftsmanship is amazing. You''ve found the right person to work with. How about this? I''ll tell him to make one for each shape and use high-quality wood. We''ll use it first and give him the money for the fan frame after we sell the embroidery."


    "Is that okay?"


    "Why not? The whole town knows that I don''t owe anyone money."


    "Alright, Sister Lu, can you help me order a smoky muslin from the cloth store?"


    "Don''t worry. As long as you ask me to do it, I''ll do it for you."


    "Then we''ll split it 50 - 50 in the future?"


    "Anything is fine."


    Shopkeeper Lu gently stroked the fan. The more she looked at it, the happier she felt.


    "Let''s close for lunch today and go to a restaurant. I''ll treat you to a celebration!"


    "Is this pce fan that big of a deal?"


    "How can it be the pce fan? We will celebrate you breaking away from the Qiao and Tian family."


    It seemed Shopkeeper Lu also supported Qiao Mai in breaking off her ties with her maternal family. Otherwise, she would not have prepared the silver for her when she asked for it.


    Qiao Mai used her mind to check on Ling''er. Seeing that she moved a few times and fell asleep again, she quickly found an excuse to go home.


    After entering the space, she fed Ling ''er and changed her diapers before returning to the shop.


    It seemed that she shoulde to the shop less in the future. No one was at home, so it was convenient for her to do anything. When she went to the shop, there were eyes everywhere.


    Lu Sanniang''s temperament was to her liking. When she was angry, she would vent it out. When she was happy, she would go for a drink to celebrate.


    She dared to speak and act and was especially protective of her own. Even if she had to stop the business or fight, she would rush forward to protect them.


    At noon, they ordered a few dishes and a jug of wine at a restaurant in town. Seeing that Ruxin and Ruyi could only drink water, she felt ufortable. When she had the conditions, she would let them drink fruit juice.


    After drinking a pot of wine, their faces were flushed. When they returned to the shop, Lu Sanniang had her arms around Qiao Mai''s shoulders.


    She didn''t look like a woman at all, but more like a man.


    Thinking about how a man would treat a woman, Qiao Mai couldn''t help but curl her lips.


    After sending Shopkeeper Lu to the shop, she returned home. She had handed her first embroidery to Lu Sanniang. It was up to her whether she could sell it.


    When she got home, Qiao Mai didn''t immediately start working on the next embroidery. Instead, she entered her space.


    After a month of giving birth, she could finally eat fruits and other stuff.


    She opened the fridge and took some green fruits, sat down, and started eating.


    Every time this happened, her brain would spin rapidly.


    She had to earn money openly and secretly so that no one could find any traces of her abnormality.


    Apart from embroidery, could she do some small business?


    Even though it looked decent to open a shop, it did not necessarily earn a lot of money. Don''t look down on small stalls. Some of them make more than shop owners.


    Back then, the auntie who made pancakes at the entrance of her neighborhood could earn tens of thousands of yuan a month.


    She set up a stall in the morning and closed it at noon. Nothing was dyed, and it was easy money.


    On the other hand, there was a breakfast shop opposite that opened early in the morning. It only earned a few thousand yuan.


    In this life, Qiao Mai did not have any pursuits. She was free and raising her daughter in a carefree manner. When her daughter gets married, she can have as much fun as she wants.


    Thinking of the pancakes, she drooled. She hadn''t eaten them for a long time.


    It was a pity that she didn''t know how to make it. Of course, Qiao Mai wouldn''t be able to open a stall. However, she could learn. She had the inte, so what was she afraid of?


    Even if she didn''t need to do business, she could enjoy the pancakes herself. She could also make pancakes for her daughter when she grew up.


    Qiao Mai felt that this was all she could do in this lifetime.


    Although the baby was born prematurely, with her mother''s love, Qiao Mai would definitely make her happy and make up for what she had lost.


    Qiao Mai grinned at the thought of afortable life in the future.


    Today, she took half a day off and slept with Ling''er in the space until the next morning.


    She left the space at daybreak. After cleaning up the courtyard, she began to n the second embroidery. She did not go to the shop again.


    After a few days, Shopkeeper Lu ran over excitedly.


    Qiao Mai was sunbathing in the courtyard while doing embroidery work. Shopkeeper Lu sat down at a table beside her.


    Breathing heavily, she put a cloth bag on the table with a smile. After opening it, Qiao Mai''s eyes widened.


    It turned out to be a bunch of fan frames. They were really beautiful, with all kinds of shapes and colors.


    "Where''s the box?"


    "I''m working on it. There''s a smoky muslin down there."


    "Then remember the ount properly. Don''t suffer a loss when you distribute the silver."


    Lu Sanniang rolled her eyes at her. "Look at what you''re saying. I won''t be at a disadvantage. I''ve gained a huge advantage instead. Let me tell you. Today, I saw my Xin''er drawing a pattern. The double-sided embroidery that she embroidered is already quite good."


    "Mm, after a while, they can also make pce fans. In the future, we will be three double-sided embroiderers."


    "Haha, then won''t I be rich?"


    "I have only taught them how to embroider in the same color. They still have a lot to learn."


    "Are you nning to teach them everything you know?"


    "Of course. Do you expect me to do all the work for your shop? I''ll be exhausted."


    "Hehe, I am truly grateful to you."


    "Come on. You''re so happy today. Did something good happen?"


    Lu Sanniang pursed her lips and took a cloth bag from her bosom. When she opened it, threerge silver ingots appeared.


    "This is?"


    "I didn''t even mention the price when I sold the fan. They gave me 150 taels and even introduced me to a few richdies. They all said that when I have more, I could either bring it over or send someone to inform them. They woulde over together."


    "Then ask Ruxin toe over tomorrow. I''ll draw a pattern for her tonight and let her start embroidering."


    "She just learned it not long ago. Can she get used to it?"


    "Don''t you have me? Let her embroider with me at home. I''ll give her some pointers so she can master double-sided embroidery as soon as possible."


    "Why didn''t you go to the shop?"


    "Chaos. There are always people who want to harm me."


    She almost misspoke inte ng and used a king''s pronoun. Here, she would be caught and thrown into prison.


    "Isn''t it all settled?"


    "Settled? You don''t know my family. Once the money is spent, they will start to rip me off. And the Tian family, do you think that they will let me off?"


    Lu Sanniang immediately gritted her teeth. "You''ve already sold yourself to me. Would they still have any ideas about you?"


    "Not now. Once I learn how to embroider, especially when I be the big shot in your shop, they will think of ways to coax me back. Even if they can''t, they will think of ways to make me suffer."


    "How shameless!"


    "Of course. How could they let the people they once trampled on live well?"


    "Then you can stay at home in the future. Don''t go to the shop. I won''t tell the outsiders that you are doing embroidery work. I will only tell them you are my servant, responsible for cooking and cleaning."


    "Let''s do as Sister says."


    "Then let''s split the silver?"


    "Sure."


    As she spoke, Qiao Mai took out fifty taels of silver from the cloth bag.


    "I only want these. The rest is for you."


    "Not 50 - 50?"


    "You have already spent more than thirty taels on me. These fan frames are also yours. I still have to order wooden boxes to buy muslin. Including the cost and the money I owe you, taking fifty taels is considered much."


    "Tsk tsk, you''re meticulous. Those will be my two daughters ''apprenticeship gifts."


    "No, it''s a different matter. I''m a serious person. If you don''t ept it, I won''t embroider in the future."


    "Alright, alright. You''re really stubborn."


    "Aren''t you the same?"

 Chapter 18: Blood is Thicker Than Water

    <h4>Chapter 18: Blood is Thicker Than Water</h4>


    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony. I''ll call Xin''er over tomorrow. If it doesn''t work, I''ll let her stay here."


    "No, she''s a girl. She should go back to your house."


    "Tsk, you don''t even want a girl to order around."


    "Is this what a mother should say?"


    "Haha, what''s wrong? She''s your disciple. What''s wrong with ordering her to serve you? I don''t feel sorry for her, but you do."


    Qiao Mai smiled and said, "I think you should hire two workers to help in the shop. In the future, Ruxin and Ruyi won''t be able to do the chores in the shop anymore. How much time will they waste?"


    Lu Sanniang thought about it and agreed. "Sister, what you said makes sense. Let''s buy two. They won''t have second thoughts."


    Qiao Mai nced at her and smiled without making a sound. Lu Sanniang couldn''t sit here for long, so she left after a while.


    After two days, she bought two girls. They were both fifteen or sixteen years old.


    They were not very good-looking, but they looked smart. Lu Sanniang knew very well what kind of girl was suitable for her.


    This way, Ruxin and Ruyi were free to concentrate on embroidery. The two worked with Qiao Mai every day and took the time to clean up her house and cook for her before going back.


    These two children really regarded her as their master.


    Therefore, she was not stingy as a master and taught them all the embroidery skills she knew.


    Little Ling''er was already two months old in her space. Qiao Mai had raised her until she was fair and chubby. Although she was a premature baby, she looked healthy.


    She had grown fast in the past two months. It was also because of the high-grade milk powder. It was produced by the world''s top manufacturers and was not inferior to breast milk.


    As the child grew up, her eyes opened.


    Qiao Mai would go in every two hours to feed her, change her diapers, pick her up, pat her back, and y with her for a while.


    After Qiao Shicheng and his wife took the ten taels of silver, they didn''t buy any food. Instead, they went straight home as if they were afraid others would snatch their money.


    Qiao Jiang and Qiao He had been waiting at home. They were too embarrassed to follow their parents. Their family was in trouble, but it was not desperate times.


    When they first heard their sister was being tortured by her inws, the two men did not think to support her in the Tian family.


    It was mainly because they had taken the 100 catties of grain from the Tian family and did not even have a dowry for their sister. This made them unable to straighten their backs forever. Moreover, they did not dote on their sister.


    After a while, there was news of their sister being kicked by her mother-inw, causing a miscarriage. Their hearts were so sad.


    It wasn''t that they felt guilty towards Qiao Mai, but no matter where they went, people would secretly point at them.


    The two brothers stayed at home when their sister was being bullied. They knew what happened but pretended not to know. Their honor had been stepped on by others.


    Later on, when they found out their sister had been saved by the embroidery shopkeeper, they finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    However, they received another wave of disdain from the vigers. Even an outsider could save their sister, but they, the older brothers, did not help. This time, they fell into the gossip train again.


    In the past two days, their wives hinted at Qiao Shicheng and his wife, saying that Qiao Mai was doing well now and should help her family.


    At first, the two elders were embarrassed to go, but they could not stand the nagging of their daughters-inw. They gritted their teeth and went.


    The oue was unexpected. They thought they could get some money from their daughter. Who would have thought that their daughter would not only sell herself to the embroidery shop but also owed them twenty taels of silver?


    The two were roasted under the ridicule of the people. Qiao Shicheng honestly felt he couldn''t erase his pride, so he said those words. The result was something he didn''t expect.


    However, they were still overjoyed to get ten taels of silver. A catty of wheat with shells was four coins. How much would ten taels buy?


    With Qiao Mai''s appearance and current status, even if she moved into another household, she would be treated as a mistress. The Qiao family would not get much either. It was fine if they cut off their ties.


    However, Qiao Shicheng didn''t take the disownment seriously. He felt that when the matter was over and no one talked about it anymore, they would still be Qiao Mai''s parents. After all, blood was thicker than water.


    When the time came, he would look for the girl and say a few soft words. Qiao Mai might forgive them.


    When she did well in the embroidery workshop in the future, she could continue to provide for the family. Anyway, she sold herself and would not marry again. In the future, her money would belong to the Qiao family.


    After Qiao Shicheng and his wife took the silver back home, they locked it up and looked at it several times a day, afraid it would be gone. They had never seen ten taels of silver in their entire lives.


    The two daughters-inw were also extremely happy. They went to their mother-inw''s room every day to coax her.


    In the end, the silver was divided up. The eldest branch got two taels, the second branch got two taels, and they bought a knife of meat and some food. As for the remaining four taels, Madam Qiao Lu never took them out again.


    The Qiao family had spent the money from the disownment on a few good meals, and the two sisters-inw each had a silver hairpin on their heads.


    In the end, they were not utterly shameless. They did not dare to let others know they were eating and drinking well, and they did not dare to wear the silver hairpin on their head. They only enjoyed themselves at home.


    After Old Tian and his wife returned home, they were also holding their breaths.


    "That b*tch. We agreed not to tell anyone. Now, everyone in town knows about it. She even made the mayor have a bad impression of our family."


    "Yeah, no matter what, I have to vent my anger. Otherwise, I''ll suffocate to death."


    "Don''t worry. There''s still a long way to go. Her good days won''tst long."


    A few dayster, Tian Yaozu returned from town. As soon as he got home, he lost his temper and smashed everything on the desk.


    The Tian family members stood in the courtyard, looking nervous.


    They were not afraid of him, but they thought he would be sessful in the future, so they let him have his way.


    "Grandpa, Grandma, didn''t we say that you would go to town to coax her? Why did you rm the mayor?"


    "She hated our family and scolded me the moment she opened her mouth. I''m already so old. How could I stand this? So I quarreled with her."


    Madam Tian Li was unconvinced and started spouting nonsense. In fact, it was all her fault.


    "This is great. Even the teacher came to me to ask about this matter. My ssmatesughed at me and said that although my family was farmers, we did such an unsightly act."


    "Anyway, we did our best. If you have the ability, go ahead and talk to her yourself. She spread the rumors in town."


    Tian Yaozu roared angrily, "Enough. I''ve already found out what happened back then. You don''t have to say anything. I''ll go and see Third Auntter. Third Uncle went to serve in the military and contribute to the imperial court. How can she separate from him? She had to hurry back and wait for Third Uncle toe home."


    The daughters-inw of the Tian family''s first and second sons hid at the side and whispered.


    "It''s all Mother''s fault. What harm would it do to give her some food? Third Brother''s wife is so capable. Why does Mother look down on her? If it weren''t for the kick that killed her heart, it wouldn''t have ended like this."


    "That''s right. I''ve been exhausted these days. If Mother wants to torture me like how she tortured Madam Qiao, I''ll take my child back to my parent''s home."


    "Me too. Let that old fart do all the chores at home."


    The two women didn''t feel guilty saying this. They did not make any less effort when they bullied Qiao Mai.


    On this day, Qiao Mai was drawing in the courtyard. Ruxin and Ruyi were already able to embroider.


    Halfway through the drawing, Lu Sanniang arrived.


    "Sister, that schr from the Tian family is here. He keeps saying he wants to see you and even calls you Third Aunt. It''s not good for me to chase him away."


    Qiao Mai narrowed her eyes. "He really knows how to put on an act. When we were at home, he watched coldly as that old fart bullied me. I was the one who poured his chamber pot and filled his bathing water. How dare he call me Third Aunt?"


    "He stood at the door for a long time. Are you going or not? If you don''t want to, I''ll think of a way to get rid of him."


    "I''ll go. I want to see how long that schr will act at such a young age."

 Chapter 19: A Leopard Can’t Change Its Spots

    <h4>Chapter 19: A Leopard Can''t Change Its Spots</h4>


    Qiao Mai put down the brush, and Ruxin and Ruyi stood up.


    "Master, we''ll support you. If he dares to mess around, we''ll beat him with a broom."


    Qiao Mai smiled. "That won''t be the case. He''s a schr, after all, so he has to keep his image."


    Thus, Lu Sanniang took Qiao Mai and her two daughters to the shop. When Tian Yaozu saw Qiao Mai''s current appearance, his eyes shed.


    "Hello, Third Aunt!"


    "I don''t dare to admit it. At least I don''t have to pour a chamber pot for you, nor do I have to get you some water to wash your face."


    Tian Yaozu blushed. "Third Aunt, I didn''t ask you to do that."


    "Yeah, you didn''t ask me to do it, but your grandparents did, and you didn''t stop me, did you?"


    "Third Aunt, I know what Grandpa and Grandma did. They know they were wrong."


    "But can my childe back to life?"


    "Third Aunt, they didn''t do it on purpose."


    "Just say what you want. Don''t go around in circles."


    "Third Aunt, Third Uncle''s military service is to contribute to the court. You are his wife, so no matter what, you can''t divorce him."


    Qiao Mai sneered and looked at the eldest grandson of the Tian family, who was dressed like a schr.


    "So you want me to go back and continue being tortured by your family, and you''re going to brush off the fact that you killed my child?"


    Her voice suddenly became loud, attracting the people in town and the surrounding people in the shop.


    More and more people gathered, and Tian Yaozu was about to fly into a rage out of humiliation.


    "Third Aunt, I''ve already told Grandpa and Grandma. They won''t torture you anymore."


    "Ha, won''t torture? Do you know that a leopard can''t change its spots?"


    "Madam Qiao, please speak with more respect."


    "Oh, you''re gonna stop pretending? You''re dressed properly. What Third Aunt? You''re just calling me that in front of outsiders. In fact, I''m just a servant of your Tian family in your eyes."


    "You, you vige woman. You''re really unreasonable!"


    "You''ve only been studying for a few months and already calling me a vige woman. It''s as if you''re not a vige boy. Don''t forget that your grandparents and your parents are all vigers. Where is the knowledge you studied?"


    "Well said, well said. Someone like him is not worthy of being a schr."


    With the uproar of themoners, Tian Yaozu could not stay any longer. He roared in exasperation.


    "Madam Qiao, don''t think we can''t do anything to you just because you left the Tian family. You''ve ruined my family''s reputation everywhere in town. I won''t forgive you!"


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes and shouted.


    "Everyone heard it, right? He said I ruined his family''s reputation. I, Qiao Mai, stay at home and in the shop every day. I don''t go out or step outside. On the other hand, when the old couple from the Tian family came to cause trouble that day, they were the ones who revealed their scandals. Everyone can testify for me. If anything happens to me in the future, it was Tian Yaozu who got someone to do it."


    Shopkeeper Lu took a step forward. "How dare he? Does he treat me as a decoration? He does not even has a title yet, but he dares toe out and threaten my people. Where is thew in your eyes? Qiao Mai is mine. If anything happens to her, I''ll go to court and sue you."


    "That''s right. Sue him. What schr? Pfft, get lost and go back to the vige to farm."


    Tian Yaozu wanted to dig a hole and hide in it. In his mind, he had given Qiao Mai respect bying here personally. If she didn''t know how to appreciate favors, he would not let this woman off when he became an official.


    But now, he regretteding over. He regretted even more that he shouldn''t havee up with the idea to let his grandparentse over and stir trouble.


    Not only was there no way to end this, but it also implicated his reputation.


    Qiao Mai curled her lips and looked at this little child.


    "Go back and study properly. Let your teacher teach you manners and shame. Don''t act like a schr and look down on others."


    "Get lost!"


    "Get lost!"


    The people''s denouncement continued. Tian Yaozu turned around and rushed out of the crowd like a madman.


    Today was the most humiliating day of his life. He swore he would not let Qiao Mai off if he had the chance.


    He wanted to cut Qiao Mai into eight pieces to relieve the hatred in his heart.


    There was no more excitement to watch, and the people had dispersed. Lu Sanniang patted Qiao Mai''s shoulder.


    "Sister, I will always support you. What you said today was so satisfying."


    "Don''t be happy too early. That family is narrow-minded."


    "I, Lu Sanniang, am not afraid of anything. If he dares to take revenge on me, I will ruin his career. He''s nothing but a scum. He came out to show off just because he could read a few words. Doesn''t he know how many eyes I have?"


    "How many?"


    "Two!"


    "Haha!"


    The news about the Tian family of Peach Blossom Vige in Tianshui Town had escted again, and it spread like wildfire.


    The teacher of the private school called Tian Yaozu to the study. If he didn''t think this student has potential, he would have chased him out of the school.


    "Yaozu?"


    "Sir, please speak!"


    "Your family did something wrong."


    "I know, so I went to invite Madam Qiao home. My grandparents also promised to treat her well in the future."


    "You didn''t know she sold herself?"


    "I know."


    "Then is your family willing to pay off her debt?"


    Tian Yaozu was taken aback and did not know how to answer. The teacher sighed.


    "Think twice before you act. Your family first tortured her, then kicked her child dead. I heard she went into earlybor. You let her sleep in the firewood room. For three days and three nights, no one cared. You want your grandpa and grandma to turn into a new leaf. Do you think it''s possible? Not to mention helping her pay off the twenty taels of silver."


    Tian Yaozu lowered his head, and his eyes shed with a vicious light. If it weren''t for the fact that he had no other ce to study, he really wanted to leave this private school. What kind of teacher was this? Instead of helping his student, he was speaking up for outsiders.


    "The student knows his mistake."


    "In the future, don''t go to that Madam Qiao again. Focus on your studies."


    "Yes, sir."


    This matter seemed to have passed just like that, and the people of Tianshui Town gradually forgot about it.


    In the blink of an eye, it was May, and the weather was getting hotter. Qiao Mai''s health recovered after three months of recuperation.


    She persisted in exercising every day and gradually regained her former skills. Now, it was not a problem for her to take down three strong men alone.


    If it was a surprise attack, she could even take seven or eight.


    Fighting and grappling techniques seemed to have grown into her body.


    She had heard that people in ancient times knew inner energy. She did not want a master, but she wanted to have a martial arts technique scroll. With herprehension, she could learn it if she read it a few more times.


    Fortunately, there were stun batons, silent pistols, machine guns, heavy machine guns, and a small steel cannon in her space. Even if she met an expert, she could still deal with it as long as she adapted to the situation.


    In the past three months, she had handed over five pce fans and a screen to Lu Sanniang. Even Ruxin and Ruyi had produced two pieces of embroidery. Although they were not as good as Qiao Mai''s, they were still more expensive than ordinary embroidery.


    Qiao Mai''s embroidery alone was worth a lot of money.


    The screen was sold for a thousand taels of silver, and a pce fan was sold for five hundred taels because it was double-sided embroidery of different colors. It was even rarer than ordinary ones.


    The remaining four pce fans were also sold for 150 taels. Even Ruxin and Ruyi''s were sold for 50 taels each, making Lu Sanniang overjoyed.


    "Sister, thanks to you, I''ve earned more in the past two months than I can earn in a year."


    "Same here. If it weren''t for you, the shopkeeper who has a glib tongue and connections, I couldn''t have gotten so much silver."


    "Hehe, have you thought about what to do with the silver?"


    "First, buy a house and register my household registration. Then, I''ll buy two acres ofnd to nt crops."


    "What? You''re farming?"


    "Ah, in the eyes of outsiders, I''m a servant of your family. I don''t know anything. Of course, I have to farm."


    "How can there be such a rich servant?"

 Chapter 20: Selling Watermelons

    <h4>Chapter 20: Selling Watermelons</h4>


    "Forget it. Now that I have money, I want to buy a house and somend. In the future, I''ll be a well-behaved farmer. I can''t be an official and can only be a farmer."


    "You''re still young. You can''t live like this for the rest of your life, can you?"


    At this moment, Qiao Mai''s eyes shed. "I''ve thought about it. I''ll adopt a child and let her support me in my old age. I won''t dare to marry again. I have trauma from being tortured."


    "There are still many good people in the world."


    "Yes, there are so many good people, and I only met you. Where are the others?"


    "You have to go out. Look at the people who cheered for you that day. They are all people with a conscience. You can''t kill everyone with one stick."


    "There''s no hurry. We''ll talk about it when I meet a suitable person."


    "Why don''t I be a matchmaker and get you one?"


    "No, I''m not in the mood for a least a few years."


    "Alright then. If you want to get married, tell me. I promise to arrange a good marriage for you."


    Qiao Mai smiled and nodded. After Lu Sanniang left with her two daughters, she returned to her room and sat cross-legged on the brick bed, looking at the 1,050 taels of silver in front of her.


    Adding on the 50 taels of silver from before, she now had 1,100 in total.


    A small courtyard like this would cost at least two hundred taels.


    Although this courtyard was decent, it was not her cup of tea. The house she wanted had a courtyard in front and a courtyard at the back.


    She could grow flowers and grass, practice martial arts, and let her child run and y in the square. Her dream house would cost more than 1,100 taels of silver.


    Now, her two disciples could leave, and she only needed to give them some pointers asionally.


    It was time to free up some hands and do something else.


    There was an open space at the entrance of the embroidery workshop. It should not be a problem if she wanted to try something else.


    There were no raw materials in her space. They were all semi-finished products or finished products. For example, frozen dumplings, sandwiches, and hamburgers in the freezer could be eaten after heating in the microwave.


    Even the fish was cooked in the restaurant for convenience.


    She had even stocked up on instant noodles, ham sausages, and the like.


    Although her space had a replicating function, she would not sell these things. After all, these were new here and could easily attract the attention of others. She could not protect herself now.


    Qiao Mai didn''t like attention, so it was best for her to be an ordinary person who didn''t stand out in a crowd.


    Looking at every item in the space, she was worried. She went to the refrigerator and saw it was filled with some of her favorite fruits.


    Dragon fruit? No! There might not even be such fruits here.


    Apples? No, it''s not in season yet.


    Pears? No, it wasn''t the season yet. Oranges, cherries, and green fruits were even worse, let alone bananas. The fruits from the ancient South couldn''t be shipped to the North at all.


    Plum, winter dates, and so on were also not good. Looking at it, only watermelons could be sold in this season of May.


    On such a hot day, it was eptable to set up a watermelon stall. Why not set up a stall by the official road?


    Qiao Mai looked at the watermelons in the freezer with some difficulty. There were only two watermelons. It would take a while for one to appear. What if they could not keep up?


    Her feet involuntarily rubbed the floor. As she rubbed, her eyes looked at the tiles.


    The house was built with the materials she brought, and sheid the floors herself. She remembered that when she first entered the space, it was an acre of ck soil.


    Did soil mean that she could farm?


    As soon as this thought popped up, Qiao Mai couldn''t help but get excited again.


    If that were the case, wouldn''t she be able to harvest watermelons after she ate the watermelon and nted the seeds?


    Since she had thought of it, she went ahead and did it. Without saying anything, she used her mind to move the house to the corner. All the shelves were doubleyered, freeing up nearly half of the space.


    She lifted the tiles and looked at the dark ground. Qiao Mai squatted down and dug hard with her hands. She even brought the ck soil under her nose and smelled it.


    There was no strange smell, only an earthy scent.


    She heard this kind of ck soil was the most fertile. Qiao Mai was a doer. She went to the freezer and cut the watermelon in half, taking a big spoon and digging it out.


    She left the watermelon seeds inside and buried them in the soil. By visual estimation, this piece ofnd was about four acres.


    She had sown seeds and needed to water them. Qiao Mai took out a bucket of mineral water from the space. Anyway, the space had a replication function, so she would never run out of water.


    After watering the four acres ofnd, Qiao Mai held the watermelon and ate it while looking.


    She thought about setting up the stall tomorrow. If there were customers, she would sell it. If no one visits, she would sit by the side and do embroidery. She couldn''t always sit at home. She was afraid she would be out of touch with society.


    Qiao Mai did not know when these seeds would germinate or how long it would take for them to bear watermelons. Anyway, before the watermelons grew, she could only cut what she had and sell them.


    Qiao Mai had eaten a whole watermelon before she could fill up four acres of thend. Her stomach was bloated.


    She returned to the refrigerator and watched as the watermelon was replicated. Only then did she return to the house in peace and sleep with her daughter.


    The next day, she went to the market and found no one was selling watermelons.


    Forget it. There was no one selling watermelons, which meant she had a monopoly over the market.


    She didn''t say anything whether others asked or not. Anyway, this melon wasn''t stolen.


    When she arrived at the embroidery shop, Shopkeeper Lu hurriedly pulled her to sit.


    "You''re willing toe out?"


    "I want to set up a stall in front of the shop. What do you think?"


    "Don''t tell me you want to be a peddler?"


    "Why not? I have nothing to do. It won''t affect my embroidery either."


    "What are you selling?"


    "How about watermelons?"


    "Is anyone buying it? That thing was expensive. Only the rich could afford it. How could themon people bear to eat it?"


    "I won''t sell them whole. I''ll sell them in pieces. Themoners can''t afford to buy a whole watermelon, so it''s fine to try a piece. It''s a hot day."


    Shopkeeper Lu thought of how sweet the watermelon was, so she gulped.


    "Let me tell you. I''ve seen these watermelons in the prefecture and eaten them at my friend''s ce. Usually, they cost 100 coins per catty. Watermelon is at least ten catties and above. How many pieces are you cutting it into?"


    "Smaller pieces. I''ll sell it for fifty copper coins per serving."


    "Then what about the money you used to buy the melons?"


    "If he sells to the rich, they''ll be expensive. If he sells it to me, it definitely won''t be expensive. This is called small profits but quick turnover."


    "What if you can''t sell it?"


    "Then let''s eat it together. I''ll think of another way."


    Seeing that she could not persuade her, Shopkeeper Lu could only sigh. "Alright, I don''t care about you anymore. You can do whatever you want. You have money now."


    "Sister, prepare a long table and a chair for me. I''ll go to the county townter and buy a few melons. I''ll start setting up a stall tomorrow."


    "Alright. At most, we''ll eat by ourselves."


    "Haha, don''t worry. We''ve earned so much money. We can still afford to pay for a few watermelons."


    The next day, Qiao Mai yed with her daughter in the space for a while and coaxed her to sleep. It waste in the morning when she carried arge basket to the embroidery workshop. Shopkeeper Lu had no choice but to move the table and chair out for her and ced them on the side of the official road in front of the door.


    The sun was zing at this time, and the passersby kept shouting that it was hot.


    Qiao Mai took a watermelon from the basket and ced it on the long table. She took a clean cloth and wiped the watermelon. Then, she took a kitchen knife and cut the watermelon into two halves. Then, she cut the watermelon equally.


    "I cut sixteen pieces. Come, sister, take three pieces and share them with Ruxin and Ruyi."


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at the red watermelon and swallowed her saliva.


    "Thank you. The children and I will try it first."


    Qiao Mai stuffed three pieces of watermelon into her hands. Shopkeeper Lu took the watermelon and feltfortable.


    "It''s really cold!"


    "Take it back quickly. The chill will disperse soon."


    Shopkeeper Lu carried the watermelon and hurried back to the shop. Qiao Mai cleared her throat and immediately got into character.


    "Watermelon, watermelon! Sweet, juicy, and refreshing watermelons are for sale!"


    "Watermelons, watermelons! Ice-cold watermelons are for sale!"

 Chapter 21: This Melon is Delicious

    <h4>Chapter 21: This Melon is Delicious</h4>


    Her shouts attracted many passersby. Qiao Mai looked at the bright red and juicy watermelon. It was in such good shape that she did not believe it would not attract young and old friends.


    As expected, when the people saw the watermelons, they looked around and kept gulping.


    Some people knew watermelons were not cheap. They were short of money, so it was okay to ask about the price.


    "Hey, littledy, how much are you selling your melons for?"


    "Fifty coins for one piece."


    "Isn''t this too expensive? How much is a pound of candy?"


    "But candies don''t taste like watermelon, right?"


    "That''s true. It''s just too expensive, or we might buy and try it."


    "It''s not expensive. These watermelons are usually grown for rich people to eat. I bought them cheaply from a melon seller and sold them separately. I can''t earn much profit, so I wanted to let passers-by try them."


    The crowd looked at the well-cut watermelons on the table and could only sigh. They shook their heads and left.


    Qiao Mai was not discouraged. She sat on the chair and felt that the top of her head was too hot. She thought about selling the melons on the tableter and returning to the embroidery shop to find a few bamboo poles to build a simple perg.


    Just as she was about to take out her embroidery work, a carriage stopped by her melon stall.


    A boy''s head popped out of the window. He looked about twelve or thirteen years old.


    "Ma''am, are you selling these melons?"


    "Naturally!"


    "Quick, give me a piece. I''m dying of thirst."


    When Qiao Mai heard this, she knew this person was not short of money. She immediately stood up with a smile, picked up a piece, and handed it over.


    The little boy took the watermelon and bit it. He praised itfortably and then ate it in a few mouthfuls.


    "Another piece."


    "It''s fifty coins for each piece."


    "I have plenty of money. How many more do you have?"


    "Twelve pieces."


    "Give me five more pieces."


    After saying that, he stuffed a corner of silver into her hands. It was enough to buy seven or eight pieces.


    Qiao Mai didn''t try to be pretentious. She handed him one piece after another. The little boy ate another five pieces in one go before rubbing his stomachfortably.


    "Your melons are delicious. Did you soak it in ice?"


    "No, I soaked it in the well water."


    "Hmm, do I have any leftover payment?"


    "You can eat two more pieces."


    "Then give two pieces to my coachman. He''s not having it easy either."


    Qiao Mai immediately had a good impression of the little boy. He had a good character. She handed two pieces to the coachman.


    "Thank you, Young Master. Thank you,dy."


    The coachman was also thirsty. After a while, he had two melons in his stomach. The little boy waved at the coachman.


    "Hurry home."


    "Yes, Young Master!"


    Qiao Mai''s first bucket of gold from selling melons was in her hands. Shopkeeper Lu watched from a distance in the shop with a smile.


    This girl had been dragged down by the Tian family. She was good at doing business. On the first day of setting up a stall, she was not timid at all.


    Moreover, she was so lucky that she earned some money on the first day. It was great!


    Qiao Mai nced at the five pieces of watermelon on the table. She picked up one piece and took a bite to moisten her throat. Then, she began to yell again.


    The surrounding vendors did not think much of her business at first. They did not expect her to sell a few pieces shortly, so they all looked at her enviously.


    After Qiao Mai finished eating, she took out her embroidery work and looked up from time to time.


    In this season, there were even flies. It seemed that she had to make a coverter. Otherwise, if fliesnded on the watermelon, it would disgust people. If the customers saw it, who would want to buy it?


    There were no stics in ancient times, but she could rece them with white gauze. With the tools, she could make them herself. It was simple.


    As Qiao Mai thought so, three boys around the age of eight stopped in front of her stall and swallowed their saliva as they looked at the melons.


    Qiao Mai saw they were all dressed in fine cotton, and their hair wasbed clean. It was obvious they came from a good family.


    "Auntie, how much are your watermelons?"


    "Fifty coins for one piece."


    "What if we don''t have money?"


    "Then I can''t sell it to you. Otherwise, I''ll lose money."


    The three boys gulped again and looked around. "Why isn''t Father here yet?"


    Speak of the devil!


    A brawny man came running to them. Qiao Mai knew that this person knew kung fu at a nce.


    "Aiya, why did you run around? If the human traffickers caught you, how would I exin to your mother? Wouldn''t she beat Father to death?"


    "Dad, we didn''t run around. We came here because we saw the watermelon."


    The burly man nced at the watermelons on the table and knew the children wanted to eat them.


    "How much?"


    "Fifty coins for each piece."


    "It''s not expensive. Give me three pieces."


    "There are still four pieces left. You can each get one. How about I give you a discount of ten coins?"


    "Alright, I''ll take them all."


    Seeing that the burly man was not short of money, the four melons on the table were gone in the blink of an eye.


    "This melon is really good. Do you have any more?" The burly man and his three sons asked.


    Qiao Mai smiled." Naturally!"


    She bent down to pick up the melons from the basket, wiped them clean, and cut them into sixteen pieces of even size again.


    "Give me four more pieces."


    "Okay. It''s still the same price as before. In the future, if you want to eat melons,e to my stall. As long as it doesn''t rain or wind, I''ll be here."


    "Yes, yes."


    They each ate another piece to satisfy their cravings and thirst. After paying Qiao Mai, they left.


    Qiao Mai put the money into her purse. Several peddlers around her had been watching her sell melons and could not help but strike up a conversation with her.


    "Youngdy, did you source your melons from the prefecture?"


    "Yeah."


    "How much is one melon?"


    "Seven hundred coins."


    "So expensive?"


    "That''s right. I only got this price because I bought a lot in one go. If not, one melon is worth a tael of silver."


    "Then you can earn a hundred wen by selling this melon, right?"


    Qiao Mai knew what they were thinking, so she counted with his fingers.


    "Earn? You guys are thinking too lightly. Not to mention whether these melons are top-notch, even if they are all good melons, could you sell so many every day? Can you guarantee all the watermelons you cut are sold? If a few pieces couldn''t be sold, it would be a loss. If it rained and the wind blew, and the stall couldn''t be opened, could the pulp inside still be sold after the watermelon was left at home for a long time? I could only eat it myself. You are wrong to think that selling melons was easy."


    The surrounding peddlers also silently calcted in their hearts. It was really like what Qiao Mai said.


    It looked like she was earning money for a while, but if there were a slight mistake, she would lose money.


    "Then why are you still selling this?"


    "Our shopkeeper doesn''tck money. She eats it herself and only takes out the surplus melons for me to sell."


    Only then did the peddlers realize the watermelons did not belong to Qiao Mai but to the shopkeeper of the embroidery workshop.


    It would make sense. After all, Boss Lu was rich. She didn''t need these few watermelons and could afford to pay for them.


    After her exnation, the hawkers no longer envied her and stopped staring at her stall.


    The weather was still hot, so when the carriages passed on the road, they would stop to eat a few pieces of her watermelon when they saw it.


    Soon, another melon was gone. Qiao Mai used her mind to look at the refrigerator. Two more melons appeared.


    This was really a free lunch, a transaction without capital.


    After moving the two melons from the space into the basket, she thought of the four-acre field and used her mind to look at them again.


    The corners of her mouth curled up to her ears.


    In just two days, the watermelons she had nted had already grown seedlings. If this continued, she could harvest the watermelons in a few days.


    Hmm? She suddenly felt that something was wrong. Why did the watermelon field seem to have doubled in size?


    Qiao Mai swallowed. Recalling that she was guarding a stall, she withdrew her thoughts and suppressed the excitement in her heart.


    If she was right, the space could not only replicate consumables but alsond.


    But thend wasn''t a consumable. What was going on?


    Qiao Mai felt that her brain was not enough. She could not understand.


    However, this was a good thing for her.

 Chapter 22: The Girl Selling Melons

    <h4>Chapter 22: The Girl Selling Melons</h4>


    Qiao Mai did not do much embroidery on this day.


    The weather is too hot. A piece of ice-cold watermelon can caress people''s dry hearts.


    Although there were many poor people, there were also many rich people in the town. When they heard someone was selling watermelons, they all ran over.


    They knew Qiao Mai. When they saw her selling melons, they all talked to her familiarly.


    "Madam Qiao, do you not work in the embroidery shop anymore?"


    "I do. Our shopkeeper got us a batch of melons. If we can''t eat them, we''ll sell some to everyone when the weather is hot."


    "How much is a catty?"


    "The watermelon is not sold whole. It''s fifty coins for one piece."


    "What? You sell it like this?"


    "Yeah. Watermelon is too scarce! It''s not easy to get some, so the shopkeeper instructed us not to sell it whole."


    "Your shopkeeper''s business is really good."


    " I''m sorry, I''ll get moreter. You guys cane back and buy the whole thing."


    "Alright, give me a piece. It''s the first melon of the year. I have to try it no matter what."


    "I want one too!"


    Qiao Mai didn''t do anything for the whole day except selling watermelons.


    In thete evening, she had already sold ten watermelons. Seeing as it was gettingte, she called the two girls from the embroidery workshop to move the tables and chairs back.


    She took a melon from the basket and cut it open in the shop.


    "Come, we made a lot of money today. Let''s celebrate the booming business of my stall!"


    Shopkeeper Lu burst outughing. "I see that your business is great. You haven''t done any embroidery work today, right?"


    "It''s mainly because the weather is hot. Everyone wants something new."


    "If you''re busy in the future, I''ll get Xiuhong to help you sell melons."


    "No need. I want to do some business by myself. It''s not boring like this. If you get someone to help me, how can I be interested in something new?"


    "Alright, you''re always in the right."


    There were five people in the shop, including Qiao Mai. Everyone had a portion. After eating a watermelon, she wiped her mouth.


    "I''ll go home. See you tomorrow!"


    Qiao Mai returned home early and went into her space after locking the courtyard door. She wanted to study that piece ofnd properly.


    Why was one piece ofnd divided into two? What was the reason?


    She carried the awake Ling''er to the edge of the ground. While ying with the child, she sized up the floor with her single-eyelid eyes.


    She thought, ''When the watermelons in the two fields are ripe, I''ll pick a watermelon and see if another will appear.''


    If she nted another seed in the other watermelon field, would another identical field appear?


    Her hands were itchy. She sat cross-legged on the ground and looked at the immature watermelon seedlings. The urge to pull out the seedlings was finally suppressed by reason.


    It had only been a day, but yellow flowers were already blooming on the melon seedlings.


    She couldn''t understand. The time in the space was the same as the outside world. What kind of watermelon would shorten the cycle so much?


    Was it because of the soil? If it was, she could interpret it as the ck soil expanding its area after it had crops. The one with the copying ability was the ck soil.


    Qiao Mai patted her head and frowned. She didn''t want to think about it anymore. She was tired.


    She looked at Ling''er in her arms. She was smiling at Qiao Mai.


    "Hey, girl, are you thinking I''m ufortable, so you want to make me happy?"


    At this moment, Little Ling''er''s features had started to form. Qiao Mai carried her to the mirror and looked at herself and the child.


    She didn''t look like her at all. It was said that a daughter took after her father. In her memory, Tian Sanzhuang was quite good-looking. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was a rough man with strength.


    Otherwise, when the imperial court asked each family to send one person to serve in the military, Old Tian would not have asked him to rece his eldest and second sons.


    Ling''er''s eyebrows were just like Tian Sanzhuang''s. She would not be ugly in the future.


    Although she didn''t like the Tian family, she was still the original owner''s daughter. In addition, Qiao Mai had been taking care of her for the past few months.


    She had feelings for this child. No matter whose child it was, she wanted to raise her.


    That was another matter. If this child''s grandparents or father provoked her in the future, she would not let them off either.


    However, she would not let the child reunite with them. In their hearts, the child had died a long time ago. After a while, she would pick a suitable opportunity to let Ling''ere out from the shadows. Now was not the time.


    After making the milk powder and feeding Ling''er, she carried her around in the space and coaxed her to sleep. Qiao Mai then ced her on the bed and made food for herself.


    Qiao Mai took a bag of hamburgers from the freezer and heated it in the microwave. Then, she took a bottle of coke.


    For the past month, she had been eating dinner like this.


    It was either hamburgers, instant noodles, or frozen dumplings. Thinking of the delicacies of her previous life, Qiao Mai swallowed with difficulty.


    She swore that she would learn how to cook a dish from the Inte every once in a while.


    She couldn''t let her child grow up to be like her, eating only one dish every day.


    After dinner, she did the math and found that she had sold ten watermelons today. She had cut sixteen pieces of each watermelon, which was fifty coins each. One watermelon was eight hundred coins.


    Ten watermelons were eight taels of silver. Compared to the few pieces she ate, it was basically negligible.


    A small business could also make a fortune. Qiao Mai ignored the fact that she had unlimited sourcing.


    She found arge and small toolbox. Therge one contained copper coins, and the small one was for corners of silver. As for silver ingots, she ced them on the shelf.


    Qiao Mai didn''t have the habit of going to bed early. She sat by the bed and watched the child while embroidering. She browsed through the Inte for something useful before sleeping next to the child.


    The next day, she woke up early and made a gauze in the space to prevent flies and insects from touching the watermelon.


    She also used wood and coarse cloth to make a simple movable perg.


    Only then did shee out of the room and carry them to the embroidery workshop.


    Shopkeeper Lu had already asked the two girls to ce the tables and chairs by the side of the road. When she saw Qiao Mai, she followed her to the roadside.


    "Are you addicted to selling watermelons?"


    "Yes, I only do two embroidery jobs a month. The big ones take a month. When can I buy a big house andnd? I have to think of a way to earn more money."


    "Then why don''t you sell something else? Don''t just sell this."


    "I haven''t thought of what to sell yet. Let''s sell the watermelons first!"


    Shopkeeper Lu pursed her lips. "Then you can continue to sell watermelons. I''m going back. Call me if there''s anything."


    "Okay."


    Qiao Mai started her melon business again. She thought that once the poprity of watermelons died down, she would not be so busy. She did not expect to be surrounded by people as soon as she set up her stall.


    Everyone stared at her. "What are you standing there for? Cut the melons."


    "Uh."


    Qiao Mai cut the melons mechanically and sold them out quickly. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she set up the awning, cut the melons, and put on the gauze.


    Only then did she sit on the chair and slowly start to embroider.


    In the distance, a pair of vicious eyes red at her.


    It was Tian Yaozu. Shouldn''t he be in school at this time? Why was he here?


    It turned out that the little boy who came to eat melons in the carriage yesterday was the young master of a wealthy family in town. There was only one private school in town.


    Therefore, he and Tian Yaozu were ssmates. Their rtionship was not good.


    The boy had eaten delicious watermelons in town during his vacation yesterday. The next day, he bragged to his ssmates in school. During the break, this young master brought his ssmates to share Qiao Mai''s first watermelon.


    This was the reason Qiao Mai was surrounded as soon as she opened the stall. Tian Yaozu also came out with them.


    When he saw the person selling melons was Qiao Mai, he immediately retreated from the crowd and ran far away. His fierce eyes wanted to eat her up.


    He would not eat the watermelons she sold, nor would he pay for them. He even hoped for his ssmates to have diarrhea after eating them so Qiao Mai would pay up and stop setting up a stall.


    Tian Yaozu looked at the embroidery shop behind Qiao Mai, then spat heavily on the ground and left in a huff.


    Qiao Mai felt a pair of unfriendly eyes, but she did not care.

 Chapter 23: Taking People’s Advice

    <h4>Chapter 23: Taking People''s Advice</h4>


    Who would hate someone kind like the original owner? It was nothing more than the jealousy of the vendors, the resentment of the Tian family, and the unwillingness of the Qiao family.


    Let them be. She would deal with whatever came her way. She was not the original owner and would not be afraid of these little rascals.


    The perg was useful to block out the scorching sun.


    Qiao Mai sat downfortably, doing her embroidery work. When customers came to buy melons, she would stand up and sell them. When there were no customers, she would do her work.


    She was at ease. Since she had her melons, the town seemed to have be a little livelier.


    They all wanted to have a bite of the watermelon she was selling. Not only was it sweet and juicy, but it was also cold and could relieve the heat. Qiao Mai suggested she could sell some ice.


    In Tianshui Town and the county town, not many shops sell ice in the summer. If she sold ice, would it work?


    Why not freeze a few pieces in the freezer tonight and sell them tomorrow?


    In the afternoon, Qiao Mai finished her business and returned home. She calcted the bill and realized she had sold twelve watermelons today, two more than yesterday.


    When she arrived at the watermelon field, she looked at the fist-sized watermelons on one acre. She thought that in two days, she could sell as many watermelons as she wanted.


    She walked to the shelf with a smile and found a few square stic boxes. She filled them with mineral water and froze them in the freezer.


    Yesterday, she had earned eight taels, and today, she had earned more than nine taels. She separated the copper coins and silver and threw them into the toolbox.


    Earning money withbor was also a kind of happiness, and she liked it very much.


    When Qiao Mai arrived at the house, she saw that Ling''er was still sleeping. Shey beside her and smiled in satisfaction.


    Watermelons alone could get her more than two hundred taels of silver a month. Excluding the rainy days, she could still earn two hundred taels of silver.


    With the addition of ice cubes tomorrow, would she earn more? After all, ice was rarer than watermelons, right?


    The next day, she went to the carpenter''s shop to buy a cart and two wooden boxes.


    Qiao Mai ced the frozen watermelon in a wooden box and the ice cubes in another.


    She pushed the two wooden boxes to the main road.


    Every day on time, Shopkeeper Lu would let the two girls arrange the tables and chairs and set up the awning. Those who did not know would think that it was Shopkeeper Lu''s stall. Even the tax collectors would skip over her stall. This saved Qiao Mai money and trouble.


    She pushed the cart behind the chair and moved the two wooden boxes under the awning.


    The wooden boxes were wrapped in nkets, afraid the cold air would escape.


    The surrounding peddlers were almost dying of envy these days. When they saw that Qiao Mai had packed another box today, they were all extremely curious.


    "I say,dy, did you get new stock today?"


    "Yes, my shopkeeper said the weather is too hot. There is a lot of ice in her ice kiln, so she wants to sell some ice to relieve the heat."


    "Ice?"


    "Yeah."


    "Who will buy it?"


    "Why wouldn''t anyone buy it? If you don''t feel satisfied after making green bean soup and letting it cool, you can put a few pieces of crushed ice in it. Herbal tea is also fine."


    "Can we eat the ice?"


    "That''s right. My shopkeeper uses the water from the well to freeze it and then hoards it. It''s not river water."


    "I see. Then how much do you n to sell it for?"


    "I don''t know. I don''t know the price of ice either."


    "Let me tell you. The ice in the prefecture costs one tael of silver for a washbasin-sized piece."


    "Is it cheaper or more expensive than watermelon?"


    "Of course, watermelons are precious. Watermelons still need to be nted and sold. They only grow once every three to four months. But what about ice? As long as we have the equipment, we can store it in winter. Water is not worth much."


    Qiao Mai thought to herself, water is worthless?


    That was in the South. Once the heat wave hits the North, every drop of water would turn into gold. How could it be worthless? It did not matter.


    She took a piece of ice from the wooden box and asked, "How much silver would a piece of ice of this size cost?"


    "I''m estimating around a hundred coins."


    "Alright, then I''ll listen to the people''s advice and sell it for 100 coins."


    "You don''t need to ask Shopkeeper Lu?"


    "Boss said to let me make the decision."


    "Your boss is too kind. You''ve met a benefactor."


    "Of course, our boss is not only a noble person but also kind."


    Qiao Mai quickly put the ice back into the wooden box. If she took it out, it would melt very quickly.


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment and made another sign to put on the table. This way, whatever she sold in the future would be written on it. It would be clear at a nce, and she wouldn''t have to shout anymore. Her throat had hurt for the past two days.


    She didn''t know the words here. If it didn''t work, she could find a wooden board and ask someone to write the words ''Watermelon and Ice'' on it. Then, she could stick it on the wooden board.


    After cutting the watermelon and putting on the gauze, she stopped shouting. The town was only so big. Everyone knew she was selling melons and came to eat them if they wanted to.


    When passing merchants saw it, they would get out of the cart and eat a few pieces.


    She sat down and began embroidering in peace.


    Shopkeeper Lu had nothing to do today, so she brought a chair over and sat down next to her.


    "How''s business?"


    "We haven''t opened for business today."


    "I saw you got two boxes. One is watermelon, and that is?"


    "Ice!"


    "Yo, you even got ice?"


    "Don''t we have one in our town? I''ll sell it if it''s out of stock."


    "The prefecture sells it for one tael of silver. Let me see yours." Shopkeeper Lu lifted the quilt and took a nce.


    "Such a small piece?"


    "It''s not small. This piece can be used to do a lot of things."


    "How much do you n to sell it for?"


    "The others say I could sell it for 100 coins. I''ll follow suit."


    "It''s already quite a lot."


    Lu Sanniang trusted her very much. She did not doubt where the ice came from. She thought it was arge piece of ice that was cut into such small pieces.


    Just as they were talking, someone came to buy melons. When Shopkeeper Lu saw someone hade, she immediately stood up, lifted the gauze cover, and took a piece for the customer. She took the copper coin and put it in her purse.


    "When I had nothing to do, I calcted the ounts for you and found that your stall earned a lot."


    "Yeah, isn''t it good to earn more? With more ie every month, isn''t it one step closer to buying a big house?"


    Shopkeeper Lu rolled her eyes. "If you have the patience to embroider a masterpiece, wouldn''t it be better?"


    "My eyes hurt while I embroider. I consider it a break to do business."


    Lu Sanniang had only been sitting at her ce for a while when several customers bought a few pieces of melons. She was envious.


    "Why don''t I close my embroidery shop and be a vendor with you?"


    "Forget it. You should focus on your shop. I''m just making a little money, and you''re jealous."


    "Hehe."


    Qiao Mai took a piece of watermelon and stuffed it into her hand. "Come and eat if you want to. Ruxin and the others are the same. Don''t be embarrassed and wait for me to deliver them. I sell watermelons to pass the time and earn some side ie. I don''t care about these watermelons. You don''t have to save money for me."


    "Got it. I''ve eaten a lot of expensive food because of you this year. With your skills, of course, you won''t care about it."


    After a while, the weather became hot. Shopkeeper Lu could not stand the heat on the roadside and the hawkers'' cries. She returned to the shop.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai shouted, "Watermelon and ice cubes! If you want to cool down,e and buy them!"


    "Lady, do you really have ice here?"


    "Yes. Do you want to buy it?"


    Qiao Mai put down her embroidery work and looked up to see a middle-aged man. He had a small mustache and looked genuine. He was dressed in refreshing silk clothes and was of medium height. He looked at her with a smile.


    "Can I take a look?"


    "Sure."


    Qiao Mai bent down and took out a piece from the box. The middle-aged man looked at it and asked.


    "Is this river ice or well water ice?"


    "Well water ice."


    "How much for one piece?"


    "100 coins."


    "It''s a little expensive. Can it be cheaper?"


    "How much do you want?"


    "How much do you have?"


    Qiao Mai opened the box and counted." Including the one in my hand, there are 20 pieces."

 Chapter 24: How Motherf*cking Shameless

    <h4>Chapter 24: How Motherf*cking Shameless</h4>


    "To tell you the truth, I am Shopkeeper Tong of Jingtai Restaurant in town. The ice we use in summer is bought from the county town. The weather is too hot, and I am toozy to buy it from there every day. If your ice is about the same price as the county town, I will buy it from you in the future."


    "Oh, so it''s Shopkeeper Tong. Sorry for the disrespect. Your restaurant can also dig an ice kiln. It''s convenient!"


    "Not to mention that it costs a lot of money to build an ice kiln, our town doesn''t need that much ice."


    Qiao Mai felt that the man was too narrow-minded. Not only could an ice kiln store ice, but it could also store those easily spoiled ingredients when the weather was hot.


    It was a natural refrigerator. For a restaurant like this, the most important thing to build was an ice kiln.


    Digging an ice kiln wasn''t expensive. When she buys a house, she will definitely build a great one.


    It''s fine if he didn''t listen to her advice. His silver would just be enough to help her buy a house. Why not do it?


    Qiao Mai didn''t exin much to him, lest he didn''t buy from her after building an ice kiln in the future.


    "I understand. How much does the ice you usually buy cost?"


    "One tael of silver can buy twenty pieces like yours."


    Qiao Mai frowned. "So you''re saying that it''s 50 coins a piece?"


    "That''s right. If you don''t believe me, you can go to the prefecture to inquire about the price."


    "Alright, I''ll sell it to you then."


    "Can you supply the goods consistently?"


    "Sure. As long as it''s not windy or rainy, I''ll set up my stall at this time every day. You can send a waiter to buy it."


    "Deal!"


    Shopkeeper Tong smiled as he paid a tael of silver. "Lend me your wooden box. I''ll get the waiter to send it back to you in a while."


    Qiao Mai passed the wooden box to him, and the middle-aged man carried it away. After a while, a waiter returned with an empty box.


    She sat on the chair and stretched, yawning indecently.


    Selling ice wasn''t bad either. Although it was a little cheap to sell twenty pieces of ice for one tael of silver, it was good that she could have a daily fixed earning of one tael of silver.


    The water in her space could never be used up. Moreover, she was not just selling 20 pieces of ice. It felt good to get something for nothing.


    Qiao Mai ced the wooden box on the ground, and with a thought, another 20 pieces of ice appeared. Then, she filled the box with water and froze it.


    Just as she was calcting silently in her heart, she felt someone stop in front of the stall. However, she did not say anything. She raised her head and looked ahead.


    Her two older brothers stood in front of her, looking at her as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.


    Qiao Mai lowered her eyes and ignored them.


    "Sister, are you doing well?"


    "Thanks to you guys, I''m doing very well. This time, you won''t make me sell my body again and break off the kinship, right?"


    Qiao Jiang and Qiao He blushed. "Our family is poor. Father and Mother have no choice."


    "Then you can have a few more daughters to sell them. If you can''t, you can also break off your rtionship and earn some money. Don''t even think about me. I''ve already written the Letter of Disownment."


    "Sister, the situation at home is really bad."


    "If it''s bad, why don''t you sell your daughter? It''s not enough to sell me once. You want to sell me a second time. You didn''t hesitate to break off your rtionship with me to get something from me. Now, you''re turning back to tell me these useless things. Get lost quickly. I''m sick of you."


    "Sister, how can you say that?"


    "What do you want me to say? Do I have to beg you to sell me again? Or do I beg you to drink my blood? Eat my flesh? Or should I thank you for selling me out?"


    "Sister, can''t you understand your parents?"


    "Are you going to get lost or not? If you don''t, I''ll call for help. The Qiao family is the same as the Tian family. You''re a bunch of shameless things. You''ve sold your sister, and you still have the cheek toe and ask for forgiveness. Get lost! Get lost! Get lost!"


    "Don''t, don''t. We''ll leave. Don''t be angry. We''lle and see you again after a while."


    Seeing the two left in a panic, Qiao Mai suppressed her anger again and again. Damn it. Lihua Vige was so far away from this town. It seemed like they were here for her.


    B*stard. It was fine if the Tian family sucked her blood in the past, but her family also came to take advantage. They still wanted to use her, and they nned to manipte her in the future. They were really f*cking shameless.


    Qiao He and his brother left Tianshui Town. "Brother, little sis is setting up a stall there. Is that stall hers or the embroidery shop?"


    "It must be the embroidery workshop. She''s a divorced woman. How could she have the ability to get such precious things?"


    "What a pity."


    "Yeah, she had full say about whether to cut the watermelon into pieces and sell them. Shopkeeper Lu isn''t there either, so isn''t it up to her to decide?"


    "That''s true. If she cut out more pieces every day and sells them, that''ll be an extra fifty coins. That''s more than one tael of silver a month."


    As they walked, they calcted Qiao Mai''s ounts. They wished that all the money Qiao Mai made in a day would be theirs.


    "Brother, will she forgive us?"


    "She will. It''s just a moment of anger now. No matter what, we''re still her family."


    "But I feel that she has changed a lot. She''s no longer the girl we used to know."


    "No matter how much she changes, she''s still our sister. The next time wee, we''ll definitely make her soft-hearted. No matter what, we must bring a few pieces of such good watermelon back for our parents."


    "There are still our children. We can''t just bring a few pieces, but we must bring one back so all of us can share."


    As they spoke, the two brothers swallowed their saliva.


    Qiao Mai sat in front of the stall. She clenched her fists several times before rxing them. It seemed that she had to prepare a weapon in the future.


    She needs to be wary of fire, theft, the Qiao family, and the Tian family.


    "Hey, littledy, this young master is here to buy melons again."


    A boy''s words interrupted her train of thought. Qiao Mai stood up and saw the little boy who often bought melons from her. A charming smile immediately appeared on her face.


    "Thank you for your support, Young Master!


    "Hehe, it''s mainly because your melons are good. They''re sandy, sweet, and icy."


    "I also sell ice cubes here. If your family needs them, you cane to me."


    "Yes, this Young Master will eat the melon first. When I get home, I will tell my parents that drinking green bean soup will also feel refreshing with ice."


    Some students who came with him bought one piece, while others bought two. The young master bought five pieces at once. He really didn''tck money and had a good appetite! Qiao Mai liked this. The more, the better.


    After a short while, half of the melon was gone.


    Qiao Mai, who had received the money, was overjoyed. Her previous unhappiness also gradually disappeared because of the booming business.


    Although embroidery was lucrative, it would take a long time for the money to reach her hands. Her stall was a long-term business, and she could see money every day.


    With this unknown young master''s free publicity, many new ice cubes were sold out.


    After the passing merchants had finished eating the watermelon, they heard that there were ice cubes. They also bought some and put them in the car. When they were frozen, they could disperse the heat.


    They could also drink ice water when the cubes melted. It was killing two birds with one stone.


    At noon, Qiao Mai had lunch with the people from the embroidery shop. Of course, Shopkeeper Lu paid for the meal.


    They closed their stalls early before it got dark. Some people who wanted to eat melons were a little anxious when they saw no one around.


    The first thing Qiao Mai did when she got home was to lock the door and enter the space to see her child.


    As Ling''er grew up, she could already turn over. During the day, Qiao Mai was afraid she would fall off the bed, so she often checked in on the baby.


    When she entered the room, this little fellow was already lying on the bed, trying to raise her head and smile at Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai quickly walked forward and hugged her.


    "Oh, our Little Ling''er can move on her own now. Now, Mother doesn''t have to worry about you being in the same position all the time."


    After saying that, she kissed Ling''er''s little face, causing Ling''er to giggle.


    After changing the baby''s diapers, she carried her and boiled milk powder. Without a milk bottle, she could only feed her spoonful by spoonful.


    If she had known the space''s function, Qiao Mai would have stocked everything in the supermarket.

 Chapter 25: Rewarding Herself

    <h4>Chapter 25: Rewarding Herself</h4>


    Ling''er was almost four months old. Qiao Mai had checked online and found that she could eatplementary food at six months.


    Thinking that the child was premature and her digestive system would be weaker, Qiao Mai decided to feed her liquid food eight monthster.


    Before that, she had to learn how to cook. She couldn''t be a mother who didn''t know anything.


    After feeding the child, Qiao Mai put her on the bed to y by herself. She took a piece of bread and poured herself a ss of red ginseng water.


    Sitting in front of theputer, she ate while searching for recipes suitable for babies.


    The first she selected was the egg custard. She checked and found many ways to make egg custard. The most traditional and simple method was to beat the egg and steam it in a pot.


    The eggs in her fridge were all sterile. She had not touched a single one until now.


    After memorizing the cooking methods of the egg custards, Qiao Mai went to the induction cooker outside and started cooking.


    Looking at the first egg custard that had just been baked, she chuckled and praised herself.


    "I''m a top student, after all. I can learn it right away. If I follow the instructions urately, there''s basically no failure. Hehe, I''m awesome!"


    She dripped some soy sauce and two drops of sesame oil on it. The child was still young and could not eat it, thus she would enjoy it herself.


    Qiao Mai happily dug a spoonful and put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes. Since when did a bowl of egg custard conquer her?


    She felt so blissful eating the food she made herself. It seemed that as long as she put in her heart, she could cook.


    After finishing the small bowl of egg custard, she struck while the iron was hot and made many other vors.


    There were eggs, sausages, eggs with carrots, and eggs with fruit cubes. She tried them all.


    She ate a few bowls in a row and was full.


    However, based on her daughter''s condition, the first and second types were the most suitable for her after eight months. She could only eat thetter types when she was older.


    Qiao Mai memorized the cooking methods of these egg custards to try them in the big iron pot outside another day. After all, the induction cooker and the iron pot were slightly different.


    After the meal, she strolled to the watermelon field. When she saw the size of the watermelons, she immediately grinned.


    She could sell the whole watermelon tomorrow. They were already the size of a basketball, which was the size of the watermelon in the refrigerator. This meant that the watermelons were ripe, right?


    She wanted to cut open one and try it, but she held back when she thought about how her stomach was still full.


    After returning to the house, she did embroidery before hugging the child to sleep.


    After a good night''s sleep in the space, Qiao Mai wanted to go out to the stall the next day. However, she noticed a strong wind blowing outside. The sky was gloomy and the ground was wet, indicating it had rainedst night.


    It was a good time to rest. She was a little tired after running a stall every day.


    She cleaned up the room she slept in and the kitchen. Then, she used the wall breaker in her space to make a bowl of millet paste for herself.


    It wasn''t worth it to cook porridge alone, so she heated a hamburger with rice paste and ate breakfast.


    It had been a few months since she had cooked properly. The restaurant was not to her taste, and the stalls outside were not clean.


    Now that she had money and resources, her mild mysophobia kicked in.


    Since the heavens had given her a holiday, she would have a good rest. She carried a basket, locked the courtyard door, and went out.


    After arriving here for so long, she learned that most people used pork oil for cooking. Vegetarian oil was expensive. Generally, only people who ate vegetarian food and restaurants used vegetarian oil.


    Then there were the high officials, dignitaries, and wealthy families who used vegetarian oil. Ordinary people bought pork and went home to refine it.


    She wanted to buy a piece of pork and some pork suet oil. If there was any vegetarian oil, she could buy some. Even if Qiao Mai did not have rice at home, she could use it.


    At noon, she will cook braised pork, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed rice to reward herself.


    When she passed by the embroidery shop, Shopkeeper Lu waved at her.


    "Sister,e in and have a seat?"


    "No, I''m going to buy pork and some vegetables. I haven''t eaten meat for a long time. The weather is gloomy today. I won''t be working."


    "Yo, you''re going to improve your life?"


    "Yeah, are youing?"


    "Yes, the weather is not good today, and the shop is not busy. Let the girls look after the shop. I''ll go to your ce to have a meal."


    "Alright, I''ll buy some groceries first. You cane over and eat the ready-made mealter."


    "Alright."


    Although the weather was gloomy, the people were reluctant to rest for a day. As long as it didn''t rain heavily, they would usually open the stall to make a living.


    It was almost June, and all kinds of vegetables were harvested.


    Qiao Mai saw a shop selling cucumbers. She bought five catties of cucumbers for one penny per catty, two catties of plum beans, a handful of green onions, water convolvulus, and a piece of tofu. Anything unrted to meat was cheap.


    Even the tofu was two coins for arge piece. Qiao Mai was not afraid of anything with the space. If she bought too much, she would put them in her space. It would not go bad for a long time.


    She didn''t need to buy any condiments. She hadn''t touched the ones Lu Sanniang bought for her during her recuperation period. The entire shelf in her space was filled with it. She had everything she wanted.


    Although Qiao Mai didn''t know how to cook in the past, she still couldn''t help but buy the items on the seasoning rack in the supermarket.


    She was a foodie. She even prepared a lot of hotpot bases, bags of pickled vegetables, and various canned food.


    After all, she wouldn''t have bothered to do anything that could trouble her in the past.


    Now that she didn''t have to study or go on missions, she naturally wanted to live a good life.


    When she arrived at the meat stall, she saw the burly boss cutting up a pig. It seemed that he had just ughtered it in the morning and brought it over.


    Seeing that someone hade to buy meat, the boss chopped the meat and greeted her warmly.


    "Little miss, are you buying meat? This meat was just ughtered this morning. It was fresh."


    Qiao Mai looked at the meat and regretted not stocking up on pork in her previous life. There was no streaky pork here. There was only ayer of lean meat on top of the thick white fats.


    The thinnest part was the butt, but the meat in the butt was unsuitable for braising. The most suitable part was the rib,monly known as streaky pork.


    However, the meat looked so fat that she lost her appetite, so she pointed at the piece in the front.


    "How much is a catty here?"


    "Thirty coins."


    "What about the butt?"


    "It''s also 30 copper coins per 500 grams, suet 15 copper coins per 500 grams, pig''s head with bones five copper coins per 500 grams, pig''s trotters, pig''s tail, and all the other ingredients are five copper coins per 500 grams. Big bones two copper coins per 500 grams."


    The shop owner was afraid it would be troublesome for her to ask one by one, so he quoted the price in one go.


    "Then give me five catties of butt meat, five catties of front leg meat, and these few pieces of suet."


    "Lady, it''s hot. It''ll go bad if you buy so much."


    It seemed that this butcher was a conscientious seller. This sentence immediately gave Qiao Mai a good impression of him. She decided to take care of his business in the future.


    "It won''t be bad. I''ll only keep some thin meat for lunch. The fat ones will be refined into oil and make dumplings. I have many family members."


    "Oh, that''s alright."


    After weighing the meat, Qiao Mai paid for it. She had wanted to buy some pig''s trotters, but after thinking about it, she decided not to. The fur on the trotters had to be shaved. It was too troublesome. She would think about it in the future.


    In the winter, she would order meat from the boss and stew it in a big pot. Then, she would invite Lu Sanniang''s family to eat.


    Oh, right, there was also the pig''s head meat. It was also very delicious. Her favorite dish was the pig''s ear sd. Her space had an all-purpose seasoning sauce. It would be delicious to make any cold dish.


    Just thinking about it made her salivate. She put the meat in the basket and went home.


    As soon as she reached home, Qiao Mai returned to her space. Seeing that her child was still sleeping, she did not dare to make a sound. She turned on herputer and searched online.


    She memorized the cooking methods of boiling pork fat, braised pork, Mapo tofu, stir-fried water convolvulus, chopped green onion, and eggs.


    She also found the necessary seasonings from the shelves and poured some out of the space.


    Standing in the kitchen, she took a deep breath and went to the chopping board. She set aside a piece of red braised pork and cut the rest of the fat into small pieces. She also cut a few pieces of suet into small chunks.

 Chapter 26: Afraid That She Would Have a Stomach Ache

    <h4>Chapter 26: Afraid That She Would Have a Stomach Ache</h4>


    Then, she started a fire on the stove and added water to the pot. After the water boiled, she nched the suet and fat meat, then scooped them out. She rinsed the pot clean and then added water. She poured the fat meat and suet into the pot. The pork oil boiled in this way would be brighter.


    She did every step ording to what was taught online.


    An hour and a halfter, Qiao Mai fished out the browned oil residue and poured it into a jar. Then, she put it into her space. Qiao Mai poured the refined oil into arge jar and put it aside to let it cool. Only then did she begin to prepare the dishes she wanted to cook!


    She plucked the water spinach, washed it clean, cut it into sections, and put it on a te. She also took two dried red peppers from her space, cut them into sections, and put them aside.


    After cutting the tofu into small cubes, she took a spoonful of chili sauce from her space and ced it in a bowl. Then, she picked a few onions, washed them, and cut them into pieces. She cracked four eggs in the bowl, poured in the diced onions, and mixed them well. She also added a little salt.


    When she saw the salt, she could not help butin. The salt avable here was all big salt blocks.


    After she bought it, she had to process it herself, turning therge pieces into small chunks. She had tried a small piece before. It was salty, bitter, and astringent. It could notpare to the snow salt in her space.


    Therefore, therge jar of coarse salt became a decoration. Every time she cooked, Qiao Mai would use the fine salt in her space.


    After preparing all the ingredients, it was about time to stir-fry!


    It was the first time cooking in her life, so Qiao Mai was a little nervous. She was afraid that the food would taste bad and she would have to cook it a second time.


    Qiao Mai had bought plenty of ingredients and was afraid of messing things up. Fortunately, after cooking the first dish, her confidence gradually recovered.


    She ced the four dishes on the table. Qiao Mai grinned and set the bowls and chopsticks. She wiped her hands and pped her head. She hadn''t bought the rice yet.


    She locked the door and sprinted to the grain store. When she arrived, she looked at the bags of rice and noodles and asked.


    "How much is the best white rice here?"


    "Thirty coins."


    "Yo, the same price as pork!"


    " It''s guaranteed to be delicious." The worker stood beside her with a smile.


    "Let me see?"


    The waiter led her to a bag of rice. "This is it. We don''t have new rice yet. This is fromst year, so it''s considered new."


    Qiao Mai grabbed a handful and brought them close to her eyes to take a closer look. She sniffed them and pretended to be a professional.


    "Mm, it''s alright. Give me ten catties of rice and a jar of vegetable oil."


    Time was tight. After weighing it, Qiao Mai ced it in the basket, paid for it, and left.


    When she got home, she cooked a bowl of rice, washed it, and ced it in a small porcin basin. Qiao Mai stored some water and steamed it in a pot. She knew how to do this.


    In the past, she always used an electric rice cooker to steam rice, order dishes from the restaurant to take home, or heat the finished products from the freezer and eat them with rice. It was also convenient.


    Thinking of the instant food in her space, she swallowed her saliva. The next time Shopkeeper Lu came, she would make two dishes from them.


    It was drizzling outside. Shopkeeper Lu held an umbre and carried a jar of wine. She arrived at the right time.


    The moment she entered the room, she smelled the fragrance. She put away the umbre to the side of the door. After entering the room, she took off her shoes and sat by the table.


    Looking at the four dishes, she gulped and waited for Qiao Mai to bring a bowl of rice into the house.


    "I didn''t expect your cooking to be so good."


    "Try it. I don''t know if it''s good or not. In the past, the Tian family didn''t let me go to the kitchen because they were afraid I would steal their food. This is my first time cooking."


    "Sister, bring two more cups. I brought wine. Let''s drink some. If we drink too much, I''ll sleep here for the afternoon."


    "As long as you''re happy."


    Qiao Mai went to the kitchen and brought two cups. Lu Sanniang opened the wine jar and filled it to the brim.


    "Come, you''ve worked hard today. Let''s have a toast."


    The two were straightforward people. They downed the wine in their cups in one gulp and wiped their mouths. Lu Sanniang picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork. She put it into her mouth and chewed.


    "Yes, this meat is delicious. Oh my god, I didn''t expect you to be so talented in cooking."


    "Next time, call my two disciples along."


    "Then we have toe over at night."


    "Alright, we''ll wait for the next time it rains."


    "Deal!"


    The two high-fived each other. They ate the meal as if they were sworn sisters.


    Qiao Mai picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of each dish. It was barely edible. She had to improve it next time. It should be fine after practicing a few more times.


    Qiao Mai summarized her cooking skills. She was stillcking, and she was not familiar with the operation. It tasted like it was made by a novice.


    However, Lu Sanniang enjoyed the food. She ate more than half of the four dishes and drank more than half of the jar of wine. She didn''t even touch the rice.


    Lu Sanniang directly slept on her bed. Qiao Mai shook her head, cleaned the table, and washed the dishes. Then, she sat beside Lu Sanniang and did the chores.


    Women''s snoring was no worse than men''s. Lu Sanniang snored like thunder. Qiao Mai had no choice but to plug her ears with cotton.


    When the sky darkened, Ruxin and her sister came over with two servant girls.


    "Master, we''re here to pick up my mother. Is she here?"


    "She''s still sleeping on the brick bed. She drank a lot of wine at noon."


    The sisters woke Lu Sanniang up. She opened her eyes and sat on the brick bed to regain her senses.


    "Sister, remember what you said. Next time, our family of five wille."


    "I won''t forget. Let''s go back quickly. It''s toote, and the road won''t be easy to walk."


    They finally left. Qiao Mai had been thinking about the watermelons in the space for a long time, so she locked the door and went into the space.


    She went to check on her baby first. Seeing that Ling''er had woken up, she carried her to the ground.


    Sheid a small mat on the ground and ced Ling''er on it. Then, she took a spoon.


    Qiao Mai picked a watermelon from the field she had nted herself and smashed it open with her fist. The flesh inside was as good as the ones she sold at her stall.


    She took a big bite, and it seemed to be sweeter than the ones she sold. It was so sweet that her throat was a little sore.


    Sure enough, the ck soil produced good food. She ate slowly, her eyes asionally sweeping across the empty space where she had just picked the melons.


    Ling''er saw that her mother was eating, and her little mouth was also sucking. She hummed as if she wanted to eat.


    Qiao Mai didn''t dare to let her eat, not even a mouthful of watermelon water, for fear that she would have a stomachache.


    Fifteen minutester, another melon that looked the same grew from the spot where she picked the melon.


    Qiao Mai was excited. Then, she picked another melon from another quarter of thend. She wanted to see if this extra melon could be replicated as well.


    After she finished eating the melon, no more melons grew.


    Therefore, she used her mind to pick all the watermelons in the replicated watermelon field and piled them in a corner. The field without seedlings was quickly disposed of by the space as trash.


    Qiao Mai thought about it and decided that this patch ofnd couldn''t replicate watermelons, so she just needed to keep thend that could.


    Then what should she nt in this field? Qiao Mai went back to the refrigerator and searched through the fruits. Suddenly, her eyes lit up.


    She took two boxes of strawberries and a pair of tweezers back to the field. Ling''er was ying with herself.


    She pinched her daughter''s little face. "Mother will make a few toys for you to y within a few days."


    She turned around and squatted on the ground. She picked up the strawberry seeds with a small tweezer and nted them. Halfway there, Ling''er woke up, and she coaxed her to sleep. Qiao Mai put her back on the bed and returned to the field.


    After nting all the seeds in the two boxes of strawberries, she finally filled up the area and watered it.


    She stood up and massaged her waist.


    It was not easy for farmers. She only nted four acres ofnd and already felt exhausted.


    Working and exercising were two different things.


    Qiao Mai washed the two boxes of strawberries and ced them on the bedside table. She wanted to lie down for a while before eating them.


    She didn''t expect to fall asleep after lying down for a while. She slept until dawn.


    When the rooster crowed, she opened her eyes. Qiao Mai was a little annoyed when she thought about how she had fallen asleep so muddle-headedly the entire night.


    The child didn''t cause any trouble, but she had just been here for a few months. Her life had been slowly changing.


    She can''t let my guard down. She can''t sleep so soundly at night anymore.

 Chapter 27: Buying Seeds

    <h4>Chapter 27: Buying Seeds</h4>


    After Qiao Mai got up, she quickly served her daughter. This time, she did not put her on the bed.


    A few days ago, she bought arge mat outside andid it on the ground. She also put a mattress on it. From now on, she and the child would sleep on the ground.


    She put the bed away and ced it somewhere not in the way.


    The child was getting bigger and bigger. She was afraid that Ling''er would fall off if she were not careful.


    After doing all this, she coaxed Ling''er to sleep on the big mat on the ground.


    This time, she didn''t log out directly. Instead, she went to the edge of the space to check. After one night, the strawberry seedlings had almost sprouted.


    The seedling rate was over 90%. Thinking that she would be able to sell strawberries in a few days and have another project to earn money, Qiao Mai smiled foolishly.


    The premise was that no one was selling this product here. She could not always set up a stall. She had to find time to go to the prefecture to understand more.


    It was a little embarrassing to say that she still did not know which dynasty this was. She was like a frog at the bottom of a well. She only saw this area. Even when others talked, they did not mention the dynasty.


    Qiao Mai came out of the space and looked at the weather outside. Although the sky was still cloudy, it was not as heavy as before. It probably wouldn''t rain today.


    She casually had breakfast and went to the embroidery shop. She did not n to open a stall today.


    Without the sun, there would be fewer people eating melons and buying ice cubes. She had to do her own work in the cool.


    "Sister Lu, I''m going to the prefecture to shop around. If I''mte, I won''t be back today. I''m telling you so that you won''t worry."


    "Do you need me to go with you?"


    "No need. I can go by myself. Do you need anything?"


    "You have to put your heart on the embroidery. Otherwise, what will I hand over to others?"


    "Got it. I won''t miss you. I''m leaving!"


    "Protect yourself."


    "I know."


    After saying that, Qiao Mai walked onto the official road and soon got on a carriage heading south to the prefecture.


    Although it was expensive, the carriage was fast. She could make a round trip on the same day if everything goes smoothly.


    Sitting in the carriage, Qiao Mai didn''t say a word and quietly listened to the conversations of the others in the carriage.


    On this journey to the south, they would pass by a town, a county, and two more towns before arriving at the prefecture.


    The small town to the north of Tianshui Town was called Tianhe Town, to the south was Tiannan Town, and the county town was County Yi. The names of the two towns were not mentioned as she would not be going there. The prefecture was called Wei City.


    The names were auspicious and easy to read, so she remembered them in her heart.


    The carriage traveled for four hours. When they reached the city, Qiao Mai was about to throw up.


    The wooden wheels spun bumpily. It was fine if the road was smooth, but if they encountered a bumpy road, her body would fall apart.


    Qiao Mai jumped down from the carriage and gave the coachman fifty coins.


    "Brother, may I ask which dynasty we are in now?"


    The coachman nced at her and chuckled.


    "One look and I can tell that you are a woman who stays home all year round and doesn''t go out. You don''t know anything. Let me tell you, this is the Great Ming Dynasty. The current emperor''s surname is Liu. He is only in his early thirties this year. The country''s surname was Kang. He hoped the country would be prosperous and the people would be peaceful. Do you know now?"


    "Oh, I got it. Thank you, brother."


    "Are you going back to Tianshui Town?"


    "I don''t think I can go back today. The earliest would be tomorrow."


    " I always wait for customers outside the northern city gate at noon every day. If you need a ride,e here to find me."


    Qiao Mai bowed and paid the entrance fee of a copper coin before following the crowd into the city.


    She walked slowly by the roadside and looked around from time to time. She would go over to nce at what the stalls were selling.


    It was the best time when the vendors sold their goods. There were many people on the road, and the sound of peddling continued.


    As expected of a prefecture. They sold more than a small town.


    Since she was here, should she buy something?


    Hence, Qiao Mai bought chives, green peppers, red peppers, and so on. She even bought a bamboo basket to carry on her back to cover herself.


    There were many types of shops in the prefecture. Along the way, she even saw a seed shop.


    They were selling seeds. Qiao Mai almost screamed and ran into the shop.


    Looking at the shelves, she recognized some of the seeds revealed in the open bags. There were vegetable seeds, grain seeds, and medicinal herb seeds. They looked quiteplete.


    Qiao Mai stood at the counter and looked at the seeds with a grin. Her eyes were overwhelmed. She felt that this seed shop was opened for her.


    Now, she no longer needed tweezers to pick up strawberry seeds. With so many seeds, she could nt them for a few years.


    "Little miss, are you buying seeds?"


    The worker''s words woke Qiao Mai up.


    "Yes, you have a full range of seeds here."


    "It''s cool. There are seeds from the north and south. What seeds do you want?"


    "I want all of them."


    The shop assistant was speechless. "Our shop has expensive seeds, cheap seeds, and even those sold by grains. How do you want to buy them?"


    "Give me a small bag of the cheap seeds and a hundred of the expensive seeds."


    The assistant swallowed and confirmed again. "Everything?"


    "Yes, I want everything!"


    The shop assistant sized her up." Buying all the seeds in this shop would cost at least a dozen taels of silver."


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. "I''m not a lunatic, and I don''t have any grudges against your shop. I am here to buy seeds. What''s the point of meing here to lie to you?"


    Upon hearing this, the shop assistant was sure that Qiao Mai was indeed here to buy seeds.


    Hence, he warmly greeted her, "Hehe, please wait a moment, littledy. I''ll weigh it for you."


    The shop assistant quickly ced a stack of paper on the counter and took out the seed bags in a certain order. The seeds inside were weighed and ced on the paper. The price was written on the paper and then wrapped up, just like how a medicine shop grabbed medicine.


    Qiao Mai found a chair and sat down. She then sent the things in her basket into her space.


    Before she knew it, the shop assistant had already wrapped the seeds while she was napping on the chair.


    The shopkeeper took out an abacus and started calcting. Then, he nced deeply at Qiao Mai, who was dressed inly.


    "Youngdy, there are more than three hundred packets of seeds here. Two hundred packets of fifty coins, a total of ten taels. One hundred packets of one hundred coins, ten taels; twenty packets of two hundred coins, four taels; ten packets of five hundred coins, five taels; a total of twenty-nine taels."


    Qiao Mai took a cloth bag from her basket and counted three ingots and ten taels of silver. She ced them on the table.


    The shopkeeper silently refunded her a tael of silver. He attentively put the seeds into her basket and counted them.


    Qiao Mai covered the basket with a piece of cloth and carried it on her back. She was about to turn around and leave.


    The shopkeeper called out to her, "Littledy, forgive me for being presumptuous, but why did you buy so many seeds?"


    "My family is preparing to buynd. I want to try nting each seed to see which is suitable for the soil on my family''snd."


    "I see."


    The shopkeeper thought, "She''s really generous to try out more than 20 taels of silver''s worth of seeds. Looking at her clothes, she doesn''t seem to be from a rich family."


    Coming out of the seed shop, Qiao Mai was in a good mood. It was almost past noon, but she had not eaten yet. She casually took an apple from her space and started munching it to quench her thirst and satisfy her hunger.


    It was rare for her toe to the prefecture, so she couldn''t waste any time. She had to take a good look around the ancient prefecture.


    Who would have thought that she would almost get into trouble?


    Just as she focused on shopping, someone followed behind her. At first, she thought it was a pedestrian, but after walking for a long time, she felt that someone was indeed following her.


    She turned around and red at the person, who was only three to four meters away.


    "Why are you following me?"


    The person looked like he was ten years old. He was a little boy, dressed quite well, and looked delicate.


    When he saw Qiao Mai only had an apple in her hand, tears immediately welled up in his eyes, and he looked sad.


    "Auntie, I want to eat apples."


    A ten-year-old boy should have been sensible in ancient times. He would not have left with someone just because he saw fruit.


    Qiao Mai judged that there was something wrong with his brain!

 Chapter 28: I Think She Looks Like a Human Trafficker

    <h4>Chapter 28: I Think She Looks Like a Human Trafficker</h4>


    He stared at the apple in her hand and could not help but swallow. Qiao Mai sighed softly, turned around, and moved all the seeds in the basket into her space. Then, she took an apple from the basket and handed it to the little boy.


    "There!"


    The little boy walked up to her and reached out to take the apple." Thank you, Auntie."


    He was ten years old, and she was only sixteen. There was a difference of six years. How did she feel when she was called auntie?


    Qiao Mai shook her head and was about to leave when she saw him bite into the apple. An old woman ran over from behind.


    Qiao Mai frowned at the old woman when she saw that the old woman was about to snatch the apple from him.


    "I gave this to him. Why did you snatch it from him?"


    The old woman stopped and looked at Qiao Mai. "We don''t know each other. Why are you so generous?"


    Qiao Mai was so angry that she almostughed. "I ate an apple, and he followed me all the way. I don''t need an apple. What''s wrong with giving him one and stopping him from following me? Could it be that I drugged him in the apple?"


    "Who knows? Hmph!"


    As they spoke, the little boy had already eaten half of the apple. Qiao Mai was new here and did not want to cause trouble.


    "He''s almost done eating. I''ll wait for fifteen minutes. If nothing happened, pay me for the apple."


    "Why?"


    "You framed me!"


    "Who told you to feed my young master?"


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. "Looks like I can''t be a good person. Why don''t we go to the government office?"


    "You, you littledy, are you so heartless? You want someone to follow you to the government office just because you gave an apple?"


    "Or what? I should let you, a vicious woman, frame me?"


    As more and more passers-by came to watch the show, Qiao Mai cupped her hands at everyone.


    "Everyone, be my witness. I ate an apple, and this child has been following me. I kindly gave him one, but this old woman came up and said I drugged her young master."


    "It''s hard to be a good person in this world. Look carefully. This child has already finished eating. If nothing happens in fifteen minutes, I''ll leave. If this vicious womanes looking for meter, please be my witness."


    At this moment, the boy finished eating the apple and stared at her.


    "Auntie, I still want to eat."


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. "Little one, I don''t dare to give it to you anymore. You should hurry back with your caretakerter."


    The boy nced at the old woman. "She''s not my caretaker. I don''t know her."


    Qiao Mai narrowed her eyes. "So, you''re a human trafficker?"


    The old woman was shocked and hurriedly exined to everyone.


    "I''m not a human trafficker. I''m this young master''s nanny. Today, the old master instructed me to follow him to y."


    "Tsk, who would believe that? Since you''re his nanny, why did he say he doesn''t know you?"


    The surroundingmoners heard the boy''s words and questioned the old woman.


    The old woman was embarrassed.


    "Young Master had a high fever when he was young. His brain is different from normal people. You can''t believe what he says."


    "Tsk, who would believe you?"


    "That''s right. Hurry up and report it to the authorities. If she''s a human trafficker, this little boy will be in danger."


    The old woman was anxious. She was filled with regret. If she hadn''t been so nosy and said such unpleasant words just now, Young Master wouldn''t have been angry with her and misunderstood her as a human trafficker.


    Qiao Mai crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking like she was watching a show. This old woman had been dishonest and framed her. Now, she would let her have a taste of her own medicine.


    At this moment, the patrolling officer walked over with a sword at his waist.


    "What are you all doing here?"


    Seeing the official arrive, themoners made way for him. The official saw a young woman, an old woman, and a little boy surrounded.


    "Granny Xiao, what are you doing here?"


    "I''m apanying my young master out to y."


    Only then did the officer see the little boy''s appearance clearly, and a smile immediately appeared.


    "So it''s the Wang family''s little prince."


    At this moment, the old woman became arrogant. "Officer, please be reasonable. They all say I''m a human trafficker. I think she''s the one who looks like a human trafficker! She gave my young master an apple and asked him to leave with her."


    The officer looked at Qiao Mai, who Granny Xiao was pointing at. "Tell me what happened."


    Qiao Mai recounted everything that had happened, and the officer red at the old woman.


    "Alright, it''s all a misunderstanding. Let''s go. Granny Xiao, hurry up and bring your young master home. It''s your fault for losing him. Be careful not to be punished when you return."


    "Yes, yes."


    The old woman knew that Qiao Mai would be fine no matter what she said, so she pulled the boy''s hand and wanted to leave. Unfortunately, the young master did not move.


    Qiao Mai turned to leave, but the boy shook off the old woman''s hand and was about to follow her.


    Qiao Mai turned around helplessly. "Officer, you see? He''s been following me like this."


    "Auntie, fruits. I want to eat fruits."


    Qiao Mai put down the basket and opened it to show the little boy the empty contents.


    "There''s no more. I went to the mountains to pick these. I ate one and gave you one."


    The little boy was extremely disappointed. He held back his tears and was about to cry out loud.


    At this moment, a pleasant female voice sounded. "Zihan, Zihan?"


    The little boy turned around immediately when he heard the voice. He saw a girl around the age of fifteen and pounced on her.


    "Sister, I want to eat fruits. I want to eat big red fruits."


    The girl wiped his tears and nodded at the two officers. The maid beside her quickly stuffed a dime of silver to each of the officers.


    "Don''t cry. Let''s go. I''ll take you to buy it."


    "I want hers. She has it."


    Qiao Mai shrugged at the girl. "I only have two. I ate one and gave him one. That''s all."


    The girl smiled apologetically at her. "I''m sorry. My brother is naughty and has caused you trouble."


    "It''s fine."


    Qiao Mai turned around and left. Behind her, the little boy wailed.


    She couldn''t help him. An apple couldn''t solve the problem. The doctor should help him the most.


    Ever since she came to the prefecture, Qiao Mai had never stopped. She spent all her time exploring and basically visited all the ces she could.


    What surprised her the most was that in a flower and bird pet shop, someone treated quails as birds and sold them in cages.


    No one would buy such a bird. Its chirping was not pleasant, and its appearance was not beautiful. It was merely a little rare.


    No matter how rare, it was worthless if no one bought it. So when she asked the shopkeeper, he immediately sold it to her at a cheap price.


    He gave her seven dispirited quails for a tael of silver, including the cage, as if he was afraid she would go back on her word.


    Qiao Mai thought, "What a fool. If this thing breeds well, it''s not slower than a chickenying eggs. Moreover, its nutritional value is better than eggs."


    She would take it if they didn''t want it. Her daughter is about to grow up. When the quail eggs areid, she''ll cook them for Ling''er to eat and make noodle soup. It''s delicious.


    As soon as she left the shop, she ced the quails in her space and let them run freely.


    After all, the poop was taken care of by itself, so it wouldn''t be dirty. She sprinkled some millet on the ground and put water in a box. Seeing them fight for food, she felt relieved.


    Good thingse in two!


    She got the seeds and the quails. Qiao Mai rubbed her shriveled belly and went to thergest restaurant in the prefecture.


    Although her outfit was ordinary, it was still good enough for a meal. Since she was not worthy of a private room, she could go to the hall.


    After finding an inconspicuous corner and sitting at the table, a waiter automatically brought water to her.


    "Little miss, what do you want to eat?"


    "Give me two of your shop''s signature dishes and a bowl of rice."


    "Alright, please wait a moment."


    A te of garlic bacon, a te of fish slices, and a bowl of rice were quickly served on the table.


    Qiao Mai was so starving. She held the bowl of rice and started wolfing down the food. When she choked, she would drink a mouthful of water.


    She continued eating. Halfway through the meal, another person stood at the table.

 Chapter 29: Urgent Need

    <h4>Chapter 29: Urgent Need</h4>


    Qiao Mai, who was busy eating, slowly looked up and immediately felt like crying.


    "I say, why are you still haunting me? Hmm?"


    "Apple, I want to eat the apples."


    Qiao Mai wanted to cry. Does he think she looks like an apple?


    "No, if you want to eat fruit, go find your sister."


    She steeled her heart and continued eating. She had to feed herself first. After a tiring day, she still had to find an inn to rest.


    The little boy doesn''t walk, as if he could get the fruit just by standing there.


    Qiao Mai had almost finished her meal when his sister walked over.


    "What fate. We meet again." In fact, she had been standing at the side and watching for a long time.


    Qiao Mai raised her head and said, "I''m too hungry. Let me eat first."


    The girl was not in a hurry to bring her brother along. She sat opposite Qiao Mai and watched her eat. Even so, it did not affect Qiao Mai''s speed.


    After devouring two dishes, a bowl of rice, and half a pot of water, she was finally not hungry anymore.


    She called the waiter to pay the bill before talking to the two people opposite her.


    "Are you guys here to eat too?"


    "Yes, I felt that we were fated, so I came forward to strike up a conversation with you. I hope you don''t mind."


    Qiao Mai thought, "I mind. Why wouldn''t I mind? Your little brother almost scared me to death."


    "What''s the matter? If there''s nothing else, I have to go."


    The girl was a little embarrassed. "My name is Wang Jiaru. This is my brother, Wang Zihan. You can see that he''s not very good here." She gestured to his head.


    "I could tell a long time ago. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have given the apple to him."


    "I don''t even know how to thank you."


    "Young Lady, you are too polite."


    Qiao Mai didn''t know why she wanted to get to know her, so she looked at them indifferently.


    "Well, you know, it''s not the ripe season for apples yet. We have to wait until mid-July to eat it. Sister, do you still have this fruit? This little brother of mine really likes it."


    "No, there were only two. I gave him one."


    "Did you buy it?"


    "On the way here, a man was selling them by the roadside. He said he picked them from the mountains. I saw they were rare, so I bought two."


    The girl revealed a disappointed expression. It seemed that she was indeed a good sister to this younger brother of hers.


    Qiao Mai thought about the two boxes of strawberries without seeds. She turned around and took them out of the basket.


    "I see that he likes to eat fruits. Look, I have two boxes of such fruits here. I wonder if it will solve your urgent need."


    When the girl saw the strawberries, she was pleasantly surprised.


    "Oh, these are berries, right? They grew out so early?"


    "I got these by ident and wanted to keep them for myself. If you like them, I''ll sell them to you."


    She can''t possibly give it to them for free. Qiao Mai only recognizes money.


    Miss Wang quickly looked at the maid following her not far away.


    "Give ten taels of silver to this sister."


    "Yes, Miss!"


    Five taels per box was not expensive. If Qiao Mai bought strawberries like this in her previous life, it would have cost at least twenty to thirty yuan per box.


    A box of these was a pound, two boxes were two pounds.


    Qiao Mai took the silver, but her expression did not look happy. Miss Wang asked carefully.


    "Is it enough? If it''s not enough, I''ll pay more?"


    "It''s enough."


    After putting away the silver, Qiao Mai stood up and was about to leave. Miss Wang hurriedly asked.


    "May I know where this sister''s home is? Can we be friends?"


    "Tianshui Town. I''m just a small vendor. I''ll pass."


    "What do you usually sell?"


    "Watermelons and ice cubes, which are sourced from the prefecture. I wille to Wei City every once in a while."


    "That''s great. If sisteres back with fresh fruits, can you sell them to me at my house?"


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. "Sure, where is your house?"


    "It''s on the street behind this. You''ll see it as soon as youe. I''ll tell the gatekeeper. They definitely won''t mistreat you."


    Seeing that the girl was polite and humble, Qiao Mai nodded.


    "Next time, then."


    Miss Wang was happy that her brother was no longer making a fuss. He hugged the two boxes of strawberries tightly and ate them attentively.


    "Then when would you send it?"


    "How about this? Tomorrow morning, I''ll send a batch of fruits to your family. You can eat them for a while."


    Having finally achieved her goal, Miss Wang heaved a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.


    "Then I will wait at the door with my brother in the morning?"


    "There''s no need to be too early. I''ll be there when the sun rises."


    "Alright."


    Qiao Mai picked up the basket and did not say anything more to them. She walked out of the restaurant and left them with her back view.


    "Miss, isn''t ten taels of silver too expensive for these two boxes?"


    Miss Wang patted Wang Zihan''s head. "It''s not expensive. Back then, His Majesty the Emperor had people rush to the south to transport lychees. Many horses were exhausted just to make a beauty smile. Now is not the season for berries to be on the market. To be able to eat such berries is already enough. This is something that money can''t buy, understand?"


    "This servant understands."


    Qiao Mai turned left and right and found an inconspicuous inn on a street.


    Those who stayed here were mostly ordinary people like her.


    She asked for an ordinary guest room for 100 coins a night. She didn''t care about anything as long as she could sleep.


    She closed the door, entered her space, and came to Ling''er''s side. When the little fellow saw her, her little mouth twitched, and she was about to cry.


    Qiao Mai quickly went forward to change her diapers and put on a new one. Then, she held her in her arms.


    "You must be hungry, baby. I''ll make you some milk powder now."


    "Ah, ah!"


    Ling''er opened her mouth and begged for food. She looked extremely cute.


    After making the milk powder, Qiao Mai took a small spoon and fed Ling''er spoonful by spoonful. Perhaps she was too hungry, but Ling''er''s two small hands wanted to snatch the spoon away.


    Half an hourter, the little girl was full. Qiao Mai turned her head up and let her lean on her shoulder. She gently patted her back and slowly walked out of the house.


    The seven quails had eaten and drunk their fill. Qiao Mai didn''t know where they had gone to nest.


    When she came to the strawberry field, she saw another piece ofnd beside the strawberry field. There were also strawberries growing in it, just as she had imagined.


    Qiao Mai smiled happily. With such a pattern, she wouldn''t have to nt and harvest in the future.


    She carried Ling''er back to the freezer. The oil she put in yesterday was still frozen inside.


    So far, she had discovered that only the consumables she had ced in her space in her previous life could be replicated. She had not found anything that could be replicated aftering here.


    To prove what she thought, she took the bowl out of the freezer and deliberately put it in her mouth from a corner.


    However, after waiting for half an hour, the replicated oil did not appear.


    Although she was a little disappointed, Qiao Mai was still very satisfied.


    Not only could the ck soil replicate itself, but it could also replicate the crops inside. The consumables stored in the past could also be replicated. This was already heaven-defying. She could not ask for more from the space.


    That night, Qiao Mai did nothing but y with the child. The mother and daughter slept together.


    The next day, Qiao Mai got up and paid for the room. She left the inn and went to the grocery store to buy a few small baskets. Thinking that she woulde to the prefecture often in the future, it would be inconvenient to take someone else''s carriage. She might as well buy her own.


    Hence, she went to the farmer''s market and picked a tall, big, and full of vigor purplish-red stallion in its prime.


    In her previous life, she liked riding horses but always had to ride them on the horse track. If she wanted to own a better horse, it would cost hundreds of thousands. She could afford to buy a horse but had no ce to raise one.


    She could only enjoy herself at the horse track. Now that she was here, she could ride horses freely.


    This horse was strong and had a good character. She walked over to it, and it did not resist. She bought it for a hundred taels of silver.


    She spent another twenty taels of silver to buy a caravan that could transport goods and people. No one could see what was in the carriage. How good was it?


    When she was busy, she would use it to transport goods. When she was free, she would ride a horse.

 Chapter 30: Missing a Man

    <h4>Chapter 30: Missing a Man</h4>


    After she secured the carriage and kept the receipt in her space, Qiao Mai stroked the horse''s head and gave it an apple.


    The horse happily raised its head at Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai smiled and made a promise to it.


    "Don''t worry. You''ll have a good life with me. I promise I won''t kill you, stew you, or eat you. I''ll treat you well for the rest of your life. When you''re old, I won''t let you do any hard work. I''ll take care of you until you die."


    She drove the carriage to a ce where there were fewer people. She got into the carriage and opened the basket she had bought.


    The baskets weren''t big. It was only the size of two watermelons at most.


    She ced two watermelons in a basket and started picking around in the freezer.


    She took ten apples and pears. They were not small, and the twenty fruits added up to more than ten catties.


    She took a few grapes and put them inside. They also weighed about ten catties.


    She had also put in ten catties of golden oranges. That was four fruits. Just as she was about to leave the space, she saw the strawberries in the strawberry field had ripened.


    Qiao Mai used her mind to pick about ten catties of strawberries. There seemed to be only these few kinds of fruits in the north.


    She had peaches in her space, but wasn''t it too early to take them out?


    Looking at the fruits in the basket, she sighed. She had already taken out so many. These peaches would not harm.


    She took ten catties of peaches. It was a total of six baskets of fruits. These were much more than the two boxes of strawberries yesterday. If they did not give a satisfying price, she would leave immediately.


    Qiao Mai drove the carriage to the entrance of the Wang family''s mansion. At this time, Miss Wang and her brother were waiting there.


    She immediately saw a woman leaning her head against the wall. It was Granny Xiao from yesterday.


    Retracting her gaze, she greeted Miss Wang in the carriage.


    "I won''t get out of the carriage. Why don''t you get in and take a look? If it doesn''t work, I''ll leave. It''s too eye-catching to take these out."


    Wang Jiaru got someone to carry a stool and stepped onto the carriage. When she entered, she was instantly overjoyed.


    "Are you satisfied?"


    "Satisfied, very satisfied!"


    "How much is this?"


    "Name a price. It''s not easy to get these fruits."


    "Other than watermelons, I''ll give you fifty taels of silver for a basket of fruits."


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. "Sure. If you don''t want the watermelons, I''ll sell them myself."


    "I want watermelons too. I''ll give you ten taels of silver for two watermelons. The sum is two hundred and sixty taels. Deal?"


    "Deal!"


    Miss Wang immediately took the silver notes from her sleeve, counted them, and handed them to her.


    "Each banknote is worth ten taels. There are twenty-six notes here."


    Qiao Mai took it and counted it, then nodded.


    "Get your servants to unload the carriage. I still have to go to the city to buy some watermelons from the melon farmers."


    "When will youe next time?"


    "These willst you a while. It is the rainy season in July, so I''m afraid I can''te. It''s going to be August."


    "Can we go over and find you?"


    "Why would you look for me? I have a stall in a small town. I only sell watermelons."


    "Thene to the city. My Wang family will back you up."


    "No, I still have rtives and friends over there."


    Wang Jiaru had people move the fruits in the cart into the Wang residence at lightning speed. When Wang Zihan saw this, he no longer stayed with his sister. Instead, he followed the basket and entered his house.


    After settling the money and goods, Qiao Mai drove the carriage away.


    Miss Wang stood at the door and looked at her back thoughtfully.


    If the world saw Qiao Mai as an ordinary woman, it would be a big mistake. She must have hidden something to be able to get fruits that others could not. This was a friend that Wang Jiaru was sure to make.


    Qiao Mai drove the carriage back. On the way, she met the coach master. He was driving the carriage to the prefecture and happened to meet her.


    "Oh, little miss, you bought a carriage?"


    "Yes, I bought it when I found one suitable."


    "Shall we be colleagues in the future?"


    "Nah. I use this cart to transport my goods."


    "Oh, if it''s not enough in the future, note that I often work in this area. Although my home is not in Tianshui Town, it is in the surrounding viges. I wait for customers in Tianshui Town."


    "Alright, I''ll look for you if I need you in the future."


    It was said that people of the same trade were enemies. The coachman seemed to have a silver tongue. As long as he was diligent, he would not starve to death.


    When she was about to reach home, Qiao Mai put the watermelon and ice in the space into the cart and stopped at the embroidery shop.


    When Shopkeeper Lu saw her, she finally rxed.


    "Sister, why did you buy a carriage just for a trip?"


    Qiao Mai didn''t get out of the cart. "I will visit the prefecture frequently and have to transport goods. It''s inconvenient to keep relying on others. I saw a good cart and bought it."


    "That''s great. It''ll be much more convenient for me to use the cart in the future."


    "Sister, I''ll put the melons and ice in the cart home first. We''ll chat again tomorrow."


    "Okay. I''ll follow you and help you move it."


    "No need. It''s just a melon. I''ll move it myself."


    Lu Sanniang was stubborn. She let the two servant girls look after the shop and brought her daughters to follow behind the carriage to help.


    The four of them ced the cart of watermelons and ice in the storage room.


    Shopkeeper Lu asked worriedly, "The ice won''t melt, right?"


    "No, there''s a thick nket wrapped around the wooden box. It can be stored for a few days."


    " Are you willing to wrap it with a new quilt?"


    "Isn''t it to make money? They will melt if you don''t use it to wrap the ice. The quilt won''t break."


    Qiao Mai locked the door after taking a watermelon and went to the kitchen to cut it.


    Ruxin and Ruyi quickly set up the table in the courtyard. Qiao Mai cut the watermelon and ced it on the table. The four of them sat around and ate it.


    "How much is this watermelon?"


    "Five hundred coins."


    "If it''s this price, selling it at fifty coins a piece is quite suitable. One melon can earn two to three hundred coins, and a month with ice and melons can earn thirty taels of silver, right?"


    "Thanks to Sister, I don''t have to pay taxes, and no onees to find trouble. It''s more than this amount."


    "After being exposed to the wind and sun, you finally became a little fairer and fatter. But now, you look like you lost weight again."


    "No, people can''t sit all the time. That way, their bodies will be weak. Moving around appropriately is good."


    Lu Sanniang took a big bite of the watermelon. "Can''t you take care of your body and life?"


    "How do you like this watermelon?"


    Qiao Mai changed the topic and asked.


    "It''s delicious. It''s better than the ones sold before."


    "I bought them directly from the melon field. They''re especially fresh. In the future, I can sell whole melons. I don''t have to find a vendor to wholesale them anymore. I can buy them directly from the melon farmers."


    "That''s good."


    The four women finished the watermelon and rubbed their stomachs.


    Qiao Mai rested for a while before returning to her room and took two pce fans from her space. She reced them with the wooden shelves here and ced them in a box beforeing out to hand them to Shopkeeper Lu.


    "I embroidered this recently."


    "Yo, you work really fast. It didn''t distract you from selling melons?"


    "Because you cautioned me."


    "Did you embroider it at night when you are home? It''ll hurt your eyes. I''m not in a hurry."


    "I can''t sleep so early anyway."


    "It''s mainly because you''re alone. You''ll fall asleep with a man beside you. Are you missing a man?"


    "Don''t joke about this."


    Shopkeeper Lu opened the box and admired it with her two daughters. "Tsk tsk, your craftsmanship is still the best. Look at this painting. It looks so real."


    "As long as you''re satisfied."


    "Alright, I''ll put it in the shopter. The customers will definitely be happy when theye."


    Qiao Mai yawned, and the mother and daughters immediately stood up.


    "Have a good rest. We''ll leave first. Tomorrow, I''ll get the girls to set up a stall for you, okay?"


    "Sure!"


    After the three left, Qiao Mai didn''t feel tired at all. After entering the space, she started to get busy.


    She found a notebook and recorded everything she had brought from her previous life.


    She put away all the guns hanging on the wall, leaving only a silent pistol and a box of bullets.


    She sealed the Ferrari with wood and used it as a tform, putting many items she seldom use on it.


    She used the roof again. The roof in the space was t and could hold a few goods. She ced all the light shelves on the roof. This saved four-quarters ofnd.

 Chapter 31: Believe In The Eggs

    <h4>Chapter 31: Believe In The Eggs</h4>


    Qiao Mai cleared out the floor tiles and looked at the floor. She chuckled. When cleaning up the space, she had already made up her mind.


    She wanted to use this piece ofnd to grow melons.


    She didn''t need the seeds she bought for the time being. There were a few melons in the freezer. She washed the melons, dug out the seeds, and used tweezers to nt them in the ground.


    Qiao Mai watered the ground and giggled as she ate the melon.


    Watermelons and honeydews should have been on the market together, but she didn''t remember that honeydews were equally popr.


    Although it was not as juicy as watermelon, it tastes better, especially the ripe ones. From afar, one could smell the intoxicating fragrance of a honeydew.


    The melon in her hand was of high quality, but it was not ripe enough. However, it still had a strong fragrance.


    Just as she pondered about setting up a stall tomorrow, Ling''er''s voice sounded in the room.


    The baby is awake!


    Qiao Mai quickly finished the melon and ran back into the house. When she saw her baby blowing bubbles, she giggled.


    "Oh, my little darling is awake?"


    "Ah, ah, ah!"


    "Mother will prepare the milk for you."


    "Ah!"


    When Ling''er saw the bowl, she immediately became excited. She opened her mouth and let out an "ah" sound. This meant that she wanted Qiao Mai to feed her quickly.


    Qiao Mai held the baby in her arms and the bowl with one hand. She didn''t even need to feed her with a spoon. Ling''er''s two small hands held the bowl, and her mouth was close to the bowl. She drank it in small mouthfuls. Qiao Mai was afraid she would choke, so she was very careful.


    Looking at her daughter''s gluttonous appearance, she was sure that this girl would be a little fatty in the future.


    After feeding Ling''er, she ced her on the ground. Ling''er flipped over andy around. She raised her little head and looked at Qiao Mai with a smile. Then, she kicked her calves and slowly learned to crawl.


    Qiao Mai looked at this interesting scene and stood a little further away from the child.


    She pped her hands. "Come, Ling''er,e here quickly. Mother is here."


    Ling''er spent a long time and only managed to climb a short distance. She was so anxious that she wanted to cry. Qiao Mai quickly came over and hugged her.


    "Good Ling''er, you''re still young. If you grow any further, you''ll be able to climb up to Mother''s side. Come, Mother will take you to see the quails."


    When cleaning up, the little quails were hiding under the shelves. They had no ce to stay currently and were all ying on the ground.


    When Ling''er saw these little fellows, her eyes widened. "Ah, ah, ah!"


    She wanted to grab them. Qiao Mai ced the quails on a small mat, found some materials, and made a chicken ring. It was about two meters wide and four meters long.


    The space didn''t rain, so there was no need to build a shed. She ced the seven quails inside and put a box containing water, and another box for food.


    The little ones were much more energetic than when they first arrived. From time to time, they would raise their heads to look at Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai had not seen any eggs when she had cleared the ce. It should be because they had not grown up yet, or they were frightened.


    There was no hurry. It had only been a few days. She believed that there would be eggs.


    She had done a lot of work today and did not embroider at night. She hugged the little darling and went to sleep.


    The next day, the weather was clear. The sky was blue as soon as the sun rose.


    The air after the rain was humid. Once the sun came out, it was hot and suffocating. As soon as Qiao Mai left the space, she heard the neighing of horses in the courtyard.


    Qiao Mai pped her head. She had been so focused on returning to her space yesterday that she had forgotten about it.


    Horses ate grass and grain. They ate anything vegetarian.


    It seemed she would have to buy tworge porcin basins when she had the time. One to hold the feed, and the other to hold the water.


    She took a few apples and carrots from her space and went to the kitchen to take the half bag of rice.


    She took the wooden basin for washing clothes and fed the horse water. Then, she poured the water out of the basin and put the rice, apples, and carrots in.


    Qiao Mai brought the basin to the horse. "Hehe, I''m sorry. I forgot about you yesterday. I won''t do it again. When I return in the afternoon, I''ll buy you two decent basins and get you some fodder."


    It seemed that the horse was starving and gobbled like crazy. She suddenly felt that she had let it down.


    Qiao Mai was used to being alone. Taking care of the children was already exhausting. She still had to farm and feed the quails. Now, there was a horse. She couldn''t care less about this and that at the moment. She was a little flustered.


    However, she believed this was not a problem for her. She would get used to it slowly.


    Seeing as there was nothing else to do, Qiao Mai pushed the cart out. The carriage was just outside her courtyard. No one would have any ideas about it because it was too heavy.


    If a thief knew that this carriage was bought with twenty taels of silver, they would definitely not let it go.


    One had to admit that Qiao Mai''s taste was still sharp. The horse was young and strong, and the carriage was low-profile but luxurious.


    She moved all the things she wanted to sell into the cart. As soon as she arrived at the spot, she was surrounded by people. It had only been two days without watermelon, and the people felt something was missing.


    "Hurry up and cut it. Hurry up and give me a piece."


    "Me too. I want one too."


    "Everyone, don''t be anxious. From today onwards, I''ll be selling whole melons here. If you want to buy one, you can buy it for 800 coins."


    "I want one. Give me one! I want it to be cold. I don''t need to soak it when I go back."


    After a while, Qiao Mai sold two whole watermelons, ten watermelon pieces, and twenty-six ice cubes.


    Qiao Mai happily put the silver into the money bag at her waist, cut the watermelon, and covered it with a gauze. The strawberries in her space had ripened.


    She lowered her head and used a wooden box as a cover to take more than ten boxes of strawberries and ced one box on the table.


    Then, she shouted at the embroidery workshop behind her, "Ruyi,e here!"


    "I''m here!"


    Ruyi jogged to the front and asked in a low voice when she saw no one staring at her.


    "Master, what is it?"


    "Here''s a box of berries for you. Take it and share it with your mother and sister. I forgot about this yesterday."


    "Hehe, Master, you''re so good. Our family is enjoying ourselves by guarding you."


    "Hurry up and go."


    "Yes!"


    Ruyi left with the box of strawberries. Qiao Mai sat down and started drinking.


    "Fresh watermelons, ice cubes, and berries for sale!"


    "Littledy?"


    Qiao Mai raised her head and saw Shopkeeper Tong of Jingtai Restaurant.


    "Oh, you''re here. Didn''t the waiter buy the ice just now?"


    "I came out for a walk and saw you were selling berries here."


    "I''m selling it for one tael of silver per box, which is about one catty. If you want it, it''s five hundred coins. No bargaining."


    "How many do you have here?"


    Qiao Mai looked down. "Ten boxes."


    "I want it all. I''ll pay now!"


    Shopkeeper Tong feared someone else wouldpete with him, so he quickly paid for it. Qiao Mai finished packing the ten boxes of strawberries. He picked them up and left without even checking.


    Qiao Mai held the five taels of silver and grinned. Suddenly, the silver in her hand was almost snatched away.


    She reactly instantly and put the silver into the money bag at her waist.


    She raised her head and immediately looked up at the sky. The heavens were not looking after her today, and they had sent some idiots to find trouble with her. Couldn''t she have a few days of peace?


    "Mai, what''s wrong? You don''t even recognize your sisters-inw?"


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. "No!"


    "You ingrate!"


    "Who am I ungrateful to? I remember we have already written the disownmentter. Why are all of you so shameless toe up to me?"


    "How can you say that? No matter what, we''re still your sister-inw."


    "Pfft, you shameless thing. I''ve long broken off my ties. I don''t have parents anymore, so how can I have a sister-inw? Don''t try to make do with this. I don''t buy it."


    "Mai, don''t say such harsh words. Father and Mother have their difficulties."


    Qiao Mai''s gaze swept over the two women and sneered. Her voice immediately became louder.


    "Yes, Father and Mother had their difficulties. They sold me to buy hairpins for the two of you, right?"

 Chapter 32: Why Is My Life So Bitter

    <h4>Chapter 32: Why Is My Life So Bitter</h4>


    The two women panicked and quickly touched the hairpins on their heads. Today, they had been entrusted by their husbands toe over and persuade Qiao Mai. They wore unpatched clothes, put on silver hairpins, and wanted to go around the town.


    "It''s not like that. This hairpin was our dowry back then. We brought it from our maternal family to the Qiao family."


    "Pfft, who in Lihua Vige doesn''t know that your maternal family is so poor that you can''t even make a living? When you came to the Qiao family, you had nothing. A few days ago, when the two old fellows asked me for silver, they even said that the family was suffering. Don''t you have a script before lying? You bought this hairpin by selling your sister-inw. How could you have the audacity to wear it now?"


    Her voice was so loud that everyone passing by in the town stopped to watch.


    Many people knew Qiao Mai. "Littledy, who are these two?"


    "You all know the two daughters-inw of the Qiao family in Lihua Vige who broke off ties with me."


    "Oh, aren''t they dressed quite well? They''re even wearing a silver hairpin."


    "Everyone, take a look. That old couple from the Qiao family in Lihua Vige sold me once and a second time. I''m already in this state, but they still won''t let me off."


    "What''s wrong? Is it because they saw you doing a small business and remembered you again?"


    "Isn''t that so? They''re really shameless. Look at their heads. They bought it with the money they got from selling me. Now, they want to coax me home. They want to scheme against me again because they think I can earn a small amount for the family."


    Qiao Mai took a handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her red eyes.


    The two daughters-inw of the Qiao family were so embarrassed that their faces turned red. They wanted to defend themselves, but how could they against so many mouths?


    "Littledy, I advise you not to return to such a family for the rest of your life."


    "I have no intention of going back."


    "Do you want us to help you invite the mayor over to uphold justice?"


    "I shall wait. If these two people make a fuss, it won''t be toote for you to go."


    "Good!"


    Qiao Mai looked at the two daughters-inw of the Qiao family with a smile. The two were frightened by the words just now and quickly pulled out the hairpins on their heads and tucked them in their arms.


    "Mai, although it''s written that we broke our ties, we''re still a family."


    "Hmph, get lost. Family? Where were you when I was tortured? Where were you when I was kicked out of the family? Where were you when I was homeless? You are worse than strangers."


    "Mai, Father and Mother know their mistake, so they sent us to make peace."


    "Go back and tell them I''ll never acknowledge them again every day I live. I don''t have parents or family. Scram!"


    "You, you really don''t know how to appreciate good grace!"


    "Are you going to get lost or not?"


    The two women looked at the watermelon on the table and swallowed hard.


    "Give us a melon, and we''ll leave."


    Qiao Mai shouted at the onlookers, "Who''s going to invite the mayor? Someone is acting shamelessly in front of my stall. They won''t leave until I give them something for free."


    The surroundingmonersughed out loud. "Littledy, no need to call the mayor. We''ll help you get rid of these two shameless things."


    They threw vegetable leaves and stones at them. The two women hugged their heads and ran around. After a while, they disappeared from her stall.


    After chasing away the eyesore, Qiao Mai waved at everyone.


    "Thank you. Who wants to buy melons today? I''ll give everyone a discount."


    "How much cheaper can it be?"


    "The original price of a watermelon piece is 50 coins, but you can buy one at 30 coins. It''s 500 coins for a whole watermelon today!"


    "Haha, we can''t afford it either. Let''s go. We''ll buy it when we have money."


    Themoners dispersed. Qiao Mai smiled and continued to look at the melon stall. She didn''t expect the two women would return after a while.


    "Mai?"


    "Get lost!"


    This time, Qiao Mai was furious. She had seen shameless people but not such thick-skinned people. She picked up the stick beside her and swung it at them.


    The two women could not dodge in time, and one was hit on the butt. It was really painful.


    Qiao Mai red at them. "If youe again, I won''t have any mercy on you."


    "Mai, please forgive us. Let us take a watermelon when we leave. Our parents have never eaten a piece of watermelon in their lives."


    "You can eat melons if you want, but leave the hairpin on your head."


    "Dream on. How much is a watermelon worth?"


    "If you don''t know what it means to disown me, let''s meet at the court. The Qiao family hase to my stall to cause trouble time and time again. I''ll report you to the mayor. Get lost!!!"


    In the end, she shouted angrily, and the two women were so scared that they ran north.


    The merchants and hawkers at the side all gave her a thumbs up.


    "Youngdy, you''re amazing."


    "This is how you deal with people like that."


    Qiao Mai let out a long sigh of relief. She realized that after torturing a scumbag, she would feel very satisfied. This way, she would not get depression.


    Why doesn''t she torture scum more in the future? She felt great after that, and she even liked it.


    Qiao Mai sat down and was a little puzzled by this feeling. She suspected that after she transmigrated, her interests had changed and became more twisted.


    As for those two women, they started crying the moment they returned to the Qiao family in Lihua Vige.


    "Father, Mother, you don''t know how fierce that girl is. No matter what nice words we say, she won''t listen. If we say too much, she''ll pick up a stick and hit us."


    "She¡­ She really did that?"


    "Yeah, if you don''t believe me, you can ask the people in town. She even asked me to inform you that she would never acknowledge us in this lifetime so you wouldn''t be delusional. Not to mention that she''s selling herself to someone else as a servant now, even if she doesn''t, she won''t have anything to do with the Qiao family anymore."


    Her father mmed the table fiercely. "She''s really going against the heavens. People say that raising a daughter is a waste of money, and now I''ve even raised an ingrate. I''ll go look for her."


    "Father, don''t be rash. That girl is still angry with us. Give her some time. When her anger subsides, I''ll go with you."


    "Hmph, it''s all because of your good daughter."


    Mother Qiao thought to herself, ''So what if I gave birth? Didn''t you still earn a hundred catties of wheat and ten taels of silver?''


    Shopkeeper Lu was busy in the shop. After hearing about this, the crowd had already left. She walked to the side of the official road angrily.


    "Sister, that shameless family is here again?"


    "Yes, they sent two daughters-inw over this time."


    "Are they interested in your business?"


    "I don''t think so. Everyone around knows that this is your stall. I''m just a servant of your family."


    "Then why are they stilling?"


    "They must be thinking about my monthly sry and the fact that I can do business here. I must have gotten some benefits. Putting aside the money, they wanted the watermelon or something else."


    "Bah, they''re really shameless. If a normal family''s children work for others, they''re afraid they''ll be fired if they don''t do well."


    "They have always been like this. It wasn''t that our family didn''t have any food back then. Although I wasn''t good-looking, I ate less and worked more. Even so, they didn''t like me. When they saw someone asking for marriage, they agreed readily as soon as they offered a hundred catties of wheat. It was as if I was the God of gues. I don''t know what their brains were made of."


    "You''re not the God of gues. You''re the God of Wealth. I didn''t expect your family to be so heartless. It''d be better if they sold you to be someone else''s maid."


    "No one wants someone like me. I''m not good-looking, thin, and small. Human traffickers don''t even want me."


    "Haha, to be honest, I think my sister is quite good. You''re not good-looking because you didn''t eat well in the past. Look at you now. You''re not ugly, energetic, so capable. You''re the best candidate for a wife in the eyes of a man."

 Chapter 33: Comes From Nowhere?

    <h4>Chapter 33: Comes From Nowhere?</h4>


    "Why are you saying this again? You can''t stop talking."


    "Then let''s not talk about them. I''m not angry enough. The berries you asked Ruyi to bring over were delicious."


    "After a while, there will be honeydews in the prefecture. I''ll source some. The melons are also delicious."


    "Different fruits have different tastes. You did the right thing by doing this business. Otherwise, how could our family eat so many kinds of fruits?"


    "In the future, you will eat whatever I sell."


    "When summer is over, what will you sell? At that time, there will be no watermelon and no need to sell ice cubes."


    "There are many things to sell. Don''t worry. There will be a way out when I cross the road. I''ll sell this first and then think about what to sell in autumn and winter."


    "I have high hopes for you. When the timees, I''ll eat whatever there is. Prepare your pouch!"


    "Hehe, if you want to bankrupt me, you must have a big appetite. Be careful not to be fat."


    The days passed, and the stall''s business was prosperous. Watermelons, ice cubes, strawberries, and even the newly harvested honeydew were selling well.


    All the wealthy families in the town came to support her, not because of Shopkeeper Lu.


    It was because the fruits were too good. Even the shopkeeper of Jingtai Restaurant bought fruits from her.


    With the fruits, the restaurant''s business improved a lot.


    She could sell twenty watermelons a day. Each watermelon cost eight hundred coins, which was sixteen taels of silver. A box of strawberries costs five hundred coins. She could sell ten boxes daily and earn eight taels of silver.


    Honeydew was sold by size. Qiao Mai did not even use a scale. A palm-sized honeydew could be sold for twenty coins. As it was cheaper and more delicious than watermelons, she could sell at least fifty of them daily, which was one tael.


    There were also ice cubes. She received two taels of silver a day, which added up to less than thirty taels. If she were to open the stall for twenty days a month, that would be six hundred taels of silver.


    Shopkeeper Lu was behind the counter, fiddling with an abacus. She was shocked when he calcted the amount Qiao Mai made.


    Oh my god, how could a small stall earn so much money?


    She did not expect Qiao Mai to say something that made her lose her spirit.


    "Sister, don''t you consider the capital for my products? Did the watermelon, melon, berries, and icee from nowhere?"


    "Even after deducting the cost, you can still earn a few taels a day, right?"


    "That''s right."


    "Isn''t that great? That''s a hundred taels a month, and a few thousand taels a year. That''s more than the average shop. Don''t you see that many peddlers are jealous of you?"


    "Then they should sell it too. I didn''t stop them."


    "They have too many considerations and fears. They''re afraid they won''t be able to sell it after stocking some. They can''t afford to pay for such a precious thing."


    "Then that''s it. I can afford it."


    Speaking of this, Shopkeeper Lu took a cloth bag from the counter.


    "Here, I sold those two pce fans. One for two hundred taels. We will split it evenly."


    "I see petty cash daily and arge sum every now and then. These days are really beautiful."


    "When are you going to embroider a big piece?"


    "Next month. These two months are when the weather is hot. The pce fan sells the fastest. When the weather turns cold, I''ll embroider a set of clothes for you. Remember to sell it for a high price."


    Shopkeeper Lu''s eyes lit up.


    Where did the clothese from? They were all the ones on her shelves. The craftsmanship was sure to shock the ancient people.


    Whether it was the embroidery or the style of the clothes, one would look like a fairy descending to the mortal world.


    The fabric looked simr to that of ancient times, but if an expert came, they would say that the fabric could only be found in the heavens.


    Qiao Mai hoped she would not cause trouble for Shopkeeper Lu. When the time came, she mustmunicate with her properly. Otherwise, she would never sell the clothes.


    There was one thing worth mentioning.


    The quails had started toy eggs. There were seven quails, and two seemed to have neverid eggs. They were probably male, and the other five were female. Theyid an egg almost every day. Qiao Mai had never eaten these eggs.


    After she looked up some information on the Inte, she found a wooden box. She covered it with straw and ced the quail eggs on top. Then, she covered it with ayer of cotton. She released them from her space and put them in the room where she slept.


    The temperature indoors in summer was just right for them to hatch, so there was no need to find an old hen.


    They would hatch in about twenty days. Now, she already had a hundred quail eggs in her space. She nned to add quail eggs to the list of products starting next month.


    It didn''t matter if the people didn''t know what was good. She would teach the customers how to eat this.


    She believed that under the attack of her glib tongue, the customers would surrender and take out their silver to buy some to cook at home.


    Since the horse came home with her, it seemed to grow a little stronger. Every day, it ate and drank well. Qiao Mai named it Dong Zhao.


    Qiao Mai had specially nted four-quarters of grass in the space for it. The grass was tender and fresh, and when mixed with bean flour, the horse was eager to eat.


    When Qiao Mai was happy, she would give it a few fruits and carrots from time to time.


    Just by looking at the horse''s warm and moist eyes, one could tell that the horse was overjoyed when it saw Qiao Mai. It loved its master so much.


    The ck soil in her space would grow a piece ofnd every five days, and another batch would be harvested. In other words, she could nt a fresh seed in ten days.


    In the past, she did not have much experience with farming. Now that she had grown some crops, she knew how hard it was for farmers.


    This was when Qiao Mai used her will to harvest. If she didn''t, she would be exhausted to death by the space.


    After the replication, she had several acres ofnd in her space.


    Watermelons, strawberries, honeydews, grasses, corn, wheat, rice, millet, and so on.


    She nned to nt all the hundreds of seeds she had bought from the shop.


    Qiao Mai did a mental calction. She could nt three types of seeds in a month, which meant she could nt thirty-six types in a year. She would need at least ten years before she could free her hands and feet.


    Just thinking about it¡­ It was impossible to cry. She felt more likeughing.


    Ten yearster, she could take whatever she wanted directly from her space. The space could also replicate the ck earth. That way, she would have endless resources, and she would be able tough out loud in her dreams.


    By July, all the quails hadid eggs, and she could harvest hundreds of eggs a day.


    There were about forty of them per catty, so she could only harvest about two and a half catties a day.


    It seemed a little less. It was only two and a half catties. There seemed to be many quails. It doesn''t feel enough to sell.


    Seeing both the east and west storage rooms were empty, she chuckled and decided to use them to raise quails.


    When Qiao Mai returned from her stall, she took advantage of the fact that it was still early to clean up the rooms on both sides and move everything to the pit.


    The ground was fenced with wooden nks to prevent the quails from running out of the house. Clean straw was ced below. One house could raise about a hundred quails, so four houses could raise about four hundred.


    Qiao Mai didn''t use the master room to raise quails. She was afraid Shopkeeper Lu would bite her if she found out.


    This was someone else''s house and a new one at that. She couldn''t go too far.


    It was July, and it would rain from time to time in Tianshui Town. During the month, she spent more time at home than at the stall.


    Apart from doing embroidery, she would also observe the hatching of quail eggs.


    The two disciples came to ask their master for advice now and then. Ruxin and Ruyi''s embroidery skills were getting better and better.


    They were also respectful to their master. In the summer, the girls each made two sets of new clothes and sent them to her. Sometimes, when they went to the county town and saw beautiful jewelry, they would not forget about Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai was satisfied with this.


    Therefore, she had saved up a batch of quail eggs and nned to let her two disciples have a taste. She cooked all three catties of quail eggs.


    "Come, disciple, try this."


    The two girls stared at the eggs on the table. "Master, are these bird eggs?"


    "No, where did we find so many birds thaty so many eggs?"


    "Then what kind of egg is this?"


    "This is a type of small-sized poultry called quails."


    "Master, where did you get it from?"


    "I saw them in a flower and bird pet shop in the prefecture. I spent one tael of silver to buy seven of them. The eggs are hatching, and now there are quite a number."


    "Where do you keep them?"

 Chapter 34: Rare Things Are Precious

    <h4>Chapter 34: Rare Things Are Precious</h4>


    Qiao Mai smiled mysteriously at the two of them. "Let''s go. I''ll show you. This is what I''ve been doing for two months."


    She held Ruxin and Ruyi''s hands and went to the first room in the east wing. She gently opened the door and led them in.


    The two girls were dumbfounded when they saw the palm-sized quails running around on the ground.


    "Master, are you using these few rooms to raise this?"


    "Yeah, aren''t they cute? Do you want to raise a few?"


    The two gulped. "Does my mother know?"


    "I don''t know, but it doesn''t matter. Anyway, I''ll upy this house first. After I leave, she''ll get someone to clean it up."


    "This seems cleaner than a chicken."


    "They''re too small, so they eat less and poop less. I cleaned more diligently, and the house didn''t stink at all. In the winter, if you make a charcoal basin in the house, they''ll stilly eggs."


    "Let''s go back and ask Mother. If it''s possible, we can also raise some at home."


    "It''s fine as long as you can eat it. This egg is more nutritious than a chicken egg. It''s better to put this in the noodle soup."


    The girls looked at the quail for a while. Qiao Mai called them into the house and pointed at the cooked quail eggs.


    "Eat it. It''s like eating eggs. I cooked a pot of five-spice. If you can''t finish it, take it for your mother when you leave."


    "Hehe, there will always be good food if we follow Master."


    "This thing can''t be put away. It can''t be eaten overnight in summer. If you can''t finish it, give some to the neighbors."


    "Master, are you going to sell this?"


    "Yeah, the weather will turn cold in two months, and the chickens won''ty eggs anymore. Quails can be raised indoors and stilly eggs. Selling this in winter is also an ie."


    "It won''t be cheap, right?"


    "One for a coin."


    "It doesn''t sound expensive, but one chicken egg is worth several of these."


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. "These eggs are different. Although the taste was simr, the nutritional value was different."


    "What''s the difference?"


    "If you eat this often, it can strengthen your brain, and treat swelling and leukemia. It has a certain medicinal value. Of course, chicken eggs are also good for the body, especially the liver."


    "Ah, Master really knows a lot."


    "Since I want to sell this, I naturally have to understand more."


    "Eat, I''ll make you some good stuff."


    "Okay." The sisters didn''t try to be courteous and started to peel the quail eggs.


    Qiao Mai came to the kitchen and boiled a pot of water. She took a dozen corn from her space and peeled off the outer skin, leaving only a thinyer of inner skin. Then, she threw it into the pot.


    Her space had already collected many corns and was piled in the corner. She had to sell them quickly.


    But not now. She had to wait until August or September when the new corn would be on the market. She wanted to sell the boiled corn a month in advance. That way, she should be able to sell it at a high price.


    When customers got used to her corn, they would know how delicious this variety of corn was.


    She was thankful for the corn she had bought in her previous life. Otherwise, she would not have been able to eat such sweet and sticky corn.


    Back then, this corn variety was also a type of street food popr among the people.


    After the pot boiled, she could take out the corn in ten minutes.


    Qiao Mai carried a basin full of steaming corn cobs to the table in the room.


    "Master, did you cook corn for us?"


    "Yes, the corn in the south is growing. I think it''s quite good. I discussed it with the farmer and bought a lot. I n to buy this in August."


    "Master, this corn looks good, but everyone usually uses it to make porridge. Who would want this? I don''t think it will sell well."


    "You can''t conclude now. Try it after it cools down."


    "The wealthy won''t eat it. They all say that this is for the lowly."


    "That''s because they don''t have the fortune to eat. Don''t think that coarse grain doesn''t match their status just because they have money. Coarse grain is great for the body. Let me tell you, those who live a long life will never be picky about their grains. Those rich people who choose this and that will pass away quickly."


    The girls looked at Qiao Mai andughed. "Master, you''re really funny, but you also make a lot of sense."


    "Listen to Master. How are the quail eggs?"


    "In terms of taste, it''s about the same as chicken eggs. But you said they are richer in nutrition. Especially the five-spice taste, which covers the dullness of the eggs. It''s delicious."


    "This egg is small and delicate. Children should like it the most."


    "Yeah, I''m used to eating chicken eggs. Trying this feels quite fresh."


    Anyway, Ruxin and Ruyi were not optimistic about this business. When the corn cooled down a little, Qiao Mai peeled the outeryer of the corn and handed one to each of them.


    "Eat!"


    The moment the two girls bit into it, they knew it was different from the usual corn.


    "Master, this corn is delicious. It''s sticky and sweet. This will definitely sell well."


    "How about ten coins each?"


    "Isn''t it expensive? A pound of noodles is only three coins."


    "You guys are inexperienced. Why is our double-sided embroidery so expensive?"


    "It''s good-looking, rare, and time-consuming?"


    "That''s right. This corn is rare and delicious. It''s hard for others to find it even if they want to."


    The two little disciples quickly understood their master''s advice.


    "Things are precious when they are rare, precious when they are refined, and precious when they are good, right, Master?"


    "Yes. Smart girls."


    When the two girls left, Qiao Mai put the quail eggs and corn cobs in a small basket for them to take away.


    In August, not only these two items could be sold, but also boiled peanuts and boiled edamame at the stall.


    If the weather was a little colder, she could put a charcoal stove and a pot on top to keep warm and keep the food from getting cold.


    Thinking of warmth, she had to prepare for winter now.


    Although Qiao Mai wanted to be warm and harmonious at home, she was still willing to see the world outside. After all, on the surface, she was a servant of the Lu family.


    She couldn''t stay hidden forever to pay her debts.


    At the thought of this, she locked the courtyard door and went to the carpenter''s shop. She wanted to order a mobile nk house to block the wind. It must be small enough to not block the embroidery workshop behind.


    The general design had already taken shape in her mind. Apart from this, Qiao Mai also had to order a few big pots from the iron shop. They couldn''t be like the pot on her stove, which took up too much space. They had to be round, like the ones used to steam buns in modern homes.


    She also had to run to the grocery store to order a special drone. She wanted to sell roasted sweet potatoes in winter.


    Although she had not nted it in the space yet, there was no hurry. As long as she had seeds, they would mature once every five days. It would be quick.


    When it was winter and freezing outside, she would sit on the side of the official road in a beautiful wind shelter. She will be in the middle, surrounded by a few charcoal stoves, a small table in front of her, and a sign introducing the delicacies in her stall. What kind of feeling would that be?


    Qiao Mai chuckled and waved her hand, sweeping away her longing.


    She had to let the townsfolk see how hardworking she was and how hard she worked to pay off her debts. She had to let them know her suffering.


    After doing these, she only needed to wait for the time to go and get her orders. Seeing that the sky was about to turn dark, Qiao Mai hurriedly walked home.


    When she walked into the alley, she saw a person standing at her door.


    When she got closer, she saw it was a man about 1.75 meters tall. He was good-looking and did not look like a farmer.


    Seeing Qiao Mai return, he lowered his head slightly and cupped his hands at her.


    "Greetings, youngdy. I''m your neighbor, surnamed Yuan, name Jiaqi."


    Qiao Mai frowned. "What''s the matter?"


    "Do you still have watermelons at home?"


    "You want to buy melons?"


    "Yes. My son has a fever and can''t eat anything. He only wants to eat a mouthful of watermelon."


    "The weather has been bad these days, so I didn''t set up the stall. I can''t sell in pieces."


    "Whole melons are fine too."


    "Then wait here. I''ll go get it."


    "If there are other delicious foods, I would like to buy some too."


    "There are berries, melons, and quail eggs about to be marketed."


    "Quail eggs?"

 Chapter 35: Don’t Want To Kill

    <h4>Chapter 35: Don''t Want To Kill</h4>


    "It''s an eggid by a type of poultry called quail. It''s eaten like a chicken egg."


    "I don''t want that for now. The doctor said it''s unsuitable."


    "Do you want some sweet corn? Just boiled out of the pot."


    "Give me two."


    "Okay, I''ll get it. Wait a moment."


    Qiao Mai unlocked the door and entered the courtyard. She locked the door behind her and went back into her space.


    She took a basket and ced a watermelon at the bottom. On top of it was a box of strawberries, three melons, and two ears of cooked corn.


    She carried it to the courtyard and opened the door. The man had not left and had been waiting.


    "This is what I can give now."


    "How much silver is in total?"


    "Watermelon for eight hundred coins, strawberries for five hundred coins, three melons for thirty coins, and two ears of corn for twenty coins. It''s a total of a thousand three hundred and fifty coins."


    Yuan Jiaqi took one tael of silver and four hundred coins from the pouch at his waist and handed it to Qiao Mai with both hands.


    "Sorry for disturbing you. You can keep the change."


    Was this a tip? This man was smart. He knew how to stir things up.


    "No, I don''t take advantage of customers. Wait here."


    Qiao Mai returned to the house to get a few ears of corn and put them in the basket.


    "I don''t need the basket. You can use it when youe to buy from me again."


    "I didn''t think it through."


    "Hurry up and go home to see your child."


    At the mention of the child, Qiao Mai''s voice became gentler. She had children, so she naturally knew the love parents had for their children.


    Just based on the fact that he treated the child well and people politely, she knew this man''s character should be passable.


    Just as the man was about to pick up the basket, a childish voice sounded.


    "Father!"


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly turned around and walked over. He held a boy in his arms and touched his forehead.


    "You still have a fever. I bought you the watermelon you wanted to eat and other fruits. Drink the medicine before eating, okay?"


    "Yes."


    Qiao Mai sized up the child in his arms. He was at most four years old and looked like Yuan Jiaqi.


    "Call her auntie!"


    "Hello, Auntie."


    Qiao Mai smiled at the little boy. "Hello to you too. If you have a fever, you must take your medicine properly. That way, you can recover quickly."


    "Auntie, I''ll listen to Father. I don''t need Father to coax me. I''m not afraid of the bitter medicine."


    "What a good child!"


    The man carried the child in one hand and the basket in the other as he smiled at her.


    "Sorry for disturbing you!"


    Qiao Mai turned around and walked into the courtyard as she watched the father and son walk toward the west.


    Just as she entered the door, she saw two shadows sneaking past her from the corner of her eye.


    Her many years of being a secret agent immediately made her wary.


    She walked to a corner of the courtyard and looked at Dong Zhao. Then, she locked the doors of the east and west wing rooms.


    She had wanted to make food for herself in the kitchen, but when she thought of the two shadows, her appetite disappeared.


    If they were to steal from her courtyard, she was willing to let them live as long as they did not destroy her things.


    But if it was directed at her... Qiao Mai narrowed her eyes, and a hint of killing intent shed past.


    She also locked the kitchen door. The two shadows must havee to check the ce just now. If they wanted to enter the house, it should be after midnight.


    At the thought of this, she was no longer in a hurry. She entered the bedroom and went into her space after locking the door.


    Ling''er was almost six months old and could crawl around on the ground. Qiao Mai moved all the objects in the house that was in the way.


    She even put away the small items to prevent the baby from stuffing them into her mouth.


    When she wasn''t around, Ling''er would crawl on the floor and y by herself if she woke up.


    Qiao Mai had ordered a wooden ball for her at the carpenter''s shop. She wanted Ling''er to y with it when she woke up and would not consider anything sharp for now.


    When she entered the space, the baby was awake and ying with the wooden ball.


    Seeing that her mother hade, Ling''er patted the wooden ball and smiled at her.


    Qiao Mai changed her diapers, wiped her butt clean, and washed her hands.


    "Baby, I''ll cook for you. Be good and y, okay?"


    Now, she didn''t even have to carry Ling''er back and forth. Seeing that she wasn''t pestering her, Qiao Mai got up and went to make her milk.


    If only there were a milk bottle. She could give her the milk bottle after making the milk, and Ling''er would be able to drink it herself.


    After feeding the child, Qiao Mai drank a bowl of red ginseng water and brought Ling''er to the ground. She let her y with the ball while she nted peanuts in the field.


    By the time she was done nting the peanuts, the child had fallen asleep hugging the ball.


    Qiao Mai carried her into the house and tucked her in. She then prepared everything to open the stall tomorrow.


    She took a deep breath and opened the cab door. She took out a silent pistol and nced at the chamber. It was full of bullets. Then, she pushed the chamber and put on the safety.


    As soon as she shed out of the space, she sat cross-legged, put the pistol in her pocket, and picked up the thick and smooth wooden stick from the cab.


    She looked out the window, hoping the two figures were noting for her.


    She didn''t want to kill and let her hands be stained with other people''s blood. Aftering here, she just wanted to live a peaceful life.


    If someone forced her to kill, she wouldn''t mind. She didn''t want to, but it wasn''t impossible.


    The moon was heading west, and it was almost midnight.


    Qiao Mai did not feel sleepy at all. She closed her eyes and listened to all the sounds in the courtyard.


    Suddenly, she heard a bird chirping.


    From her experience, this wasn''t a real birdcall. It was someone imitating it.


    After the sound stopped, two softnding sounds were heard.


    Qiao Mai kept her eyes closed and used her ears to distinguish. There were two people, and they were both men who knew martial arts.


    After they entered the courtyard, they did not rummage around. Instead, they approached her carefully and went straight to her bedroom.


    She clenched her fists. As expected, they wereing for her.


    Should she kill them or report to the authorities after capturing them?


    No, she couldn''t let these two die. If they died, the person behind the scenes would win. It was better to capture them and report them to the authorities.


    Even if the two men didn''t reveal the mastermind''s identity, that person would still be nervous and afraid for a while.


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and jumped to the door silently.


    Through the door crack, a snow-white dagger was cutting the bolt. She raised the wooden stick with both hands, ready to face the enemy.


    The door unlocked, but the man outside did note in. Qiao Mai suddenly thought of something and quickly took a gas mask from her space to cover her nose and mouth.


    Sure enough, a wisp of white smoke drifted in from the outside.


    These two thieves were meticulous. They had to use smoke to deal with a woman.


    She sneered and stared at the door. After a while, a head popped in and whispered to the person behind him.


    "I took down that woman!"


    "I will search for silver in the room. Do you want to f*ck that woman?"


    "She''s not good-looking. I don''t want to go."


    "Then I''ll do it. You will search for the money?"


    Hearing this, Qiao Mai immediately understood.


    These two thieves must have been entrusted by someone to humiliate her and earn some money. After all, she had been doing business for so long. How could she not have some savings?


    The first man had just leaned half his body in, and Qiao Mai hid behind the door.


    When she saw the second man, the rod in her hand struck their heads at lightning speed.


    Before the thieves could react, they fell to the ground.


    Qiao Mai controlled her strength when she hit them. She would not let them die or bleed. They would only faint.


    Their voices were unfamiliar, and she did not need to light themp to see who it was. They definitely did not know each other.


    Qiao Mai threw the stick and messed up her hair. Then, she rushed into the courtyard and shouted at the top of her voice.


    "Someonee and catch the thief! Damn it! How dare you steal from a poor girl!"


    In the dead of the night, her shout could scare people''s souls out.


    Neighbors, people in front of and behind the house, all got up from the brick bed, put on their shoes, and ran over withnterns in their hands. The courtyard door of Qiao Mai''s house was still open.


    "Open the door, open the door, quickly open the door! What''s the use of shouting but not opening the door?"


    Qiao Mai opened the door in a panic. A lot of people, both men and women, rushed in.


    "Where are the thieves?"


    Qiao Mai pointed at the house with a trembling hand. "The bad, bad guys are in the house."


    "Don''t be afraid. Let''s go in together!"

 Chapter 36: Money Moves People’s Hearts

    <h4>Chapter 36: Money Moves People''s Hearts</h4>


    The neighbors who came were all armed with weapons. When they encountered a thief, they would not stay home and do nothing. This was because the next time they had a thief in their own house, no one would help them if they remained a bystander.


    A brawny man with a stick in his hand slowly led everyone into the house.


    Under the moonlight, they saw two masked men in ck on the ground. Everyone quickly lit up the room with theirnterns. The burly man turned them over and checked their breathing.


    "He''s still alive. The few of you, hurry up and report to the mayor''s house."


    "Littledy, go find a rope."


    The man might have encountered this before, so he calmly made arrangements. Two women apanied Qiao Mai and found ropes in the warehouse.


    Everyone tied up the two thieves. No one said a word. They waited for the mayor toe.


    The mayor was old, and it took him some time to arrive.


    Seeing the thieves on the ground, the mayor asked someone to bring them to the courtyard. After all, this was someone else''s bedroom.


    Under the bright lights, the mayor sat on a chair.


    "Madam Qiao, tell me what happened first."


    Qiao Mai wiped her tears, and her lips trembled.


    "I was really not fated to die today. I drank too much water at night. When I woke up, I heard the door open. I was so scared that I quickly picked up the stick for self-defense. I hid behind the door. When they looked out, I used the moonlight to hit their heads. They fell. Then, I was so scared that I ran to the courtyard to shout for help. That''s what happened. It was so scary!"


    "Alright, don''t cry. It''s fine."


    The mayor gestured at the guards he had brought. "Let''s see who these two people are."


    The guard bent down and pulled off the ck cloth on their faces. "Mayor, I don''t know these two people. They don''t look like they''re from our town."


    "Rabbits don''t eat the grass near their nests. They came to our town to steal. Search them."


    The guards quickly found the drugs, dagger, and other tools.


    There were witnesses and physical evidence. In front of so many people, the mayor wanted to interrogate them about their purpose foring here.


    "Madam Qiao, you sell ice. Do you have any melted ice water?"


    "Yes, I''ll go get it."


    Qiao Mai went to the kitchen and brought a small basin of cold water. The guard took it and sshed it on the heads of the two thieves.


    It was effective. They immediately woke up, but because of the blow to their heads, their sight became blurry.


    It took them a long time to wake up. When they saw so many people, they knew they had been exposed.


    The guard stepped forward and kicked them twice. "The mayor is here. You''d better tell the truth, or I might get physical."


    The two men looked like habitual criminals and obediently confessed.


    "Milord, we are from that town in the north. A while ago, we came to Tianshui Town for a stroll and saw that this littledy''s business was booming, so we thought to steal."


    "Have you been caught before?"


    "Yes."


    "Have you been sentenced?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you not know how to repent after being sentenced?"


    "Sir, money is really tempting. There''s no other way. Who asked this littledy''s business to be so good? We made a mistake out of jealousy."


    The mayor stood up. "Take these two back and send them to the county government tomorrow."


    "Yes, Sir."


    Qiao Mai opened her mouth but swallowed the words. She wanted to say they were instructed by someone, but the words were stuck in her throat.


    The reason the thief gave was reasonable. If she said anything else, it would seem like she was deliberately putting abel on them.


    She didn''t want the mayor to be annoyed at her. It was good that he didn''t get angry to be woken up at such an old age in the middle of the night.


    She regretted not killing them. They had entered the house to steal and were caught in the middle of the night. The government could not say anything even if they died in her house. This was aw.


    However, these two thieves definitely had families. If they were killed, there might be more trouble in the future.


    The most direct method was to kill them and throw them at where no one was around to sweep away all traces. This was the best policy. There would be no next time.


    However, this was not necessarily a bad thing. After the thieves were released from prison, they would look for the person who instigated them. It was hard to say if infighting would ur, but at the very least, they could make the person behind them bleed.


    Qiao Mai encouraged herself. When everyone saw the matter was over, they brought their families home. Two women evenforted her kindly before leaving.


    Qiao Mai closed the door, and the look in her eyes immediately turned from grievance to coldness.


    She couldn''t attract men''s covetous eyes at all. At most, they would be attracted by money.


    However, she had clearly heard the man wanting to ruin her innocence. There was definitely someone behind it.


    She closed her eyes and thought about it. The Qiao family was impossible. They did not have the guts. Then, there was only the Tian family. No matter how vicious those two old fellows were, they did not know such gangsters. The most likely person was Tian Yaozu. He was studying in town and knew many people. That day, he was humiliated at the shop entrance. It was not impossible for him to find someone to teach her a lesson.


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. "Tian Yaozu, you''d better pray every day to protect your life. If you fall in my hands one day, I''ll make you wish you were dead."


    Damn it. If he had sent someone to kill her, she wouldn''t have been so angry.


    He had sent someone to humiliate her, so there was nothing else to say. This was a deadly feud that could not be resolved in a lifetime.


    That night, she didn''t go back to her room. Qiao Mai stayed in the bedroom until dawn.


    After Shopkeeper Lu found out about this, she didn''t even open her shop and rushed there.


    Qiao Mai opened the courtyard door, and Lu Sanniang pulled her into her arms.


    "Oh, my little darling, I was scared out of my wits when I heard about it. Nothing can happen to you. I''m relying on you for money!"


    Qiao Mai was quite touched, but when she heard thest sentence, Qiao Mai red at her a few times and pushed her away. The four girls behind her covered their mouths andughed.


    "Don''t worry. They''ll only rob me. I won''t be humiliated."


    "Why don''t you move to my house?"


    "No, there are many neighbors around me. It''ll be okay. It''s not convenient for me to mess around at your ce."


    Shopkeeper Lu held her hand and looked left and right. "Are you really fine?"


    "It''s fine. It''s just a thief. Even wealthy families can''t avoid it, let alone a single woman like me."


    "Maybe you''ve been too eye-catching recently?"


    "You should be the one who attracts people''s envy. I''m your servant, so I should give you the money I earned from doing business."


    Hearing this, Lu Sanniang''s heart skipped a beat. She whispered.


    "I think those two men might have been instructed by someone. Someone hired them to ruin your reputation deliberately?"


    Qiao Mai didn''t expect Lu Sanniang could guess the purpose of the thieves just because of one sentence.


    "Unfortunately, there''s no evidence. As soon as they entered, I knocked them unconscious. The mayor came and woke them up before confessing."


    "Could the person behind them be the Tian family?"


    Qiao Mai smiled, and her eyes shed. "Let''s not guess things without evidence."


    "Why don''t you let my girle over to apany you tonight?"


    "No need. I''ll raise two dogs soon. If there''s any movement, they''ll wake me up."


    "You!"


    "No one will dare toe for now. Don''t worry."


    "Are you still going to open your stall today?"


    "Of course. The weather is clear now. We can''t dy making money."


    The five of them helped Qiao Mai carry the products onto the cart and pushed it to the front of the embroidery workshop.


    Shopkeeper Lu went to open the shop door while the others helped her set up the awning and table. After everything was done, they returned to the shop at the back.


    Qiao Mai stretchedzily and looked at the blue sky. It was really a happy day to earn money.


    As soon as she sat down, the peddlers around her and the people who knew her all asked her with concern.


    "Littledy, you were scaredst night, right?"


    "Fortunately, the thieves didn''t even enter the house before I knocked them out."


    "Since you earn so much, why don''t you buy two girls to keep youpany?"


    "I gave all the money I earned to the shopkeeper. Even if I have money, it''s my monthly sry. Those two thieves have found the wrong target."


    "They didn''t do anything to you, did they?"

 Chapter 37: Irresistible Food

    <h4>Chapter 37: Irresistible Food</h4>


    "My looks are ordinary. It would be a big mistake to have any ideas about me."


    With a few casual words, this matter was over. Some of her old customers, who had nothing better to do, also ran to her stall.


    "Littledy, are you alright?"


    "It''s fine, it''s fine. The news spread really fast."


    "That''s right. The town isn''t that big, and the news spread in the morning. If you don''t buy a maid, buy two dogs. Dogs are still the best at guarding a house."


    "Which family has a dog? If it''s more vicious, I''ll buy two after it gives birth?"


    "Wait for me to ask around and call you when I have something."


    "Alright, I''ll thank you first."


    Qiao Mai ced the products she was selling on the table. There were quite several people around her stall. They had all heard the news and came to care about her. Qiao Mai quickly ced the cooked quail eggs on the table.


    "Come,e. Thank you for your concern today. I''ll treat everyone to quail eggs for free."


    "Ah, you have a new product?"


    "Yeah. I won''t be selling watermelons and ice cubes in September. I''ve made some new food for everyone to support."


    "Don''t worry. As long as it''s delicious, there will be many repeat customers."


    Qiao Mai grabbed a few quail eggs for everyone present. "Just like eating chicken eggs, peel off thisyer of skin, and you can eat it."


    Everyone tasted it and nodded. "Why does your quail egg still have a salty and fragrant taste?"


    "This is called the Spiced Quail Egg. Not only is this egg delicious, but it also has medicinal value. Children eat it to strengthen their brains, and the elderly eat it to relieve their swelling."


    "Really?"


    "If you don''t believe me, you can take the egg and ask a doctor."


    Someone really did take the egg to a doctor. When they asked, it was indeed the case. When they came back with the results, the surrounding people immediately exploded.


    With such great benefits, they had to buy some for the elderly and children at home.


    "How much?"


    "One coin for one egg."


    "Give me twenty."


    "Me too. I want fifty."


    After a while, half of the pot of quail eggs was left. The people who bought the eggs had not left.


    Some asked for a watermelon, some asked for a few pieces of ice, and some asked for strawberries and melons. She hadn''t been working for a few days, so everyone was holding back their energy and wanted a good meal.


    Qiao Mai had been busy the whole morning and had yet to eat. When there were no customers, she sat down to rest and casually picked up a melon.


    At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi came to the stall with the child in his arms. "Greetings, youngdy."


    Qiao Mai saw him and was about to get up when he hurriedly stopped her.


    "You''ve been busy all morning. Please sit and talk."


    "Is the child better?"


    Even though he said that, Qiao Mai still stood up.


    "Much better. The fruit is delicious. My kid could not eat, so he ate a lot of fruit. The sweet corn is also delicious."


    "Where''s the child''s mother?"


    "She passed away while giving birth!"


    "Um, can he eat eggs?"


    "The fever has subsided. It should be fine now, right?"


    Qiao Mai took a quail egg from the basin, peeled it, and brought it to the little boy''s mouth.


    "Try it. It''s delicious."


    The little boy looked at Yuan Jiaqi. "Can I eat it, Daddy?"


    "If you want to!"


    The little boy opened his mouth and ate the quail egg. "Thank you, Auntie!"


    "Auntie doesn''t have anything else here except for a bunch of delicious food. If you like to eat,e and find Auntie."


    Yuan Jiaqi was a little embarrassed. "My child had a feverst night. I didn''t go to your house when things happened. I''m really sorry."


    "The child is more important. There are so many people here. Is this why you''re here?"


    "Yes."


    "You are too particr about the rules. Did you study before?"


    "I studied for a few years, but not anymore."


    "No wonder you speak politely. It''s not easy for a man like you to take care of a child. If there''s anything in the future, leave the child at my house. I''ll be at the stall during the day and at night unless I go to the prefecture to purchase goods."


    "Thank you so much!"


    The little boy enjoyed the quail eggs. Qiao Mai could tell he liked them and immediately wrapped a dozen in oil paper for him.


    "Take it. I don''t want your money. If it''s delicious, eat a few more. These eggs can''t stay overnight."


    "Thank you, Auntie!"


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded at her. "Thank you. We''re going home now."


    "Go, go, let him drink more water."


    After the father and son left, Qiao Mai sat down, washed her hands, and took out the embroidery work.


    After a few stitches, Lu Sanniang came over.


    "The eggs and corn you asked Ruxin to bring back yesterday were delicious. Why didn''t you sell corn today?"


    "I just brought it back for everyone to taste first. It will be served in a few days."


    "I think you should stock up tomorrow. It''s very delicious. Anyway, you might as well earn more money."


    "I think you''re greedy for money."


    "It''s all your fault. Your stall is even more profitable than my embroidery shop. I''ll catch a few of those animals from your houseter and try raising them at home."


    "That''s called a quail. Remember to raise it in the house. Quails like warmth and can''t stand the cold."


    "I''ll do whatever you do. Besides eating the eggs theyy at home, it''s also good to give some to friends and build rtionships."


    "They are easy to raise, provided there''s water and food. You don''t have to care about them for a few days. You only need to pick the eggs."


    "Yes, yes!"


    As she talked, a carriage stopped in front of her stall. Qiao Mai thought it was a customer, but when the window lifted, two children smiled at her.


    "So you really set up a stall here, sister."


    Qiao Mai''s face turned dark. Seeing this pair of siblings gave her a headache. Shopkeeper Lu was a friendly person and immediately asked when she saw them.


    "Miss, are you here to look for my sister?"


    "Yeah, let''s talk about it when Ie down."


    The coachman led the carriage to a space, and two girls and a boy got out.


    They came to the stall. Shopkeeper Lu called the servant girl in her shop and brought three chairs over.


    "Sit, sit."


    Qiao Mai looked at them without a smile and even frowned tightly.


    "How did you find me here?"


    "There''s nothing much to do today, and the weather is good. I brought my brother here to try my luck."


    "I can''t give you the fruits even if you came here. If you want to those, you have to go south."


    "I think these are fine too. Take these berries as an example. The ones in the prefecture are not as good as yours. And these melons are not as sweet as yours."


    As they asked, the siblings stared at the quail egg and swallowed their saliva.


    "This is an egg, a quail egg. It''s an eggid by a type of poultry called quail."


    "Can I try one?"


    Qiao Mai looked at the pair of gluttons and helplessly took a few and ced them in their hands.


    "Eat it. Remember to peel first."


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at the interaction between Qiao Mai and this pair of siblings and was curious. Why was she unhappy when customers came to support her?


    After finishing the quail eggs, the girl pointed to the pot.


    "I want all of these."


    "The weather is hot. You have to finish it before night. Otherwise, you''ll have a stomachache."


    "It''s fine. Don''t you have ice here? Wouldn''t it be fine to put a few pieces in? Besides, we would probably finish it before reaching the prefecture."


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips, realizing that indeed, how could one restrain themselves from enjoying something delicious?


    "Anything else?"


    "Yes. I found that your watermelon is also better than others. Not only is the skin thin, but it''s also sweet. My brother loves your watermelon."


    Qiao Mai asked Shopkeeper Lu to look after the stall for her and went to the grocery store to buy a few baskets.


    She put ten watermelons in the basket. It was easy to calcte in round numbers, and the siblings were not short of money. The more, the better.


    She packed up sixty honeydews and twenty boxes of strawberries. She did not count the quail eggs and treated them as a bonus gift.


    Qiao Mai packed the baskets while Wang Jiaru sat at the side and chatted with Shopkeeper Lu.


    This girl was really talkative. Not only did she bber about how she knew Qiao Mai, but she also told them her name, address, and how her brother had been injured when he was young.

 Chapter 38: Who Doesn’t Like to Eat?

    <h4>Chapter 38: Who Doesn''t Like to Eat?</h4>


    Shopkeeper Lu finally knew the whole story. No wonder Qiao Mai doesn''t look happy.


    It was a headache to meet someone like this. Qiao Mai was probably frustrated by Wang Zihan when she was in the prefecture.


    What surprised Lu Sanniang was that Qiao Mai was able to get to know the youngdies and masters of the local prestigious families after entering the prefecture. She was blessed, but she did not mention it after she returned.


    They loaded the fruits into the car. Qiao Mai pulled a long face as if someone owed her money.


    "A total of twenty-one taels. Give me twenty taels."


    "Are there any other rare items?"


    "No."


    "Really?"


    Wang Jiaru didn''t believe it. She felt she had to force this woman in front of her to reveal her potential. Looking at Qiao Mai''s behavior, she should still have some goods!


    "We''ve known each other for a while, but I still don''t know your name."


    "Qiao Mai."


    "Sister Qiao, it wasn''t easy for me toe all the way here. Can you take pity on me and get me some rare fruits?"


    "I don''t have any. You cane with me to my house if you don''t believe it."


    "That''s a pity. When are you going to the prefecture?"


    "You go back first. Three dayster, I''ll go to the prefecture to deliver fruits to you. Just prepare enough silver bills."


    "Then it''s settled. Three dayster, I''ll wait for you at the door likest time?"


    "It''ll be noon by the time I reach the city from home."


    "Why don''t you stay at my house overnight?"


    "No need. I have to rush back after settling the money and goods. If I don''t set up a stall, I will lose a lot of silver in a day."


    "I''ll just give you a little more silver."


    "No need!"


    Miss Wang asked the servant girl to pay up and wanted to say something more, but Qiao Mai urged her to get into the carriage. She sat in the carriage and leaned against the window reluctantly.


    "I''m leaving! You must be punctual. Sister Lu,e to the prefecture together if you are free. I''ll bring you sightseeing."


    "Alright, alright."


    After finally sending her away, Shopkeeper Lu poked her arm.


    "Your luck isn''t shallow to get to know such a prominent family, yet you didn''t even tell me when you returned. This is a goodwork. Our embroidery shop needs them."


    "It''s just a buyer and seller rtionship. Besides, isn''t it better to let her chase after us?"


    "As a youngdy from a rich family, she doesn''t put on airs. It''s rare. This is the first time I''ve seen such type."


    "They''re just two gluttons."


    "Who doesn''t like to eat? People live to eat. No matter how wealthy you are, you still need to eat."


    "Are you going to the prefecture with me in three days?"


    "I''m not going. I''m busy with business, but you can give me a ride to the county town. I''ll take your cart back in the afternoon."


    Miss Wang had taken care of the quail eggs. When some people heard the news and came to buy them, they had already sold out.


    When they heard there would be more eggs tomorrow, they left happily.


    The goods she had prepared for today were sold out just after noon. Qiao Mai packed up her stall in advance and went home to count the silver.


    She did not notice an old couple staring at her back from afar. They had been there for a long time, but because Shopkeeper Lu was also there, they did not dare toe over.


    "The child''s mother, do you think this girl will lie to us? Could the stall be hers?"


    "It can''t be, right? She had never lied since she was young. Besides, how much capital did she need to support this stall? Don''t you know what she has?"


    "Hmph, if she dares to lie to me, I''ll beat her to death. Let''s follow her and see where she lives."


    The two followed her from afar. When they saw Qiao Mai enter a beautiful new house, they were not in a hurry to go over. Instead, they asked the people around them who the house belonged to.


    It was fortunate they had such foresight, allowing Qiao Mai to escape this disaster.


    Of course, Qiao Mai wasn''t afraid of them.


    After the couple found out this residence belonged to Shopkeeper Lu, their initial desire to cause trouble with Qiao Mai was halved.


    "Old man, I told you that my daughter wouldn''t lie. She sold herself to Shopkeeper Lu. Let''s go home. This is Shopkeeper Lu''s residence."


    "Did wee here for nothing?"


    "Then what should we do? Didn''t you see that girl closing her stall early? She must have sold out. If there were still goods at home, wouldn''t she push another cart?"


    Qiao Shicheng gritted his teeth. "Let''s go home. Give her some more time. Don''t think just because she got a Letter of Disownment, she''ll really dare to break off ties with me. No way!"


    Qiao Mai was in the yard, adding food for Dong Zhao and changing its water.


    Then, she went to the east and west wing rooms. She cleaned the ground for the quails and came out to sweep the courtyard.


    Thinking of the pot of oil in the freezer, she put the basket on her arm and locked the courtyard door. Qiao Mai nned to go out and see if there were any chives sold.


    It just so happened that she had missed Qiao Shicheng. Otherwise, she would have another good show to watch today.


    Ever since her neighbors helped her catch the bad guys that night, Qiao Mai had developed a good impression of them. She would greet them politely when she went out.


    Whoever came to her stall would be given a much cheaper price.


    It had only been a short time, but they were all enthusiastic after meeting each other.


    "Littledy, you''re done for the day?"


    "Everything is sold out. I''m buying some groceries to improve my life."


    "What are you eating tonight?"


    "I''ll make dumplings. There was still a lot of oil from thest refining."


    "Oh, dumplings. Not bad, not bad."


    Qiao Mai smiled as she came to the embroidery shop. "Shopkeeper, I''m making dumplings tonight. Are youing to eat?"


    "Yes, all of us."


    "Alright, then I''ll buy more chives."


    Qiao Mai looked at the roadside and saw the vegetable stall seemed to have closed, so she ran to Jingtai Restaurant. At this moment, there were still customers who had not left.


    "Greetings, Shopkeeper Tong."


    "Oh, Madam Qiao, what brings you here?"


    "Do you have chives here?"


    "Yes, we had a huge delivery today. There are still quite a few."


    "Will you sell me a big pinch?"


    "What''s there to sell? It''s not worth much. Take as much as you want."


    "Then I''ll thank you for that."


    Qiao Mai followed the waiter to the back. Indeed, there was quite a lot. She took the chives and left the restaurant.


    "Shopkeeper Tong, what dish does your restaurant make with the chives?"


    "The chives taste pretty good with scrambled eggs. Many customers like it."


    "You guys aren''t making dumplings?"


    "It''s too troublesome to make the stuffing on a hot day. If it''s cold, we can make it in advance and cook it when the customer orders."


    "You should really dig an ice kiln. Not only is it convenient to use, but you can also store ingredients."


    "Let''s talk about it next year."


    Qiao Mai came back with a basket. Shopkeeper Lu was not busy anymore. "Sister,e, let''s pick chives together."


    "I''ll go home and pick it myself."


    "Hurry up. Come over quickly. I''m not busy at the moment."


    The two plucked the chives at the entrance before Qiao Mai went home.


    She had checked the fillings of the dumplings online and remembered how to mix the various fillings. She had even tried it twice. There should be no problem.


    When she arrived at the kitchen, she took the oil residue from her space, poured it on the chopping board, chopped it up, and ced it in a basin. She washed the chives clean and dried them, cut them into small cubes, and put them in the oil residue.


    She poured soy sauce, salt, gourmet powder, oyster sauce, and thirteen spices.


    Fortunately, there was no one around. Otherwise, if anyone saw her flip her hand and produce a condiment, which disappeared with a wave of her hand, they would think the house was haunted.


    She started the fire and poured some oil into the big pot. She put in the chopped green onion and ginger to stimte the fragrance, put out the fire, and burned the oil on the filling. Then, she mixed it, and the smell of the chive oil residue immediately spread.


    Her neighbor on the left was a widow with the surname Chen. She had been living here with an eight-year-old boy.


    That night, Qiao Mai had just gotten to know her.


    Her neighbor on the right had arge courtyard. It was a house rented by three families.


    Yuan Jiaqi and his child lived in the west wing of the house.

 Chapter 39: Following The Smell of Food

    <h4>Chapter 39: Following The Smell of Food</h4>


    She never asked what they did for a living. It was just that the smell of her filling was too tempting. The children on both sides of the street had sharp noses.


    Following the smell, they sneaked out of the house. An eight-year-old boy and a four-year-old boy peeped through the door''s crack.


    "Little brother, this smells so good!"


    "Yeah, it''s even more tempting than my mother''s stewed meat."


    "This is the house of the aunt who sells fruits."


    "What do you think she''s cooking?"


    "I don''t know."


    Qiao Mai ced the prepared filling on the table in the courtyard and started to cook again. When she heard the conversation between the children outside, she smiled.


    She moved the chopping board to the table in the courtyard and tilted her head to look at the door. The two greedy boys were still there.


    Qiao Mai used her mind to look at Ling''er in her space. This little fellow was sleeping soundly.


    The child was growing up slowly. She could not stay in the space forever. She needed ymates.


    At the thought of this, she opened the courtyard door and looked at the two little ones.


    "Who''s nagging at my door? Tell me your name."


    The eight-year-old boy blushed. "Aunt, I, I''m Aunt''s neighbor on the left. My surname is Chen, my name is Hao, and my nickname is Niu Niu."


    The four-year-old boy smiled at her. "Auntie, we''ve met several times. I''m your neighbor. My name is Yuan Haichuan, and my nickname is Chuan''er."


    "Wee to my house."


    Qiao Mai moved her body and made an inviting gesture. The two fellows giggled and walked in.


    Qiao Mai didn''t close the door and left the courtyard door ajar. She brought them inside and ced two stools in front of the table.


    "Come, sit down and talk."


    The two boys sat down obediently, looking a little restrained.


    "Auntie, what do you cook that smells so good?"


    "Dumplings. Have you eaten dumplings before?"


    Chen Hao stretched out two fingers. "I think I''ve eaten them twice since moving here."


    "What about you?" Qiao Mai asked Yuan Haichuan.


    He pursed his lips. "I don''t think I''ve eaten it."


    "Then, after Auntie is done, can I treat you to dumplings?"


    The two little ones'' eyes lit up, and they nodded happily. They sat on the bench obediently and didn''t move at all. Their obedience was very likable.


    Qiao Mai took a small bunch of grapes from her space, washed them in a small basin, and ced them in front of the kids.


    "Before the dumplings are done, Auntie will treat you to this."


    "Wow, what is this?"


    "Grapes!"


    Qiao Mai reached out and took one, peeled it, put the meat into her mouth, and spat out the seed.


    "It''s eaten like this. It''s very sweet. Try it."


    The two little ones then reached out their hands and grabbed the grapes on top to eat.


    When the noodles were done, she began to rub the skin. She had never used the green curtains she bought before, and now, she had a ce to use them.


    She was talking to the two children as she wrapped the dumplings. When the boys heard their family calling for them, they quickly responded.


    When Yuan Jiaqi and Madam Chen, who was next door, came to find them, they saw such an enviable scene.


    When Madam Chen saw her son eating such precious fruits at Madam Qiao''s house, she immediately ran over to hold his hand.


    "Why didn''t you y at home? Why did youe here to disturb Auntie?"


    Yuan Jiaqi didn''tin about the child and came up to greet Qiao Mai.


    "Sorry for troubling you, Madam Qiao."


    "It''s no trouble at all. I also like children. They''re quite obedient here."


    Madam Chen smiled at her in embarrassment. "These grapes haven''t been released yet, right?"


    "Soon. I n to sell this in a while. You don''t have to take it to heart. How much can a child eat? He''s a guest at my house. It''s my duty to entertain my little guest."


    The two little ones liked Qiao Mai very much. Chuan''er looked up at Yuan Jiaqi.


    "Dad, Auntie said she would treat me to dumplings tonight."


    Yuan Jiaqi and Madam Chen were in a dilemma. Qiao Mai could see that both families were thin-skinned.


    "Go back. Let them y at my ce. After dinner, you cane to pick them up."


    "How embarrassing is that?"


    "We''re neighbors. There''s no need to be so calctive. I live alone, so I need you to take care of me more."


    "Alright, we''ll pick them up after dark."


    "Yes, yes."


    The parents of the two children had left. Knowing that the kids were ying here, they were relieved.


    An hourter, the dumplings were all wrapped. Qiao Mai started a fire and filled the pot with water. She nned to cook a pot first for the two children.


    It just so happened that Shopkeeper Lu and the others had arrived. Someone cooked the fire, and someone cooked the dumplings, so she and Lu Sanniang were freed.


    "Sister, who are these two children?"


    "My neighbors. They smelled the food when I was mixing the fillings."


    "Be careful when making friends. I''ll help you find out about their character and family backgroundter."


    "When I caught the thief that day, they all came over. I was so busy that I didn''t have time to make friends."


    "I understand. Take your time."


    The first pot of dumplings was ready. Everyone took their bowls. They were so close that they didn''t stand on ceremony.


    Qiao Mai ced two small bowls in front of the little ones and put the dumplings in their bowls.


    "Eat it when it''s cooler, or it''ll burn your mouth."


    The two little ones looked at the dumplings and swallowed their saliva. They blew the hot air with their mouths. It was indescribable how cute they looked.


    Shopkeeper Lu observed Qiao Mai as she ate. Seeing that she liked children so much, she couldn''t help but say something.


    "Do you miss your child when you see them?"


    "Yeah. If that child were still alive, she would be able to eat and drink now. She could even crawl on the ground."


    "When things settle down, and you did your household registration, you can have another family. You''re still young. You''ll have children."


    "Sigh, let''s eat. Let''s not talk about this."


    Lu Sanniang knew she was sad and quickly changed the topic.


    "I say, your cooking skills are outstanding. Everything you cook is especially delicious. If it doesn''t work, you can open a restaurant."


    "It''s too tiring to open a restaurant. Besides, I don''t want topete with Shopkeeper Tong for customers. As long as someone else is doing it, I won''t do it."


    "Do you think trouble won''te to you just because you don''tpete? If others were jealous of you, you can''t escape either."


    "We''ll talk about it when the timees."


    All the dumplings were cooked. Everyone gathered around the big table for dinner. Tonight''s dumplings were especially delicious. They praised them as they ate.


    After Chuan''er was full, he patted his stomach. "Auntie, these dumplings are too delicious. I''m full, but my father has never eaten such delicious dumplings. Can I bring a bowl back for him?"


    This kid was really filial. He didn''t forget his father even when he was eating well.


    "Sure. Auntie still has a lot of dumplings here. If we don''t finish them, they''ll go bad the next day. You can take a bowl with you and help Auntie share the burden."


    Qiao Mai thought, ''You little smart bean, take my food home and be filial to your father. He didn''t raise you in vain. I have the space. How can the dumplings go bad? They''ll be the most delicious when I fry them tomorrow morning.''


    "Then I''ll send it to my father now. If it''s toote, it''ll get cold and won''t taste good."


    Qiao Mai pointed at Chuan''er and told Shopkeeper Lu, "Did you see that? He''s only a kid but already knows how to dote on his father. He''ll definitely have a future when he grows up."


    "Where''s his mother?"


    "She was gone during the birth-giving."


    "How pitiful!"


    Shopkeeper Lu picked up a bowl of dumplings and ced it in front of Chuan''er.


    "Let''s go. I''ll send you back."


    Shopkeeper Lu picked up the bowl in her arms and walked out of the yard.


    Chen Hao also wanted to get a bowl of dumplings for his mother. "Auntie, I want one too."


    "I''ll give you a bowl too. You can choose."


    "Thank you, Aunt."


    The two little ones came to her house as guests and left with food.


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at Qiao Mai strangely after she came back.


    "Sis, what''s wrong?"


    "I think that young man is quite good-looking. You''re nice to his child. Have you taken a fancy to him?"


    Qiao Mai didn''t know whether tough or cry. "What if I treat that other boy well? Could it be that I like his mother?"


    "Pfft, haha!"


    Everyone in the courtyardughed, and even Shopkeeper Lu couldn''t help butugh out loud.


    "I was overthinking!"


    "I''ve already said it. No matter what, I must buy a house and register my household registration. I won''t consider anything else."


    "Why don''t I give this house to you? The sooner you settle the household registration, the sooner you can be at ease."

 Chapter 40: This Woman Will Empty Their Pouches

    <h4>Chapter 40: This Woman Will Empty Their Pouches</h4>


    "No, it''s like a box. I want to nt some flowers and raise some poultry."


    "You even despise my house. You have to know many people want it but couldn''t have it."


    After eating the dumplings, Qiao Mai cut open a watermelon for everyone and lets them leave after eating.


    When she left, Shopkeeper Lu touched her stomach. "Ever since I met that girl, my mouth has been hungry. My stomach has also grown bigger. Those who don''t know better would think I''m pregnant again."


    "Mother, don''t you n to remarry? You''re still so young."


    "Marry who? I''m already at this age. I don''t want to serve those scumbags. I''mfortable on my own."


    "Then we won''t get married either. We''ll be like Mother."


    "No, you guys are still young. If you meet a suitable man, marry him. The matchmakers are almost stepping on the threshold of our family. Mother is taking a look for you. When Mother finds someone good, I will let you know."


    Ruxin blushed. "Mother, I''m still young. Let''s wait another two years."


    "No, this is the custom here. In two years, the good ones will be picked away."


    "Mother, I still want to learn from Master for two more years. Once I get married, I won''t have the chance to learn anymore."


    "Don''t worry. Mother will definitely find you a good inw. At the very least, your parents-inw will be reasonable people. They must not be like the Tian and Qiao family. Mother will examine them for you."


    Thinking of Qiao Mai''s family and inws, Shopkeeper Lu couldn''t help but shiver.


    The next day, when Qiao Mai was about to leave for work, her neighbors, Yuan Jiaqi and Madam Chen, came out of the courtyard at the same time as if they were waiting for her.


    " You guys, what''s up?"


    "The dumplings are delicious. We want to know if there''s anything we can help with."


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, "I can do all these myself. You don''t have to do this. When I need youter, don''t push me away."


    "Alright, let us know when you need us."


    Madam Chen turned around and returned to the courtyard. She usually stayed home, and Qiao Mai rarely saw her. This was the first time she looked her in the eye.


    She looked average and dressed decently. She was not the type of woman she hated.


    Yuan Jiaqi also wanted to leave, but after thinking for a moment, he spoke.


    "Madam Qiao, I know some carpentry and how to write. I noticed that your stall seems tock a signboard. If you don''t mind, I can make one for you. What do you think, Madam Qiao?"


    Qiao Mai knew he wanted to return the favor. "Alright, write down the products I''ve sold recently and leave some empty spots. I''ll add them when I have new goods."


    "Alright."


    When he heard Qiao Mai had agreed to let him make a signboard, Yuan Jiaqi seemed to have put down a heavy burden and happily turned around to go home.


    Qiao Mai shook her head. Some people received help from others and would remember it for a lifetime. Some people took advantage of others and would always feel uneasy.


    However, some people still felt at a disadvantage after receiving benefits and basking in the light of others. Humans really can''t bepared.


    When she arrived at the stall, Qiao Mai ced the goods on the table. This morning, she cooked an extra pot of corn to try it out.


    With a fixed source of customers, there was no need to worry about business.


    As soon as the people thinking about quail eggs arrived yesterday, they realized there was a new dish.


    "I say, Madam Qiao, why are you even starting to sell this?"


    Qiao Mai didn''t exin. She picked up one, peeled off the skin, cut it into several pieces with a knife, and handed one to the man.


    "Try it. What''s the difference between this corn and ours?"


    The man took a bite and chewed it carefully before slowly saying, "It''s sweet, sticky, and fragrant."


    "This is called waxy corn."


    "How much for one ear?"


    "Ten coins!"


    "Give me fifty quail eggs and five ears of waxy corn. I''ll go home and give it to my wife and children."


    "Good! You know your stuff."


    There were many buyers like this. The vigers ate corn porridge every day. No one cared about corn. If she didn''t let them taste it, they wouldn''t know how delicious her waxy corn was.


    The realm of a foodie was to taste any new food as soon as they saw it.


    The town wasn''t big, but there were many foodies, which was her favorite.


    Hence, the news of Madam Qiao''s stall selling waxy corn instantly spread.


    Those who liked to eat corn would buy a few ears, and those who didn''t would still buy for their children.


    The corn in their field had not ripened yet. No one could bear to break the tender corn and cook it like this. Even if they did so, it would not be as delicious as Qiao Mai''s.


    Therefore, she was the first in town to do so.


    Some people predicted that one day, the people of Tianshui Town would have their pockets emptied by this woman.


    Time flew by, and it was time to go to the prefecture.


    Qiao Mai woke up early and fed Dong Zao to its heart''s content. She locked the courtyard door, connected the leash to the carriage, and went to the grocery store.


    She bought twenty baskets in one go. Qiao Mai realized the baskets in town were cheaper than those in the prefecture.


    It was her virtue to be frugal and thrifty.


    Along the way, Dong Zao ran by himself. Qiao Mai did nothing but sit in front of the cart, half-asleep.


    When she was about to reach Wei City, she became spirited. She had long forgotten about Shopkeeper Lu wanting to go to the county town.


    She slowed down Dong Zao and entered the cart. Likest time, she took a few fruits from the freezer in the space.


    She remembered that she sold six types of foodst time. This time, she prepared ten kinds. Qiao Mai removed the watermelon and added oranges, sweet apricot, pomegranate, hawthorn, and crisp dates.


    She made two hundred and sixty silver taelsst time. This time, she would not have dealings with Wang Jiaru if she didn''t earn five hundred silver.


    She carried a cart of fruits into the city and arrived at the Wang family''s gate. She didn''t see Miss Wang, so she waited in the carriage.


    Miss Wang should appear at the agreed time.


    Qiao Mai leaned against the door frame and wanted to take a nap. Just as she closed her eyes, she heard a piercing voice.


    "Whose cart is blocking the entrance of our Wang family residence?"


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and smiled when she saw the old woman.


    Enemies meet on a narrow road. Isn''t this Granny Xiao who framed her? Qiao Mai crossed her arms and watched her perform.


    Granny Xiao recognized her the moment she left the house. She was petty by nature and especially vengeful.


    Granny Xiao''s eyes reddened at the sight of her former enemy.


    "Hurry up and get lost! Otherwise, don''t me me for being impolite."


    "Look at your face. It''s as if this is your house. I remember that your surname isn''t Wang but Xiao?"


    "Bah, you''re just a bumpkin. Get lost from where you came from. Stop lying to my young miss and master."


    "I say, is there something wrong with your head? Or are your eyes sick?"


    "Hmph, every one of you wants to curry favor with our Wang family. I''ve seen too many people like you."


    Qiao Mai was speechless. Was everyone in the Wang family problematic? Two gluttons and one simple-minded person. She looked at everyone as if they were trying to curry favor with the Wang family. Qiao Mai didn''t even know what the Wang family did.


    How is this family good? Who could tell her what benefits she would get from fawning over them?


    Does Granny Xiao think she wanted toe? How could a dog from the Wang family bite people so casually?


    She looked at Granny Xiao. How embarrassing would that be if she left just because Granny Xiao asked her to? She didn''t want toe. No matter what, she has to take the money before going back.


    After a while, when she saw Miss Wang, she had to ask forpensation for the mental damage.


    Granny Xiao saw that she did not speak, and her arrogance became even more prominent. She kept cursing, unaware that Miss Wang''s face was as ck as the bottom of a pot behind her.


    She had finally gotten to know an interesting sister, but this wretched woman dared to scold Qiao Mai.


    She was so angry that she walked behind Granny Xiao and raised her foot. She did not have the image of ady from a noble family and kicked her butt.


    Granny Xiao screamed and fell down the steps.


    She was lying on the ground and was about to turn around to scream when she saw Wang Jiaru. Her tone immediately lowered.


    "Miss, why did you kick this servant?"


    "Idiot, she''s my sister. How dare you scold my sister?"


    "But she almost kidnapped Young Masterst time. I did it for the good of the Wang family."


    Miss Wang''s face was cold as she told the guard, "Go and get Butler Wang. Granny Xiao is so arrogant that she even dares to bully my guest. Sell her at themercial center."

 Chapter 41 - 41: Frightening

    Chapter 41: Frightening


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Upon hearing this, Granny Xiao was so frightened that she hurriedly got up and knelt on the ground to kowtow.


    ¡°Young Miss, this servant was wrong. I¡¯ll never dare to do it again.¡±


    ¡°You old thing, how many of these things have you done? Do you think I don¡¯t know? I¡¯ve always thought that you¡¯re an elder of the Wang family, so I¡¯ve given you one chance after another. Now, you actually dare to humiliate my people. Our Wang family is small, and we can¡¯t tolerate someone like you.¡±


    Seeing the guards swarming over, not only was Granny Xiao tied up, but her mouth was also gagged.


    Only then did Qiao Mai have a better impression of Wang Jiaru, this foodie.


    On one hand, she was cute and talkative, and on the other hand, she was decisive and efficient in solving problems. She was a person who could stand up for a fruit seller.


    As for her character, to be able to protect his mentally retarded younger brother along the way, this kind of person was usually not bad.


    One should not be picky about how perfect their friends were, because they might not be a perfect person.


    This was her principle in dealing with people. Unfortunately, in her previous life, she did not have a best friend until she was in her twenties.


    Since she came here, everything went with the flow. From the bottom of her heart, she also hoped that there would be a few people around her.


    After dealing with Granny Xiao, Wang Jiaru turned around with a smile on her face.


    ¡°Sister Qiao, you¡¯re really punctual!¡±


    ¡°Come, get in the car, and take a look. Give me a good price. Oh right, that old woman scolded me just now.¡±


    ¡°Mental damagepensation?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s topensate for my broken heart.¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course, you can. My Wang family is not short of money.¡±


    When Miss Wang got into the car, she looked at the whole car full of fruits. She covered her mouth and swallowed her saliva.


    ¡°Sister, how can I thank you? You¡¯re really a god to be able to get such fruits.¡±


    ¡°Do you want them?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Make your bid!¡±


    ¡°All of this, plus thepensation for mental damage, how about a total of seven hundred taels?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    It was a little higher than she had expected, so she could ept the price.


    Miss Wang quickly counted the silver notes and gave them to her. She could not wait to take an orange from the basket and peeled it in the carriage to eat.


    Zihan, who smelled the fruit fragrance outside, was unhappy. ¡°Sister, sister, I want to eat fruit.¡±


    Wang Jiaru remembered her brother and quickly took an orange and jumped out of the car.


    ¡°Here, eat it. There are many kinds of fruits this time. Let me say this first. If you don¡¯t eat your meals properly, there won¡¯t be any fruits to eat.¡±


    At this moment, he no longer remembered what he had said about having proper meals. He only had eyes for the bright-colored orange.


    Qiao Mai put away the banknotes. The servants of the Wang family came over to unload the carriage. Wang Jiaru waved at her.


    ¡°Sister Qiao, take care. I¡¯ll pay you a visit some other day. Well, I¡¯ll go back to the residence to eat my fruit first.¡±


    The Wang family was like a receding tide, retreating back into their residence with a ssh. Qiao Mai held his forehead and sighed. The realm of foodies was really daunting.


    After the matter was done, she drove the carriage back. There was nothing else to buy.


    Suddenly, she remembered that three days ago, Lu Sanniang had asked her to take her to the county town today and bring her back when she came back. However, she left after catching the carriage. How was she going to face that fierce woman when she went back?


    She quickly drove around the prefecture and bought some famous pastries in the city. After thinking about it, she bought two boxes of high-quality rouge powder.


    She was feeling a little guilty? What should she do?


    The closer she got to Tianshui Town, the more nervous she became.


    Sure enough, when the carriage arrived at the entrance of the embroidery shop, Lu Sanniang was holding her waist, looking like she was about to scold the streets.


    ¡°Sister?¡±


    ¡°You still know how toe back?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I forgot about you when I went out. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Lu Sanniang raised her head, looking as if she would not let this matter rest until she was coaxed.


    ¡°I bought my sister the most famous snack in Wei City.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t care!¡±


    ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s also good rouge powder.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯tck this.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu Sanniang immediately turned her head.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sister, do you want to see the set of clothes I mentioned to youst time?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m at home. Come,e home with me. I¡¯ll show it to you.¡±


    Lu Sanniang swallowed his saliva and immediately sat in the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. What are you waiting for?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled as he ced the things she bought in the shop and brought Lu Sanniang home.


    After arranging the carriage and horses, the two of them locked the door as soon as they entered the courtyard. After entering the house, Lu Sanniang sat in front of the table, extremely nervous.


    Qiao Mai opened the cab and took out a refined wooden box. He ced it on the table.


    ¡°Sister, take a look first.¡±


    Seeing Qiao Mai¡¯s solemn expression, Shopkeeper Lu knew that it must be good stuff. Her hand could not help but tremble.


    She slowly opened the box and gasped when she saw what was inside.


    She touched the fabric gently. ¡°This material is so soft and light. It¡¯s really good.¡±


    ¡°Look again!¡±


    ¡°All the embroidery is double-sided.¡±


    She carefully picked up the clothes. ¡°Tsk tsk, this is what ady should wear. Although there are no jewelry embellishments, just looking at the material and the embroidery, this set of clothes should be worth 2,000 taels. If it is matched with suitable jewelry, it will definitely be very beautiful.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid two thousand taels won¡¯t be enough.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get it?¡±


    ¡°My master left it for me. Thest time I went to the prefecture, I got it from a friend of hers.


    ¡°So, you have to consider carefully whether you want to sell this dress and what to say when others ask.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s face also became solemn. ¡°I told you this was left behind by a double-sided embroidery master.¡±


    ¡°Then, what about that master?¡±


    ¡°That master saw through the mortal world and be a nun. She traveled all over the world. Before she left, she asked me to sell this dress.


    ¡°This reason makes sense.¡±


    ¡°Is this the only one in the world?¡± ¡°It should be. I don¡¯t know where my master got the fabric from.¡±


    ¡°Then how much should I sell it for?¡±


    ¡°The people in the small county definitely can¡¯t afford it. Why don¡¯t you try the Wang family in the prefecture? Miss Wang was not a vain person, so she probably wouldn¡¯t buy it. However, she definitely had connections. She might even be able to talk to the high-ranking officials in the capital. It was best to let her handle it.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave these clothes with you for now. I¡¯ll go with you the next time we go to the prefecture. Remember not to leave me behind again.¡±


    ¡°Remember to remind me the day before. I¡¯m too busy with my store, so I¡¯ll forget about things within three days.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, hmph, I won¡¯t argue with you today for the sake of the clothes.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my good sister.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu sat for a while before leaving. Qiao Mai felt tired after going out for a day, so she had already closed the door and entered the space.


    In the past, the space was a small supermarket. Now, the space had be a farm, and it was still expanding.


    The peanuts had already grown. She believed that in two days, they would be able to be cooked and sold.


    She nned to nt edamame beans and sweet potatoes on the replicatednd. When the fruits were removed from the shelves, this batch could catch up.


    The next day, Qiao Mai was notified by someone.


    ¡°Miss Qiao, those two thieves were sentenced that day.¡±


    ¡°For how long?¡±


    ¡°Three months.¡±


    ¡°So little?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a small amount. You didn¡¯t lose anything, and you¡¯re fine. The county magistrate is already very fair.¡±


    ¡°Next time, if anyonees to steal from my house, I¡¯ll just kill them and not send them to the police. If such a person lives, others will continue to suffer. A dog can¡¯t change its habit of eating sh*t.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, we can¡¯t do anything about thew. These people have never learned from a young age. They¡¯re used to beingzy and don¡¯t do serious things at all.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°They won¡¯te to our town for revenge after wee out of jail, right?¡±


    ¡°If he dares, our mayor is not to be trifled with.¡±


    When the goods were all arranged, she sat down and picked up the embroidery work to do slowly..

 Chapter 42 - 42: The Lie Will Be Exposed One Day

    Chapter 42: The Lie Will Be Exposed One Day


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It was very quiet this morning. There were not many people who came to buy her goods, so it was a quiet time.


    There were also beggars in the town. They rarely came to her stall to ask for money because none of them could fill their stomachs.


    However, two children came today. Their faces were covered in dirt, and they were so thin that only their big heads were left.


    The two children were about the same height and appearance. They should be twins and look like they were five or six years old.


    They stood beside Qiao Mai with their hands outstretched and tears streaming down their faces.


    ¡°Auntie, have pity on us. We haven¡¯t had a bite to eat for days.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at them and thought of her past. It could be said that she and the original owner¡¯s backgrounds were very sad.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your family?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not around anymore.¡±


    ¡°No rtives?¡±


    ¡°We do, but they didn¡¯t care about us and even seized the family property that Father and Mother left us.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Looking at their skinny appearances, she wanted to give them a piece of corn, but it was not good for their stomachs at this time.


    She turned around and shouted at the shop, ¡°Xiu Hong, Xiu Yu,e here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here!¡±


    The two of them walked over. Seeing this scene, Qiao Mai ordered. ¡°Xiu Yu, go get a basin of water and wash their hands and faces.¡± ¡°Xiu Hong, go to your restaurant and order two small bowls of noodles.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± The two of them left.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be able to eat in a while.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Auntie!¡±


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Seven years old.¡±


    Xiu Yu washed their hands and faces. After a serious interrogation, she confirmed that the two children were orphans and decided to adopt them.


    She watched the two children wolfing down the noodles. ¡°Will you follow Auntie in the future?¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll do whatever Auntie wants us to do as long as we can eat our fill.¡±


    Qiao Mai asked Xiu Hong to take care of the stall for her. She put two watermelons in a basket and took some of the things from the stall. She put them all in the basket and led the two kids to look for the mayor.


    It was her first time at the mayor¡¯s house. She stood at the door to calm herself down. She knew the guards on both sides.


    ¡°Is there something you need?¡± ¡°Something came up.¡±


    ¡°Please wait a moment, Lady Qiao.¡±


    The guard came out shortly after he entered. ¡°Please enter.¡±


    When they entered, the mayor was sitting and drinking tea. When he saw Qiao


    Mai with the children, he asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Mayor, these two children are begging by the roadside. Look at them. If you don¡¯t save them, they will starve to death.¡±


    ¡°You want to buy them ande to me to settle the procedures?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m adopting them. Let them be my sons.¡± ¡°How old are you? How can you raise such grown sons?¡± ¡°Mayor, there¡¯s something I need your help with.¡±


    ¡°Speak!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my household registration.¡±


    ¡°You have to have a house to register as a household. Aren¡¯t you living in Lady Lu¡¯s house now?¡±


    ¡°Then are there vacant houses in town? I¡¯ll buy them first and leave my household registration there.¡±


    ¡°You can, but why don¡¯t you go to the vige chief of Peach Blossom Vige?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a feud.¡¯


    The mayor understood what she meant and raised his eyebrows.


    ¡°You are friends with Lu Sanniang, so I will make it clear. Although I can talk to the people in the yamen, I need money to clear the way wherever I go. After the vige chief moves the household registration, I have to ask the official to personally go to the countryside.¡±


    ¡°How much do you want? I¡¯ll get it from Sister Lu first and return it to herter.¡± ¡°At least fifty taels of silver!¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°Thene over tomorrow and give me the Separation Document. Also, write the names of these two little fellows on a piece of paper and bring them to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, mayor.¡±


    ¡°Confirm the residence as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll just leave it to my house first.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Qiao Mai knew who hade. As soon as Lu Sanniang entered, she pursed her lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re so soft-hearted. You can¡¯t stand to see the children suffer and adopted two at once. You¡¯ve only earned some money, yet you¡¯re already raising children.¡±


    Lu Sanniang took out the deed of the house from her purse and stuffed it into Qiao Mai¡¯s hands.


    ¡°The deed to the house and thend are all white title deeds, so there¡¯s no need to go through the trouble of changing the name. You have the heart to save them, so an elder sister, I have to help.¡±


    When the mayor saw Lu Sanniang, heughed. ¡°What a rare guest. I can¡¯t even invite him normally.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡±


    Lu Sanniang touched the hairpin on her head with her hand and then winked at the mayor.


    She nced at the food that Qiao Mai had brought. ¡°Yo, old man, you¡¯re in luck. My sister¡¯s food is all good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the mayor. I¡¯m guarding her stall, so I can just treat myself a little. My servant often buys her things.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I was just thinking of giving you a gift for the holidays. Looks like I don¡¯t have to anymore. Just treat it as us two sisters showing our respect to you.¡±


    ¡°Why are you such a cheapskate?¡±


    ¡°Who asked you to be rich and powerful? I have to deduct some from you and save my own money.¡±


    ¡°Your mouth is still the same as when you were young.¡±


    Qiao Mai watched from the side and knew that there was something going on between the two of them.


    The mayor looked at Qiao Mai and said, ¡°You have to give me the title deed and house deed. The official won¡¯t do it without confirming it.¡±


    She hurriedly handed over the title deed and house deed, as well as fifty taels of silver.


    ¡°Thank you, Mayor. These two children are twins born on the same month and the same day. One is called Qiao Yunfeng, and the other is called Qiao Fengyun. They are seven years old, and their birthdays are today, the first day of


    August.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mayor. If you need anything in the future, just tell me.¡±


    The mayor rolled his eyes at Qiao Mai. ¡°You have a good sister. You should thank her. I don¡¯t dare to order you around.¡±


    Lu Sanniang red at the mayor. ¡°We sisters are no different from each other. There¡¯s no need to thank me. Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    The two of them each held a child¡¯s hand and left the mayor¡¯s mansion. The mayor sighed helplessly and shook his head.


    Qiao Mai did not like to gossip. Even if she saw something, she did not intend to say anything.


    When she arrived at the clothing store, she bought two sets of clothes for the two children. Shopkeeper Lu had been following her all this time to cover for her.


    If outsiders asked, she would say that she bought them and that the two children were recognized as Qiao Mai¡¯s sons.


    Although the lie would be exposed one day, by that time, Qiao Mai would already have a firm foothold and was not afraid of those scoundrels.


    When she got home, she boiled a pot of water and mixed it with cold water. She gave the two children a hot bath and changed them into new clothes.


    The twin brothers actually looked quite handsome in this outfit.


    They all had big eyes and eyelids. When they grew up, they would definitely be handsome men with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.


    The two little fellows were still a little unused to the change of clothes. ¡°Auntie, what do you want us to do? Please instruct me.¡±


    ¡°Silly child, I don¡¯t need you to be my servant. In the future, I will be your mother, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mother?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ll raise you as my sons in the future. I won¡¯t let you go hungry, okay?¡±


    Hearing thetter part of the sentence, the children¡¯s tears flowed down. They immediately threw themselves into Qiao Mai¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mother! We have a mother now. In the future, we don¡¯t have to beg for food or starve.¡±


    Qiao Mai patted their backs andforted them. ¡°This will be your home from now on.¡±


    ¡°Mother, we will help you do a lot of work.¡±


    ¡°Sure, with my sons, I don¡¯t have to be so tired.¡±


    After coaxing the two children, Qiao Mai vacated a room in the upper room, cleaned it up, and made a bed.


    ¡°From now on, the two of you will sleep here. There is a well at home. You are still young, so you don¡¯t have to fetch water.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°There are little chicks in the east and west wing rooms. Try not to go over.


    When you have rested well, Mother will tell you what to do at home.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Now, go to sleep. Mother still has to go out and will be back when the sky turns dark.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s help boil water?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for that today. You just need to sleep today. Rest well. When you¡¯re rested and energetic, you can help Mother..¡±

 Chapter 43 - 43: Really Picked Up a Treasure

    Chapter 43: Really Picked Up a Treasure


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The two little fellowsy on the mattress. They closed their eyes and fell asleep in a short while.


    Shopkeeper Lu wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. ¡°How pitiful. How could one bear to throw away such a good pair of twins.¡±


    ¡°Even if they don¡¯t have parents, they should still have rtives and friends. However, they have no family or friendship. Human nature is so cold. Not only do they upy their property, but they also chase them out. It¡¯s really hateful.¡±


    ¡°There are too many people like this. They¡¯re so detestable. Today, Qiam Mai saw them. If I saw them first, I would have brought them home and raised them as my sons.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you next time.¡±


    After locking the yard door, the two of them returned to the shop. Shopkeeper Lu went to work, and Qiao Mai went to the stall. Xiu Hong had already sold a lot and gained a lot of money for her. She ced all the money in a box.


    ¡°Go back to the shop. I¡¯ll take care of this. Thank you for today.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu had bought these two girls. They were pretty good. The two knew that Qiao Mai was their Master¡¯s friend and their Little Master¡¯s master, so they respected Qiao Mai very much.


    Of course, Lu Sanniang treated them well.


    Qiao Mai sat on the chair and recalled the scene when she first entered the organization. She cried helplessly by the roadside, and no one came forward to help her.


    She was so hungry that she almost fainted. A ck car stopped in front of her, and a man gave her a piece of bread and carried her away.


    Thinking back to that scene, should she thank that man? After all, she survived.


    No matter how cruel the training was, at least she had lived until she was in her twenties. If she had not had this unexpected transmigration, she should have lived a good life, right? After all, there was still space.


    She leaned backzily in her chair and sized up the passersby and the stalls by the roadside.


    ¡®Hmm? Isn¡¯t that the schr from the Tian family? Is he standing there as a pir?¡¯


    She looked at him with interest. Even though the other party¡¯s gaze was extremely vicious, her lips curled up into a smile.


    When Tian Yaozu saw Madam Qiao¡¯s smile, it seemed to contain a lot of sarcasm, as if she knew about the dirty things he did behind his back.


    He suddenly panicked. Although he did not order or bribe them, those two people were indeed rted to him.


    He hated Madam Qiao for not giving him face, making him lose face in front of so many people, making him reprimanded by his teacher, and making his ssmatesugh at him.


    Therefore, he went to Tianhe Town. He had a ssmate from there, and the two of them had a good rtionship.


    The reason why he went to school here was because the teachers here taught him better than the teachers there.


    There, he had gotten to know a few local ruffians. When they were chatting, he would intentionally or unintentionally reveal information about the flourishing business of the Qiao family in Tianshui Town.


    He described Madam Qiao¡¯s earning as if it was a continuous stream of gold that had fallen from the sky.


    He even told them about his hatred for Madam Qiao. The two of them immediately expressed that they would help him take revenge.


    The two ruffians were tempted. After a few days of investigation, it was really the case. Hence, the thief was caught that night.


    Tian Yaozu saw that Madam Qiao was fine and was still doing well, while the two people were in prison.


    He could not help but feel angry and hateful. He hated those two people for being so disappointing. They could not even deal with a woman. He was angry that Madam Qiao was still fine.


    Qiao Mai was even happier to see him like that. The angrier the enemy was, the happier she was.


    She could not help butugh out loud, attracting the attention of everyone around her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, what¡¯s the matter that makes you so happy?


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just found out that the two thieves that night were beaten twenty times by the county magistrate. I¡¯m especially happy since they were locked up in prison.¡±


    After saying that, she looked at Tian Yaozu and threw him a provocative look.


    He was so angry that he wanted toe up and fight with her. Unfortunately, he did not have the guts. If he came up and made a scene, it would obviously tell others that he was in cahoots with those two.


    Seeing Tian Yaozu leave angrily, Qiao Mai snorted coldly.


    It was impolite not to reciprocate. When she recuperated and adjusted her body to its best condition, she would definitely not let them have it easy.


    It was still early. She packed up her stall, returned home, put down her things, and went to see the two children first.


    They were still sleeping, and they were sleeping very soundly. Qiao Mai gently closed the door and went to the courtyard to close the door.


    Now that she had children at home, she could not just make do with the food.


    She boiled water in the pot and boiled half a pot of porridge. She took out a jar of pickled vegetables from the space and poured it into a te. Then, she put the empty jar back in its original ce.


    She came out to add more fodder and water to the winter dates, looked at the quails, and then went back to the house to call them.


    ¡°Yunfeng, Fengyun, wake up. It¡¯s time to eat. Eat before you go back to sleep.¡±


    The two kids sat up immediately. When they saw Qiao Mai, they rubbed their eyes in disbelief.


    ¡°Mother, I thought I was dreaming.¡±


    ¡°Mother, were you calling our names just now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, in the future, you will be called Yunfeng. You will be called Fengyun.


    You¡¯ll also follow my surname.¡±


    ¡°The name is very nice. Thank you, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Get up. Let¡¯s eat and rest early. We still have to get up early to exercise tomorrow.¡±


    With them, the living room would be useful. In the future, everything would have to be done properly.


    ¡°Your stomachs are not good, so you can¡¯t eat hard things for now. Can you eat white rice porridge first at night?¡±


    ¡°White porridge is already very good. We didn¡¯t have enough to eat at home in the past.¡±


    Qiao Mai scooped the porridge into arge pot and brought it to the table. There was arge te of pickled vegetables in the middle. She did not need to do anything. The two children came up, one scooped and the other brought it to her before scooping their own.


    Someone actually abandoned such good children. She had really picked up a treasure.


    If she did not start eating, the two children would not either. It seemed that their parents had taught them well. Their eyelids were lively and they were very obedient.


    Qiao Mai sniffed and picked up a piece of preserved vegetable with her chopsticks. ¡°Eat.


    ¡°Yes, Nother.¡±


    She took small sips of the porridge and looked at the two children. They ate the porridge as if they were drinking some delicious fruit juice, and her heart could not help but ache.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just eat porridge. Try this pickled vegetable. It¡¯s also very delicious.¡± The two of them carefully picked up the food, afraid that Qiao Mai would yell at them.


    The pickled vegetables were produced by a famous factory in her previous life. She would only eat a few mouthfuls when she was eating porridge.


    ¡°Mother, this pickled vegetable is so delicious.¡±


    ¡°Okay, eat it with the porridge. There¡¯s still some in the pot. If it¡¯s not enough, add more porridge. Remember, don¡¯t eat too much.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The two little fellows had big appetites. Qiao Mai was already full of a bowl of porridge, but they had eaten three bowls in a row.


    Looking at their bulging stomachs, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the courtyard to digest our food.¡±


    As she spoke, she stood up and went to wash the dishes. Fengyun and Yunfeng quickly took therge pot from her hands.


    ¡°Mother, leave this small task to us. We used to do it at home often, so we won¡¯t be tired.¡±


    What could she say? The two little ones were too diligent, which made her seem toozy.


    By the time she was done packing, the sky was already dark.


    ¡°Go to sleep. When you wake up tomorrow morning, Mother will arrange things for you to do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Seeing that they had returned to their own room, she smiled. Thinking about the two children at home, it was not a big deal to spend some money. There were many more interesting things to do, which made the entire courtyard more lively. It was worth it!


    She used his mind to look at Ling¡¯er. She had already woken up to y, unlike other children who would cry if they did not see their mother.


    Now, the entire town knew that she had adopted two children. In a few months, she could use this excuse to move Ling¡¯er out of the space and raise her openly by her side.


    In this way, she would have two brothers to dote on her. Even if she was no longer around in the future, she would not suffer any grievances.


    She would raise the three of them well and make them love each other. They were more than a family.


    It was dawn. She had nted another sweet potato fieldst night, and all the work had allowed her to sleep well.


    When she woke up, she saw that the two little fellows were already dressed and waiting for her in the courtyard.


    ¡°Mother, please instruct us to do something.¡±


    ¡°You two little fools, you are not servants of the family. You are mother¡¯s sons.¡±


    ¡°Then, Mother, what should we do?¡±

 Chapter 44 - 44: Not a Hint of Glory

    Chapter 44: Not a Hint of Glory


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°The first thing you do every morning is to brush your teeth, wash your face, and wash your hands.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s green salt on the windowsill. Dip your finger in the green salt and apply it to your teeth. Grind it back and forth a few times before rinsing your mouth. Remember not to swallow the salt water into your stomach.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    She washed up with her two sons and then took them for a run in the yard.


    When she practiced martial arts, she would let them watch from the side. After watching, they could try it out themselves.


    After three sets of training, she was already sweating profusely. She washed her face again before starting the fire.


    ¡°Mother, I know how to cook. Let me cook. What do you think we should cook?¡±


    There was not even a steamed bun at home. She thought for a while and said, ¡°Let¡¯s make some noodle soup. We don¡¯t have any dry food at home. Mother will go out and buy some today.¡±


    ¡°Mother, we know how to steam buns. Do we have yeast at home?¡±


    ¡°How old are you guys?¡±


    ¡°We used to help our mother used to make steamed buns at home, so we know how to make it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll borrow a steamer from the neighborter. You guys can try steaming some.¡±


    She heated up the pot and dug out a spoonful of pork fat. Then, put in some scallions, ginger, and garlic, filled half the pot with water, and then cracked six eggs In 11.


    Only then did she finish making half a bowl of noodles and stir them up. ¡°Which one of you is the older one?¡±


    ¡°Me, Qiao Fengyun.¡±


    ¡°Mmhm, Yun ¡®er, you¡¯re my eldest son and Feng¡¯ er, my second son.¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡±


    ¡°In the future, Mother will raise you well. You have to listen to Mother. If you feel that Mother is wrong, you can bring it up. You don¡¯t have to always listen to orders.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and saw that the pot was boiling. She put the noodles into the pot and stirred it gently. Then, she added half a spoonful of salt and finally cut a handful of green onion leaves.


    When the soup was almost done, he threw the green onions in. ¡°Turn off the fire. Perfect.¡±


    The brothers were very diligent. When the soup was ready, they immediately set up a table in the courtyard and ced the bowls and chopsticks.


    By the time Qiao Mai scooped the soup and brought it to the table, even the stool had been ced.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve worked hard!¡±


    ¡°Mmhm. Mother will have to cook the goods to sellter, you can just wash the pots and dishes and clean the yard. You don¡¯t have to do anything else. You¡¯re not allowed to go to the well, and you¡¯re not allowed to get water from the well. Mother saved you and doesn¡¯t want anything to happen to you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Six eggs, two for each of them. The two brothers ate very contentedly. Seeing that they had gotten used to the ce very quickly, she did not specially instruct them to do anything else.


    She then started to boil the corn, peanuts, and quail eggs on the charcoal stove.


    Now that the weather was not cold, there was no need to bring a charcoal stove. After cooking, she could just bring a big pot and put it on the table to sell.


    Up until now, she had never used the scale. Eggs were sold by the piece, peanuts were sold by the package, and a square piece of oil paper was sold for five cents per package.


    The corn was sold by the piece, the melons were sold by the piece, the strawberries were sold by the box, and the watermelons were sold by the piece.


    She never wasted any effort if she could save energy.


    Two hourster, all the goods were ready to be sold. She kept some of each item and ced them in a basin before bringing them to the table in the courtyard.


    ¡°After Mother leaves, you two will close the courtyard door. If it isn¡¯t Mother, don¡¯t open it no matter who it is. Mother has left some food for you on the table. If you are hungry, eat first. Mother wille back to see you at noon and bring some dry goods back.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mother.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    Qiao Mai moved the goods to the cart and pushed it away. Fengyun and Yunfeng watched her walk away before closing the courtyard.


    When they came back and sat at the table, the two of them looked at the table full of food, and tears flowed down their eyes again.


    ¡°This woman is really too good to us.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s treat her sincerely and be filial to her in the future.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we met a good person. Brother, look, the table is full of the goods she wants to sell. We walked around the town a few times and only the things at her stall were expensive. However, she prepared them just like that and ced them here for us to eat. It seems that she really treats us like her sons.¡±


    ¡°Brother, remember that she saved our lives. No matter how good or bad, we have to repay her, understand?¡±


    ¡°I understand. We¡¯ll be her sons in the future. We have to treat her well and be filial to her for the rest of our lives.


    ¡°Yes, eat whatever you like, but don¡¯t eat it all up. It¡¯s too expensive.¡±


    Qiao Mai naturally did not know what the two of them were talking about.


    After the stall opened, many people asked her about what happened yesterday.


    She smiled. ¡°Those two children were starving to death. Looking at them is like looking at the old me. I can¡¯t rest my conscience if I don¡¯t save them.¡±


    ¡°Your heart is so good!¡±


    Qiao Mai, who heard the praise, only grinned. Many people felt ashamed after hearing it. It was something that a little woman could do, but they ignored it and did not care about their lives.


    Qiao Mai did not care what others thought. In any case, from this day onwards, more and more people came to her stall to beg for food.


    As for her, she also gave it to the old, weak, sick, and disabled. If she gave them a copper coin, they could buy a steamed bun. The town was only so big, and there were only a few beggars. She knew almost all of them.


    As a result, Madam Qiao became the town¡¯s kindest person and news about how she always helped the poor spread.


    When the Tian family heard the news, they gritted their teeth in anger, especially the old couple.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to be so lucky. Not only did her business be so prosperous, but she also became famous in town?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. At that time, a piece of trash who was not even as good as a pig in our house actually changed her mind and became apletely different person. She even ruined our reputation.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s rich now, but our family can¡¯t even get any glory.¡±


    ¡°If only my third son was here.¡±


    ¡°I regret letting her go. Damn it, I¡¯m so angry.¡±


    Not to mention the Tian family, Qiao Shicheng was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely.


    ¡°This ingrate would rather raise two beggars than help her family. She would rather give money to the beggars than to our family. She really gave birth to her for nothing. This money-losing thing! I¡¯m so angry. No, I have to go find her now.¡±


    ¡°Hubby, we, but¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you going?¡±


    ¡°If you want to go, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s call them together. I¡¯ll let everyone judge today. Let¡¯s see how this little girl can argue.¡±


    In order to find Qiao Mai as soon as possible to vent their anger, they were actually willing to spend money to take the ox cart.


    When the driver heard that they were going to Tianshui Town to cause trouble for Qiao Mai, he immediately shook his head.


    ¡°Old Brother, I advise you not to go.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Breaking off ties is breaking off ties. You won¡¯t be a family anymore. Whatever she wants to do is her business. It has nothing to do with you anymore. It¡¯s too unreasonable for you to make a fuss like this.¡±


    ¡°Pah, even if she turns into ashes, she¡¯s still my daughter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but that¡¯s not the case in thew. If you cause a ruckus, the mayor will judge you for being unreasonable.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. I want to talk to her personally.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, if you want to go, then go. Do you need me to fetch you backter too?¡±


    ¡°Wait for a while, maybe we¡¯ll need you.¡±


    The coachman pulled them to their destination. After the Qiao family got off the carriage, he quickly drove the ox cart not far away to watch.


    When Qiao Mai saw them, she immediately stood up and put the embroidery into the basket.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Qiao Shicheng stepped forward and was about to p Qiao Mai, but Qiao Mai blocked him with one hand.


    She bent down to pick up the stick under the table and looked at Qiao Shicheng¡¯s family with a cold face.


    ¡°Whoever is free can invite the mayor over. I¡¯ll give you anything you want from my stall.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Qiao Shicheng looked at Qiao Mai and pointed at her with a trembling hand.


    ¡°You, you¡­¡±


    Inadvertently, Shopkeeper Lu nced outside. She was in a bad mood. She quickly put down his work and rushed over.


    She blocked Qiao Mai behind her. ¡°Your family is really shameless. You¡¯ve already taken the silver and written a letter to end your rtionship, yet you stille to cause trouble. How shameless..¡±

 Chapter 45 - 45: We Don ‘t Want to Break Off Our Relationship

    Chapter 45: We Don ¡®t Want to Break Off Our Rtionship


    (1)


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Shicheng¡¯s eyes were red from anger.


    ¡°Why? I¡¯m her father. Even if I break off my ties, I¡¯m still her father. Why can¡¯t Ie and look for her?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite unreasonable. When the Tian family bullied her back then, why didn¡¯t you go to the Tian family to cause trouble like this?¡±


    ¡°I, I didn¡¯t know about this.¡± He instantly felt guilty.


    ¡°And after knowing? Have you been there?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already divorced, so what I can do?¡±


    ¡°Your Qiao family bullies the weak and fears the strong. You¡¯re a tyrant in your own nest and only know how to bully your own family.¡±


    ¡°This good-for-nothing would rather adopt someone else than help her family. She would rather give money to outsiders than her own family. Why can¡¯t I


    e and settle scores with her?¡±


    ¡°I bought those two children and ced them by her side for her to raise. I gave the beggar money because I wanted to be kind. I asked her to give it to them. What does my money have to do with the Qiao family?


    ¡°I don¡¯t like you guys, so what if I don¡¯t let her give it to you? Compensate you? I remember that she earned 100 catties of wheat for your family and worked like a cow at your house.¡±


    ¡°She started working when she was little until she was fourteen. Just a while ago, you sold her for ten taels of silver. How did she make you lose money? What? At that time, the mayor was the witness.¡±


    ¡°Are you still trying to cheat? If you sell her, she won¡¯t belong to your family anymore. You old fart, don¡¯t have any ideas about my people. Be careful or I¡¯ll make your family suffer awsuit.¡±


    Lu Sanniang bombarded the Qiao family members with a barrage of attacks, causing them to be dumbfounded. They no longer had the arrogance they had before they came.


    ¡°I, I¡­ You¡¯re unreasonable!¡±


    This sentence almost made everyone presentugh. Lu Sanniang pointed at Qiao Shicheng¡¯s nose.


    ¡°Everyone, take a look. This shameless old man sold his daughter and broke off his ties with her. Now, he¡¯s jealous when he sees her setting up a stall. He even wants his daughter to give him the money. Everyone, please judge. Why? Who owns this stall? It¡¯s mine, and even the taxes are collected from me. How did it be the Qiao family¡¯s? Ah?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Your Qiao family is too shameless. If you break off your ties then so be it. In the future, you¡¯ll be strangers. Why can you still keep thinking about your daughter¡¯s money? This stall belongs to Boss Lu. Boss Lu only has the


    final say in the money he earns.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Even if this stall really belongs to Madam Qiao, it has nothing to do with your family. Why are you so stubborn?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Why is the Qiao family so unreasonable? They¡¯re still pretending to be obedient after getting a bargain. After your daughter marries, she¡¯ll no longer be a member of the Qiao family. It¡¯s their duty to be filial to you, but you can¡¯t say anything even if they¡¯re not filial. You don¡¯t put hopes on your son, but you suck your daughter¡¯s blood all day long!¡±


    ¡°You guys, you guys!¡±


    Qiao Shicheng¡¯s eyes turned ck and he wanted to faint. At this moment, the Qiao brothers, Qiao Jiang and Qiao He, gave their wives a look and the two immediately urged their children to kneel down in front of Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Auntie, Auntie, I beg you. Don¡¯t ignore the Qiao family. We can¡¯t afford to eat anymore.¡± These words sounded scripted.


    Before Qiao Mai and Lu Sanniang could speak, the crowd was filled with usations.


    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t afford to eat? Thest time you came, your clothes were new and you had a silver hairpin on your head.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. We all saw it. Stop pretending to be poor. Even if you can¡¯t afford to eat, don¡¯te here and call yourself poor. It¡¯s your father who¡¯s ipetent. Your aunt already sold herself and now she¡¯s in someone else¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a shameless family.¡±


    The faces of the Qiao family were being roasted by the people of Tianshui Town, but they only wanted to get money for themselves, so they had to endure it.


    At this moment, the mayor arrived. The guards cleared the way and the old man walked out from the crowd.


    ¡°How dare you, Qiao Shicheng?! You¡¯vee to the town to cause trouble before. I¡¯ll let you off once, but I won¡¯t let you off the hook a second time. Men, tie me up and take me to the county government office for interrogation.¡±


    His words scared the members of the Qiao family and they quickly knelt down. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re innocent!¡±


    ¡°You broke your ties, and I was the witness. You¡¯ve taken the money, but are you not admitting it?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t want to break off our rtionship anymore.¡±


    ¡°Going back on your word? Alright, return the twenty taels of silver Shopkeeper Lu spent on her, plus the ten taels she gave you to her. Then, the sale contract and the promissory note can be given back to you, and you can take her away.


    How about that?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have money.¡±


    ¡°Are you guys trying to fool me? Men, take him away!¡±


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯re innocent. Even if we¡¯ve broken our ties, we¡¯re still her family. How can she give the money to someone else and not help her family?¡±


    The mayor was also angered by their facy andughed. ¡°The money is Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s, and it was Shopkeeper Lu who gave it to others. What does it have to do with Lady Qiao?¡±


    Qiao Shicheng pointed at the stall. ¡°This isn¡¯t Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s. This is hers.¡± Qiao Maiughed. ¡°Even if this stall is mine, what does it have to do with you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my daughter. The money you earn belongs to the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°You really are shameless. Hurry up and get lost. Otherwise, I¡¯ll sue you for affecting my business andpensate me for my losses.¡±


    ¡°You unfilial thing.¡±


    The mayor could not take it anymore. He waved his hand at the guards, who rushed over to the Qiao family and tied up Qiao Shicheng, who was leading the trouble.


    Qiao He and Qiao Jiang did not even dare to let out a fart. They watched helplessly as the guards took Qiao Shicheng away.


    Madam Qiao Lu was so frightened that she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the mayor.


    ¡°Sorry, we were wrong. We won¡¯te again. Please let my husband go.¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t teach him a lesson, he will treat thew as a decoration. Breaking off the marriage is just breaking off the marriage. Unless she herself is willing, no one can force her.¡±


    ¡°Kneel down before your sister.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the Qiao family members who were kneeling on the ground and sneered. ¡°We¡¯ve cut our ties. Even if you kneel to death today, I won¡¯t say anything good for him. Get lost!¡±


    ¡°You, you cold-hearted woman! He¡¯s your father!¡±


    ¡°In my heart, the Qiao family is all dead. I have no parents, no siblings.¡±


    ¡°You, you, I¡¯ll fight it out with you!¡±


    The war was about to start, and Lu Sanniang shouted at the mayor.


    ¡°Old man, stop watching the show. Hurry up and help!¡±


    The mayor smiled and said, ¡°If you didn¡¯t say anything, I won¡¯t help! However, since you¡¯ve asked, I¡¯ll help you with this.¡±


    He waved at the guards again, and the Qiao family was subdued in no time.


    For the sake of thew, the mayor did not send them to the county office. Instead, he did it in front of the people.


    After beating Qiao Shicheng twenty times, the children were spared, but the others were beaten ten times and dragged to the town sign in the north. They were warned by the guards that they coulde to Tianshui Town, but if they caused trouble again, they would not be beaten but sent to jail.


    The ox cart stopped in front of Qiao Shicheng. ¡°Big Brother Qiao, are we still taking the cart?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Brother, help us get into the car.¡±


    The others were better off as they could get on the ox-cart by themselves. Qiao Shichengy on the ox-cart while the driver sat in front. The ox-cart started moving.


    ¡°Give me the money. It¡¯s twenty copper coins for a round trip. If you don¡¯t give it, get out of the car and walk back.¡±


    The coachman was also quite angry. He could not stand the Qiao family¡¯s actions anymore, so he said this.


    Left with no other choice, Madam Qiao took out twenty copper coins from the purse at her waist and handed it over to the coachman.


    ¡°Brother Qiao, I advised you not toe here before we came over, but you were so stubborn.¡±


    Qiao Shicheng endured the pain in his body and his neck was still stiff.


    ¡°I¡¯m her father!¡±


    ¡°You still know that you¡¯re her father? Which parents don¡¯t love their children? Which parent will suck their daughter¡¯s blood? You already sold her but still want to take her earnings?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    The coachman knew that he was not convinced. ¡°You still don¡¯t listen to my advice. If you suffer losses in the future, just bear with it. We¡¯re all from the same vige, so I¡¯m trying to persuade you. Your family should take care of yourselves. You really don¡¯t know sh*t. You treat thew like a child¡¯s y. What do you think would have happened if you didn¡¯t get beaten up?¡±


    The coachman kept on nagging. He could not stand it anymore.

 Chapter 46 - 46: Just Call Me Big Brother Yuan

    Chapter 46: Just Call Me Big Brother Yuan


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai¡¯s stall was no longer lively. The people had dispersed and the mayor came to the stall.


    ¡°You owe me another favor. The Full Moon Festival ising, why don¡¯t you give me some gifts?¡± said the mayor.


    Lu Sanniang raised her eyebrows. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Fresh food. What did you think?¡± Then, he turned around and left with a smile.


    Qiao Maiughed. ¡°Sis, is this another glutton?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s already so old, but he¡¯s still greedy. Since he wants to eat, why don¡¯t you get him something fresh?¡±


    ¡°When is the Full Moon Festival?¡±


    ¡°August 15th, ten days to go.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let me think. Do we have mooncakes here?¡±


    ¡°There are no mooncakes, but pastries. They are round and look like the moon. Actually, it doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t celebrate it. No one from the farmer families celebrates it. Only rich families celebrate it when they have to worship the moon, set up tables, and offer tributes.¡± ¡°The mayor is from a rich family, right?¡± ¡°Yes, he came from a really rich family.¡±


    ¡°Is there something between you and the mayor?¡±


    Lu Sanniang rolled her eyes guiltily. ¡°What could happen? He¡¯s an old man, and I don¡¯t like him, hmph!


    Qiao Mai smiled and took a deep breath. She sat down and took out the embroidery from the basket.


    Shopkeeper Lu sat beside her. ¡°How are those two children at your house?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re pretty good and very hardworking. Help me keep an eye on the stall at noon. I¡¯ll go buy some things to go home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so good to them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good to you too. Come to my house on August 15th. I¡¯ve learned a few dishes recently and I¡¯ll cook them for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu returned to the shop, and the small stall regained its peace.


    At noon, Qiao Mai bought ten filled buns and ten steamed buns from the bun shop and carried a basket home.


    The two little ones were sitting obediently in the courtyard. When they heard the knock on the door, they quickly opened it.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother is busy during the day, but I bought you some buns. Boiled half a pot of water and let¡¯s eat together.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mother.¡±


    One of them went to boil water while the other brought a stool over. Qiao Mai ced the buns on the table and the steamed buns in the kitchen.


    The eldest son ced three bowls on the table. ¡°Mother, there¡¯s nothing to do at home. Why don¡¯t we help you look after the stall? This way, Mother can free up her hands to do something else.¡±


    ¡°How can there be nothing to do? There are many little quails in the east and west rooms that need you to take care of.¡±


    ¡°Quails?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai saw his second son adding firewood to the stove and waved at him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Mother will bring you to take a look.¡±


    When they opened a room in the east wing, the two children opened their mouths and said after seeing so many quails.


    ¡°¡®l¡¯ney¡¯re so small, so many.¡±


    ¡°Yes, take care of them at home, clean up their feces, and pick up their eggs. If they don¡¯t have enough food or water, give them more. The day will soon go by.¡±


    ¡°That work is really too little. Mother, arrange something else for us.¡±


    ¡°Have you studied before?¡±


    The two of them shook their heads. Qiao Mai continued, ¡°Do you want to study?¡±


    Their eyes lit up, but they soon became dull again.


    ¡°Mother saved us, but we have nothing to repay you. You even raised us, and we don¡¯t know what to do to be at ease. If we continue to study, we will really feel guilty.¡±


    ¡°Take care of your body first. After the New Year, Mother will send you to school, okay? It¡¯s the school in our town, and it¡¯s very close.¡±


    ¡°Is it really possible?¡±


    ¡°Why not? You guys should work hard at home and study hard outside. When you grow up and have a bright future, it¡¯s the best gift to repay Mother.¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡± The two little ones cried again.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m truly raising you as my sons. It¡¯s good that you know that. Mother can understand your feelings. Let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. Eat. The water is boiling.¡±


    The two little ones swallowed their saliva when they heard the word meat buns.


    At this moment, the door rang. Qiao Mai asked them to eat buns, so she went to open the door.


    ¡°Uh, Young Master Yuan?¡±


    ¡°What Young Master? Just call me Big Brother Yuan. I¡¯m a few years older than you. I¡¯ve made the sign and was about to send it to you.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the rectangr sign in her arms. The words on it were neat and could be seen at a nce from afar.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    He handed the sign over and Qiao Mai took it. He then cupped his hands and turned to leave.


    Qiao Mai raised her eyebrows and looked at the signboard in her arms. It was quite cost-effective to exchange a bowl of dumplings for a signboard.


    She put the signboard aside and came back to eat with the children.


    The buns were delicious, the two of them ate happily. They actually ate three of them to be full and even drank a bowl of water.


    ¡°Mother, leave the cooking to us in the future. When youe back, you can just eat ready-made food, right?¡± ¡°Do you know how to cook?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know how to steam steamed buns, let alone stir-fry. I¡¯m just afraid that Mother will not find it not delicious.¡¯


    ¡°How can that be? You¡¯re still young. Practice more and it¡¯ll taste better. Just don¡¯t let the oil ssh on your body when you cook.¡±


    ¡°We will be careful.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll start tomorrow. I¡¯ll buy the ingredients. We have rice, flour, oil, and seasoning at home. You can use them. I want to see if my sons can cook!¡± ¡°Alright, I promise to let Mothere back and eat delicious food.¡±


    At seven years old, children from poor families were already sensible. The poverty of their lives made them learn to do housework early.


    She remembered seeing a child on the inte. At the age of five, he could already steam steamed buns and cook some home-cooked dishes. That was in the 21st century.


    Not to mention the children here. Since the children were willing to do it, she would give them a chance.


    She could not let them stay idle and let them develop the habit of always relying on adults for everything.


    When she came back from the stall at night, the two children had already heated up the steamed buns. They did not stir-fry anything since there were no ingredients. Instead, they boiled a pot of hot water.


    ¡°Mother, why don¡¯t you wash up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll cook first. Mother bought a piece of meat for you to eat tonight.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Qiao Mai was cutting meat in the kitchen. Actually, the meat and vegetables were all in the space, so she could just take them out.


    In the evening, she made a big te of stir-fried meat with beans. The children were still growing, so eggs and meat could not be left out. She decided to eat eggs in the morning, and meat in the afternoon and evening.


    The beans were soft, and the meat slices were fat but not greasy. The two little fellows ate with oily mouths.


    To be able to follow Qiao Mai was something they could never have dreamed of.


    At night, she apanied them for a walk to digest their food.


    ¡°When the weather is hot, you have to wash up every morning and evening. When the weather is cold, you have to wash up every five days. Can you do that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Sleep!¡±


    The days passed just like that. Qiao Mai was afraid that the two little fellows would be bored, so he bought an introductory book from the bookstore for them to read.


    When they came back at night, she would teach them how to read. Although the ancient and modern characters were different, the content was the same. For example, she knew the Three Character ssic. She would be able to recognize all the characters byparing them with the ones she had


    memorized. That way, there would be no problem teaching the children.


    First, they had to have some foundation. Only when they reached the academy would the teacher like them.


    Everyone in town knew that she had bought books for her children, so they went crazy.


    Not only did he have to adopt two children, but he also had to provide for their education. Was Madam Qiao crazy? She was still young, but she had to support her own child¡¯s education? That money was not earned easily.


    After she opened the stall, many people came to ask her about this matter.


    Qiao Mai rolled his eyes. ¡°In this world, biological children were not necessarily filial. When they get old, children will despise the elderly. There were many who did not care about the elderly. Who dared to say that their own children were good?¡±


    Her words shut them up.


    She could not bring herself to say something like no matter how unfilial her children were, they were still her own flesh and blood..

 Chapter 47 - 47: Household Registration Done

    Chapter 47: Household Registration Done


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai pursed his lips. ¡°Let me tell you, my two children are grateful. If I treat them well, they will naturally treat me well. Perhaps they will treat me better than if they were biological children.¡±


    It really was like this. Although filial piety was important in the Great Ming Dynasty, there were many unfilial people.


    This was especially true for those in the countryside. Only those who studied would pay attention to this, afraid that it would affect their career.


    There were also those who were good by nature and were filial to the elderly. For those vicious families, the elderly would not have a good ending when they were old.


    Anyway, the money belonged to Madam Qiao, so who she was willing to spend her money on was her business. After thinking it through, no one said anything.


    After Tian Yaozu found out about this, he was so angry that he wanted to stand on the roof and curse.


    ¡®It¡¯s not enough for you to humiliate me, but do you want to adopt someone else¡¯s son and study in the same school as me?¡¯ He gritted his teeth and was so angry that he smashed everything in the room.


    This made Tian Laoshi and his wife¡¯s hearts bleed. The whole family had been saving money to provide for him, but he would smash things when he was angry. How much money would he waste?


    How many possessions did he have to throw like this? They were really going to die of anger.


    It was all that sl*t¡¯s fault. Why did she want a divorce? She could have just worked for the Tian family for the rest of her life.


    They had kindly given let her divorce, but she did not stay quiet. She was doing business, adopting children, and now she even had to pay for her children¡¯s education.


    It was clearly done for the Tian family to see. If they wanted to study in the same school as his grandson, there was no way, absolutely no way.


    His grandson was right to be angry. If it were them, they would never let that b*tch¡¯s sons go to school.


    In order to appease their grandson, the family sat together and discussed for a while before deciding to give a gift to the teacher in the school.


    The Tian family gritted their teeth and spent a tael of silver to prepare what they thought was a generous gift. They asked Tian Yaozu to send it over.


    The teacher was not very happy after seeing it. He heard Tian Yaozu secretly talk about Madam Qiao sending her son to school.


    He immediately knew what was going on. He looked at Tian Yaozu with a serious expression, his heart filled with disappointment.


    However, he did not reprimand him on the surface because he had watched this child grow up. This child would definitely be able to pass the imperial examination next year. As long as he worked hard, he would still be a schr.


    He suppressed his anger and said, ¡°Yaozu, I appreciate your kindness. In the future, you have to be more open-minded. Madam Qiao has left your family and has nothing to do with your family. Don¡¯t worry about whether her sons go to school or not. Focus on your studies. You will definitely pass the imperial examination next year.¡±


    Tian Yaozu lowered his head and said impatiently, ¡°Teacher, I know, but if they want toe to the school, I will definitely not be able to focus on my studies. When I see them, I will definitely think of the time when she humiliated me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll temporarily say that I won¡¯t recruit students.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    After Tian Yaozu left, his teacher sighed. ¡°How can you achieve great things in the future if you¡¯re so narrow-minded?¡±


    Qiao Shicheng had also heard about it. Now, as long as it was about Qiao Mai, someone would always be the first to reach his ears.


    Hearing this, he spat out a mouthful of blood.


    He roared angrily, ¡°I will never forgive her even if I die. I will never forgive her even if I die. This wretched girl is an ingrate!¡±


    In the end, he still did not die. After the doctor came, he took his pulse and said that it was a good thing. The knot in his heart had also dissipated after vomiting blood. Otherwise, he would have been seriously ill.


    Who knew this would be a blessing in disguise for Qiao Chengshi? Was God blind?


    The heavens were not blind. If he died, there would be no hope. How could he make trouble for Qiao Mai and add color to Qiao Mai¡¯s boring life?


    Initially, Qiao Mai had the intention to send the two children to school, but a few dayster, the teacher in the school actually spread the news that he would not ept students for the time being, which made her feel stifled.


    Needless to say, that b*stard must have done something behind his back.


    Did the teacher of this school have to go so far for Tian Yaozu? With his character, he would not be able to go far.


    Both of her sons were better than that fellow. It was true. Forget it, if they did not go to school, her two sons would still study.


    After thinking about it for a while, she decided that a child did not need to have a high education level to be enlightened. It was fine as long as he knew how to read. Her next-door neighbor, Chuan¡¯er¡¯s father, was very good at teaching his child. Why not spend money to hire him to teach?


    It just so happened that she was not at home during the day, so he coulde to the house to teach the child during the day, and he can leave when she went back at night. It would not attract criticism, and it was the best of both worlds. The more she thought about it, the more he felt that this was feasible. It was going to be the 15th of August soon, and she was inviting the Yuan father and son, as well as the Chen mother and son, to treat them at home.


    With so many people, nothing should happen.


    There were still five days until August 15th.


    She took some time to go to the carpenter shop and ordered a few mooncake molds. She nned to make some mooncakes on August 15th as a gift.


    On the way back, she happened to bump into the mayor¡¯s guards who were looking for her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Here, the household registration is done. There are also the deeds of your house. Take a look.¡±


    Qiao Mai counted the items in front of the guard, then casually took out a piece of silver from her purse and stuffed it into the guard¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. If there¡¯s anything you need in the future, just let me know.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Qiao Mai, who had obtained the household register, could finally heave a sigh of relief.


    Without a household register, she was like a leaf floating in the air. Wherever shended, she would feel like a hindrance. However, with it, she felt that even if she was a leaf, she would still be in her own home. She finally had a sense of belonging.


    Not only that, but if that Tian Sanzhuang came back in the future, there was no need to pester him.


    She was a woman, so how could that man barge in?


    Even if he wanted to, she would not give him a chance. The Qiao Mai of the past was dead, and the Qiao Mai of the present couldn¡¯t even be bothered with the school hunk of the 21st century, let alone Tian Sanzhuang, who was just an ordinary person.


    As she was in a hurry, she paid extra for the mooncake mold. The mold was made the next day.


    There were a total of five types of fillings for the mooncakes. All of them had flowers and words on them. The vors were nut, ck sesame, chestnuts, red bean paste, and jujube paste.


    She had learned these five kinds of fillings online in advance and had prepared the ingredients.


    Everything was ready, and all that was missing was the east wind.


    Two days before the Full Moon Festival, she did not go out to the stall. She made mooncakes at home while the two little fellows helped her.


    Needless to say, these two little people were really good at doing housework.


    Although the taste of the stir-fried dishes was a little bad, the house was very clean and no one could find any fault with it.


    Therefore, she did not want to dampen their enthusiasm for making mooncakes this time. If they were willing to do it, then so be it.


    After the three of them prepared all the ingredients, Qiao Mai began to make the mooncakes. One by one, the exquisite and beautiful mooncakes revealed their original shapes in the mold.


    The two little fellows looked on happily. ¡°Mother, there are five kinds of fillings in total?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you will be able to eat it in a while.¡±


    She put the mooncakes into the temporary oven she had set up in the courtyard. In order not to waste every mooncake, she tried one in the oven first.


    She had never done it before. No matter what, she had to try it.


    Baking mooncakes depended on the fillings. For ordinary mooncakes, fifteen to twenty minutes would do.


    If it were meat filling or puff pastry skin, it¡¯s important to bake it for a long time. Time is important, and heat is more important.


    She heated the charcoal under the oven and opened a small gap to take a look after five minutes. After fifteen minutes, the color of the mooncake began to turn brown, but she felt that it was still not enough, so she baked it for another five minutes.


    Only then did she feel that it was fine. She put on her homemade cotton gloves and took the mooncake out of the oven.


    ¡°Wow, it smells so good.¡±


    Qiao Mai asked Fengyun to bring a te. She ced the mooncake on it and cut it into three pieces with a knife.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s try it together.¡±


    ¡°Mother, this ck thing inside is ck sesame?¡±


    ¡°Yes, although it¡¯s ck, it tastes pretty good.¡±


    The three of them picked up the mooncake with their chopsticks and blew on it before taking a bite carefully.


    ¡°The outer skin is so soft. The inside isn¡¯t very sweet. It¡¯s delicious..¡±

 Chapter 48 - 48: The Pig’s Contribution Was Great

    Chapter 48: The Pig¡¯s Contribution Was Great


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Save your stomachs forter. I¡¯ll let you taste one piece at a time. This thing isn¡¯t sweet, but there¡¯s a lot of sugar in it. In order to protect your teeth, you can¡¯t eat too much at once.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    With this attempt, her confidence increased greatly. Next, she started baking twenty of them in a batch.


    The fragrance of the mooncakes made the neighbors on the left and right swallow their saliva.


    What was Madam Qiao doing? It was even more fragrant than the snacks from the shops in town.


    They wanted to go over, but they felt embarrassed and endured it for an entire day.


    For the entire day, she did not do anything but bake mooncakes. The family of three had mooncakes for lunch and dinner, except for breakfast.


    It was not that she could not care less about cooking, but she wanted to try out every mooncake.


    In the evening, Qiao Mai emptied a few wooden boxes, wiped them clean, lined them with white cloth, and stacked the mooncakes inside.


    One box cost 100 yuan. The three boxes of mooncakes cost 300 yuan. There were more than 20 different mooncakes outside. She had saved them for the children.


    After she moved the box into her room, she ced it directly into the space. Only in the space would it not change its smell and maintain its freshness. After a tiring day, Qiao Mai put the remaining mooncakes in the children¡¯s room and gave them a few fruits.


    ¡°Eat some if you¡¯re tired. Mother won¡¯t cook tonight.¡±


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°You guys have also worked hard.¡±


    After closing the door for the child, she tidied up the courtyard and went back to her room to sleep.


    The next day was the first day of the Full Moon Festival.


    She used a custom-made rectangr wooden box to store the mooncakes. Each box had five kinds of mooncakes, and there were twelve pieces in it, with six pieces peryer.


    She packed a total of 25 boxes and prepared to give them as gifts.


    The families who helped her catch the thief that day had a box each. She did not send it to them personally. Instead, she sent her two sons to give it to everyone who came to help that day.


    She gave the neighbor on the right three boxes because the house was rented by three families.


    Yuan Jiaqi was both surprised and not surprised when he received the gift box.


    Although he did not help her catch the thief, he exined the reason and even personally made a signboard for her. It was expected that she would give him a gift.


    Madam Chen was also very surprised to receive the gift. In short, everyone concluded that the gift from Madam Qiao was a thank-you gift for helping to catch the thief.


    Qiao Mai sent out nearly ten boxes to the neighbors alone. As for the remaining fifteen boxes, she kept three boxes in her space and personally delivered five boxes to the shop and handed them to Lu Sanniang.


    After receiving the gift, Lu Sanniang was very happy. She immediately opened it and shared it with her family. Everyone said that it was delicious.


    Qiao Mai smiled and carried five boxes of mooncakes in one hand and two boxes in the other. She went to the mayor¡¯s house and handed the five boxes of mooncakes to the guard.


    ¡°Big Brother, please send this gift to the mayor. I won¡¯t go in.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Not long after the guards came out, Qiao Mai handed the two boxes of mooncakes to the two guards.


    ¡°I¡¯ve troubled the two of you a lot. It¡¯s just a little token of my appreciation. It¡¯s a holiday. I made it myself. Try it.¡± ¡°Aha, there¡¯s still a share for us?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Qiao Mai bid them farewell and went home. Although she had not opened the stall for the past two days, she did not lose anything. Everyone in town knew where she lived and went straight to her house to buy things.


    Forget about the corn and peanuts, but fruits could not be missing during the festival.


    If they wanted to eat fresh and good food, they could only look for her. Therefore, she sold a lot of goods at home.


    Especially since she had added oranges, apples, pears, grapes, and other fruits during the Full Moon Festival. After resting for two days, she actually sold more goods than usual.


    Fengyun and Yunfeng also benefited a lot. They would be able to eat whatever goods that Qiao Mai had in stock.


    After delivering the gifts, she began to prepare the ingredients for tomorrow¡¯s treat.


    There were quite a number of people who came. There were five from the Lu family, two from the neighbors on the left, two from the neighbors on the right, and three from her own family. There were a total of twelve people.


    The two tables had to be put together to avoid being forced to sit down.


    If it was just passable, then so be it. Eating well was the main thing. Twelve people, twelve dishes, and each dish had to berge.


    For this, she even made a list.


    She threw away the home-cooked dishes she usually ate and made a garlic pork knuckle. They usually ate stewed pork, so she changed the way she cooked it.


    She had pork ears in the freezer, and the pork body had already taken up two dishes. Dried pork intestines and steamed pork with rice flour had reced the braised pork. This was not greasy.


    With the garlic ribs, pork took up five dishes. It could be seen that the pig¡¯s contribution was great.


    If she had pork, then she would have chicken. Since she had children, then she would try to reduce the spiciness. She would have a braised chicken and a fish. The fish would be crispy, and the bones would be soft so that they would not make the children choke.


    Seven dishes, still far from twelve.


    These few seem to be meat, so she had to have a few vegetarian dishes.


    She had tofu, so she cooked it with scallion oil and some sauce. In this era, there was no sesame sauce, but there was sesame. This was not far from sesame sauce. It wouldn¡¯t be too strange if something new came out.


    There were only three dishes left. Then, she made fruit sd. The children would definitely like it.


    There were some shrimps in the market during this season. Buying two catties, picking them up, and stir-frying them with leeks was also a good dish. There was still one more dish to go, which gave her a headache. The small town only sold these few dishes, and there were not many.


    After thinking, she thought she could make a ck fungus sd. The dry food store sold this, so it was normal for her this.


    Once the menu for the twelve dishes was done, she immediately carried the basket and went shopping.


    Her sons wanted to go along and help her carry some things, so the three of them each carried a basket.


    She had spent a lot of effort buying in the market for this meal.


    When she came back, she asked Fengyun to steam half a pot of rice, then cooked braised pork and vegetables for them.


    After eating, the three of them did not rest. They began to prepare the ingredients. After they were done, Qiao Mai kept them in her space to keep them fresh.


    Then, he washed all the fruits in a basin.


    The Full Moon Festival here was the modern Mid -Autumn Festival, but the meaning was different.


    In modern times, the emphasis was on family reunions. This was the day of the year when the moon was the fullest, also known as the Moon God Festival.


    Since others were celebrating, she would celebrate with them. It was just a festival, so they could gather together for fun.


    That night, Qiao Mai personally went to Madam Chen and invited her toe home in the afternoon of the Full Moon Festival to have a meal together to celebrate the festival.


    Madam Chen was very surprised and happy that she was invited to agree.


    On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi seemed to have something on his mind. ¡°Lady


    Qiao, who did you invite?¡±


    ¡°Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s family, Madam Chen and her son, and then you and your son.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all women, so isn¡¯t it inconvenient for me to go?¡±


    ¡°Who said they are all women?¡±


    ¡°Is there another man?¡±


    ¡°My sons! You should have heard about them, right? And your son, and Miss Chen¡¯s son. Aren¡¯t they all men?¡±


    Only then did Yuan Jiaqi reveal an embarrassed smile. His two rows of neat white teeth really dazzled Qiao Mai. He looked really good when he smiled.


    ¡°I might not be able toe tomorrow, but I might stille.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Is something wrong at home?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to buy a gift for the festival and will have to go back home. If I don¡¯t stay at home overnight, I should be able to rush back in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll wait for you. Also, I have something to talk to you about.¡± ¡°Please speak!¡±


    ¡°I want to ask you to teach my two sons how to read. Can you do that?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve only learned a little, so how can I teach the children?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just the basics. It¡¯s good enough that they can read and write. I haven¡¯t thought about their imperial examinations. If they are talented, it won¡¯t be toote to send them to school. If you teach them, it¡¯ll be two taels of silver a month. You can only teach them for an afternoon or a morning. It just so happens that your Chuan¡¯er will also learn with them. If Madam Chen¡¯s son wants to learn, she can also bring him along. I just want my children to be able to read and write.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let them go to the school in town?¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes and could not help butin.


    ¡°I wanted to send the children there, but my enemy¡¯s grandson is studying there. His teacher temporarily stopped epting students because of him. He only did this after hearing about my ns..¡±

 Chapter 49 - 49: Family Is the Most Important

    Chapter 49: Family Is the Most Important


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I see. I originally had nothing to do. I usually spend my days copying books at home. The child is young and can¡¯t leave me. If Madam Qiao doesn¡¯t mind, I will ept this task.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s a deal. From now on, you¡¯ll be the teacher of my two sons.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for them to acknowledge me as their teacher. I¡¯ll just teach them casually for now.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start after the Full Moon Festival.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach in the morning. The early birds catch the worm. After breakfast, I¡¯ll bring my son over. Every day, I¡¯ll teach for 2 hours in the morning. If it¡¯s too long, they will be tired of studying. In the afternoon, I¡¯ll let them take an afternoon nap, y for a while, and do some housework. It¡¯s time for their bodies to grow.¡±


    ¡°No problem, it¡¯s settled. What do you need to buy?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a basic books?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Just prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Soon, the matter was settled. Both of them felt that it was quite fun to talk to each other, and their impression of each other improved.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned home and Chuan¡¯er was eating mooncakes in the house.


    ¡°Dad, is Auntie Qiao looking for you?¡±


    He tapped the child¡¯s nose. ¡°Something¡¯s up. Something good.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Auntie Qiao invited us to her house for dinner tomorrow. She even said that she would invite me to teach her sons to study in the future.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. I can eat delicious fruits again.¡±


    ¡°Your Auntie Qiao¡¯s cooking skills are also good.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. The dumplings are delicious, and so are the pancakes. Perhaps


    Auntie¡¯s stir-fried vegetables are also delicious.¡±


    ¡°You little foodie!¡±


    ¡°Hehe!¡±


    Chuan¡¯er broke off a piece of mooncake and ced it in Yuan Jiaqi hand. ¡°Dad, you should eat too. You¡¯ve lost weight recently.¡±


    ¡°Father doesn¡¯t like sweet things.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t sweet. Why don¡¯t you try it?¡±


    Unable to resist his son¡¯s coaxing and pestering, he took a bite and tasted it.


    The sweetness of the mooncake and the softness of the filling immediately conquered him. Yuan Jiaqi was stunned. He did not expect this cake to be so delicious.


    The fragrance that came out yesterday should be from this. He really did not expect her, who was usually so busy with business, to have such craftsmanship.


    With such craftsmanship, why would she set up a stall to sell those? He could have just opened a shop to sell this. It would definitely sell well.


    If those pastry shops knew about her craftsmanship, they would definitelye to buy her recipe. If they could not, they would try to force her to submit. Should he warn her?


    Yuan Jiaqi frowned. He did not realize that this was the first time he was worried about a woman.


    After thinking about it, he still felt that it was better to warn her.


    Hence, he carried Chuan¡¯er and went over.


    Qiao Mai was very surprised to see this. She thought that he had gone back on his word and blinked at him with a puzzled expression. ¡°Madam Qiao, there¡¯s something I want to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Brother Yuan, please speak.¡±


    ¡°The mooncakes you make are too delicious. This kind of craftsmanship has never appeared in our Great Ming Dynasty until now. If someone with ulterior motives knows about it, I¡¯m afraid it will be detrimental to you.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s about this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already thought about it. I¡¯ll sell it to whoever buys the recipe. As long as the price is suitable, I don¡¯t have high requirements.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to open a shop?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s too troublesome to open a shop and take care of people. It¡¯s not as easy as opening a small stall. If the weather is good, I¡¯ll open the stall. If it¡¯s bad, I can rest at home for a day and do embroidery.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Lady Qiao to think so thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. You¡¯re just overthinking it. Although you¡¯re right, I¡¯m very open-minded about this. I won¡¯t stick to a recipe and let my family¡¯s lives be threatened. In my eyes, my family¡¯s lives are the most important.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was deeply moved by these words.


    Yes, many families lost their lives just to protect a recipe.


    How could a recipe be more valuable than one¡¯s life? Once one said that it was passed down from one¡¯s ancestors, they would never reveal it even if they died. However, if they were dead, what was the point of passing it down?


    He did not know that Qiao Mai had the inte and could get all kinds of recipes. In her era, new things appeared, and there were immediately gourmets who analyzed them. Recipes have been put on the Inte a long time ago.


    It was just that the pace of life there was fast, and many people werezy. They did not want to try making it themselves.


    Qiao Mai used to think that she might not have any talent in cooking, but now that she thought about it, it was not that she did not have talent. It was just that she had spent all her time on work and studying, so he did not have the energy to cook.


    It was good now. As long as one were not a fool, one could do it well no matter where you put your energy. It all depended on whether one put in the effort or not.


    Sometimes, she would praise herself for being a top student. She was like whatever she learned.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned to the house and looked at his son who was eating on the brick bed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to your grandparents¡¯ house?¡±


    ¡°Father, can we not go back?¡±


    ¡°No, they¡¯re still Dad¡¯s parents, your grandparents. The word ¡®filial piety¡¯ can crush people to death. Even if it¡¯s only an act, we have to go back.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t bring anything. Father, can you help me put all these delicious food in the cab?¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll eat when we get back.¡±


    The father and son locked the door, bought a roast chicken and two bags of snacks in town, and got an ox cart on the main road.


    Yuan Jiaqi was from Apricot Blossom Vige, fifteen miles south of the town. He had five brothers and no sisters. He was the youngest in the family.


    His older brother was married, and the whole family had been living together. Yuan Jiaqi was the best-looking and the smartest in the family.


    Unfortunately, they were too poor to afford to send him to school. However, he loved to study and would always secretly eavesdrop when the school was teaching. When he saw a ce with words, he would always stop to read.


    When the teacher heard this, he did not restrain him and let him listen from the side. He learned as much as he could.


    Just like that, he studied for five years. His family needed him to earn money to support the family. They did not give him time to go to school, forced him to go up the mountain to cut firewood to sell, forced him to farm, and forced him to marry a wife.


    Although he did not like his wife, she was already married to him and treated him well wholeheartedly, so he still epted her.


    However, when his wife had a difficultbor, the family did not even pay for a midwife. They said that there was no need to hire a midwife to give birth to a child. The women in the vige all gave birth at home. Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother risked her life and used all her strength to give birth to Chuan¡¯er.


    However, she suffered a huge loss of blood and lost her life in a short while.


    Chuan¡¯er did not even have the chance to open his eyes to look at his mother. From then on, Yuan Jiaqi took Chuan¡¯er away from the Yuan family.


    He would onlye back during the New Year, but every time, they would part on bad terms. He would not even be able to get a meal before he was chased out.


    This time, Yuan Jiaqi was carrying Chuan ¡®er. As soon as he entered the Yuan family¡¯s courtyard, he was scolded by his parents.


    It was as if they were waiting for Yuan Jiaqi toe in and insult him. In fact, they were waiting for him.


    ¡°You still know toe back? All these years, you¡¯ve been like this every time.


    You want to satisfy us with some broken things?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was already numb to this. ¡°Father, Mother, don¡¯t you know why your son left? If she had given birth slowly, she would have been fine.¡±


    ¡°However, after three days and three nights of suffering, you just watched


    helplessly. No matter how much your son begged, you were indifferent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a life, a life! Look at Chuan¡¯er, how can you not let down his mother?¡±


    ¡°Are you letting this child down? She married into our Yuan family, not sold to the Yuan family. You let your son marry her, and after your son marries her, you covet her dowry.¡±


    ¡°You swindled her dowry but did not even treat her better. The child¡¯s mother did not have a good day at our house. She was deliberately tortured to death by you guys. Do you know that you¡¯re bullying her? If Chuan ¡®er¡¯s mother had brothers and sisters, would you dare?¡±


    ¡°Pah, which daughter-inw didn¡¯t have a life like this? She¡¯s unfortunate that she had to go so early. If she wanted to me someone, she had to me herself. Let¡¯s not talk about the past. Let¡¯s talk about you now. Although you didn¡¯t eat anything at home¡­.¡±

 Chapter 50 - 50: Are You Willing to?

    Chapter 50: Are You Willing to?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°However, if you didn¡¯t leave the family, you had to pay the public money. One hundred copper coins a month, one tael of silver a year. If you didn¡¯t pay for four years, you had to pay five taels of silver. Otherwise, don¡¯te back in the future.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi snorted coldly. ¡°Hand over silver to the public? How did you treat my wife? You don¡¯t even invite a doctor when she was sick, so why should I pay money?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want me toe back, then I won¡¯te back. Who cares about returning to this home? The Parents are not like parents, and the sons were not like sons. There was no meaning in returning to this home.¡±


    He turned around and left with Chuan¡¯er in his arms. He did not even give the things in his hands to her and was about to leave. His mother, Madam Yuan Xu, rushed forward and snatched the things from his hands.


    ¡°You don¡¯t respect your parents, but you¡¯re also taking away what you brought.


    Bring them over to me.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was not annoyed at all. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that they¡¯re broken? Then why do you still want them?¡±


    ¡°Old Fifth, let me tell you, Matchmaker Zhao has arranged a marriage for you. Their family is famous for their wealth in Tiannan Town. Their daughter is 19 years old. If you agree to this marriage, you cane back to this family as you wish in the future.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi did not even want to listen. He walked to the front of the courtyard in a few steps. Chuan¡¯er hugged his neck tightly and buried his head in his chest. He did not even look at his grandfather and grandmother. In his eyes, these two were demons who bullied his father.


    ¡°My family doesn¡¯t seem to be so poor that they would sell their son. Don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t know what kind of daughter that family has. I won¡¯t marry her.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. We¡¯ll decide your marriage and it¡¯s settled. You have to marry even if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe that I will make sure that you will never see me again? In the end, not only will you lose everything, but you will also be in trouble.¡±


    ¡°You, you, you¡¯ve grown your wings, haven¡¯t you? We can¡¯t control you anymore, huh?¡±


    ¡°In the future, I don¡¯t want to hear about this anymore. Don¡¯te to town to look for me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll take Chuan¡¯er and leave this ce forever.¡±


    ¡°Then leave the money you have earned over the past few years. In the future, you have to pay the money to the public every year.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t split up, so we don¡¯t have to pay. The child and I didn¡¯t eat or drink at home.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t break ties with us unless you¡¯re removed from the n records. Do you want that?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sneered. ¡°I really want to, but are you willing to do that?¡±


    ¡°You, get lost, you unfilial thing.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, unfilial? Don¡¯t talk about filial piety. It¡¯s said that only a loving mother will have a filial son. If she wasn¡¯t kind, where would there be filial piety? I¡¯ve never seen parents like you in this world. You take the earnings of your sons to support yourselves. Aren¡¯t you afraid that when you¡¯re old and can¡¯t move, they¡¯ll take revenge instead? Don¡¯t look at how proud you are now, be careful not to end up miserable in the future.¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°You get lost!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents were roaring at him in the courtyard. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s brothers were all hiding in the house with tears in their eyes. They were the same as Yuan Jiaqi, suffering from the torture of the two old elders, but their situation was slightly better than Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s.


    When they heard their brother¡¯s words, they were very annoyed at how cold they were to their brother and sister-inw.


    Yuan Jiaqi carried Chuan¡¯er and turned around to leave the Yuan family. He walked to the front of the ox cart, put Chuan¡¯er on it, and jumped on it himself.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Tianshui Town.¡±


    Every year was the same. He had lost his temper.


    He was good-looking, literate, and hardworking. There were many women who wanted to marry him.


    Therefore, Madam Yuan Xu had long set her sights on him, picking out the rich families to propose marriage. Many families rejected them directly when they heard that there were no betrothal gifts and did not even look at them.


    There were also some families who did not care about betrothal gifts. As long as the person was good, their daughter would give more dowry.


    There were all kinds of people in this world, and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother was like that.


    There was only one girl in a couple¡¯s family. They were well-off. When the matchmaker went to talk about marriage, the couple wanted to find a son-inw.


    However, the Yuan Family did not agree and refused to let Yuan Jiaqi go no matter what. He himself did not care and was looking forward to leaving the Yuan Family.


    However, ever since Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother had seen him, she would not marry anyone but him.


    The family had no choice but to let her do as she wished. The couple prepared a generous dowry for their daughter.


    When she first entered the house, her parents-inw treated her well. When her mother-inw gradually coaxed and tricked her into getting her dowry, she became a servant of the Yuan family.


    Yuan Jiaqi treated her very well. When he was around, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents


    would put on an act.


    When Madam Yuan Xu sent him away to work, she started to beat and scold her. Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother had no way to express her pain.


    She chose a good husband, but his family was not good enough. She was wronged and did not dare to go back to his mother¡¯s house toin. It was not easy for his parents to raise her. It would be unfilial for her toin.


    Besides, she was the one who insisted on marrying into the Yuan family back then. She was too ashamed to go back to her mother¡¯s house toin. She had been persisting like this. She had only married into the Yuan family for a year before she died.


    She left Chuan ¡®er and Yuan Jiaqi to rely on each other. It was from then on that he felt cold toward the Yuan family.


    After burying her, he carried Chuan¡¯er to Tianshui Town.


    He rented a house there with someone else. Fortunately, he was good at writing and copying books from various libraries. He took care of his son as a father and mother, and his life was still passable.


    Many women had taken a fancy to him, but for Chuan¡¯er, he had gritted his teeth and persisted until now.


    Someone once asked, was he not the biological son of the Yuan family?


    His answer was that he was indeed of the Yuan Family¡¯s bloodline and would not lie.


    Why did the Yuan family only treat him like this? No, the Yuan family¡¯s parents did not only treat him like this. The Yuan family¡¯s eldest son had a daughter before. Before she reached adulthood, her grandparents sold her to a rich family to be a servant girl.


    The second, third, and fourth households were the same. They were all maids in nearby rich families. Firstly, the family could save food. Secondly, they could get a monthly sry as maids. They could ask for it regrly every month.


    They wanted to use marriage to get money. Compared to the Tian family and the Qiao family, they were really more powerful.


    Fortunately, Chuan¡¯er was not a girl. Otherwise, they would have had their eyes on him.


    On the way back, Chuan¡¯er silently looked at Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Father, are you sad?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi hugged his son tightly in his arms, sighed, and exined to his son.


    ¡°Father isn¡¯t angry. Your grandparents have always been like this, so I¡¯m not sad. I¡¯m just worried about how we can leave that family.¡±


    ¡°Grandpa and Grandma don¡¯t like us, and they still won¡¯t let us go.¡±


    ¡°Because the two of us still have value. They think they can still get money from us.¡±


    ¡°Do they like money that much?¡±


    ¡°Yes, everyone in the family is their money-making tool.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked into the distance. In the past few years, he had copied books for others not only to earn money but also to read all kinds of books.


    He loved reading, current affairs and politics, and poems and songs. He wanted to be like the characters described in the book, contributing to the court and making a name for himself in his lifetime.


    However, things did not go as he wished. He had a child, but he was still too young. He wanted to raise him up so that he could at least take care of himself.


    He did not dare to marry again, afraid that his child would be abused by his stepmother, afraid that his wife would be tortured to death again. All his energy was spent on studying and his children. To him, women were no different from men. He really did not have any needs in this aspect.


    However, if he did not marry, the Yuan family would keep having ideas about him.


    He could not help but think of Lady Qiao. As soon as this thought appeared, it was immediately dispelled by him.


    How long had they known each other? They had only spoken a few times. They were not even in a rtionship, so why would he think of her? Yuan Jiaqi quickly shook his head. Chuan ¡®er was nestled in his arms.


    ¡°Father, what are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll buy some things in townter. Remember, when you visit someone, you can¡¯t go empty-handed..¡±

 Chapter 51 - 51: We’re Here to Eat

    Chapter 51: We¡¯re Here to Eat


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t have money?¡±


    ¡°If you have money, you can buy more. If you don¡¯t have money, you can buy less.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Daddy.¡±


    It was already past noon when the two of them returned to Tianshui Town from Apricot Blossom Vige. Yuan Jiaqi was not hungry, so he bought a bag of snacks from the snack shop and went straight to the Qiao residence.


    That mansion belonged to Qiao Mai now. Naturally, it would be the Qiao residence.


    The door to the courtyard was ajar. He knew that someone was there by the sound, but he still knocked on the door.


    Fengyun and Yunfeng came over to greet him. ¡°Uncle, who are you looking


    ¡°Is Madam Qiao here? I was invited.¡±


    This was the first time they had met, so they naturally did not know each other.


    ¡°My mother is busy in the kitchen. Pleasee in.¡±


    The two little fellows warmly and politely let the father and son in. Chuan¡¯er was happy to see children who were older than him.


    He quickly got down from his father¡¯s body and asked Fengyun and Yunfeng about this and that¡­


    ¡°Brother, my name is Chuan¡¯er. What about you guys?¡±


    ¡°Fengyun, Yunfeng. My mother named us.¡±


    ¡°In the future, when I¡¯m bored, I¡¯lle and y with you, okay?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not ying. We have to help Mother at home.¡±


    At this moment, Qiao Mai scratched her head in the kitchen. ¡°Big Brother Yuan, have a seat. They¡¯ll be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go ahead. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Fengyun brought Yuan Jiaqi a stool and Yunfeng brought him a bowl of water.


    ¡°Uncle, we don¡¯t have any tea leaves at home. Is in water fine?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡¯


    Chuan ¡®er drooled when he saw the fruits on the table. The twins quickly brought him a stool.


    ¡°Come, Brother Chuan, sit here and eat some fruit. Eat whatever you want, but don¡¯t eat too much. My mother is making delicious food, so you have to save your stomach for food, understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    Thinking of what Madam Qiao had told him earlier, now that he had seen the two children, he naturally took them to heart.


    Seeing the two brothers, whether it was speaking or treating people, they were very polite. They had only been with Lady Qiao for half a month and were already so sensible. It seemed that this Lady Qiao was really not simple. Thus, he found a branch in a corner and summoned Fengyun and Yunfeng.


    ¡°Do you know how to count?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother taught us some tips.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you guys recite it for me?¡±


    Fengyun and Yunfeng immediately recited in front of him.


    ¡°Not bad, let me test you.¡±


    He held a branch and wrote math questions on the ground. They could answer simple questions, but they could not answer difficult ones.


    However, it was fine. After all, they had just learned it. It was already not bad to be able to reach this level.


    He asked them to take the basics book and check it again. They knew how to memorize it and knew the words in it, but they could not write it. They could not even write it well with a branch on the ground.


    With a foundation in mind, it would be easier to teach.


    As they were teaching, the courtyard door opened and Madam Chen and her son arrived. When they saw a man in the courtyard, Madam Chen lowered her head.


    Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly stood up. ¡°Greetings, Madam Chen.¡±


    ¡°Brother Yuan is too polite.¡±


    Yunfeng and Fengyun quickly ran over. ¡°Hello, Auntie. Hello, Brother. Wee to our house.¡±


    ¡°Good boys.¡±


    She quickly grabbed a handful of dates from the basket she was carrying.


    ¡°Come, eat the dates.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Auntie.¡±


    Qiao Maiughed in the kitchen. It was good to have a son.


    ¡°Sister Chen, have a seat first.


    After a while, Chen Hao also joined in the calction. Watching Yuan Jiaqi teach the child how to read and calcte, Madam Chen quietly stood up and went to the kitchen door.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I heard that he isn¡¯t even an exam candidate?¡±


    ¡°Those are all false names. Only one¡¯s actual abilities are important. You haven¡¯t seen his good handwriting. If you had seen it, you wouldn¡¯t say that.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send him to the town school?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t ept any more students.¡±


    Qiao Mai did not want to talk too much with Miss Chen. She felt that they were not that close and were just neighbors.


    ¡°My Hao¡¯er is eight years old. I also want him to go to school.¡±


    ¡°It just so happens that Big Brother Yuanes to teach the children every morning. Then let Hao¡¯er learn with them. There are only four children in total. ¡±


    ¡°What about the gift to the teacher?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to give it.¡±


    ¡°How can I do that?¡±


    ¡°You can just give Brother Yuan some gifts during the holidays.¡±


    ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t I benefit from you again?¡±


    ¡°So be it. I¡¯m willing to let Sister Chen bask in the light. To be honest, it¡¯s good to have more children. Children with friends have different personalitiespared to children without friends.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s such a saying?¡±


    ¡°Of course. When there are many children, they will y together and know how to help each other. If a child is too introverted and doesn¡¯t get along easily, it will affect the child¡¯s ability to interact with others in the future.¡±


    Qiao Mai was busy with the work at hand while talking to Madam Chen. At this moment, another group of people came in from the courtyard entrance.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to eat,¡±


    Madam Chen quickly stepped forward. ¡°Hello, Sister Lu.¡± ¡°Good, good. Yo, this must be Young Master Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Shopkeeper Lu.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡±


    ¡°Today, there are many people and it¡¯s lively.¡±


    With so many women, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face was burning up. He brought the children to a corner where they were not in the way.


    Seeing that everyone was present, Fengyun went to close the courtyard door.


    In the kitchen, Qiao Mai did not need their help. She just asked them to set up the table in the courtyard and wait.


    The dishes were ced on the table one after another. The children were no longer in the mood to do the math, so they surrounded the table and kept swallowing their saliva.


    What are these dishes? They had never seen them before. The people who came were grumbling in their hearts.


    The father and son, who had not eaten lunch in the afternoon, had their stomachs growling. Fortunately, no one heard them. Otherwise, it would be so awkward.


    Madam Chen saw that there were not enough benches, so she went home and brought a few over. After Yuan Jiaqi saw them, he secretly remembered them. If he had time, he would make a few and send them over to Madam Qiao.


    When thest dish was on the table, Qiao Mai shouted at everyone.


    ¡°Come,e,e, all of you sit down. Today is the Full Moon Festival, so we have to raise our sses to celebrate.¡±


    The little ones all sat around the table obediently. Qiao Mai carried a jar and poured a bowl of wine for the adults. She had also prepared something for the children.


    She used fresh fruit to make juice and filled a bowl in front of each person.


    ¡°Come, cheers. I wish everyone a happy Full Moon Festival.¡±


    They cheered and drank a bowl.


    Qiao Mai did not care whether they drank it or not. She did it anyway.


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s bowl. ¡°Yours doesn¡¯t seem to have been touched?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t handle alcohol, so I don¡¯t usually drink. I only drank a small mouthful just now.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, what a good man.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was a little regretful. There were still unmarried girls at the table. It was a little rash for a man like him to be here.


    Ruxin and Ruyi did not think much of it. They had seen all kinds of people, so they did not feel awkward with a man at the table. They just ate their own food.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai helped him out.


    ¡°I invited everyone here today to celebrate the festive season. Secondly, I¡¯vepleted my household registration and I¡¯m celebrating. Thirdly, my two sons will follow Big Brother Yuan to study every day. Chen Hao and Chuan¡¯er will also be at my house.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not convenient, they cane to my ce.¡±


    ¡°There are too many people at your side, and the children can¡¯t settle down to learn. Just stay here with me. It just so happens that I¡¯m not at home during the day. We¡¯re from a small family, so we don¡¯t have to be so particr. You don¡¯t have to take it to heart. You¡¯re afraid of people talking too much. Just do your own thing.¡±


    Qiao Mai was stunned when she finished speaking. Only she and Yuan Jiaqi were talking while the others were busy eating.


    Seeing that the dishes on the te were disappearing, she said, ¡°Well, Big Brother Yuan, eat first. Today, you have to finish all the dishes I made. Don¡¯t be shy. Eating and drinking to your fill is the main business.¡±


    Even Madam Chen, who usually spoke softly, started to eat more..

 Chapter 52 - 52: Misguided by His Son

    Chapter 52: Misguided by His Son


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Alright, her dish had hooked the souls of these people.


    Yuan Jiaqi could not help but start eating. Every dish was too delicious.


    He ate a few mouthfuls of meat and a mouthful of sd. It was really refreshing. This was the first time he had eaten such a satisfying meal in his life.


    Chuan¡¯er, who was sitting beside him, would put a piece of meat on his te from time to time.


    ¡°Dad, quickly eat. Auntie¡¯s cooking is too good. If you don¡¯t eat it, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life.¡±


    Qiao Mai could not help butugh out loud. The others alsoughed out loud. This child had been taught by Yuan Jiaqi to be a smart person.


    Dinner was finished before the sky turned dark.


    After Yuan Jiaqi told Madam Chen and Madam Qiao about tomorrow¡¯s lesson, he was about to carry Chuan¡¯er away. There were too many women, and it was really not suitable for him to stay.


    Madam Qiao put all kinds of fruits into a basket and let him take them back.


    Chuan¡¯er did not want to go home yet. ¡°Dad, I still want to y with my friends.


    ¡°Your Auntie Qiao has been busy all day. She¡¯s also very tired. Once we go back, she can rest early. If you want to y, tomorrow morning, when Father goes to teach you all. You can y at their house for a while after ss.¡±


    ¡°Father, do I have to learn it too?¡±


    ¡°Of course. At your age, you should be able to read. If you y and your friends study, do you think you can continue ying?¡±


    ¡°I definitely can¡¯t continue ying.¡±


    ¡°So, if you want to y, y together. If you want to learn, learn together.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er nodded heavily. ¡°I know, Daddy.¡±


    After saying that, he nced at the fruit basket. ¡°I can eat it for a few more days.¡±


    ¡°Little gluttonous cat.¡±


    ¡°Auntie¡¯s cooking is really delicious. If only I could eat it every day for the rest of my life.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He immediately thought of the idea of the father and son entering the Qiao family. This thought scared him so much that his hands trembled and he almost dropped the basin.


    ¡°Father, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    After saying that, his face turned red. If people knew that the father and son had such thoughts for the sake of food, they wouldugh at him. It seemed that he had been led astray by his son.


    In the other courtyard, Madam Chen also pulled her son who had eaten too much and left.


    The basket of dates was her gift, and the few packets of snacks were the father and son¡¯s gifts. All of them did not leave with empty hands.


    The Lu family helped clean up the table and washed the dishes. They sat in the courtyard, eating fruits and chatting.


    ¡°Have you really decided to let him teach?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just the basics. Let¡¯s teach them first. In the future, we¡¯ll see how far the two brothers can learn.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu plucked a grape and put it in his mouth. ¡°I say, Sister, I think this young man is really not bad. Now that you¡¯re a woman, you can recruit him into your house. With a man doting on you, you can save yourself some effort, right?¡±


    ¡°Here we go again. I said I wouldn¡¯t consider it for the time being.¡±


    ¡°What if a good man is snatched away by others? Don¡¯t ignore him just because he doesn¡¯t have a house ornd, but he looks good and can read. I guess he must be reluctant to leave his children, so he doesn¡¯t go out to find work.


    Otherwise, he would at least be an ountant. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this. Let¡¯s talk about my disciple, Ruxin. How¡¯s her marriage?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m trying to look for candidates. If he can¡¯t even get past me, let alone Ruxin.¡±


    ¡°Remember, the other party must have a good character. You can¡¯t just ask around. Sometimes, you have to go and see for yourself to know if they¡¯re good on the inside.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not like those families who sell their daughters. Take note of what I¡¯m telling you. Don¡¯t take it lightly.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu sat for a while and left with her daughter and two servant girls.


    Qiao Mai let out a long sigh of relief. She did not expect that cooking and entertaining a guest at home would be more tiring than running and boxing.


    She finally understood why the housewife of the 21st century would look old. It would be strange if she did not look old when she was doing chores that were moreplicated than physicalbor.


    She quickly asked the brothers to wash up and go back to their rooms to rest. She was tired, and these two little people were not any better than her.


    That night, she did not do anything.


    The next day, she got up and quickly washed up. Her two sons had already boiled water. There was porridge in the pot, steamed buns, and arge te of stir-fried vegetables.


    ¡°Mother, do you still want to practice martial arts?¡±


    ¡°We have to train. First, we¡¯ll run twentyps around our house, then we¡¯ll practice the same set of fist techniques twice.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The two children had learned her three sets of fist techniques in half a month. Their memory andprehension were very good.


    ¡°In the future, Chuan¡¯er¡¯s father will be your teacher. You should study well with him. You must respect your teacher and do whatever he asks you to do.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°The brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are all bought. They are on the table in the living room.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Mother won¡¯t being back for lunch at noon. You can ask your teacher to eat at our home. It¡¯s not convenient for him to take care of a child. No matter what, you have to cook for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded and quickly finished the steamed bun in his hand. Then, he quickly started to prepare the items for the stall.


    As soon as she pushed the goods away, Yuan Jiaqi, who was next door, came to the door with Chuan¡¯er. Chen Hao also came out of his house and ran to the Qiao family.


    The brothers had cleared the table .¡±Sir, are we studying in the house or in the courtyard?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the courtyard. It¡¯s brighter.¡±


    Just like that, Yuan Jiaqi began his teaching career in the Qiao family.


    Revisiting the old and learning the new, even if it was just basic knowledge, they would be different if one were to experience it again.


    After a while, the sound of reading came from the Qiao family¡¯s house.


    Madam Chen was listening to the conversation next door. Her face was as happy as a flower.


    She, who usually did not go out, rarely carried a basket. She left the house, locked the courtyard door, and went to look for Qiao Mai.


    After August 15th, the weather gradually cooled in the morning and evening. It was not very hot during the day. Qiao Mai¡¯s business was not as prosperous as before, but it was still not bad.


    After arranging the goods, she sat down and prepared to do the embroidery.


    Seeing that Madam Chen had arrived, she did not take out her embroidery work and stood up to greet her.


    ¡°Sister Chen, are you out to buy vegetables?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I went to the market to take a look. When I came out, the children were reading. I was happy to hear that, so I wanted to tell you.¡±


    ¡°When I left, Big Brother Yuan hadn¡¯t even gone yet.¡±


    Madam Chen was a widow, while Madam Qiao was divorced. Both of them were considered single. If they invited a male gentleman to teach their children, they had to avoid suspicion.


    ¡°Are you going back at noon?¡±


    ¡°No, let them cook at home. There¡¯s meat and vegetables. My sons can cook. It¡¯s not convenient for Brother Yuan to cook with the children.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re really thoughtful. Are you avoiding suspicion?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it just so happens that I¡¯m running a stall during the day and he¡¯s teaching the children at home during the day. No one can say anything.


    Otherwise, if I¡¯m at home, how awkward would Brother Yuan be?¡±


    Madam Chen suddenly leaned over and whispered a few words into her ear.


    ¡°Sister, I see that there¡¯s not much of a difference in age between you and him.


    You¡¯re single now, and so is he. Why don¡¯t you just get together with him?¡±


    Qiao Mai did not know whether tough or cry. ¡°Why do you have the same thoughts as Sister Lu? I don¡¯t want anything now. I just want to earn more money. I¡¯ve never thought of remarrying or finding a husband.¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s quite good. Be careful to not lose this chance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sister Chen. I¡¯ll consider this matter. Then, Sister, don¡¯t you n on remarrying?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll just stay by my Brother Hao¡¯s side for the rest of my life. I¡¯ll be morefortable alone. I won¡¯t be controlled by my inws and won¡¯t have to consider other people¡¯s opinions. It¡¯s not easy for me to be free.¡±


    Qiao Mai cursed in her heart. ¡®Who would believe you? Maybe vou¡¯re just testing me..¡¯

 Chapter 53 - 53: Do You Want to Sell the Recipe?

    Chapter 53: Do You Want to Sell the Recipe?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Tsk tsk, you were still persuading me just now, but now it¡¯s your turn to have a bunch of reasons.¡¯


    Madam Chen¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I can¡¯t talk to you anymore. I need to go buy groceries.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. Madam Chen could bear getting teased. Just as Qiao Mai was about to do some work with the needles, the mayor slowly walked to her stall. There were two guards behind her. It was quite a grand scene.


    ¡°Oh, the mayor is here to patrol?¡±


    ¡°Girl, I have something to talk to you about. Can I talk to you in private?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mayor? Let¡¯s talk here. No one is looking after my stall.¡±


    The mayor lowered his voice and said, ¡°I¡¯ve tasted the gift you gave me. It¡¯s very delicious. Did you make this yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why?¡±


    ¡°Are you selling the recipe?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m selling it. Why? You want to buy my recipe?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the price?¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s your price? Let me hear it. If it¡¯s suitable, I¡¯ll sell it.¡±


    ¡°Ordinary dessert recipes cost 100 taels each. I¡¯ll give you 500 taels for your recipe. You¡¯re not allowed to sell them and can only make it for yourself.¡± ¡°Is it 500 taels for one kind of filling or 500 taels for five kinds of filling?¡±


    The mayor stretched out his fingers and said in a low voice, ¡°500 taels for one type, 2500 taels for five types.¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately responded with a smile, ¡°Mayor, you¡¯re really a good person. This price is fair. Deal!¡±


    ¡°You agreed so quickly. I¡¯m starting to suspect you.¡±


    ¡°Mayor, you¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t bully people, and the price you¡¯re offering is reasonable. I don¡¯t n to open a workshop or a shop, and since you like this, isn¡¯t this the best of both worlds?¡±


    The mayor sized her up deeply. She was not good-looking, but she had a tiger smile. She was cunning on the inside. She was a very smart woman. ¡°Okay, when you finish writing the recipe, I¡¯ll bring the silver.¡±


    ¡°Are we doing it here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a deal! I didn¡¯t expect you to hide your strength. The contract and promissory note from Shopkeeper Lu are fake, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true that I borrowed money, and it¡¯s also true that I want to pay back the money.¡±


    ¡°This should be enough to pay it off, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I still need the mayor to look after me in the future. Otherwise, those people are too shameless. I can¡¯t handle them as a woman.¡± ¡°Hmph, if it was not for Shopkeeper Lu, I won¡¯t help you.¡± ¡°If I have any new recipes in the future, I¡¯ll let you know first.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡±


    Seeing the mayor leave with his hands behind his back in satisfaction, Qiao Mai curled her lips. This money came too quickly.


    She did not care what the mayor¡¯s family did, as long as they were mutually beneficial.


    When she returned home, her two sons opened the courtyard door and helped her unload the car.


    ¡°What did the teacher teach you today?¡±


    ¡°He even exined the Three Character ssic to us. Then, he wrote a few of the simplest words and gave us homework. We have to write each word twenty times.¡±


    ¡°Are you done?¡±


    ¡°I finished it in the afternoon. Mother, we made pumpkin porridge and fried a te of chives and eggs.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t there any fried meat?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I want to eat eggs.¡±


    She washed her hands and face and sat in the courtyard to eat with the two children. She did not even need to move, and the two children had already done everything.


    ¡°Did the teacher have lunch at our home?¡±


    ¡°We stopped him when he wanted to leave, saying that it was Mother¡¯s orders. That¡¯s why he stayed behind. We steamed half a pot of rice and stir-fried arge te of bacon.¡±


    ¡°Mm. In the future, when your teacher has lunch at home, don¡¯t just stir-fry one meat dish.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    After Yuan Jiaqi had taught the child on the first day, he realized that the Fengyun brothers were really promising. Chen Hao was just a littlecking, but if he was willing to work hard and not be afraid of hardship, this child was not bad either.


    Of course, his Chuan ¡®er was even better.


    He encouraged himself to teach these children well. If he could not fulfill his wishes, he would let the children fulfill them for him.


    From then on, whenever Qiao Mai left, he and Chuan¡¯er woulde over. They had agreed on a two-hour ss. He would let the children y for a while in the middle before continuing the ss.


    When he saw that the water tanks in the Qiao family were short of water, he filled all the tanks with water from the well in the courtyard.


    On the day of the Full Moon Festival, Madam Qiao¡¯s words felt strange, but he could not tell what was strange. After seeing the quail, he remembered the description of MadamQiao.


    This woman did not care about trifles and did not care about worldly etiquette. Her actions were free and easy, and she did as she pleased. Those who were with her felt veryfortable.


    Yes, it was this kind of feeling. As soon as he came into contact with Madam


    Qiao, it was very easy for him to feel close to her.


    His son and Chen Hao felt this too, let alone him.


    Like Qiao Mai, he did not have any romantic thoughts. He just wanted to live a good life.


    However, early in the morning, before Qiao Mai had even set up her stall, he heard cryinging from her right neighbor¡¯s yard.


    Qiao Mai seemed to have heard Chuan¡¯er¡¯s cries, so she gently pushed open the door of the right neighbor¡¯s house and walked in.


    At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi was standing in front of the door with a calm expression. In front of him was an old couple, presumably his parents.


    She did not make a sound and went to pick up Haichuan, who was crying in the room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Come to my house first. Leave this ce to your father.¡±


    Just like that, she carried Chuan¡¯er to her house and let Fengyun y with him for a while. Then, she loaded the car and went to set up a stall.


    She was a married woman, and she was divorced. It was impossible for her to get involved in his matters.


    The mayor came as promised. Qiao Mai had already written the recipes in the space. The words that she did not know were all found out by her through books.


    The two of them handed over the money and the recipes.


    ¡°Girl, if you have a good recipe in the future, can youe directly to me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a good person. I¡¯ll definitely look for you when I have a new recipe in the future.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re better at talking than your Sister Lu, haha!¡±


    After August 15th, her ice cubes had been taken off the shelves, but there were still many new ones.


    Oranges, dates, and grapes that were usually not seen in town also appeared at her stall.


    At this time, no one would suspect these goods because it was already the season for fruits to be on the market.


    As soon as the mayor left, Shopkeeper Lu came.


    ¡°What is he doing here?¡±


    ¡°To buy the recipe for my mooncakes.¡±


    ¡°You sold it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even have a shop, so what¡¯s the point of keeping it?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you open a shop?¡±


    ¡°Why should I open a shop if I only sell these things? I won¡¯t open one, in case others get jealous.¡±


    ¡°How much did he offer?¡±


    ¡°500 taels for one recipe and 2500 taels for five.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s too little. If it were me, I¡¯ll make him pay 1,000 taels of silver for each. ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so wicked!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, but his family has many shops all over the Great Ming


    Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Then why is he hiding here?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu stopped snorting. ¡°Who knows what¡¯s wrong with him? Why does he insist on staying here? Hmph!¡±


    As the two of them were whispering, a person stood in front of the stall. He looked at Qiao Mai with a long face and roared angrily.


    ¡°I heard that you let a nobody teach your son how to read?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu recognized him. ¡°Teacher Lin, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It has nothing to do with you! Don¡¯t get involved!¡±


    Qiao Mai did not get up either. Seeing the other party¡¯s attitude, she was very unhappy and her face immediately darkened.


    ¡°What? If you don¡¯t ept students, can¡¯t I find a teacher for my son?¡±


    ¡°How is he worthy of the word ¡®teacher¡¯? He has only been in my school for a few years and doesn¡¯t even have an official rank. You¡¯re harming your child.¡±


    ¡°Teacher Lin, Big Brother Yuan can read and write, and he¡¯s also proficient in arithmetic. He doesn¡¯t have any academic achievements, but it doesn¡¯t mean that he¡¯s unlearned. Besides, I don¡¯t want my son to be an official. It¡¯s good enough that he can read and write.¡±


    ¡°You, you stupid woman. You¡¯re irresponsible to the child.¡±


    ¡°I say, Teacher Lin, aren¡¯t you being too nosy? It¡¯s my business who I hire to teach my child.. What does it have to do with you?¡±

 Chapter 54 - 54: He’s Already Shameless

    Chapter 54: He¡¯s Already Shameless


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°He¡¯s a half-baked teacher who misguides the children. I have to say something. ¡±


    ¡°I like it when he misguides my family. Alright, you ¡®re really full of yourself. Don ¡®t you know what you¡¯ve done? Do you still have the face toe to my stall and cause trouble? Where did the refined manners of a schr go? How can you be so thick-skinned?¡±


    ¡°You! You! You!¡±


    ¡± I¡¯m already giving you face by addressing you respectfully as Teacher Lin. You listened to the nderous words of others and announced to the public that you won ¡®t ept students for the time being. Who are you targeting?¡±


    ¡°If you want to buy something, I wee you. If you want to find trouble with me, I¡¯m not afraid. Why don¡¯t we go to the mayor and have a discussion?¡±


    ¡°There is only one school in town, but in this great dynasty, there are ten million schools. If you don ¡®t ept students, there are people to ept. Just because someone asked you to, you targeted my child. You¡¯re not worthy of being a teacher. ¡±


    ¡°Wow, have you grown up and dared to offend anyone?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth. What¡¯s wrong? You don ¡®t ept students, so I¡¯ll find someone who can read to teach my son. What did I do wrong? Everyone, what do you think? They are the only private school in town, but they don¡¯t ept students. My son wants to study, so is it wrong for me to find someone who knows how to teach my son?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Isn¡¯t it very reasonable?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a very reasonable thing. Why does it be unreasonable when ites to Teacher Lin?¡±


    ¡°You, I, I can¡¯t exin it to a woman like you. ¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu finally understood that Teacher Lin was backing Tian Yaozu up by not epting students.


    He wanted Qiao Mai to lower her head and bring her child to visit him personally. At the same time, he wanted to be a peacemaker and reconcile the grievances between the Tian family and her.


    Unexpectedly, Qiao Mai did not care about this at all and directly found Yuan Jiaqi, who was nothing to him, to teach the child.


    Teacher Lin felt that his reputation had been damaged, so he came to argue with Qiao Mai.


    There was definitely something fishy about this. The Tian family must have instigated it.


    Lu Sanniang looked into the distance and found Tian Yaozu in an inconspicuous corner.


    Qiao Mai also felt something. She followed Lu Sanniang¡¯s gaze and saw that b*stard. He had not learned anything else at such a young age, but he actually used such despicable methods.


    As soon as the mayor arrived home, someone had already gone to get him. He was so angry and went to Qiao Mai¡¯s stall.


    ¡°Teacher Lin, why are you making a ruckus in front of a woman¡¯s stall? Don ¡®t forget that you ¡®re a schr with a reputation. ¡±


    ¡°Mayor, me?¡±


    ¡°I heard about this. Aren ¡®t you being too petty? Madam Qiao has money. Even if she throws it on the road, what can you do? The children in the countryside are illiterate since they were young. ¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you teach her children? Why are you targeting a divorced woman like her? Don¡¯t forget that she had saved two children who were not rted to her by blood at all. ¡±


    ¡± She¡¯s willing to spend money to hire someone to teach her child, but what about you? If you have the time, why don ¡®t you go back and teach your students well? Why are youing here to make a scene?¡±


    The mayor was really angry. Regardless of whether there was anyone present, he bombarded Mr. Lin.


    ¡°Mayor, what?¡±


    ¡± She was kind enough to adopt two children and let them read. She spent her money. Why didn¡¯t you stand up when the children begged for food on the road?¡¯ ,


    Teacher Lin was not as old as the mayor, so he could only listen to the mayor¡¯s scolding and did not dare to say anything.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, mayor. I was wrong. I was the one who panicked when I heard about this. ¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and go back to teaching. This isn¡¯t a ce you should be. You ¡®re already a grown-up, but you don ¡®t have any ideas of your own. ¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mayor. I¡¯ll go back now. ¡± Teacher Lin lowered his head and left with a red face.


    ¡± Let¡¯s go, all of you. If you block here and startle the carriages of the nobles on the road, you won¡¯t be able to bear it.¡±


    The crowd dispersed. Tian Yaozu gritted his teeth in the distance and chased after Teacher Lin angrily.


    The mayor red at Qiao Mai. ¡°You only know how to cause trouble for an old man like me every day. I¡¯m already old, but I still have to deal with your matters every day. ¡±


    Seeing the mayor re at Qiao Mai, Shopkeeper Lu immediately red back.


    ¡°You shoulde out more often when you ¡®re old. Be careful not to sit all the time. ¡±


    ¡°You ¡®re just protecting the girl. ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not my sister¡¯s fault. He¡¯s the one who went crazy and came to find trouble. ¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. What¡¯s wrong with Teacher Lin? He used to be such an honest person. Why is he so unreasonable now?¡±


    ¡± Someone instigated it. ¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Keep pretending. Don¡¯t you know? It¡¯s that Tian Family kid who doesn¡¯t get along with Qiao Mai. ¡±


    ¡°I understand. He doesn¡¯t study hard every day, and his brain is only used for this. Teacher Lin thinks he¡¯s a good person, but I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll even be able to pass the exam. ¡±


    The mayor sped his hands behind his back and turned to leave.


    Shopkeeper Lu poked Qiao Mai¡¯s arm. ¡°Sister, why don ¡®t you go back and say hello to Yuan Jiaqi tonight?¡±


    ¡°What greeting?¡±


    ¡°I think that the Tian family kid¡¯s first n didn¡¯t work, so I¡¯m afraid he¡¯lle up with another one. He probably doesn¡¯t want Fengyun and Yunfeng to study. If Teacher Lin couldn¡¯t deal with you, will he go to Yuan Jiaqi? He was indebted to him back then, right?¡±


    ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be that shameless, right?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s already shameless enough to do this today. Why does he still care about looking for Yuan Jiaqi?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask Big Brother Yuan tonight. ¡±


    In the afternoon, after Qiao Mai closed the stall, she returned home and saw Yuan Jiaqi there.


    When he saw her return, he helped her move her things into the courtyard and then sat on the bench. He was at a loss and did not know what to say.


    Qiao Mai knew that he might need her help, so she sent Fengyun and the others away.


    ¡°Big Brother Yuan, if you have something to say, just say it. I like people who are straightforward. ¡±


    ¡°You must have seen what happened this morning. My parents came to town more than once to cause trouble for me and Chuan ¡®er. No matter where I moved to, they could find out. ¡±


    ¡°Yes, and then?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath. ¡°I want to get rid of them. I want to give my child a good living environment. Please help me, Madam Qiao. ¡±


    Qiao Mai frowned. ¡°How can I help you?¡±


    ¡°I want to marry into your family. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Be a live-in son-inw?¡± Qiao Mai was a little surprised.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to get married. ¡±


    ¡°Listen to me. We¡¯re just pretending to get married. As long as you let me get rid of the Yuan family, you can divorce me after everything calms down. You can do whatever you want, okay?¡±


    ¡°Just a formality?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I have to think about this carefully. ¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t think about it anymore. There¡¯s no time. If I stay anyter, they¡¯ll book me a girl from that family. I¡¯m really at my wit¡¯s end. Without a family separation or household registration, the child and I can ¡®t go anywhere. ¡± ¡°Why did you choose me? Madam Chen is also single, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re strong, brave, hardworking, capable, and unafraid of rumors. Madam Chen isn ¡®t. She¡¯s a traditional woman and can¡¯t ept these things. You can. The key is that my Chuan ¡®er likes you.¡±


    ¡°This is too much help. What benefits can I get?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. ¡°I¡¯m very diligent. You don¡¯t have to worry about family matters. I can do everything. I can cook well, but it¡¯s not as delicious as yours. I can also earn money, but not as much as you. I can copy a book every three days and earn two to three hundred copper coins, so I can earn two to three taels of silver a month. In the future, I¡¯ll teach the children. You don¡¯t have to give me any gifts. ¡±


    ¡°It sounds like I¡¯ve saved two taels of silver, but if my family wants to vacate a room, where will my quails live?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the chicks you raise. There are some parts that don¡¯t make sense. It¡¯s better to put them into wooden boxes and put them on the shelves to save space.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°Alright, then two taels of silver will be your and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s living expenses. You have to work hard to earn money in the future. My family¡¯s living conditions are quite good, so two taels of silver is not enough.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Helping You Escape from the Sea of Pain

    Chapter 55: Helping You Escape from the Sea of Pain


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Seeing Madam Qiao agree, Yuan Jiaqi stood up excitedly. He bowed deeply to Qiao Mai and sincerely said, ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Wait, since we¡¯re a fake couple, we must have a pre-marital agreement. One day, if both of us find the person we love, we can¡¯t force each other to stay for any reason.¡±


    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s no such thing. You can divorce me whenever you want. A live-in husband in the Great Ming Dynasty has no right to speak.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me how I can help you?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, we will go to the mayor and use his connections to forcefully transfer my household registration to yours. Of course, I will pay for it.¡±


    ¡°If your parents find out, they will definitelye to my ce to cause trouble, right?¡±


    ¡°The Yuan family doesn¡¯t allow their son to marry into another family unless they are removed from the n records. If they want to take money from me, as long as I agree to give them money, I won¡¯t be a member of the Yuan family in the future.¡¯


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do whatever you say. Helping you escape from the sea of suffering can be considered as immeasurable kindness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao. Thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°By the way, how long are we going to pretend to be husband and wife?¡±


    ¡°When things settle down, and when Chuan¡¯er will be a little older and can be independent. Then, I can go out and find something to do.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll cooperate with you. I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡±


    With Madam Qiao¡¯s words, Yuan Jiaqi clenched his fists and swore that he would leave the family he hated this time.


    The next day, Qiao Mai did not set up her stall either. She followed the Yuan Jiaqi to the mayor¡¯s house.


    Mayor Qiao Mai¡¯s head hurt when he saw her. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the matter now?¡±


    ¡°Mayor, please do me a favor. I¡¯ll get you a good recipeter, but you have to pay me, okay?¡±


    The mayor¡¯s heart sank and he asked helplessly, ¡°Tell me about it?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to marry into my family, but his family didn¡¯t agree. They wanted to use your connections to forcefully move his household registration to my family.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    The mayor was shocked by her words. She usually did not show off, but she had seduced a man like this.


    He sized Yuan Jiaqi up. ¡°You¡¯re the teacher who taught her son, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mayor!¡±


    ¡°Which books have you read?¡±


    ¡°I usually copy books for others when I have nothing to do, so the books are quite misceneous andprehensive.¡±


    ¡°Yes, those who can copy books usually write well. It¡¯s also possible to teach a child. ¡±


    ¡°Do any of your rtives work in the government?¡±


    ¡°No, the family has been poor farmers for generations, and I¡¯m the only one who can read.¡±


    ¡°Mm, that¡¯s easy to handle. I¡¯ll help you settle the matter with a hundred taels of silver. I won¡¯t take a single cent from you. It¡¯s all for the officials.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Qiao Mai handed over the household register with both hands. Yuan Jiaqi quickly handed over a bag of silver. The mayor nodded after a moment of consideration.


    ¡°Go back. I¡¯ll reply to you in three days.¡±


    ¡°Mayor, hurry up, or his parents will make him marry a woman he doesn¡¯t


    like.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, no earlier.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t it be today?¡±


    The mayor roared, ¡°Do you think your family opened the yamen?¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°Mayor, getting angry is bad for your health. I was just joking. We¡¯lle and get our household registration tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Qiao Mai dragged Yuan Jiaqi away and rolled her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m done, I have to go out to set up my stall and support my family.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go home and teach the children. In the afternoon, I¡¯ll make a few big boxes and a few shelves to put the chicks in.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s called a quail, not a chick.¡±


    ¡°Uh, move the quails inside. You¡¯re taking up too much space by raising them like that.¡±


    ¡°Do whatever you want.¡±


    One was out of the stall, and the other was teaching at home. Qiao Mai sat at the stall with a tired expression, looking weak.


    She divorced as soon as she got married and took in a live-in husband as soon as she had a good time. Although it was as fake marriage, when the other party left with the child, she would be a woman who had married three times.


    Although she was a modern person and did not care about these things, she still felt ufortable.


    She did not dare to tell Shopkeeper Lu about this, afraid that she would scold her.


    She had just said that she would not find a man. In less than two days, she had already invited Yuan Jiaqi into her house. The moment he opened his mouth, she agreed as if she had long been waiting for Yuan Jiaqi.


    Was it too impulsive, or did she feel the need to save them?


    She did not want to think about it. Since she wanted to save him, she would save him to the end. Anyway, she did not want to get married again.


    With thisyer as a cover, Tian Sanzhuang would not bother her anymore.


    She calmed herself down and then acted as if nothing had happened.


    When she returned home, she saw that Yuan Jiaqi was making wooden boxes. This guy was pushing his luck. Was he not afraid of others saying bad things now?


    He did not go home at this time. It seemed that he wanted to have dinner here tonight. Their household registration had not been moved together yet, and they were still two families in name.


    ¡°You¡¯re back. Rest, I¡¯ll help you unload the car.¡±


    Putting down the work in his hands, he got up and went outside to help unload the car. He ced the things in a corner.


    The brothers were setting the table, and even Chuan¡¯er was helping out.


    He followed behind his two brothers and did whatever they called him to do. He was very obedient.


    ¡°You must be tired. Wipe your face, wash your hands, and eat.¡±


    Qiao Mai felt very ufortable when he heard this. This man had gotten into character quite quickly. They were ancient people who were very traditional and feudal, right? Why did it change when it came to him? Or did he learn it from her?


    It was as if she was the man who was earning money outside and he was the woman at home.


    Fengyun pointed at the dishes on the table.


    ¡°This is the dish that our teacher cooked. My brother and I were only responsible for cooking the porridge.¡±


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my duty. In the future, Chuan¡¯er and I will need Madam Qiao to take care of us.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er looked at everyone with a smile on his face. The atmosphere was really like a family.


    Yuan Jiaqi liked this feeling very much. Since he was young, he had hoped that his family could eat together happily. This was what he had hoped for.


    It seemed that he had made the right move. Madam Qiao was a good person. He was content to continue living like this.


    After the meal, Yuan Jiaqi carried Chuan¡¯er and reluctantly left the Qiao family¡¯s residence.


    Qiao Mai did not tell her sons about this. She wanted to wait until the household registration was done.


    At night, when she was ying with her, she asked her about it.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, mother has found you a stepfather. He can read and write. If you¡¯re willing, just say yes?¡±


    Who knew that Ling¡¯er would really agree? Qiao Mai smiled happily and kissed her face.


    ¡°You agree?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Haha, my Ling¡¯er is too cute. Since you¡¯ve already agreed, then I have nothing to say.¡±


    Qiao Mai came out of the house at daybreak. She opened her mouth and saw this scene. Yuan Jiaqi was carrying Chuan¡¯er and standing in the courtyard, giving her an awkward smile.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s Chuan¡¯er who wants toe and y with the brothers. I, I really can¡¯t win against him.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, just y around. Anyway, the household registration will be moved over today anyway. After you finish making the wooden box, you can clean up the room and stay in whichever room you like.¡±


    ¡°Do we need to hold a ceremony or something? Isn¡¯t this too hasty?¡±


    ¡°No need. It¡¯s not a real marriage anyway. Why waste that money?¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll pack up today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said.


    Qiao Mai was not in the mood to set up a stall today. She had a hunch that if the official came to the house and forcefully took away Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s household registration, the Yuan family would definitelye to her house to cause trouble.


    When she saw that the brothers were going to cook porridge again, she immediately called out to them.


    ¡°Mother won¡¯t be going out today. Mother will cook.¡±


    She had been eating porridge for a long time. It was porridge in the morning and evening.


    She made a pot of braised meat and a piece of noodles. They would be eating noodles today.


    Although she was not that good at cooking, it could still be eaten..

 Chapter 56 - 56: No One Will Dare to Bully You Again

    Chapter 56: No One Will Dare to Bully You Again


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the family finished breakfast, Yuan Jiaqi started to get busy. Qiao Mai sat on the door tform and leaned against the door frame to look at him.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you setting up the stall today?¡± Yuan Jiaqi felt a little guilty from being stared at.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that your parents will smash my stall. I¡¯d better save my strength. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t be able to control my temper and beat them up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve caused you trouble.¡±


    ¡°Big Brother Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°If I attack your parents, will you me me?¡±


    ¡°No, when I leave the Yuan family, I won¡¯t care what you do. I¡¯ve already repaid the favor of raising them when they tortured me and Chuan ¡®er¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Tell me about your family. I¡¯ll have an idea after listening to you.¡¯


    Therefore, Yuan Jiaqi told Qiao Mai about his childhood experiences.


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips. ¡°Those who don¡¯t know might think that you were picked up.¡±


    ¡°My parents only have money in their eyes. Out of the five brothers in the family, I am the one who suffers the most.¡±


    ¡°If they had a daughter, would they sell her?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they sold quite a few granddaughters. After they sold them, they still lived off the earnings from their granddaughters, just like your parents.¡± ¡°What scoundrels. I didn¡¯t expect such a family to raise such a good son like you.¡±


    ¡°I also suspect that I¡¯m not their biological child, but the truth is that I¡¯m their biological child. I can¡¯t do anything about this. Although I can¡¯t choose to be born, I can choose my future life.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not easy. Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ve broken off my ties, but the Qiao family stilles looking for me. Whenever there¡¯s something difficult, the first person they think of is me. They want to suck my blood and eat my flesh.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I want to be your live-in husband. Just this point alone makes the Yuan family embarrassed to stretch their hands too far. In addition, I canpletely ignore them by severing ties with the family.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to marry because you¡¯re afraid that your parents will torture another wife to death?¡±


    ¡°No, I really don¡¯t have any thoughts of marriage. I just want to raise Chuan ¡®er so that I can read more books, know more things, and learn more in this life.¡± Qiao Mai closed her eyes and enjoyed the sunlight.


    ¡°Where there is a will, there is a way. The days in the future will get better and better.¡±


    ¡°I have to thank you for this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee! I hope that one day when you rise to fame, you will take care of my family.¡±


    It was rare for her to have a day off, so she did not want to do anything. It was quite good to just bask in the sunzily.


    The officer should have arrived at Apricot Blossom Vige by now, right? He should have gotten Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s household registration at the Yuan family, right? The Yuan family did not expect Yuan Jiaqi to have such a move, right?


    They would definitely be exasperated, but they would not dare to re up in front of the officer, right?


    Qiao Mai wanted tough just thinking about it. She liked to see such scenes.


    County Yi was an hour away from Tianshui Town by horse. Apricot Blossom Vige was south of Tianshui Town, so it took even less time.


    She closed her eyes and calcted. Before noon, the household register should be delivered to the mayor, and the blood-sucking pair from the Yuan family should arrive soon.


    Looking at the sun, she carried a basket.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to buy some vegetables. Fengyun, lock the door. I won¡¯t go back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stood up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam Qiao. I¡¯ll take responsibility for everything. Pushing all the me onto me, if theye to cause trouble, I¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡±


    Qiao Mai turned around to look at him, then softly hummed and went out.


    There were many stalls selling vegetables in the morning, but there was nothing rare.


    It was better to make dumplings to eat. She had not eaten them for a while.


    Just as she was about to head to the meat stall, she was stopped by the guards of the mayor¡¯s house.


    ¡°Lady Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Yo, big brother guard, is my household registration done?¡±


    ¡°Here, congrattions. In the future, you will have a husband. No one will dare to bully you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She took out a dime from her purse and stuffed it into the guard¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a drink.¡±


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the household register and saw Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s name, as well as Yuan Haichuan¡¯s name. There was a big red stamp on it, and she smiled.


    Now that there was an addition to the family, it was a family of five. When her Ling¡¯er came out of the space, there would be six people. It was already a veryrge family.


    With the money she earned from her embroidery stall, it was enough to feed arge family.


    She could not give him luxury, but she could still give him afortable life.


    She went to the meat stall and picked up two catties of lean meat. Then, she bought a bundle of leeks and nothing else. Her family did notck anything.


    Just as she reached the door of her house, she saw that her neighbor¡¯s yard was open. She quickly knocked on her own yard door.


    ¡°Fengyun, where is your teacher?¡±


    ¡°He heard some movement over there, so he went over. Chuan¡¯er is here.¡±


    ¡°You guys look after him. Don¡¯t let him out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Qiao Mai put down her things and came to the entrance of the courtyard. At a nce, he saw that the two old fellows fromst time were causing trouble for Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°You ingrate, you actually dared to ask the yamen to move your household registration. You¡¯re really something! I¡¯m really wrong.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to marry the woman you arranged for me.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with our arrangements? She was rich and powerful, and her dowry was also generous.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t like her.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t like thest one either, but didn¡¯t you still get married and have a child?¡±


    ¡°Now that I¡¯m already her live-in husband, you guys can do as you see fit.¡± Smack! A crisp pnded on his face. Yuan Jiaqi sneered.


    ¡°It¡¯s toote to say anything else. You¡¯d better admit it. There¡¯s no point in continuing to make a fuss.¡±


    Old Man Yuan squatted at the side. He raised his head and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting removed from the n records?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want!¡±


    ¡°You unfilial son!¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t rebel, we¡¯ll be sucked dry by you. I wonder if we¡¯re your biological sons. Do you think you¡¯re saving so much money to buy a golden Phoebe Wood coffin for yourselves? You guys bully the little ones and torture the big ones.


    Are you still human?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t think that you can criticize your parents just because you¡¯re educated. We gave birth to you, so you have to listen to us. Tell us, where did you marry into?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at this unreasonable couple and wondered if they were possessed by evil spirits.


    Yuan Jiaqi snorted, ¡°A woman who has a stall.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she set up a stall for others. Now, she¡¯s paying off her debts.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re infuriating me. Sigh, old man, I can¡¯t live like this. He doesn¡¯t want a good girl and wants a divorced woman.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought, ¡®So what about a divorced woman? Does an ordinary divorced woman know how to do double-sided embroidery? Moreover, she had the space. Would others have it?¡¯


    ¡®Could ordinary divorced woman earn money? Would they dare to kill someone?


    ¡°Hurry up and find her. Make her write a divorce letter. We can¡¯t live like this.


    We definitely can¡¯t live like this.¡±


    ¡°But I just want to follow her for the rest of my life.¡±


    ¡°You, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, stop arguing. Don¡¯t let others see you as a joke.¡±


    As long as Yuan Jiaqi was not in danger, Qiao Mai would not make a move. Coincidentally, the neighbors were here to watch the show, so she would be the one guarding the house.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you just want silver? Let¡¯s talk about a number. We¡¯re no longer rted. If you¡¯re willing, you can go back and remove me from the n records. I don¡¯t care. Anyway, I won¡¯t go back to that Yuan family.¡±


    Madam Yuan Xu came to Old Man Yuan. ¡°Old man, what should we do? This little bastard isn¡¯t going home anyway. We can¡¯t control him, so why don¡¯t we just get some money?¡±


    Old Man Yuan raised his head and thought for a moment.


    ¡°Alright, since you have made up your mind, we¡¯ll break off our ties. One hundred taels of silver. Take it as repaying the kindness of raising you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go to the mayor¡¯s house. I don¡¯t trust anyone else, so we¡¯ll ask the mayor to testify.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the silver?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you after you break off the marriage.¡±


    This old couple hade for money. Since their goal had been achieved, there was nothing for them to make a fuss about..

 Chapter 57 - 57: What a Pity

    Chapter 57: What a Pity


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The mayor was resting at home with his eyes closed. When he heard that Yuan Jiaqi wanted to break off his ties with his family and asked him to be the witness, he was so angry that heughed.


    Recently, all these incidents revolved around Lady Qiao. She had broken off her marriage, and the husband she had taken in had also broken off his ties with his family.


    Birds of a feather really flock together.


    Fine, he would be a good person to the end. It was just a family without much status. So what if he offended them?


    Hence, Mayor Qian acted as the witness and wrote a letter of termination on the spot. Both parties pressed their fingerprints, and the witness pressed their fingerprints.


    Old Man Yuan stretched out his hand. ¡°Give it to me?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi had long known that this day woulde, so he had prepared for it. The silver was in his pocket. He did not give it to Old Man Yuan but to Mayor


    Qian.


    ¡°Sir, please take a look.¡±


    Mayor Qian looked at it and handed it to Old Man Yuan.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re dressed well. Why are you so greedy for money? Who doesn¡¯t want the child to be well?¡± ¡°Lord, every family has its own difficulties.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your family only wants money.¡±


    The onlookers allughed. The Yuan family who had received the silver had left. They did not know if they would go back and remove Yuan Jiaqi from the n records. Anyway, they had received the money. Their future days would be much quieter.


    After everyone left, Yuan Jiaqi handed the letter to the mayor with both hands. ¡°Please help me prepare a case in the county office. I will no longer be a member of the Yuan family.¡±


    ¡°In the future, live a good life with Lady Qiao. She¡¯s a good person, so you have to cherish your good fortune.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord!¡±


    Qiao Mai left after that. She wanted to go home to make dumplings and cook a few dishes to celebrate.


    She was also happy for Big Brother Yuan. He finally got rid of his blood-sucking parents. He deserved a celebration.


    When Yuan Jiaqi returned home, Qiao Mai had almost finished chopping the meat stuffing.


    He silently entered the kitchen and hugged Qiao Mai from behind.


    ¡°Thank you. I finally got rid of the Qiao family. It¡¯s been four years. Without you, I still don¡¯t know how to get rid of them.¡±


    ¡°You, let go of me first. I have a knife in my hand.¡± She was just short of saying,


    ¡°Be careful, I¡¯ll stab you.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m too happy.¡±


    ¡°Eat more if you¡¯re happy.¡±


    Just as Qiao Mai was mixing the stuffings, Shopkeeper Lu rushed into the courtyard.


    ¡°Sister, Sister?¡±


    Qiao Mai came out of the kitchen and Shopkeeper Lu shouted.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything about such a big matter?¡±


    Qiao Mai quickly covered her mouth and pulled her into her bedroom. ¡°Shh, keep your voice down. I changed my mind at thest minute.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Hence, Qiao Mai told her about how the Yuan family had forced Yuan Jiaqi to marry a wife. Shopkeeper Lu was so angry that she pped her arm.


    ¡°You¡¯re too hasty. How can a marriage be treated as a child¡¯s y?¡±


    ¡°Saving a life is a great merit, let alone two lives. When I see them, I think of the scene of me struggling to leave the Tian family. Besides, I don¡¯t n to get married in the future.


    Shopkeeper Lu felt her heart ache as she hugged Qiao Mai in her arms. ¡°Good girl, you¡¯re too soft-hearted. However, this Young Master Yuan seems to be quite nice. Although you¡¯re a fake couple, you¡¯re going to live together. Why don¡¯t you give each other a chance?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when the timees. I don¡¯t have the mood right now, and neither does he. We¡¯ll just live as partners.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, this is the only way now. I¡¯ve really wronged you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not feeling wronged. There¡¯s one more person at home who helps me with the housework and takes care of the children. I can eat a hot meal when Ie back. ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really big-hearted. You don¡¯t know, but when I heard this news, my head buzzed and I couldn¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s a fake marriage, I didn¡¯t discuss it with you and made my own decision.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we have a wedding drink?¡±


    Qiao Mai burst outughing. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until after the autumn harvest. Once the weather gets cold, I¡¯ll boil the entire pot and everyone can eat together?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I like that one the most.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make lunch for you. Why don¡¯t you stay and eat together?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m still busy. When I heard about you, I didn¡¯t even care about the guests and came over. I have to go.¡±


    ¡°Then Sister Lu, you can go and do your work. I¡¯ll wrap it up at noon and get


    Fengyun to send it to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    They did not have ss today and knew that Yuan Jiaqi had something to do. She expressed her understanding, but she could not do anything about it even if she did not understand. Yuan Jiaqi did not ept any gifts from them, so Chen Hao could be considered to be freeloading.


    When she heard about this, she came over to congratte him and stayed behind to help make dumplings.


    ¡°I told you two were fated.¡±


    Madam Qiao smiled and did not exin further.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to have a man at home to help. As women, it¡¯s really tough for us to take care of a child alone without anyone to help.¡±


    ¡°Then if you meet a suitable one, why don¡¯t you remarry too?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. Will there even be a suitable one?¡± As she spoke, she nced at Yuan Jiaqi, who was doing some work.


    Qiao Mai lowered her head to wrap the dumplings and did not see it. Actually, Madam Chen had a good impression of Yuan Jiaqi for a long time. It was just that she was a few years older than him and was also a woman. She did not have the courage to confess.


    He did not expect that in just a few days, Yuan Jiaqi and Madam Qiao actually walked together. She really felt that it was a pity.


    Although Shopkeeper Lu did note to eat the dumplings, Qiao Mai still personally went over after they were done cooking. She gave the five of them arge pot, which was enough for them to eat.


    When she came back, the whole family and Madam Chen and her son were waiting for her.


    ¡°The head of the family is finally back.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat. The meat dumplings have to be eaten hot to taste good.¡±


    The children were busy with their food, and Qiao Mai said while eating dumplings, ¡°In the future, my family will have three little men.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened as he ate and spun around.


    ¡°Auntie, can I stay at your house in the future?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can move in tonight, as long as you can tidy up the house.¡±


    Chuan ¡®er quickly looked at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Daddy, can I? I want to stay at Auntie¡¯s house.¡±


    Madam Chen smiled. ¡°Of course, you can. In the future, your father and your aunt will be husband and wife. You don¡¯t have to call her aunt anymore. You have to call her mother.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er blinked his big eyes.¡± Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡¯


    ¡°I like this auntie. She can be my mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°If you¡¯re not used to it, you can call me Auntie first. You can change it in the future. There¡¯s no rush.¡±


    ¡°No, no, I like Auntie, Auntie is like Mother! Mother! Mother¡±


    Qiao Mai blushed at his cute act. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat!¡±


    When Madam Chen and her son saw this situation, they did not stay any longer and left after eating their fill.


    After the meal, Fengyun and the other two cleared the bowls and chopsticks. Yuan Jiaqi brought Qiao Mai to the east wing.


    ¡°The quails are all in the west wing. I moved them to a room and vacated three rooms. I also put the furniture back in ce and cleaned the bed.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you move in today?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go pack my luggage. You go to the west wing and take a look. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I¡¯ll change it tomorrow.¡±


    One went back to move things, while the other went to the west wing.


    The sky was notpletely dark yet, so she could still see inside. She saw arge shelf with arge box neatly arranged on it. When she walked closer, she saw that the quails were well inside, and the bottom was covered with straw. It was clean.


    There were a total of four levels, and each level could amodate more than a hundred of them. It was not crowded at all.


    This guy was quite capable. He could even think of this. He really knew how to save space.


    ¡®That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve really underestimated him. They say that schrs are


    useless, but I didn¡¯t expect this schr to be so useful.¡¯


    She had picked up two small gains, and this time, she had picked up a big one.


    His potential still needed to be developed.


    Yuan Jiaqi came back with a big bag and nothing else.


    Seeing Qiao Mai and the three children eating fruits in the courtyard, his heart was filled with an indescribable sense offort.


    ¡°Dad,e and eat the fruit quickly.¡±


    ¡°You guys eat. Dad wille after you haveid the bedding.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought of Ling¡¯er in the space and said to his two sons, ¡°Feng¡¯er,


    Yun¡¯er, don¡¯t call him ¡®Teacher¡¯ anymore. Call him ¡®Father¡¯, understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Mmhm, I¡¯m tired and I¡¯m going back to my room to rest. You guys plug the courtyard door properly and go restter.¡±


    Qiao Mai entered the room and locked the door into the space. Ling ¡®er was ying with her hands..

 Chapter 58 - 58: Nosy Onlookers

    Chapter 58: Nosy Onlookers


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Shey down beside her daughter. ¡°Daughter, you have a father now. Although it¡¯s a fake marrige, when youe out, the children won¡¯tugh at you for being a fatherless child. Whether it¡¯s me or him, we¡¯re all your family. You have aplete family now.¡±


    ¡°Cuckle, cuckle, cuckle¡±


    Ling¡¯er smiled. Qiao Mai turned to the side and pinched her little face.


    ¡°Are you hungry? From tomorrow onwards, Mother will steam egg custard for you, right?¡±


    Qiao Mai got up and made milk for her, fed her, and yed with her. She had beenzy for the past two days, so she did not manage her space much.


    There will always be a day when people are tired and do not want to move. In this case, one should just rest.


    Before she went to bed, she even poured herself a ss of red wine.


    A beautiful day had begun. Yuan Jiaqi now had a legitimate reason to help Qiao Mai.


    After breakfast, the children fed the quails and added fodder and water to the horses.


    Yuan Jiaqi was Qiao Mai¡¯s assistant. He helped her prepare all the items and helped her push the cart onto the official road beforeing back. The sound of reading rang out in the Qiao family¡¯s courtyard again.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s stall was once again in an uproar.


    ¡°Lady Qiao, you¡¯re really a great troublemaker. You took a husband without a sound?¡±


    ¡°What? Can¡¯t I? I¡¯m not a youngdy. Can¡¯t I get married again?.¡±


    ¡°Your husband is really sharp-eyed. He found such a capable wife like you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s quite dependable too. It¡¯s just that you didn¡¯t see it.¡±


    ¡°Look, we haven¡¯t even said anything yet, and you¡¯re already protecting her.¡± ¡°Do you want to buy anything? If you don¡¯t buy it, let others buy it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy. Give me six oranges, a bowl of red dates, and twenty quail eggs.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s business was booming, but in the school, Teacher Lin was so angry that he could not vent his anger.


    If it was two days ago, he could still go to Yuan Jiaqi and ask him not to teach Madam Qiao¡¯s children. However, what excuse could he say now?


    The two of them were husband and wife. It was only natural for them to teach their own children. Who could control them?


    This time, Teacher Lin had be the joke of the town.


    Tian Yaozu was even angrier. He went home and told Tian Laoshi and his wife about this.


    ¡°What is it? She actually found a live-in husband?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she registered to be living at our house?¡±


    ¡°The official came and left. They have the letter of separation, so we can¡¯t stop the official, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so angry. She¡¯s a b*tch who has been trampled under our feet. How can she marry again?¡±


    Seeing their grandson go crazy, Tian Laoshi and his wife felt that there was something wrong with him.


    ¡°Yaozu, let¡¯s not care about her. Study hard. When you¡¯re sessful in the future, you can still trample her under your feet.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll participate in the imperial examination next year. I¡¯ll definitely get an official rank.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s right. When you¡¯re in town, who will dare to disobey you? What¡¯s the use of having a kind person helping her? Even a kind person is afraid of officials.¡¯


    When Tian Laoshi and his wife spoke, their faces were as malevolent as ghosts.


    ¡°She is Sanzhuang¡¯s woman no matter when he¡¯s dead or alive. How can she find a husband?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s toote to say anything. I knew that she wasn¡¯t a good person. It hasn¡¯t been long, but she already found another man.¡±


    ¡°If I had known, I would have killed her at home.


    When the people at the side heard this, they all lowered their heads. The wives of the first and second sons looked at each other, and their hearts turned slightly cold.


    They could imagine that if Madam Qiao was not at home, they wouldn¡¯t know how thev would be bullied when their mother-inw had to vent her anger.


    Since Madam Qiao left, the two of them had done more work than before, and they had been scolded countless times.


    Their mother-inw did not dare to hit them, but she kept pointing fingers at them every day. Their husbands also worked hard and did not care much.


    They felt that they could not live this life anymore. Fortunately, their own parents treated them well. Otherwise, they would really have no way to live.


    Thinking back to Qiao Mai¡¯s days in the Tian family, they all felt that they were too inhumane in the past. They had helped their mother-inw bully her. It was finally their turn to taste the bitterness of their third sister-inw.


    Secretly, the two of them often revealed to outsiders, intentionally or unintentionally, that they should never marry into the Tian family or interact with the Tian family.


    They were too inhumane. These two sisters-inws were looking forward to moving as soon as possible.


    No one wanted to take care of the elders. They would wait until they were unable to move.


    In other words, no one wanted to live with these two old elders.


    Of course, this thought was just in their hearts.


    Since the news of Qiao Mai¡¯s marriage could reach the Tian family, it could also reach the Qiao family.


    Those who came to watch the show were not afraid of trouble. Some people even specially sent things over to watch the show.


    Qiao Shicheng was lying on the bed. Twenty hits had almost taken his life. The others were not feeling well either.


    The ox-cart in the vige made several trips to town every day. The driver of the ox-cart that day did not like Qiao Shicheng. When he heard about Qiao Mai¡¯s matter, he immediately told the vigers about it.


    ¡°Look at what Qiao Shicheng¡¯s family has done. She¡¯s a good daughter. It¡¯s not like she was divorced after she cheated on her husband and was kicked out by her inws. The family doesn¡¯t even care about this matter, which makes her heart cold.¡±


    ¡°He was actually thick-skinned enough to settle scores with his daughter. When he saw that his daughter had been bought, dressed well, and received the monthly silver, he wanted to get money from her. He had already broken off ties with his daughter for ten taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Shameless thing. He went to look for his daughter after breaking ties. He couldn¡¯t bear seeing his daughter living better. He deserves to be beaten. Now, she has a literate man with a son entering her home. The days are getting better and better, That old thing must be angry. I¡¯m telling you, others don¡¯t understand, but I know about it.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, tell me.¡±


    ¡°That man is from the Apricot Blossom Vige. He loved reading since he was young. Teacher Lin¡¯s school in Tianshui Town even let him study for free for a few years. He didn¡¯t have money to buy pens and paper, so he sold firewood.¡±


    ¡°He secretly saved up money to buy a pen and wrote on the ground with water. He had practiced good calligraphy. Just copying books for the library would earn him dozens of taels of silver a year.¡±


    ¡°Wow, such a man is rare. If his parents supported him to study, he would have been sessful long ago, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly, but his parents are worse than Qiao Shicheng. They use their son as a money tree and only pick girls from rich families to marry. After the girls go home, they take their dowry and torture them.¡±


    ¡°Does his family know that he can copy books to earn money?¡±


    ¡°Of course, they don¡¯t know. If they knew, would they have let him go? I overheard from the shopkeeper of the library.¡±


    ¡°Then why did they let him go this time?¡±


    ¡°I heard that he insisted on marrying into Madam Qiao¡¯s family. Madam Qiao is Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s person, and Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s heart ached for Madam Qiao, so she found the mayor toe forward and move that man¡¯s household registration to Madam Qiao¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°My heavens, wouldn¡¯t man¡¯s parents be in turmoil?¡±


    ¡°The official personally went to the door to change the household registration, so would they dare to cause trouble? After the officer left, they went to the town to cause trouble for the man.¡¯


    ¡°What happened after that?¡±


    ¡°No matter how his parents tormented him, he was determined to marry into the family. His parents saw that what was done was done, so they could only ask for 100 taels of silver to end this kinship and even write a letter to end it.¡± ¡°Haha, these two poor lovebirds are fated.¡±


    ¡°I went to Tianshui Town this morning to do some work. When I heard this matter, I was very happy.¡±


    ¡°Qiao Shicheng still doesn¡¯t know, right?¡±


    ¡°If he knew, he would be furious. His daughter can earn money, and his son-inw can earn money. If he was like an actual father, he would not let his daughter¡¯s heart go cold. With his daughter¡¯s kind character, she could even help beggars.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He doesn¡¯t look like an elder. He deserves to be like this.¡±


    The coachmanined to the vigers and felt a little better. Some vigers ran to the Qiao family¡¯s house to have a look.


    Madam Oiao Lu¡¯s heart was filled with regret, and Oiao Shicheng¡¯s heart was filled with bitterness.


    No one knew why they were suffering. They brought this upon themselves. Suffering was a small matter. It was good that they did not die..

 Chapter 59 - 59: That’s My Father

    Chapter 59: That¡¯s My Father


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After Qiao Mai opened her stall, she received attention from all sides. However, this did not hinder her business. Instead, her small business became even more prosperous.


    Business continued throughout the day, and she did not idle.


    At noon, Yuan Jiaqi cooked at home and even asked Fengyun to send it to her.


    She had finished the white rice and stir-fried vegetables.


    When it was time to close the stall, Yuan Jiaqi came over personally. He pushed the cart, acting like a good husband.


    He was not acting as he was grateful to Qiao Mai for helping him. He was grateful for Qiao Mai¡¯s sacrifice.


    He chose Qiao Mai out of his own selfishness. The good things that he had said about Qiao Mai were all superficial.


    He was good-looking, diligent, and caring for his family. He had no bad hobbies and was a good man in the eyes of the youngdies.


    There were always women throwing flirtatious nces at him, which really annoyed him.


    However, Qiao Mai looked at him as if he was an ordinary person. She did not have any feelings for him at all. Coupled with Qiao Mai¡¯s character and the urgency of being forced by his family, he asked Qiao Mai for help.


    He did not expect that she would just ask him a few questions before reaching out to save him. She did not care at all.


    Moreover, he had observed that she did not agree to help him because she was interested in him, but because she was sincere in helping him.


    Therefore, he had to treat her sincerely and repay her for saving him.


    Seeing Yuan Jiaqie to close the stall with Qiao Mai, Shopkeeper Lu felt gratified. She knew that this man was a good man.


    If not, he would have left the children at home and gone out to have fun.


    ¡°Brother-inw, you have to treat my sister well.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded at Shopkeeper Lu. ¡°I will definitely treat my wife well.¡±


    Qiao Mai felt extremely rxed when he returned home and the food was ready.


    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Let¡¯s live together and help each other.¡± ¡°Alright, since everyone is here, I¡¯ll say something.¡±


    ¡°Please speak.¡¯


    ¡°We have more people now, so it can¡¯t be like before. Without rules, it will not be fair. In the future, I will pay ten taels of silver to you every month so that you can take care of the family matters.¡±


    ¡°I can do that. I have nothing to do at home anyway. I just teach and copy books.¡±


    ¡°Yes, these ten taels of silver include the food, clothes, and ink for the children.


    If it¡¯s not enough, you can tell me. You don¡¯t have to pay for it yourself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy mine and Chuan ¡®er¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°No need. You can help me reduce my burden by doing the housework. I can focus on earning money outside.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi thought about it and did not act pretentious. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°In the future, when Fengyun, Yunfeng, and I are jogging and training, you and Chuan¡¯er should also get up and train. Only with a strong physique can you not be afraid of wind, rain, disasters, and diseases.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s expression changed. ¡°That¡¯s even better.¡±


    ¡°Lastly, whatever I do, if you want to support me, then help me. If you don¡¯t want to support me, then stand aside and don¡¯t get involved. I have the final say in my own matters, and you have the final say in your own matters.¡±


    ¡°No problem!¡±


    On the spot, Qiao Mai took out ten taels of silver and ced them in a cloth bag before handing it over to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°I¡¯ll write all the spending down one by one.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s eat. In the future, when I¡¯m not at home, you and the child will cook. When I¡¯m at home, I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    She was now the head of the family. When she moved her chopsticks, only the others could.


    Lil¡¯ Chuan¡¯er looked at Qiao Mai with a smile in his eyes.


    ¡°Mother, Big Brother, and Second Brother don¡¯t call my father as ¡®Teacher¡¯ any more. They called with ¡®Father¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re calling me ¡®Mother¡¯ too, right? Why? Are you the only one allowed to call me ¡®Mother¡¯, but they¡¯re not allowed to call him ¡®Father!?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he my father?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still their mother too. Why don¡¯t you call me ¡®Aunt¡¯ in the future? Then they can call him ¡®Teacher¡¯.¡±


    Chuan ¡®er frowned and said unwillingly.


    ¡°Alright, for Mother¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll allow them to call him ¡®Father¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    The small courtyard was filled withughter as they ate. Madam Chen, who was next door, felt very upset when she heard that. She really regretted not confessing to Yuan Jiaqi earlier.


    At night, Qiao Mai was still sleeping in the space. She had been cking off for the past two days, so tonight, she filled up the empty space.


    Some turnips, garlic, onions, etc. had to be nted, and the tree species had to be ntedter.


    She had almost all the fruits from the fruit trees in her freezer. She could not eat nuts for the time being, but she had plenty of spices on the shelves. She could still make copies of them when she used them, so she was not in a hurry.


    She had thought about it. If there were people selling candied haws in winter, she would not sell them. If there weren¡¯t, she would add candied haws.


    Roasted sweet potatoes, boiled corn, spiced peanuts, and spiced quail eggs. These five were good.


    Shopkeeper Lu did persuade her to buy a shop, but there was no empty space in the town. It was all upied. She did notck money, so she made do with it for now.


    She felt that setting up a stall was more interesting than opening a shop. On a cold day, merchants from the South and North coulde to her stall and eat hot sweet potatoes, boiled corn, peanuts, and quail eggs without getting off their horses. How good was this?


    As September arrived, there were fewer people buying watermelons, but there were still some.


    Some agricultural products gradually appeared on the market. There were also fresh peanuts and sweet potatoes, but they were not selling as well as her.


    Many mountain products also appeared in the market.


    Sometimes, when she saw fresh ones, she would buy some, but most of them had bug holes, which made her very unhappy.


    Recently, a kind of persimmon appeared in Tianshui Town. It was as big as a millstone and looked appetizing.


    She did not have this in her space. Persimmons were a good thing. They were an alkali-based food and were good for the body.


    Therefore, she would buy them whenever she saw them. Moreover, she would buy them inrge quantities. She had already agreed with the seller that as long as they were good, she would buy them all. Therefore, the seller sent them to her one by one.


    She epted all of them.


    She bought a fewrge jars and filled them with warm water. She then soaked the hard seeds in a few jars and sealed them up. She handed the rest to Yuan Jiaqi and the children.


    She asked him to help make a few shelves, cut off the outer skin of the persimmons, and then strung them up with thread. Hanging them outside to dry naturally, she nned to make them all into dried persimmons.


    The strings of persimmons were like smallnterns, looking especially beautiful.


    She had noticed that there was no such thing in the Great Ming Dynasty. This was a business opportunity.


    In a small courtyard, as long as there was a ce, it would be hung everywhere.


    Chuan ¡®er was greedy. Even though Qiao Mai had told him that this was very astringent, he did not believe it. When Qiao Mai was not around, he secretly took a bite. When he spat it out, he almost cried. Yuan Jiaqi did not know whether tough or cry.


    Six dayster, Qiao Mai opened the sealed jar. She took one out and washed it. She peeled it and cut it into pieces. She took a piece and tasted it.


    It was crispy, sweet, and delicious.


    Then, she washed a few more, cut them into pieces, and called everyone over to taste them.


    ¡°The taste is not bad. Compared to other fruits, it has a different taste.¡±


    ¡°I bought these for two copper coins per catty. How about selling them for five copper per catty?¡±


    ¡°Is anyone buying it?¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°Which of the old customers wouldn¡¯t give me some face? Eating this is good for their health. They should buy it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not good at business.¡±


    Qiao Mai found arge basin and picked up some of the persimmons to clean them. She then asked her son to bring two baskets and wipe the rice husks one by one with a towel.


    ¡°Fengyun, go and deliver a basket to Shopkeeper Lu.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Yunfeng, go and send a basket to Aunt Chen and tell them how to eat it. You two go together ande back together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too.¡± Chuan ¡®er hurriedly followed them. Yuan Jiaqi also hurriedly got up and followed.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried, so let¡¯s go over together. Human traffickers are rampant these days, and the three children are not old.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±

 Chapter 60 - 60: The Detestable Human Trafficker

    Chapter 60: The Detestable Human Trafficker


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the three of them left, Qiao Mai continued to wash the persimmons and prepare for tomorrow¡¯s stall.


    They first went to send the persimmons to Madam Chen. She was the closest. The children opened the door. When Madam Chen saw the unripe persimmons, she was still a little unhappy.


    ¡°Aunty, this is the persimmons that my mother dried. You can eat it after peeling it. It¡¯s crisp and sweet.¡±


    ¡°Really, your mother is really capable.¡±


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯re busy. I¡¯ll send a basket to Shopkeeper Lu.¡±


    Madam Chen saw that Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s basket was so big and her basket was so small. She felt a little ufortable and saw Yuan Jiaqi following a few meters away.


    She immediately smiled. ¡°Brother Yuan, did youe out with the children?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m worried about them. Sister Chen, we¡¯ll be going to Shopkeeper Lu.¡±


    ¡°Good, good!¡±


    After they left, Miss Chen looked at Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s back with an aggrieved expression.


    When Shopkeeper Lu saw the persimmons, she said happily, ¡°Ah, you guys are here to send me pawns?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Auntie, quickly try it. You can eat it after peeling it with a knife.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu was very enthusiastic. She let the three little ones sit down in the shop and let Xiuhong and Xiuyu cut the persimmons on the spot.


    ¡°Quick, let¡¯s try it together.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve eaten and thought it was delicious, so Mother asked us to send it over.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu took a bite. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s delicious. I like the texture and taste. Your mother is really good. In the past, when it was the persimmons season, people usually wait until they were soft before eating them. I don¡¯t like to eat that kind of food. It feels like it¡¯s only eaten toothless olddies.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Everyoneughed. Yuan Jiaqi, who was standing outside the shop, alsoughed.


    The children stood up. ¡°Aunty Lu, we have to go home. Mother will miss us if we stay out for too long.¡±


    ¡°Go, go!¡±


    The children came out of the house and skipped home. Yuan Jiaqi followed behind them.


    At this moment, a man darted past him and was about to attack the three children. He was quick to react and bent down to pick up a stone and threw it at him.


    The man screamed and turned around to curse.


    ¡°Why did you hit me?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t hit you.¡±


    ¡°Then why does my waist hurt so much?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe you ran too fast just now and sprained it.¡±


    As they spoke, the children stopped and quickly ran to Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s side. The man realized that the three children had a guardin and immediately knew what had happened.


    It turned out that he had been exposed. This man knew what he was doing, so he threw a rock at him.


    Seeing that he was taller and stronger than him, the man snorted coldly and walked away with his hands on his waist.


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly said to the three children, ¡°Don¡¯t follow the adults in the future. Don¡¯t go out. That was a human trafficker.¡±


    ¡°What is a human trafficker?¡±


    ¡°f youe out alone, it¡¯s very easy to be snatched away. In the future, you won¡¯t be able to see your parents again.¡±


    The three children quickly expressed their fear. ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s not go out anymore. We can¡¯t lose our parents. It¡¯s too scary.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s hurry back.¡±


    After returning home, the three of them told Qiao Mai about this matter, and Qiao Mai was furious.


    ¡°Big Brother Yuan, quickly go to the mayor¡¯s house and tell him about that person¡¯s appearance. Tell their guards to pay attention to him when they patrol. ¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go now.¡±


    After Yuan Jiaqi left, the children took over her work. Qiao Mai sat down and pondered.


    There were many human traffickers in modern times, let alone in ancient times. If it was just an ordinary human trafficker, the most they could do was to keep the children from going out.


    However, if someone targeted her, Qiao Mai gritted her teeth, indicating that her body had almost recovered.


    She had around 60% of her previous body. If they dared to touch her, she would make them bear the consequences!


    She clenched her fists and said, ¡°Sons, you have to train your bodies well in the future. You have to follow your mother¡¯s training. When you grow up, ordinary people can¡¯t touch you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. We will definitely practice martial arts with Mother.¡±


    Although she was a top student, her martial arts were also first-ss. She could be considered a versatile talent who developed both civil and military skills.


    Now that the Yuan family started teaching literature, she taught martial arts. She hoped that the children would grow up healthily.


    If it really did not work, she would install a mini tracker on the child so that no matter where they were in the future, she would be able to find them immediately.


    After a while, Yuan Jiaqi returned. ¡°The mayor sent guards to search for this person in town.¡±


    ¡°Yes, whether you¡¯re at home or out, you must be careful.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll try not to go out in the future. Just let me handle the matter of going out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the only way. I¡¯ll catch the hateful human trafficker and tear his skin off.¡¯


    The news of the human traffickers in the town spread like wildfire. The children of every household were locked up at home.


    Fortunately, they all had courtyards, unlike the modern skyscrapers that made people feel bored.


    Qiao Mai went to set up the stall, and will her skills, several jars of fish were also quickly sold out.


    ording to her observations and what she had seen and heard, this dynasty mainly focused on food crops. There were some vegetable farmers, but there were still few vegetables in winter.


    It was better in the south. There were vegetables in the winter, but they were rotten when they were transported here.


    There were also fruit farmers. They were all from rich families. Very few people nted fruit trees on arge scale.


    Because it required a lot of manpower, financial resources, and money, it was not easy to manage. Even if someone spent a lot of effort to grow it, it was only to sell it to the rich. These fruits were generally difficult to appear in small ces.


    Ever since Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi started working together, no one hade to disturb their lives.


    Every day was peaceful and warm. At the end of September, it rained and the weather turned cold.


    It was no longer eptable to be single. Yuan Jiaqi bought two sets of autumn clothes for each family member from the clothing store. Ruxin and Ruyi also bought autumn clothes for Qiao Mai.


    This was a gift from a disciple to a master. Normally, each of them should make two sets for her each season, which was a total of sixteen sets of clothes.


    Qiao Mai did not allow them to do it. There were too many clothes for her to wear, but the two of them did not listen. They said that she did not have any clothes and that they had to be filial to her for two years.


    Shopkeeper Lu did not care much and just let the children be.


    During the rainy days, she stayed at home and cook more for the children. She even called Shopkeeper Lu and Madam Chen, who was next door, over.


    During this season, the fish and prawns in the river were the fattest. She took out the pickled fish, three fresh blood curd, chicken popcorn, chicken tenderloin, and some crispy chicken pieces from the freezer.


    The first two dishes were heated up, and thetter ones were fried. Although there were not many dishes, the amount was especiallyrge.


    Spicy food was the most popr among everyone. The children at the back liked it the most, and so did the adults.


    After drinking a little wine, she felt that the more she thought about it, the more she thought that life was good.


    Especially Yuan Jiaqi. Ever since he came to the Qiao family, he gradually seemed to forget that he and Madam Qiao was a fake couple.


    He was serious toward his family, the outside world, her, and the three children.


    When he went out, he always referred to Qiao Mai as his wife. However, Qiao Mai had never called him ¡®Hubby¡¯.


    Some people were in character, while others were not.


    Madam Chen looked at the loving family and was envious. She was angry at Qiao Mai and at herself at the same time. She was very conflicted. She had hidden it well and Qiao Mai had never found out.


    On the first day of October, the weather was clear. Qiao Mai had just opened his stall when the mayor strolled over with his hands behind his back. He smiled like a big wolf.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, are you setting up your stall?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why are you always busy?¡±


    ¡°Do you still remember what you promised?¡±


    ¡°The recipes?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had any fresh food recently.¡±


    ¡°How about that crispy persimmon?¡±


    ¡°That? It¡¯s too simple. It¡¯s free. I¡¯ll tell you right away.¡± The mayor looked around. ¡°Lower your voice.¡±


    ¡°Just soak it in warm water for five or six days and seal it in a jar.¡±


    ¡°Is it that simple?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you have to use hard persimmons. Soft ones won¡¯t do. The best ones slightly unripe ones.¡±


    ¡°I understand. It¡¯s too simple. This doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for you for free!¡±

 Chapter 61 - 61: Get Lost If You Can’t Do It

    Chapter 61: Get Lost If You Can¡¯t Do It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Remember to look for me next time.¡¯


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    When the mayor left, an old couple came to her stall. Qiao Mai sat on a chair and watched them calmly.


    It turned out to be Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents. They were here to cause trouble again.


    ¡°You¡¯re Jiaqi¡¯s daughter-inw?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡±


    ¡°I remember you. You were in the crowdst time.¡± ¡°Yeah, I watched the fun for a while. What do you want?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at them calmly.


    Why did these twoe? Naturally, they had heard the rumors and even investigated. If they had known earlier that their youngest son¡¯s wife was Madam Qiao, whom everyone in the small town was jealous of, they would not have cut ties no matter what.


    Rumors said that Madam Qiao could earn a lot of silver in a month, much more than the hundred taels. Their faces are turning green with regret!


    ¡°We are Jiaqi¡¯s parents.¡±


    ¡°Not anymore.¡±


    ¡°Did you ask Jiaqi to do this?¡±


    ¡°Bah, you sold your son and mistreated him since he was young. He wanted to leave a long time ago.¡± ¡°I think you instigated it.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say. Get lost.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, there¡¯s no way you can leave the Yuan family so easily!¡±


    ¡°Get lost if you¡¯re all talk. If you don¡¯t have the ability, scram. Stop talking so much nonsense here. I¡¯m not your son. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already inquired beforeing here. You¡¯ve also heard what kind of person I, Madam Qiao, am.¡±


    ¡°Just wait for it!¡±


    ¡°If you want to be broke,e and me.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t even look at them. The couple nced at the goods in her stall, swallowed, and left with a flick of their sleeves.


    They were not fools, which was much stronger than the Qiao and Tian family.


    These three families would probably keeping over to look for trouble in the future. She was a farmer and had no backing. They added some fun to her life.


    Qiao Mai did not take them seriously at all. They could cause trouble or make a scene, but they could not touch her people!


    She must settle down first. She can¡¯t be too anxious.


    October was the harvest season for farmers.


    If she were busy, no one would remember her.


    It also let her focus on her work. In the market, Qiao Mai would buy chestnuts when she saw someone selling them and fry them for the children as snacks.


    When Qiao Mai saw fresh lotus seeds, she would also buy them. She guarded the official road, so peddlers from the south and north had to pass by her. When she saw good ones, she would hurriedly ask them to stop. As long as they were not expensive, she would buy some. If they were expensive, she would buy them at a lower price.


    With her space, she was not afraid of spoge, nor was she afraid of buying too much.


    The weather was getting cold, so she had to stock up on supplies.


    Every month, she would hand over ten taels of silver to the Yuan family on time. She rarely asked about the family¡¯s affairs. She gave the child freedom and space to the Yuan family. This was what the child and he liked the most.


    With her busy work, mid-October soon arrived. The rice cakes at her home were almost dried out.


    The temperature outside had also dropped to around 15 degrees. Everyone wore thin coats, and the wooden box Qiao Mai had ordered from the carpenter shop had also been delivered.


    She ced the rice cakes into the wooden box. She put twenty in a box, umting to over two hundred boxes. It could be seen that she had collected a lot of rice cakes.


    ¡°Brother Yuan, can you help me send two boxes to Sister Chen next door?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi hesitated for a moment and felt that it was necessary to say it. ¡°I¡¯m a man. It¡¯s inappropriate for me to give something to a single woman.¡±


    ¡°Then take Fengyun with you. Let him deliver it while you watch from the side.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Give Shopkeeper Lu another ten boxes. Tell her not to eat too much at a time and to eat everything appropriately.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Send another ten boxes to the mayor. I¡¯ll sell the rest. We¡¯ll keep twenty boxes for ourselves.


    ¡°You¡¯re the head of the family. You can make the decisions.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him and smiled.¡± Okay.¡±


    The rice cakes were round and had ayer of frost on them.


    ¡°It¡¯s sweet and sticky, like eating glutinous rice balls. Not bad. Old people would probably love to eat it.¡±


    After the mayor received it, he looked at it for a long time and tried a bite.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s delicious and a little chewy. There are few fruits and vegetables in winter. Eating this is better than preserved fruits.¡±


    He ate two in one go. If not for Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s instructions, he would have eaten at least five.


    Madam Qiao was really smart. Whenever there was delicious food, she would send it to him. She was worthy of his help.


    Seeing that the weather was getting colder by the day, the Yuan family set up a shed at the side of the house. After discussing with Qiao Mai, they decided to stock up three carts of charcoal for ten taels of silver per cart and thirty catties of firewood for ten taels of silver per catty.


    They had to burn the brick bed at home and warm the little quails. They could not do without firewood and charcoal for a while.


    Qiao Mai thought and decided it was not enough to only stock up on these. She also asked Yuan Jiaqi to purchase a hundred catties of rice, white flour, and other groceries. The house was almost full.


    Fengyun and Yunfeng had already moved to the west wing, and their original room had be a warehouse.


    There were four upper rooms, one warehouse, one bedroom, one living room, and one kitchen.


    To keep everyone warm in the winter, the east and west wings each had a stove hall dedicated to burning the charcoal.


    There were four stoves in the house now, and each of them had a big pot on top.


    This way, there was no need for a charcoal stove. They could cook the peanuts directly in the big pot.


    At the end of October, the weather turned cold. Finally, the weather changed.


    The north wind howled, causing people¡¯s faces to hurt. Qiao Mai continued to set up her stall. The portable house she had ordered at the carpenter shop was already ready.


    Yuan Jiaqi helped her set up the wooden house at the stall every day, prepare the table, and only went home after everything was done.


    Many women envied Qiao Mai and praised Yuan Jiaqi the moment they met. Qiao Mai only smiled.


    Sitting in the wooden house and guarding the four charcoal stoves, she was not cold at all. There were not many customers, so she was doing embroidery inside. She felt peaceful alone.


    Many peddlers didn¡¯te out in such weather, but she was still holding on.


    In such weather, they should be at home, boiling a pot of hot water, making tea, enjoying a te of melon seeds, and sitting together as a family.


    She didn¡¯t want to stay at home. She felt ufortable when she was free. She couldn¡¯t help her child with his studies in the morning.


    In the afternoon, after the child had eaten, she would nap and y for a while. He had to copy and read books, which meant he was busy.


    Since their rtionship was fake, it was not necessary to be intimate together.


    It was good to keep some distance.


    Just as Qiao Mai was embroidering, a carriage stopped in front of her stall. Miss Wang, whom she had not seen for a long time, appeared.


    ¡°Hey, Sister Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Oh, what a rare guest.¡±


    ¡°Recently, something happened at home, so I didn¡¯te over. Please forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your brother?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s at home. He didn¡¯te with me today.¡±


    ¡°I just happen to have something to ask you for help. Can you do it?¡±


    ¡°Of course. What¡¯s our rtionship? As long as I can help, I¡¯ll definitely do it.¡±


    Hence, Qiao Mai called Xiu Hong over to look after the stall. She went to the embroidery shop and called Shopkeeper Lu, then led the carriage in front and arrived at the Qiao family¡¯s house.


    Miss Wang and the servant girl got out of the carriage. She held Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s arm affectionately with one hand and Qiao Mai¡¯s with the other.


    ¡°Is this your house?¡±


    ¡± Yes, go in. I¡¯ll take you to see something.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai had been waiting for this day for a long time. They knocked on the door, and Yuan Jiaqi came out to open it. Seeing the outsiders, he opened the door and waited for them to enter. Then, he locked the door and went straight back to his room. ¡°Sister Qiao, who is that?¡±


    ¡°My man?¡±


    ¡°Wow, I haven¡¯t seen you for over a month, and you¡¯re already married?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not my first marriage. We¡¯re both willing to be together, so we moved our household registration.¡±


    ¡°This is too surprising. However, with your temper, I¡¯m not quite surprised.¡±


    She entered Qiao Mai¡¯s room. ¡°Shall we sit by the fire?¡±


    ¡°Your house is so warm.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a charcoal brazier in the room, and the brick bed is also burning, so it¡¯s naturally warm.¡±


    ¡°Your house is clean and tidy.¡±


    ¡°This is Sister Lu¡¯s house. She saw that I was pitiful and let me stay..¡±

 Chapter 62 - 62: She Won’t Leave Empty-handed

    Chapter 62: She Won¡¯t Leave Empty-handed


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The maids stood by the side, serving attentively. The three women climbed onto the warm bed, and before long, Fengyun arrived carrying a teapot and teacups.


    ¡°Hello, Aunties.¡±


    Miss Wang opened her mouth in surprise as she looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Sister Qiao, your son has grown so big in just two months?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s adopted.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Miss Wang quickly turned to Fengyun and said, ¡°You too. Take care.¡±


    Blushing, Fengyun poured the tea and left.


    ¡°The little one is quite clever,¡± Qiao Maimented.


    ¡°He has a twin brother too. But before talking about them, why don¡¯t you have some tea to warm up?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, after such a long journey, I am a bit cold, but there were charcoal braziers on the carriage too.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you first. You must havee for a reason.¡±


    ¡°Not much, it¡¯s just that my grandmother has been having a poor appetitetely. She can¡¯t eat much, and I thought of getting some fresh things from you.¡±


    ¡°How old is she?¡±


    ¡°Over sixty.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit tricky. As people age, their digestion bes less efficient. If it¡¯s cold, it¡¯s not suitable; if it¡¯s hard, it¡¯s not either.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°Can she eat hawthorn?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like candied hawthorn. She says it¡¯s too hard to bite and it¡¯s too sour and sweet. My grandmother prefers something light.¡±


    ¡°Then you could try medicinal cuisine.¡±


    ¡°Medicinal cuisine?¡±


    ¡°Yes, don¡¯t we have it here?¡± Miss Wang shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s both medicine and food.


    ¡°There¡¯s something like that?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Do you have it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have it either. You could ask a doctor or the imperial physicians in the capital. The emperor¡¯s health is precious, and he usually consumes medicinal dishes.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask someone to inquire and find two medicinal cuisine recipes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t help you with that aspect.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, you¡¯re not a deity. Tell me, what do you need help with?¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the cab¡¯s lock, took out an exquisite box, and ced it in front of Miss Wang.


    ¡°Could you open it and take a look?¡±


    Miss Wang nced at them both and then opened the box. Her eyes widened instantly.


    ¡°Goodness, such beautiful clothes!¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t even unfolded them yet. How do you know they¡¯re beautiful?¡±


    Miss Wang nodded, ¡°Let me tell you, I have a good eye for things. The fabric of these clothes is hard to find, and the craftsmanship, as well as the embroidered flowers, are exquisite. If worn, they would surely be stunning.¡±


    Seeing her eyes glued to the clothes, Qiao Mai began exining slowly.


    ¡°These clothes were left to me by my master. I want to entrust you with selling them, but under the condition that no one knows they belong to me.¡± ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because there¡¯s only one of these, and I¡¯m afraid someone might use it to manipte me, forcing me to obtain more of these clothes. I don¡¯t have the ability to do so.¡±


    ¡°How much do you n to sell them for?¡±


    ¡°Miss Wang, with your discerning eye, you should have an idea of the price, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. If a noble from the capital fancies them, they could be worth several thousand taels or even tens of thousands. But if a shady person is interested. they might not even give you a single silver tael.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I want to entrust you to get a good price.¡±


    Miss Wang looked at the clothes and said, ¡°Okay, but I have a condition.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu grinned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you making things difficult for my sister? It¡¯s winter, after all.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s fine if she wants fresh fruits and not exotic ones. Some fruit farmers know how to store fruits, so I can still buy them in winter. I¡¯ll give it a try.¡±


    Miss Wang took out the silver tickets she and her maid had brought and counted them.


    ¡°This is a deposit of 1,300 taels. Whatever price the clothes sell for, I¡¯ll give you that amount. How about I don¡¯t take a cut?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    Qiao Mai really liked her approach. It matched her style.


    ¡°Before the new year,e to my house, and I¡¯ll give you the remaining payment. You give me the fruits.¡±


    ¡°Agreed. By the way, there¡¯s one more thing.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. It wasn¡¯t anything significant earlier.¡±


    ¡°I want to ask you to help me hire a schr toe to our house, at least someone who is a provincial graduate.¡±


    ¡°To teach your child?¡±


    ¡°And also my husband.¡±


    ¡°You want to teach both the adult and the child?¡± ¡°Yes, my husband is quite intelligent. It would be a waste if he doesn¡¯t read.¡± ¡°Do you have a ce for the teacher to live?¡±


    ¡°We have a room in the west wing. As for the monthly sry, let the schr decide.¡±


    ¡°Your ce is quite small, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°After the new year, I¡¯ll visit the estate office and see if there are any bigger houses avable, or maybe buy a piece ofnd and build a house. I¡¯m just waiting for the money from those clothes.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask around for you. We can discuss hiring a schr after the new year.¡±


    ¡°Okay, when should Ie to the capital to meet you?¡±


    ¡°Before the 25th of the twelfth lunar month.¡±


    ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s settle on that.¡±


    Miss Wang sat in her yard for a while. When she left, Qiao Mai gave her twenty boxes of sweet rice cakes and a few pots of roasted chestnuts, about twenty catties in total.


    Every time this youngdy came, she never left empty-handed. Qiao Mai was aware of that, so she put in some effort.


    She even got some boiled peanuts and quail eggs from Qiao Mai¡¯s stall, not to mention roasted sweet potatoes.


    As she left, she waved goodbye through the carriage window, looking pleased.


    Once Miss Wang had gone, Shopkeeper Lu grinned and remarked, ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. She seems all smiles, but she¡¯s quite the shrewd one.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled as she handed over a thousand taels of silver. ¡°Hold onto this money for now. I¡¯ll split it with you once it¡¯s sold over there.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. Those connections are yours, and the goods too. How can I bring myself to take a cut?¡±


    ¡°Alright then. As agreed, I¡¯ll leave my embroidery work with you. We¡¯ll split the profits evenly. You need to prepare a generous dowry for Ruxin¡¯s marriage so her husband¡¯s family treats her well. Let¡¯s not be too polite. Take it.¡±


    Tears welled up in Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s eyes. ¡°You might appear straightforward, but you have the most delicate heart. I¡¯ll take it in advance.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. The folding screens will be ready soon. We can sell some of those too. No need to worry about her dowry.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I haven¡¯t made much profit from running this embroidery shop for years. If this weren¡¯t my own shop, I¡¯d probably be losing money. Ever since you came, my life has improved.¡± ¡°Things will only get better.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Why not train some embroidery apprentices? Start them young so they can handlerger projects in the future.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean I should buy girls and train them from a young age?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Ruyi is growing up too. She¡¯ll need to get married eventually.


    Relying solely on me to do the embroidery won¡¯t work. But don¡¯t take on too many. Two or three will do. If Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu show potential, Ruyi can teach them.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu chuckled, ¡°Are you willing to pass your double-sided embroidery technique to others?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why should I keep it all to myself? Embroidery skills are also a matter of fate. Some people can study for a long time and not excel, while others grasp it immediately. So, don¡¯t worry; not just anyone can master it in the Great Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Alright then. Once you agree, I¡¯ll start organizing it after the new year. I¡¯m hoping that the shop¡¯s business will flourish even more. Rest assured, you will have a share from all my future businesses.¡±


    ¡°No need. I have enough with what I have, and the ie from the stalls is sufficient to support my family.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not eptable. I must give you a share. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t be here now. It¡¯s what you deserve.¡±


    ¡°Up to you. I don¡¯t want to keep pushing it back and forth. Also, I¡¯ve thought of a few new embroidery techniques. I¡¯ll teach them to Ruxin and Ruyi.¡±


    ¡°Great,petition between embroidery shops can be fierce. If I didn¡¯t have some good friends supporting me, this shop would¡¯ve failed long ago.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m here, right? Let¡¯s work hard together and make this shop¡¯s business


    more sessful.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s make it more sessful.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu wiped away a tear and said, ¡°Qiao Mai, being with you always motivates me. It makes me want to do well and expand my business.¡±


    As for Miss Wang, once she returned to the Wang residence, she immediately instructed her servants to send all the things she brought to her courtyard.

 Chapter 63 - 63: What a Pity

    Chapter 63: What a Pity


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Holding a wooden box, Miss Wang found her father, Wang Zongsheng.


    He was a middle-sized man with average looks, somewhat plump, and without a beard.


    ¡°Father, take a look at this,¡± She said, opening the box and showing it to him.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Your daughter found a piece of clothing while out shopping. This is incredibly valuable. You¡¯ve mentioned how tough times are for my aunt in the pce. I¡¯m wondering if this clothing could help her?¡±


    Only then did Wang Zongsheng carefully examine the clothing. ¡°Wow. What kind of fabric is this?¡±


    Wang Jiaru held up the clothing with both hands. ¡°We don¡¯t have this fabric in the Great Ming Dynasty. This clothing has an extraordinarily novel design. When worn, it¡¯s as magnificent as a fairy. If Auntie wears it, could she gain favor with the Emperor?¡±


    ¡°No matter how beautiful a piece of clothing is, it¡¯s merely temporary.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t forget that Auntie has no offspring. If she captures the Emperor¡¯s attention, having a child or two by her side would be beneficial.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng looked at the clothing thoughtfully. ¡°Our family is declining gradually. Your grandpa and I had no choice but to settle here. It¡¯s been over ten years. But what about your Auntie? I feel like this isn¡¯t a reliable n.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s use this clothing to build connections. How about getting a good job for my brother in the Capital? If not, we could sell it and make some money?¡± ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, did you buy this clothing?¡±


    ¡°A friend¡¯s. I liked it, so I paid a deposit. This dress is worth a fortune. Father, you should make good use of it.¡±


    ¡°Why is it so expensive?¡±


    ¡°Just the fabric alone is worth that much, not to mention the embroidery on top. It¡¯s all double-sided embroidery.¡±


    ¡°Well, let me think about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and one more thing. Grandpa is just idling at home, right? How about I find him something to do? That way, he won¡¯t be bored all the time and drive Grandma crazy.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Tell me, what job?¡±


    ¡°One of my friends needs a schr. Why not have Grandpa go there to teach?¡± ¡°Teaching?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that family¡¯sdy is skilled in cooking and can get fresh fruits. Grandpa enjoys both of those things. He could have delicious meals and fruits teaching at her ce. Isn¡¯t that a great idea?¡±


    ¡°Will he agree?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not doing much anyway. He could go there for a change of scenery. If he feels homesick, he cane back and stay for a few days. Going back and forth would keep him from getting bored.¡± ¡°You can talk to him about it. I¡¯m not going. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll beat me up.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then what about this dress?¡±


    ¡°Keep it here.¡±


    After Wang Jiaru left, Wang Zongsheng stared at the clothing in a daze.


    The Wang family in Wei City was a branch of the Grand Master Wang¡¯s family in the Capital. If the main branch flourished, the others would thrive too.


    The Wang family had always been united. Even if thedies weren¡¯t favored in the pce, the Emperor never mistreated them. So, the branch supported the main family strongly.


    He was willing to buy this dress and send it to the main family. As long as they prospered, their branch could go further.


    Whether the dress would be sent to the pce or handled differently was up to the main family.


    He immediately wrote a letter, instructed his trusted aide, sealed the box, and sent it overnight to the Wang family in the Capital.


    In the backyard, an elderly man with grey hair sat while reading a book. When he saw his granddaughter, he put down the book.


    ¡°Ruler, why do you have time to visit your grandfather?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Grandpa, you alwaysin about being bored at home and having nowhere to go. I found you a job. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it first.¡±


    ¡°I have a friend whose husband wants to hire a schr to teach her three sons, who are eager to learn.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go. If they want to study, they should find a teacher. Not me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so knowledgeable. If you don¡¯t take in disciples, who will inherit your wisdom? It¡¯s a shame.¡¯


    Wang Jiaru sat across from him, resting her chin on her hand as she persuaded the old man.


    ¡°I¡¯m old. I¡¯ve taught both older and younger students. It¡¯s tiring. I won¡¯t go.¡± ¡°Grandpa, do you know where all the fruits I offer youe from?¡±


    ¡°As soon as you mention it, I know theye from that family.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Their fruit supply is consistent, and they offer a variety of snacks. If I didn¡¯t visit them for some time, many different foods would appear on her menu.¡±


    ¡°Even so, I won¡¯t go. When the timees, you can buy from their house.¡±


    ¡°I also have a lot of things to do, you know?¡±


    ¡°Did you go to their house this time?¡±


    The old man stood up immediately. ¡°Who said I¡¯m not interested? Bring them to me quickly.¡±


    He said while swallowing, and Wang Jiaru continued persuading.


    ¡°Grandpa, I haven¡¯t told her who you are yet. You can go incognito to teach. Experience the local customs and live a different life. When you¡¯re bored,e back home. If you¡¯re bored at home, you can return there. Isn¡¯t that great? You can eat well and rx. Go to check it out. If it doesn¡¯t suit you,e back, alright?¡±


    The old man was tempted. ¡°When should I go?¡±


    ¡°Maybe after the new year. She¡¯ll send some fruits to our house before the year ends. If you¡¯re satisfied, you can go. If not, you can decline. How about that?¡± Wang Jiaru was cajoling him like a child, and the old man stroked his white beard and nodded.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you when the timees.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go, Grandpa. Come to my yard and taste these snacks, especially the roasted chestnuts. They¡¯re so delicious. I couldn¡¯t stop eating them in the carriage.¡±


    ¡°You have nodylike behavior at all. Look at your mouth. It is all ck. You¡¯re always sneaking food.¡±


    ¡°Hehe,e on, Grandpa.¡±


    In her courtyard, Wang Zihan was busy eating. As soon as he heard his sister was back, he rushed over. Seeing so many snacks, he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    When Wang Jiaru arrived with their grandfather, he already had a mouth full of ck crumbs.


    Wang Jiaru arranged all the food she brought to the table. The old man tasted each one.


    ¡°Granddaughter, did you notice that these peanuts taste as if they were freshly dug from the ground?¡±


    ¡°They do. Otherwise, how would her business be thriving? Her goods are always so fresh. She knows the art of preservation. Even though she doesn¡¯t say it, I know it. Who doesn¡¯t have survival skills?¡±


    ¡°These chestnuts also taste as if they¡¯ve just fallen from the tree, exuding a natural sweetness. I¡¯ve tried the quail eggs. As for these roasted sweet potatoes¡­¡±


    The old man pried one open and examined it. ¡°Our local sweet potatoes usually have a white flesh and a stringy texture. But these sweet potatoes have yellow flesh. Roasting them releases oil, and they¡¯re incredibly sweet. This youngdy has some skills.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Someone chosen by your granddaughter must naturally stand out.


    Oh, and there¡¯s this.¡±


    She quickly brought out a box of rice cakes and set it in front of the old man.


    ¡°Grandfather, give them a taste. These are rice cakes she made in the autumn. They¡¯re delicious, but you can¡¯t eat too many, or you might face constipation.¡±


    ¡°You little rascal.¡±


    Although the old man said so, he still took one and took a bite.


    ¡°Mmm, it tastes good.¡±


    ¡°Delicious, right? She¡¯s skilled in making all sorts of things. If you were to teach, you might have great rewards. Your granddaughter also wants to share in your glory and eat more good stuff.¡±


    ¡°You two are just gluttons, always thinking about food.¡± ¡°We¡¯re only following in Grandfather¡¯s footsteps.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re inheriting the culinary spirit of our Wang family.¡±


    The first snow of the north fell softly in mid-November.


    Qiao Mai was unusually staying inside and hadn¡¯t gone to her stall. During the day, she nestled on a warm bed, embroidering. At night, she yed with Ling¡¯er in the space.


    With this weather, a hotpot was the most appropriate meal.


    Thinking about the spicy and vorful taste, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but swallow. She was just about to get up and prepare the ingredients for the hot pot when there was a knock on her courtyard gate.


    From the window, she saw Jiaqi get the floor. An elderly man with a basket on his back stood outside. His face was red from the cold, and he seemed shy.


    ¡°Sir, may I ask who you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    ¡°This old man is looking for Madam Qiao. I heard she¡¯s interested in buying a couple of dogs. Last month, my dog had puppies, two of them. I wanted to ask if she¡¯s interested.¡¯ ¡°Pleasee in..¡±

 Chapter 64 - 64: Anything For Food

    Chapter 64: Anything For Food


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The man entered the courtyard, and Qiao Jiaqi led him into the living area and poured him a cup of hot water. ¡°Is your home far from here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s about ten miles away.¡±


    The man was dressed in patched clothes, indicating his less fortunate circumstances.


    By this time, Qiao Mai had arrived in the living room. When the man saw her, he was about to stand up, but she quickly said, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    The man hadn¡¯t even taken a sip of water yet; he hurriedly brought the basket in front of him and lifted the lid. Inside were two shivering puppies wrapped in a pile of thick straw.


    ¡°They just turned a month old today. Take a look.¡±


    Qiao Mai picked up one with both hands. The puppy smelled her unfamiliar scent and immediately opened its eyes in alertness. Upon seeing a stranger, it bared its teeth at her and started barking wildly.


    She couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°This one¡¯s fierce indeed. It¡¯s a good watchdog material.¡±


    The man¡¯s heart eased upon hearing that. He knew the dogs would be staying here. Qiao Mai picked up the other puppy, and its reaction was like the first one.


    Judging from their appearance, they seemed to be a crossbreed between local dogs and wolves.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep both of these. How much are you selling them for?¡±


    ¡°You decide. This is the first litter of puppies from my dog. We¡¯ve never sold them before.¡¯


    ¡°To be honest, these puppies have wolf bloodline. They¡¯re of good breed. If there are more like them in the future, you shouldn¡¯t sell them cheaply. I¡¯ll pay five taels of silver for one and ten taels for both. How does that sound, Sir?¡±


    ¡°Could I really get ten taels?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°All right, ten taels it is. It¡¯s said that Madam Qiao is kind-hearted, which seems to be true. Thank you. There¡¯s no rice in our home. I was hoping to make some money from this litter of puppies.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and took a money pouch from her pocket, counted ten taels of silver, and handed it to the man.


    He epted it with both hands, wiped his tears with his sleeve, carefully


    ced the money in his pouch, and then into his pocket. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I will take my leave.¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s snowing heavily outside. Please go home safely.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi escorted the elder to the door. There was a dog at the entrance, likely the mother. The man patted the dog¡¯s head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is a good household. They¡¯ll be well taken care of here and better off than staying with us.¡±


    ¡°Woof, woof!¡±


    With his eyes slightly moistened, the man left with the ck dog. The dog turned back as it walked away, leaving Yuan Jiaqi touched by the scene.


    All things have spirits. A tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs; even an animal understands this principle, but humans can do things even worse than animals.


    After closing the door and returning to the living room, the three children gathered around the puppies.


    ¡°Mother, they¡¯re so small!¡±


    ¡°Yes, go find some straw from the box. I¡¯ll get some old clothes toy down for them.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sat on the side, smiling as he watched. Children all loved small animals, especially dogs, and they were excited. They had long wanted to have a pet dog.


    Fengyun fetched a wooden box, and Yunfeng spread out wheat straws. Qiao Mai brought out a piece of coarse cloth. Her clothing was new, and she was reluctant to use them.


    Afterying everything out and cing the two puppies inside, she watched as the puppies, now awake, searched for milk. The three children immediately ran to the kitchen, where they prepared rice soup for them. Yunfeng even cut some meat into small pieces and added them to the mix.


    During this winter, the Qiao family lived contentedly.


    Each room was warm. The children were dressed warmly, and Yuan Jiaqi and his son had a better life than ever.


    Fengyun and Yunfeng felt an unprecedented warmth. Although not their biological parents, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were better than their own.


    Qiao Mai taught them martial arts, while their father taught them to read and write. They ate well, dressed warmly, and did what they could each day. Their parents never scolded them and always gave them encouragement and praise, boosting their confidence. There was no better life than this.


    Not to mention the twin brothers, even Yuan Jiaqi and his son were fond of this atmosphere.


    Qiao Mai looked into the kitchen at them and advised, ¡°Make sure the porridge is cooled before feeding them. They¡¯re different from humans and can¡¯t eat hot food.


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re still young. Don¡¯t feed them bones, especially chicken bones. That could get stuck in their throats and cause them to choke. Even when they¡¯re older, don¡¯t teed tnem cmcken bones. Understand¡±¡® ¡°Yes, we understand.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you guys can y. I¡¯m going to do some work.¡±


    Qiao Mai returned to her room andy on the bed, contemting that when the snow stopped, she would bring Ling¡¯er out from the space.


    It would be best to do it on the day of the hotpot meal, with more people present as witnesses. She had already registered Ling¡¯er¡¯s household registration before the new year, so they wouldn¡¯t have to go out all winter. She would let Ling¡¯er adapt to the environment and climate here.


    She had made several sets of clothes, but they had never been worn. The space was warm, constantly 25 degrees Celsius, and Ling¡¯er always wore light clothing.


    Thinking about Linger¡¯s body, Qiao Mai felt a bit worried. She had been in the space all this time. Qiao Mai wondered if Ling¡¯er could adapt to the local temperature aftering out.


    The snow outside continued for three days and nights. Yuan Jiaqi was afraid that the house might not withstand the weight of the snow, so he tied a bamboo pole to a broom and climbed up thedder every day to sweep the snow off the roof.


    When the snow stopped, there was no need for anyone to lift a finger; everything was already spotlessly clean.


    The two puppies had already grown ustomed to the ce. After waking up, the three children let them out to y.


    With their well-fed bellies, it only took three days for them to put on some weight. The kids took good care of them.


    Even on snowy days, customers continued to knock on Qiao Mai¡¯s door to buy things, umbres in hand.


    Since the weather was cold, people tended to buy more as they could easily store the items at home and consume them gradually.


    Tianhe Town and Tiannan Town also asionally sent customers her way, driven by their love of good food.


    When Qiao Mai got tired of doing embroidery at home, she would make some snacks to rx. She made sugar-coated chestnuts, salt and pepper peanuts, five-spice melon seeds, and sometimes even fruit candies and hawthorn cakes.


    After making them in abundance, aside from keeping some for her own children, Qiao Mai also sold them to others. The children felt overjoyed.


    Qiao Mai was also delighted. She had thought that without setting up a stall, there would be no business. But unexpectedly, her small business had gained poprity, and people wereing to her house. It was a perfect opportunity for her to take a few days off and wait until the weather improved before reopening the stall.


    Thinking about hotpot, she couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva.


    Since she arrived here, she hadn¡¯t been able to enjoy her favorite foods from her previous life. Now that the snow had stopped, Qiao Mai was determined to have a hearty meal.


    So, she put aside her embroidery and rushed out of the house. She saw Yuan Jiaqi teaching the children in the living room. ¡°Brother Yuan, how about we all take a day off today?¡±


    ¡°Is there something going on?¡±


    ¡°Could you please take the children and invite some people over for a meal at our ce?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go right now.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and prepare. Let¡¯s have a hotpot for lunch.¡±


    After saying that, Qiao Mai rushed to the kitchen to get busy. Frozen tofu, wide rice noodles, duck blood, enoki mushrooms, tripe,mb slices, and other ingredients were all stored in her space. She didn¡¯t need to worry as she had everything on hand.


    Setting them out on tes was easy. Arge round table had already been set up by the children in the living room.


    Whenever Mother went to the kitchen, there was bound to be delicious food.


    Qiao Mai took out a copper pot, ced it in a tray of water, and brought it to the table.


    Then she ced each dish onto the table one by one, filling it uppletely, which left the children astonished.


    ¡°Mother, why are these dishes raw? Can we eat raw food?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re raw. I¡¯ll tell you how to eat them once everyone arrives. I promise you¡¯ll love it.¡±


    She took out a slightly spicy hotpot base from the space and poured it into the copper pot. She filled the pot with water and ced charcoal underneath. The children blinked as they watched.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the copper pot. It¡¯s scalding.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    As the guests arrived, the whole house was filled with a delicious smell. Everyone took off their padded coats and ced them aside before gathering around the table.


    ¡°Wow, everything looks amazing. There are even things I¡¯ve never seen before.¡±


    ¡°Everyone, please take a seat. It¡¯s cold outside, so I¡¯m treating everyone to a hotpot.¡±


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re lucky to enjoy this.¡±


    Twelve people sat around the table, and the aroma had already caused the children to keep swallowing their saliva.


    Qiao Mai scooped the well-prepared ingredients into bowls in front of them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start!¡±

 Chapter 65 - 65: I’m Not Telling You

    Chapter 65: I¡¯m Not Telling You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She ced some ingredients that were not easily cooked into the pot to boil and then put in the meat.


    ¡°Meat needs to be cooked for ten breaths before eating. Cabbage and radish can be eaten once they soften, while other ingredients need time. Don¡¯t be polite. Dig into the meat, and don¡¯t hold back!¡±


    Qiao Mai instructed while putting meat into the pot. Shopkeeper Lu picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in her mouth.


    ¡°Hmm, this meat is so tender, and the sauce is delicious. It tastes even better than Jingtai Restaurant¡¯s,¡± She eximed.


    Yuan Jiaqi, sitting close to the children, served them with dishes containing both vegetables and meat. He also took a bite himself and cast a deep nce at Qiao Mai.


    Lamb meat was easy to acquire, but beef was not. He hadn¡¯t expected Qiao Mai to get both.


    Moreover, themb and beef slices were incredibly thin, a testament to excellent knife skills. He did not know they were cut by a machine.


    It seemed she had been preparing for this meal for quite some time.


    But where did Qiao Mai get these ingredients? Yuan Jiaqi ate silently without revealing anything.


    Heaven. once these ingredients were cooked and coated with sauce. they were truly delicious. As the food sat before them, nobody spoke anymore.


    They continued eating from the pot, their mouths not stopping.


    Taking as much as they could eat, Shopkeeper Lu said contentedly, ¡°This is the best hotpot I¡¯ve ever had in my life. By the way, what is this?¡±


    ¡°Duck blood.¡±


    ¡°Duck blood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, only duck blood can create such a smooth texture.¡± Shopkeeper Lu suddenly felt a bit queasy.


    ¡°And you can make such delicious things with it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Pig¡¯s blood, chicken¡¯s blood, and sheep¡¯s blood will all work.¡± ¡°How did youe up with this?¡±


    ¡°A few days ago, I was thinking about it when I had nothing else to do.¡±


    ¡°And this?¡±


    ¡°t noodles, made from sweet potatoes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve made all of this?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And this?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to eat or not? If it¡¯s delicious, eat more. Don¡¯t ask so many questions. I made all of this, but I won¡¯t tell you how. Enjoy it. It¡¯ll be gone soon. ¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Many of these dishes were unfamiliar to them, but they were easygoing and cared more about the taste. They didn¡¯t need to know the origins of the ingredients.


    That¡¯s the kind of people they were. If Mayor Qian came to this meal, he would definitely leave with a few recipes.


    Just the duck blood and t noodles were two excellent recipes.


    Nobody here used sweet potatoes to make noodles or the type of noodles or vermicelli Qiao Mai had made. There were opportunities in these areas.


    There was no rush. Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day.


    As they enjoyed the hotpot, Qiao Mai suddenly stood up. ¡°You all keep eating. I¡¯ll go cut somemb.¡±


    Saying this, she walked out of the room. She paused when she reached the door as if hearing some noise near the courtyard entrance. Then, she walked over there.


    At that moment, Qiao Mai¡¯s consciousness was already in the space. She had wrapped Ling¡¯er up tightly inyers of cloth, leaving only her eyes exposed.


    Ling¡¯er was sleeping, so Qiao Mai had dressed her and then immediately moved her out of the space.


    Because the wrapping was tight, the temperature change didn¡¯t affect her sleep.


    Quickly checking her surroundings for any onlookers, Qiao Mai put the cloth bundle on the snowy ground to make it appear believable. Then, she turned around and ran back into the house, shouting to everyone.


    ¡°Quick,e and see! I found a child! Someone left a child at my doorstep.¡±


    Eleven people stood up with amotion, leaving their food behind, and hurried over to look.


    ¡°Goodness, who could be so heartless to abandon a child at your doorstep on a snowy day like this?¡±


    Shaking her head, Qiao Mai said, ¡°I heard some noise at the courtyard entrance, so I hurried over. I almost stepped on her when I went out.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see anyone else?¡±


    ¡°No, but I saw a few footprints on the ground.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu clenched her teeth and huffed, ¡°They heard that you¡¯re kind-hearted, so they left the child for you to raise?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The clothes and nket don¡¯t seem to be from a poor household.


    Why would they leave the child?¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go to your bedroom to see if it¡¯s a boy or a girl.¡±


    While the others continued eating, Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai went to the bedroom. They opened the bundle.


    ¡°She¡¯s quite cute.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s heartless to abandon her like this. What do you n to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll raise her. What else can I do? It just so happens that there are more boys than girls in my family. The proportion is off-bnce. Having more girls is good, and the boys at home can take care of her.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s another mouth to feed. Your burden will be heavier.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s not that heavy. I earn hundreds of taels a month, and one more mouth won¡¯t make a difference.


    ¡°You are just too kind. Since you found her, it¡¯s your decision.¡±


    Looking at her raising so many children, Shopkeeper Lu worried for her. If she didn¡¯t know that Qiao Mai had money and the ability to earn more, she wouldn¡¯t want her to raise this child.


    Qiao Mai spread the bedding on the heated brick bed, took Linger out of the swaddle, and removed her clothes before cing her in the nkets.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this child look about eight or nine months old?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. At that time, I had just given birth prematurely, and this child might be destined to have some connection with me. My child was also a girl, but she never had the chance to see the world before¡­


    Seeing her eyes welling up with tears, Shopkeeper Lu sighed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Maybe she¡¯s meant to be your child. Just raise her as if she were.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Qiao Mai sniffed, and a tear rolled down her cheek.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. We should eat first. After we finish, we¡¯ll go to the clinic and have the doctor check if she¡¯s healthy. If she is, I¡¯ll apany you to see Mayor Qian and get her registered under your name.¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be? No one else wants her.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe we could wait a few days? See if anyonees looking for the child?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s also an option. After we eat, I¡¯ll ask the mayor. Let¡¯s see if anyone in town has lost a child.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The two quietly left the room, locked the door from the outside, and returned to the living room.


    ¡°Is it a boy or a girl?¡± Everyone asked in unison.


    ¡°It¡¯s a girl.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Our family wascking a girl. We can be her big brothers.¡±


    ¡°In a few days, if no onees looking for her, I¡¯ll adopt her. She¡¯ll be your little sister. You all need to treat her well and not bully her, got it?¡±


    ¡°We understand, Mother. This is wonderful! We have a little sister now.¡¯


    The three children in the house were excited. Yuan Jiaqi looked at Qiao Mai with a contemtive expression.


    ¡°Have you really decided to adopt her?¡±


    ¡°Of course, there are plenty of boys in our family. It¡¯s just a matter of having one more mouth to feed. I can afford it.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the head of the household, so your decision is final. But seeing that she¡¯s so young, it might be a bit inconvenient for a man like me to take care of her.¡±


    ¡°No need to rush. In the next few days, I won¡¯t go to the stall. Let¡¯s see if anyonees looking for the child. If not, I can adopt her a bitter.¡±


    ¡°That works.¡±


    Before they could finish their meal, Qiao Mai heard the sound of a child crying from the bedroom. She quickly rushed over to see Ling¡¯er sitting on the bed, crying loudly.


    Perhaps it was due to the change in environment that she was crying like this. She had seldom cried before.


    As Qiao Mai approached the bed, Ling¡¯er stopped crying upon seeing her mother. Then, she raised her hands, asking to be picked up.


    Qiao Mai dressed her, changed her diaper, and then wrapped her in a cotton nket. She carried Ling¡¯er back to the living room.


    All eyes were fixed on Ling¡¯er as Qiao Mai uncovered the nket. Ling¡¯er stared back with wide eyes, surveying the room.


    Suddenly, she turned her body, burying her head in Qiao Mai¡¯s neck. She seemed a bit scared and shy.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ling¡¯er opened her mouth wide, showing that she was indeed hungry. Qiao Mai handed her over to Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°I¡¯ll steam some egg custard for her. Could you hold her for a while?¡±


    As Ling¡¯er was handed to Shopkeeper Lu, she curiously looked at each person in the room. Everyone smiled kindly at her.


    People took turns touching her little hands, causing her to blush and lean on Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s shoulder. Lu Sanniang was particrly delighted and kissed her chubby cheeks several times..

 Chapter 66 - 66: Madam Qjao is a Kind Person

    Chapter 66: Madam Qjao is a Kind Person


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai returned with a bowl of egg custard and saw Ling¡¯er lying on Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s shoulder, nibbling on her fingers and smiling.


    It¡¯s good that she didn¡¯t cry. With so many people around, she was worried Ling¡¯er might be scared.


    Sitting next to Shopkeeper Lu, Qiao Mai was about to take Ling¡¯er, saying, ¡°Eat. I¡¯ll feed her.¡¯


    ¡°We¡¯re almost done eating. I¡¯ll hold her while you feed her.¡±


    Ling¡¯er, born at the beginning of the second lunar month, was over nine months old. When she saw the bowl, she was so excited that she reached out to be carried.


    ¡°Good girl, the bowl is hot. Let¡¯s blow on it before you eat.¡±


    Using a spoon, Qiao Mai blew on a spoonful of egg custard, and Shopkeeper Lu looked at her with a smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s give her a name,¡± She suggested.


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. ¡°Since she¡¯s so lively, let¡¯s call her Ling¡¯er for now. Come, Ling¡¯er, have some egg custard.¡±


    Ling¡¯er opened her mouth wide, and Qiao Mai fed her a spoonful of egg custard.


    The three little ones next to her couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva.


    It was as if that spoonful of egg custard was meant for them, especially


    Chuan¡¯er, who looked longingly.


    Seeing their expressions, Qiao Mai understood that the twin brothers probably hadn¡¯t eaten such food before. Chuan¡¯er, in particr, had lost his mother shortly after birth. Yuan Jiaqi might not know how to prepare this.


    Therefore, she told them, ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll steam a big bowl for each of you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother.¡±


    In no time, Ling¡¯er was full. There was still half a bowl of egg custard left. Qiao Mai handed the bowl to Chuan¡¯er.


    ¡°Do you mind eating the leftovers from your little sister?¡±


    Chuan¡¯er grinned, ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll eat it now, andter, Mother can make a new bowl for my little sister.¡±


    Taking the bowl, he devoured the food and wiped his mouth when he was done.


    ¡°Egg custard is delicious. It is soft and smooth. So tasty!¡±


    It was clear that he hadn¡¯t tasted it before, which made Qiao Mai feel a little sad.


    Yuan Jiaqi chimed in, ¡°How about this? From tomorrow onward, I¡¯ll steam a big bowl for each of you every day!¡±


    ¡°Father, do you know how to cook this?¡± ¡°I can learn from your mother, right?¡±


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s a deal!¡±


    After Ling¡¯er was full, Qiao Mai held her and let Shopkeeper Lu eat.


    Ling¡¯er watched as everyone ate in her mother¡¯s arms, asionally breaking into a smile.


    After the meal, Shopkeeper Lu looked at Ling¡¯er and said, ¡°She seems to be in good health. It¡¯s too cold to visit the clinic on a day like this. I¡¯ll go talk to the mayor first.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sister Lu.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite with me.¡±


    It was clear from her tone that she was preparing to leave. Madam Chen and her son also stood up.


    ¡°We¡¯re heading home as well.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if you need anything and it¡¯s inconvenient at home, just call us, alright?¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Madam Chen left, and Shopkeeper Lu followed suit. Fengyun and the others began clearing the table.


    Yuan Jiaqi took Ling¡¯er from Qiao Mai¡¯s arms and said, ¡°I¡¯ll hold her. Tell us what needs to be done, and the children can help.¡±


    ¡°I only need to clean the copper pot. You can rinse the rest.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the copper pot and headed back to her room. She ced it directly into her storage space, knowing there was no need to clean it. The space automatically cleaned everything, leaving it like new.


    Returning to the living room, Qiao Mai wrapped Ling¡¯er up again and brought her back to her room.


    She helped Ling¡¯er sit by the window and said, ¡°Look, it¡¯s snowing outside. Do you like it?¡±


    Ling¡¯er responded with giggles that sounded like little bells. Yuan Jiaqi smiled as he heard theughter.


    Qiao Mai was a kind person. She adopted Fengyun and now this little girl.


    Perhaps in her eyes, he was no different from the other adopted children.


    Three days passed, and Ling¡¯er hadn¡¯t left Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    Seeing that she seemed fine, Qiao Mai was relieved. Around this time,


    Shopkeeper Lu sent word that there had been no reports of a lost child in town.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai asked Yuan Jiaqi for help in watching over the kid while she wrote down Ling¡¯er¡¯s name and birthdate on paper. She found the mayor and asked him to help with the registration.


    Hearing that Qiao Mai was adopting another child, the mayor expressed his admiration.


    ¡°If everyone had your sense ofpassion, there wouldn¡¯t be so many beggars in the Great Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily. The good beggars are often captured by human traffickers and sold. Those left are usually disabled and struggling to survive. These are the ones who need help the most.¡±


    ¡°Do we have any porridge distribution in our town?¡±


    The mayor gave her a look. ¡°Of course. I am one!¡±


    ¡°Oh, Mayor, I didn¡¯t know you were such a kind-hearted person!¡±


    ¡°Sigh, as the mayor, I can only manage this area. I can¡¯t handle more than that. There are tens of thousands of beggars in the Great Ming Dynasty, and I can¡¯t speak for my family.¡±


    Qiao Mai understood his point. ¡°Mayor, when will my daughter¡¯s registration bepleted?¡± ¡°Soon. I¡¯ll have the guards deliver it to you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mayor.¡±


    ¡°Remember my New Year¡¯s gift.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°Got it!¡±


    Since Ling¡¯er came out of the space, Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t been outside to sell her goods. She stayed home every day to take care of Ling¡¯er, embroidering when she slept.


    In the daytime, the temperature in Tianshui Town was around negative ten degrees Celsius. At night, it dropped to around negative twenty degrees Celsius. It was freezing.


    Ling¡¯er was still young and needed constant care. Yuan Jiaqi was a man and could take care of the boys, but taking care of a girl was a different matter due to his concerns.


    Therefore, she had to stay at home.


    A few days ago, she had researched various weaving techniques online during the evening. She found several unique designs and taught them to Ruxin and Ruyi.


    Unexpectedly, these woven items sold very well. This led to Shopkeeper Lu visiting her often, especially when Ling¡¯er was awake.


    She would help take care of her so that Qiao Mai could work on her embroidery.


    ¡°Sister?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Since there¡¯s only one more month until the New Year, do you have any ideas on how to make my business more prosperous?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Do you need money urgently?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I just want to improve my business and create a festive atmosphere for the New Year.¡¯


    Qiao Mai looked at her. ¡°When my clothes are sold, I should be able to give you a few thousand taels of silver.¡¯


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t contributed anything. Taking your money wouldn¡¯t be appropriate.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t eat a whole pie in one bite. Right now, you haven¡¯t even cultivated awork of customers. How can your business thrive? I won¡¯t take custom orders. No matter what you say, I won¡¯t ept them.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Well, Ruxin and Ruyi are currently taking custom orders.¡±


    ¡°Are Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu suited for this craft?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re still learning. They should be able to manage. After the New Year, they can start taking weaving orders.¡±


    The two chatted leisurely. Qiao Mai considered teaching her the dyeing technique as well, but she thought it was too early.


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s business was rtively small. If she taught her this skill and it spread, it might bring disaster rather than prosperity. The courtyard gate rang, and Qiao Mai immediately stood up.


    ¡°Sister Lu, sit. It¡¯s probably Ling¡¯er¡¯s registration that¡¯s ready.¡±


    She went out happily. Seeing her leave, Yuan Jiaqi returned to the room.


    The living room was filled with the sound of children reading, creating an atmosphere of schrly ambiance in the small courtyard.


    Qiao Mai opened the door and indeed saw the guard standing there.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, your family¡¯s registration isplete.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sir. Now I have a son and a daughter,pleting the family.¡±


    ¡°Congrattions!¡±


    Qiao Mai naturally didn¡¯t want him toe for nothing. She handed him a silver coin and then went back inside to grab two boxes of rice cakes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have sugar or melon seeds. Will these do?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao!¡±


    ¡°Sir, take care!¡±


    With a cheerful heart, she closed and locked the courtyard gate, then returned to her room while holding the registration paper.


    ¡°Sister Lu, look, the registration is done.¡±


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re in a good mood.¡±


    Qiao Mai picked up Linger, ced a cotton hat on her head, and headed to the living room. As soon as she entered, the children stopped reading.


    ¡°Sorry for interrupting. I¡¯m just so thrilled. Ling¡¯er¡¯s registration is done. From now on, she¡¯s your little sister. Come on, say hello to your sister.¡±

 Chapter 67 - 67: Miss Wang is Sharp-Witted

    Chapter 67: Miss Wang is Sharp-Witted


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face flushed red as he kissed Ling¡¯er¡¯s cheek. Ling¡¯er yfully nibbled his face, leaving a trail of saliva.


    ¡°Haha, you two continue. We¡¯ll head back inside.¡±


    Leading Ling¡¯er back to the room after a brief stroll, Shopkeeper Lu couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips.


    ¡°Look at how happy you are.¡±


    ¡°They may not be fond of her, but I am. She¡¯s my beautiful daughter and very dear to me.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s mood lifted along with Qiao Mai¡¯s joyful demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re right. Even though I haven¡¯t been blessed with sons in this lifetime, my two daughters are truly wonderful, both respectful and sensible.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re worried about not having someone to care for you in old age, why not find a live-in husband for Ruyi?¡±


    ¡°No, most live-in husbands whoe into the family aren¡¯t wholehearted. They often feel like they¡¯re entering through the back door, living in someone else¡¯s shadow, which makes them feel like outsiders. Some even have their eyes on the family¡¯s wealth. Once they¡¯ve secured the inheritance, they¡¯ll harm the wife and remarry. This happens too often. My daughters should have a normal marriage. When I¡¯m old and immobile, we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°In that case,e to my house. I don¡¯t have so many concerns. We will enjoy each other¡¯spany, basking in the sun and having a good chat.¡±


    Hearing these words, Shopkeeper Lu felt deeply moved. Back then, out of a simple act of kindness, she never expected to meet such an exceptional woman. She couldn¡¯t help but feel inferior inparison.


    Just as she was about to say heartfelt words, the courtyard door creaked open. Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu hade to fetch her, saying a customer was looking for her at the store.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯lle to meet you another day.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t insist on seeing her off, considering the cold weather that could affect Ling¡¯er. Instead, Yuan Jiaqi sent Shopkeeper Lu off.


    The door hadn¡¯t even closed when customers arrived to make purchases. Yuan Jiaqi, being well-acquainted with the routine, led them to the kitchen to collect the goods and receive payment, delivering the items to the house.


    ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll handle the sales. You and Ling¡¯er should stay inside. It¡¯s too cold out there.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s prepare for the Lunar New Year in advance. Stock up on meat that can withstand the cold. On days like this, we¡¯ll only open the store after the fifteenth.


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    ¡°Big Brother Yuan, have you ever considered taking the Imperial Exam?¡±


    A single question caused Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s body to tremble. ¡°I have thought about it, but I¡¯m self-taught. Ick the foundation, so the Imperial Exam is like an unreachable dream.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for Miss Wang from the Capital to find a schr named Mao


    Xuesheng, who cane to our house to teach you and the children.¡±


    ¡°A schr?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But how much silver would I need to pay him monthly?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the money. I believe you know I¡¯m skilled in embroidery.¡±


    ¡°But even with your embroidery and the stall¡¯s profits, wouldn¡¯t it still fall short of covering the costs for a schr?¡±


    ¡°Who said that? One piece of my embroidery can sell for over a hundred taels of silver, even reaching a thousand.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I specialize in double-sided embroidery, and the stall brings in around a hundred or so taels each month. How would it not be enough?¡±


    ¡°However, I owe you a debt I can¡¯t repay, and now I¡¯m asking for more. I¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should do your best to study. Even if you only achieve the title of an Elementary Schr, when I buynd, I can put it under your name to save on taxes. Of course, it would be even better if you passed the highest examination. We can also establish a school. The children will have teachers to build a solid foundation. Right now, they¡¯re only learning to read and write. If possible, I want them all to be schrs. Imagine how much silver I would save by doing that for me?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion, his lips trembled, and he took a deep breath.


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao!¡±


    ¡°No need to be so polite. We¡¯re partners, and when things are good for you, they¡¯re good for me too. Even if you leave this household in the future, we¡¯ll still be partners. When I¡¯m in trouble, you¡¯ll help me out. Think of it as an advance investment.¡±


    ¡°I promise to spare no effort, even if it means going through fire and hell.¡± ¡°With those words, I can rest assured. I trust my judgment and your character.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely live up to your expectations.¡±


    After Yuan Jiaqi returned to the living room, his emotions were turbulent. He must have umted great virtues in his previous life to have the fortune of encountering a woman like Madam Qiao in this lifetime.


    Half a month flew by. Qiao Mai sold a folding screen through the Ruyi


    Embroidery Manor. As soon as it was disyed, it was quickly bought.


    Over the past six months, the Ruyi Embroidery Manor has be particrly famous, mainly due to the talented embroiderer skilled in double-sided embroidery.


    As a result, many people visited her store in their free time, hoping to acquire double-sided embroidery at a high price.


    These pieces were used as gifts to convey status and position in the capital city, showcasing their identity. High-quality double-sided embroidery was hard toe by, making it a valuable possession.


    This pleased Shopkeeper Lu greatly. In gratitude, she promptly sent a thousand taels of silver to Qiao Mai.


    From that day on, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t touch her needle and thread. She nned to rest for a while and resume embroidery when the weather warmed up after the New Year.


    Although she hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Shopkeeper Lu, Qiao Mai intended to hand over a couple of her previous embroidery works before she rested.


    She only had a few more days left until she departed for the Capital on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month.


    As sheforted Ling¡¯er to sleep, she contemted what gifts to bring with her.


    Since Miss Wang requested fresh items, she considered bringing some southern fruits along with a selection of northern ones.


    Currently, her spatial storage contained bananas, dragon fruit, mangoes, green mangoes, and mangosteens, but the quantity wasn¡¯t abundant.


    They would only fill a basket.


    Instant noodles, ham, and prawns were out of the question, as were ready-to-eat products or items from the freezer.


    Miss Wang was cunning and intelligent. Her family might be even more so. If they sensed anything unusual, it could lead to trouble. While Qiao Mai had the means to defend herself, what about her children?


    After careful consideration, she decided to bring some vegetables instead of fruits.


    Having fresh vegetables in the middle of winter was a luxury, right?


    Currently, her space contains garlic chives, cucumbers, eggnts, scallions, garlic, garlic scapes, red carrots, and potatoes. She nned to nt green beans that night, while radishes and Chinese cabbage weren¡¯t in high demand.


    Could a small basket of these vegetables suffice? She could add a few more potatoes at most. It was better not to overdo it, lest they be discontented and ask for more next time.


    As she pondered, the courtyard door creaked open. Yuan Jiaqi instinctively went to answer it.


    However, upon seeing who was at the door, he froze.


    ¡°Big Brother, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Can we talk inside?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi weed him in. Seeing no one else with him, he closed the door and led him to his room.


    ncing around the room¡¯s furnishings, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s older brother spoke.


    ¡°Jiaqi, the Lunar New Year is approaching, so I came to visit you.¡±


    ¡°By all ounts, I¡¯ve severed ties with our parents, so we shouldn¡¯t be in contact either.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Although that¡¯s what they say, we¡¯re still blood rtives. The grudges between us brothers aren¡¯t that deep, right?¡±


    ¡°If you hade here to persuade me, save your efforts. I¡¯m living a great life now. I don¡¯t want to return home,¡± Yuan Jiaqi expressed.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯te to persuade you to go back. I want to ask for your help,¡± His older brother rified.


    ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    ¡°I want to split from the family. I don¡¯t want to continue living with our parents.¡±


    This surprised Yuan Jiaqi. He had expected his older brother to seek financial assistance, not this.


    ¡°Our parents sucked our blood, ate our flesh, and gnawed our bones. Do you really think splitting from them is that easy?¡±


    ¡°Since you moved your household registration, our parents have vented their frustrations on us whenever they¡¯re angry. And they¡¯re always hitting and scolding the children. As a father, I can¡¯t bear to see that.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°Do Second Brother and the others also want to separate?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°If you really want to split, I¡¯ll give you three options.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s older brother quickly asked, ¡°What options? Please tell me, Fifth Brother.¡±


    ¡°First, wait until they¡¯re not at home, take the household registration and a portion of the family¡¯s funds, and forcefully demand a separation. Would you dare?


    Yuan Jiawang gulped. ¡°What¡¯s the second option?¡±


    ¡°Join forces with your inws, citing their mistreatment of your wives and children as a reason to create a ruckus. It¡¯s even better to break one of their legs or arms. That way, they won¡¯t be able to stir up trouble in the future, and they¡¯ll depend on you for care. Would you dare?¡±


    ¡°And the third option?¡±


    ¡°Go to court and use them of abuse. Let the county magistrate decide on your behalf. In the end, it might lead to a separation, but you might also receive a caning.¡±


    ¡°These three options are all difficult..¡±

 Chapter 68 - 68: I Want to Eat My Fill

    Chapter 68: I Want to Eat My Fill


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°They are like locusts in the rice fields. You must be cruel to get rid of them. I¡¯ve invested all the money I earned in the past four years to break free from them. Now, I rely on my wife to support us. They are just too greedy, not only coveting the money you earn but also constantly exploiting you and your family. If it continues, you¡¯ll only be worn down and die prematurely.¡±


    Yuan Jiawang listened, his face turning pale. He began to cry in distress.


    ¡°Parents always use filial piety to oppress us. We have no other choice.¡±


    ¡°Big Brother, once it leaves this door, I will deny everything I said today. In the worst case, four of you can disguise yourselves as thieves at night and break their arms and legs. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have no way out in your lifetime.¡±


    ¡°We, we can¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°If they don¡¯t die, you¡¯ll be trapped in misery forever. Maybe they¡¯ll outlive you.¡±


    Yuan Jiawang¡¯s lips trembled as he asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do this before?¡±


    ¡°Because you never stood by my side. When they tormented me, you were on the sidelinesughing and never helped me. Why should I take the risks alone and let you all reap the benefits?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Fifth Brother.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have this kind of determination, then go back. In any case, you all must stay united and stop being blindly obedient. You have to be assertive. I won¡¯t say much more. I think Big Brother should understand.¡±


    ¡°Brother, do you have any food here? I¡¯m hungry.¡± Yuan Jiawang¡¯s stomach growled.


    Yuan Jiaqi went to the kitchen and brought a basket of steamed buns. ¡°Take these back for them to eat. Don¡¯t be too obvious about it. Hide the steamed buns and call your family out to eat them. After they¡¯re done eating, you can go home. Otherwise, you can¡¯t even keep this basket of steamed buns.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, brother. I¡¯m sorry for what I did before.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t hold onto the past. Don¡¯t look for me anymore from now on. I¡¯m someone else¡¯s live-in husband, dependent on my wife for everything, even the children. I can¡¯t speak up at home.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi saw him off and took a deep breath. He went to Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    ¡°Can Ie in?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    He lifted the cotton curtain and entered the house. Seeing Qiao Mai ying with Ling¡¯er, he recounted what had happened.


    ¡°Are you here to tell me that you took a basket of steamed buns for him?¡± ¡°Yes, after all, I¡¯m your live-in husband now.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re business partners, not truly married. You don¡¯t need to be so serious. In the future, you don¡¯t need to inform me of such trivial matters. Just make sure you don¡¯t empty my house.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, do what you need to do. As long as you have boundaries, you don¡¯t need to tell me about everything.¡±


    Unspoken words were buried in his heart. Yuan Jiaqi left, feeling ufortable.


    Qiao Mai was too kind; he didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    He did not know that Qiao Mai was only pretending. She¡¯s ying the role of a gentle and virtuous woman now.


    He hadn¡¯t seen her ruthlessness, her venom, her cruelty.


    Qiao Mai yed the role of a good woman, mother, and wife.


    The next day, someone from Lihua Vige¡¯s Qiao family came. It was nearing the Lunar New Year, so they came to see if they could get any benefits from her.


    Upon hearing Yuan Jiaqi saying that her family was looking for her, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh. The Qiao family had thick skin.


    Since the autumn harvest, apart from the grain they paid as taxes, there should still be enough food tost through the winter. Do they not do any work?


    Holding Ling¡¯er, Qiao Mai approached the door, and her anger red up even more when she saw the visitor.


    ¡°The shameless people in the family didn¡¯t dare toe but send a child instead? Do you think I won¡¯t dare to take action? Get out!¡±


    ¡°Aunt?¡±


    ¡°Are you leaving or not?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa and Grandma said if I can¡¯t get anything from you, I won¡¯t be allowed back home. Please have mercy on me.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, there¡¯s a dental clinic on the main road. Go there and tell them you¡¯re selling yourself. Let them help you find a good family to be a maid for. It¡¯s better to be a maid in a wealthy household than stay in the Qiao family. Do you dare to go?¡± ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Believe me or not.¡±


    ¡°Where exactly is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right across from my stall. You came before.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go. I don¡¯t want to be scolded and beaten by my grandparents. I want to have enough to eat.¡±


    Qiao Mai handed her a big bun.


    ¡°Take it and eat. After you¡¯re full, go to the dental clinic. Remember, don¡¯t go back to the Qiao family. Sell yourself and keep the money in your hands. Let them find a good family for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Watching the young girl from the Qiao family, Qiao Mai gritted her teeth. Since they wouldn¡¯t let her go and kept causing her trouble, she would do something mischievous. She hoped the girl would be lucky enough to escape them by selling herself.


    As she returned to the house, Qiao Mai saw Yuan Jiaqi looking at her with a familiar expression as if he saw a like-minded individual.


    ¡°Did you hear it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Being a maid in someone else¡¯s house is better than staying with them.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll deliver goods to the Capital. You stay home and take care of the kids. Do not open the door unless it is Shopkeeper Lu. Your frail body won¡¯t be able to handle them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let them step inside our house. I¡¯ll protect our family at all costs.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡¯


    ¡°What about Ling¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take Ling¡¯er with me. You look after the others.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so cold out there. Can you take Ling¡¯er with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t underestimate me just because I¡¯m a woman who¡¯s shorter and thinner than you. I¡¯m not afraid.¡±


    ¡°I believe you. You seem quite skilled in martial arts from teaching the kids.¡±


    ¡°You should also learn some self-defense techniques. People are unpredictable, especially when you¡¯re away from home. Be cautious when offered drinks or food by others.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±


    Qiao Mai took Ling¡¯er and put her on the bed, coaxing her to sleep.


    This scene was heartwarming to Yuan Jiaqi. The kind of wife he had dreamed of was this gentle and capable.


    Seeing that he hadn¡¯t left yet, Qiao Mai asked, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed and quickly lowered his head.


    ¡°No, nothing. Since you¡¯re leaving tomorrow, I¡¯ll make sure the horse carriage is prepared. The weather is cold, so I¡¯ll modify it with some nkets to keep the horse warm. Should I tie them around the horse¡¯s belly?¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi returned to his room, took an old nket, and modified it into a winter coat for Dong Zao.


    He sewed cloth strips on it and brought it to the stable, fitting it around Dong Zao¡¯s belly with ropes. Dong Zao feltfortable and nudged him.


    The two dogs had been with them for about a month. They had grown twice their original size, and the children had given them names ¨C Wu Zhui and Sai Xue.


    Most of their joy came from ying with these two dogs. They would run around the courtyard, y hide and seek, and even give them the meat they hesitated to eat.


    The dogs also loved the children. They treated them as friends and siblings.


    But whenever they saw Qiao Mai, they considered her their owner and became obedient.


    Whenever Qiao Mai was outside, they would guard the door and run to greet her when they heard her footsteps.


    Qiao Mai would pat their heads and encourage them before they returned to their kennel.


    The next day, Qiao Mai carried Ling¡¯er and prepared to leave after breakfast. Yuan Jiaqi had cleaned the horse carriage early in the morning and prepared a charcoal brazier inside it. He had also brought Dong Zao over and harnessed the horse to the carriage.


    Qiao Mai held Ling¡¯er in her arms, covered with a cloak to shield against the cold. She sat at the front of the carriage, urging the horse forward as they left their home.


    Yuan Jiaqi wanted to apany her, but Qiao Mai had instructed otherwise. He couldn¡¯t insist on going with her.


    On the main road, there was no sign of any other carriages. Seeing this, Qiao Mai sent Ling¡¯er into the space.


    She took off her outer clothes and let Ling¡¯er crawl and y on the floor.


    Upon entering the Capital, Qiao Mai parked the carriage by the roadside. She entered the space and moved all the prepared items to the carriagepartment.


    There were ten boxes, each wrapped in nkets¡­

 Chapter 69 - 69: On The Right Track!

    Chapter 69: On The Right Track!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Upon arriving at the Wang family¡¯s residence, Qiao Mai shouted from the carriage, ¡°Go tell your young miss that the goods she wanted have arrived!


    Come to the entrance to inspect them.¡±


    The guards had already received orders from Wang Jiaru, so they rushed into the estate. It didn¡¯t take long before Wang Jiaru hurried along with Wang Zihan.


    ¡°Oh my, right on time.¡±


    ¡°I said I woulde, and besides, I need to earn some silver for the New Year.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re so obsessed with money. Are you afraid I¡¯ll steal your silver?¡±


    ¡°Of course! I run a small business. I can¡¯t afford to lose.¡¯


    There was no need for Qiao Mai to exin. Wang Jiaru immediately climbed into the carriage and uncovered the goods. She burst into a bright smile upon seeing the ten boxes inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s exactly what I wanted. Thank you so much, Sister Qiao.¡±


    Wang Jiaru handed Qiao Mai some silver notes. ¡°Here¡¯s 8,700 taels of silver. I got a good price of 10,000 taels for the clothes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°As for these goods, I won¡¯t pay you. Consider it a token of appreciation for me.¡±


    ¡°I intended to give these as New Year¡¯s gifts.¡±


    ¡°The matter of the schr has also been arranged for you, but he mentioned that he wants to visit your home first.¡±


    ¡°Sure, as long as he¡¯s willing toe and teach my husband and children, I will treat him well with good food and drinks.¡±


    ¡°Truly getting things on the right track!¡±


    In the corner of the courtyard, an elderly man with a white beard listened to their conversation and nodded approvingly. Qiao Mai put away the silver notes, hopped down from the carriage, and went to oversee the unloading of the goods.


    The elder instructed them to ce the goods to the side for inspection.


    He was impressed, especially considering the winter season.


    The Wang family does notck money or gold. Qiao Mai¡¯s resourcefulness made him contemte her potential for teaching.


    With the goods unloaded, Qiao Mai waved to Wang Jiaru, saying, ¡°See you next year!¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment. I also prepared a New Year¡¯s gift for you.¡±


    Wang Jiaru motioned to someone behind her, and one after another, gift boxes were loaded onto Qiao Mai¡¯s carriage. The carriage was nearly full by the time they were done.


    Qiao Mai was taken aback. She thought, ¡°Is Miss Wang treating me as a friend?


    Is this an exchange of gifts?¡±


    Without hesitation, she performed a polite bow.


    ¡°I consider you a friend now. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No need to be formal. Just remember that if you ever have something good to sell,e to me, and I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. If you have time during the New Year, visit my house.¡±


    ¡°Definitely. ¡±


    These few simple sentences solidified their friendship.


    Qiao Mai had considered buying gifts for her family in the town, but the goods in her carriage made her change her mind.


    However, she still bought some famous local snacks, alcohol, and food.


    She did not need to enter the shop. The workers would deliver what she wanted to her carriage.


    With thoughts of her family, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t eat out but rather headed straight home.


    It had been a while since Dong Zao hade out for a walk, and it had gained some weight. It was huffing and puffing, perhaps indicating the need for more exercise.


    The considerable sum of silver boosted Qiao Mai¡¯s spirits. As she neared Tianshui Town, she brought Ling¡¯er out of her space.


    Ling¡¯er looked around with wide eyes, unused to the change of environment.


    Was she dreaming?


    Qiao Mai arrived at the embroidery shop and called, ¡°Sister Lu, you¡¯re still open at this hour?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll close three dayster. Some people haven¡¯t picked up their orders yet.¡±


    ¡°Come over here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?


    ¡°Good news!¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu put down what she was working on and came to the carriage. Qiao Mai handed her four silver notes.


    ¡°I got ten thousand taels for the clothes. Since we¡¯re splitting it evenly, here¡¯s four thousand for you.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s hands trembled as she epted the silver notes, her eyes moist. She pulled out a silver note from the stack.


    ¡°The clothes were your effort, and I didn¡¯t do much. I can¡¯t bear the thought of splitting it evenly. This is the payment for the clothes, and you better take it.


    Otherwise, I won¡¯t visit your house during the New Year.¡±


    Seeing her stubbornness, Qiao Mai epted the silver note. ¡°I must visit your house during the New Year too. We¡¯ve known each other for so long, yet I¡¯ve never been to your ce.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to your inws¡¯ on the first day?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. Although my inws are decent, they live with my younger brother-inw¡¯s family. It¡¯s inconvenient for me to go there. I can send the New Year¡¯s gifts through someone. I don¡¯t need to be there in person; they¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t go if you don¡¯t want to. No need to make things difficult for yourself. Alright, it¡¯s cold out. I should hurry back home.¡±


    Only then did Shopkeeper Lu notice Ling¡¯er in Qiao Mai¡¯s arms.


    She nagged, ¡°You¡¯re something else. If it¡¯s inconvenient, you can leave the child at my ce. What if she catches a cold while you¡¯re out? Now go back quickly.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off.¡±


    Qiao Mai left, and Shopkeeper Lu wiped away a tear. She put the silver notes in her pocket, patted them, and headed back inside.


    With the several thousand taels of silver from Qiao Mai, along with her previous earnings, Lu Jie felt more confident.


    She had gained returns for her good deeds. Qiao Mai¡¯s efforts had earned her almost ten thousand taels of silver.


    It was a substantial sum. Even if her daughter married into a higher-ranking family, the dowry wouldn¡¯t be a concern.


    Returning home, Yuan Jiaqi quickly greeted Qiao Mai, helping her bring the child into the house. He and the boys assisted in unloading the goods from the carriage.


    The goods were moved into Qiao Mai¡¯s room. Dong Zao was taken to the stable, and the carriage was parked by the outer wall.


    Yuan Tiaai closed the door. and the whole family gathered in Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    ¡°Mother, Sister, are you cold?¡±


    Their eyes kept ncing at the pile of goods.


    ¡°Haha, of course, it¡¯s cold.¡¯


    Qiao Mai took off Ling¡¯er¡¯s coat and let her sit on the heated brick bed. The twins climbed onto the bed to y with her.


    Qiao Mai began organizing the gifts from Wang Jiaru.


    ¡°Some of these are from Miss Wang, and some are bought from the Capital. Later, I¡¯ll find some more things from the warehouse to prepare for two sets of gifts. We¡¯ll send one to the mayor¡¯s house and one for Sister Lu, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Without stopping, Qiao Mai hurried to the warehouse and took a few boxes of fruits and vegetables from her space, carrying them back into the house.


    Compared to the boxes she gave to Wang Jiaru, these wooden boxes were smaller.


    She picked two jars of wine, four packs of pastries, two jars of sauce duck, and two roasted chickens, paired with two boxes of fruits and four boxes of vegetables.


    ¡°You can first deliver these to the mayor¡¯s house.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes flickered upon seeing the fresh fruits and vegetables, but he didn¡¯t ask much. He brought a handcart and loaded the items onto it before heading out.


    From among the heap of items, Qiao Mai picked out a pack of pastries and ced it on the table, letting the children eat.


    Chuan¡¯er held a piece of pastry and asked, ¡°Mom, can I give this to my little sister?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but only put a little bit in her mouth. Not too much.¡±


    Then Qiao Mai picked out identical sets of gifts and set them aside. She stored away the remaining items she had bought from the Capital in the warehouse and locked it.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was guarding against Yuan Jiaqi and the others. No one knew what might happen at night.


    Returning to her room, she nced at the children. Ling¡¯er and her older brothers were ying well together.


    She continued organizing the gifts from Wang Jiaru. In arge box were clothes and shoes for her family, all brand new.


    Judging by the styles, they were thetest fashions from the Capital, showing that Miss Wang had put in some thought.


    There were also two delicate boxes containing sets of silver jewelry, presumably for Qiao Mai.


    And there was a beautifully crafted vanity box, also for Qiao Mai. It seemed that after visiting her bedroomst time and seeing nothing there, Miss Wang had thought of sending her this.


    Qiao Mai smiled, picked up the box, and ced it on the vanity table, wiping it clean with a cloth.


    As she casually opened one of thepartments, Qiao Mai was surprised to find it wasn¡¯t empty..

 Chapter 70 - 70: That Old Stingy Man Would Return the Gift?

    Chapter 70: That Old Stingy Man Would Return the Gift?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Everypartment had something in it ¨Cbs, earrings, silver hairpins, bracelets. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    She bent down and opened another box. Inside were rolls of fabric, the worst being fine cotton, along with a few pieces of satin.


    Opening yet another box, there were various colors of gauze, perfect for use in the summer.


    In another box was an entire set of porcin dishes ¨C new tes and bowls.


    Opening another box, there was more porcin ¨C several exquisite tea sets.


    In another box was a decorative piece. It seemed like Wang Jiaru had prepared things missing from Qiao Mai¡¯s house.


    In thest box were paper, brushes, and ink ¨C Well, at least Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t need to buy these for the next six months.


    The items weren¡¯t very valuable, but they were what her family needed at the moment. Wang Jiaru had really put thought into it.


    When Yuan Jiaqi returned, he carried a basket into the house.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Mayor Qian sent it, saying it¡¯s a return gift.¡±


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips. Could that stingy mayor actually send a return gift? It was quite an aplishment. He seemed to be constantly thinking about her recipes.


    That old fox had a sharp nose and eyes, able to discern her uniqueness. He had some insight.


    She had Yuan Jiaqi take the New Year gifts to Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s shop, and when he returned, he brought various pastries, bean buns, and buns.


    With Lu Sanniang being so busy, she was sure that these items were ordered from the bun shop.


    There was even half a piece of pork with bones. She still had to process it. Although Yuan Jiaqi was a man, she had to take care of the deboning.


    Not that she wanted to underestimate him, but he wascking in strength.


    Storing away everything that could be stored, distributing the new clothes to the children, and instructing them to fold them neatly for the New Year, Qiao Mai realized that Yuan Jiaqi had also made arrangements for the children, although it wasn¡¯t as good as what Wang Jiaru had given.


    After organizing everything, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi took the pork to the kitchen. Qiao Mai prepared the meat as he watched and learned.


    ¡°Can I do this next time?¡±


    ¡°Have you learned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, practice makes perfect. How can I get better if I don¡¯t try?¡±


    ¡°Be careful not to hurt yourself when using a knife.¡±


    Watching Qiao Mai expertly deboning the meat, her movements flowing smoothly, Yuan Jiaqi took a knife and tried it himself when she left to store it at the warehouse. It didn¡¯t quite work as smoothly as he thought.


    Realizing how far he was from being skilled, he made a decision. Next time, he would definitely have to do it himself. He couldn¡¯t let a woman do everything for him.


    Returning to the kitchen, Qiao Mai saw therge pot of meat on the table, its aroma wafting out continuously.


    ¡°Boil some water. I¡¯ll nch these pieces in hot water. We¡¯ll stew the ribs for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad to eat meat at night? It might be hard to digest.¡±


    ¡°We have hawthorn cake and candied hawthorns. Letting the kids sleep a bitter won¡¯t hurt. They¡¯re all growing kids, not elderly. As long as they avoid drinking cold water, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The kitchen was filled with a delicious smell, and the fragrance wafted outwards as Qiao Mai prepared the food.


    The neighbors around caught a whiff of it and couldn¡¯t help but salivate. The smell was enticing, even better than the stewed meat stall¡¯s aroma.


    Chen Hao couldn¡¯t resist, ignoring Madam Chen¡¯s objections, and came to Qiao Mai¡¯s house. He sat on the bed and yed with Ling¡¯er and the three children.


    ¡°Why does your house smell so good?¡±


    Chuan¡¯er¡¯s little head perked up, proudly saying, ¡°My mother is stewing ribs and elbows. Aunt Lu sent pork. My mom knows we like meat, so she¡¯s stewing it.¡±


    ¡°Your mother is amazing. My mother always watches me and doesn¡¯t let me eat meat.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re chubby. You need to control yourself. We¡¯re all thin, so we need to nourish ourselves.¡±


    Fengyun gave a pastry to Chen Hao. ¡°Eat this. My mother bought it from the Capital. It¡¯s famous and delicious.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    By the time the meat was done, it was already dark outside. Arge basin of ribs had been brought to the table when Chen Shi arrived as if she had known.


    Qiao Mai politely weed her to join them for the meal.


    Dinner was meat, steamed buns, and rice soup.


    The family would have eaten happily and without restraint, but because


    Madam Chen and her son were there, Yuan Jiaqi felt somewhat constrained.


    He found arge bowl, put some ribs on it, took a steamed bun, and filled a bowl with rice soup before heading back to his room alone.


    Madam Chen looked towards the door, feeling disappointed and sighing softly in her heart.


    As Yuan Jiaqi left the room, Qiao Mai seemed to sense something. She nced at Madam Chen, catching her looking towards the door.


    The disappointment in her eyes didn¡¯t escape Qiao Mai¡¯s notice.


    Did Yuan Jiaqi leave the room to avoid Madam Chen?


    Was her love unrequited?


    Madam Chen went too far. If she had feelings for Yuan Jiaqi, why didn¡¯t she act earlier? She should have confessed. Instead, she was secretly testing her.


    Now that they have be a family, even if it was a fake marriage, wasn¡¯t it hical for her toe here under the pretext of her son? Madam Chen ate together with them but was coveting her fake husband!


    Qiao Mai thought she should invite Madam Chen over less in the future, in case she affected their meals.


    Madam Chen noticed Qiao Mai looking at her and quickly averted her gaze, smiling awkwardly at Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and continued eating as if nothing had happened.


    She realized that she might have been acting too much like a saint. Madam Chen was only her neighbor, but she let her son study with her kids and frequently invited them for meals.


    Did she owe her something?


    Qiao Mai, who had been quite happy before, suddenly found the meat in her mouth tasteless.


    She was not upset about it, but rather, she felt like she had realized this toote, making herself seem foolish. It was like selling something and having to count the money for the buyer.


    After dinner, Madam Chen left with Chen Hao. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t bother to send them off. Once the door was closed, Yuan Jiaqi ced his chopsticks and bowl in the kitchen, helping the children tidy up.


    It was still early to sleep, so the children went to Qiao Mai¡¯s room to y with Ling¡¯er. Yuan Jiaqi had something to discuss with Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Tomorrow is the 26th. If you are not setting up your stall, stay home and watch the children. I¡¯ll go out and get some chicken, duck, fish, and other ingredients, as well as some other New Year¡¯s goods.¡±


    ¡°Yes, focus on that. Is there enough money?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s enough. I never manage to spend it all each month. You often buy things for the family, so we¡¯ve saved quite a bit.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t give you money anymore. If youe across special delicacies, buy more for the children.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was about to say something else, but Qiao Mai interjected with her own thoughts.


    ¡°I know Madam Chen has feelings for you. For now, focus on teaching Chen Hao. The child is innocent. After the New Year, I¡¯ll buy a big house and a piece ofnd. Once there¡¯s a teacher to instruct you, we can find a reason to send her child to school. Then, you won¡¯t need to teach him anymore.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll invite her over less in the future, and I¡¯ll try to avoid inviting her when


    Shopkeeper Lu is here.¡±


    ¡°I feel sorry for causing you trouble.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel embarrassed about this. If she dares to have thoughts about you, she has already broken our friendship. Although our rtionship is a facade, she doesn¡¯t know that. Knowing that something is impossible but still pursuing it means she doesn¡¯t truly regard me, and I don¡¯t have to care about her.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡±


    ¡°Just do what needs to be done. Having a clear conscience is enough.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi listened and replied earnestly, ¡°You make a valid point. I¡¯ll head back to my room and continue studying.¡±


    He left, and Qiao Mai smiled as she faced the children.


    ¡°After eating so much meat, have some hawthorn cake to aid digestion. Drink some hot water. Don¡¯t sleep too early, okay?¡±


    ¡°Mother, you should have some too. Can you tell us a storyter?¡± ¡°Sure. Tonight, I¡¯ll tell you the story of Wu Song and The Tiger.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    As long as she wasn¡¯t too tired, Qiao Mai would asionally interact with the children in the evenings.


    In fact, she wasn¡¯t much older than the children, so there was no generation gap when shemunicated with them. They got along very well..

 Chapter 71 - 71: I Think You Abducted Her

    Chapter 71: I Think You Abducted Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Night fell, and a heavy snowfall began, which continued until the next morning. To replenish their stock, Qiao Mai gave the children a day off from their lessons today.


    After breakfast, she let the children look after Ling¡¯er and busied herself in the kitchen.


    She did not need to steam the buns. The provisions given by Shopkeeper Lu wouldst quite a while.


    After checking, Qiao Mai realized they needed to replenish some sunflower seeds, dried fruits, and sugar. Due to the continuous snowfall, some shops had closed early, and some vendors had stopped setting up their stalls, making it impossible to buy these items.


    She took some chestnuts from her space, sliced them with a knife, and ignited the fire in the hearth.


    She ced vegetable oil in the pot, added a spoonful of sugar, and poured in the chestnuts while stirring it. After about fifteen minutes, a pot of caramelized chestnuts was ready.


    Just as Qiao Mai was about to start on the second batch, someone knocked on the courtyard door.


    Frowning, Qiao Mai wiped her hands and opened the door. It was the mayor. After ncing behind him, she understood the situation.


    ¡°Mayor, is there something you need?¡±


    The mayor¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look good. ¡°The Yuan family¡¯s granddaughter from Lihua Vige has gone missing. They said she came to see you a few days


    Qiao Mai nced at Qiao Jiang and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about these people. They¡¯ve lost all sense of shame. They severed our rtionship and turned hostile, yet they kepting to bother me. They stopped sending the adults but children instead. Can they be any more shameless?¡±


    Qiao Jiang stayed silent. A guard held an umbre for the mayor. Mayor Qian gave her a stern look.


    ¡°Did shee to see you or not?¡±


    ¡°She dide. She said she was hungry, so I gave her a big bun, and she left. So what?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned, and they think she¡¯s staying with you.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that possible? Why would I keep someone from their family? That girl said if she didn¡¯t get anything, her family wouldn¡¯t let her return. After leaving here, she probably found a ce to stay.¡±


    Mayor Qian turned to Qiao Jiang. ¡°Did you hear that? She came here and was given a bun, then left.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. She must have hidden my daughter.¡±


    ¡°You guys are really something else. You made a young girle out to beg for food on such a cold day. Is there nothing to eat at home? And there¡¯s no one apanying her. It¡¯s possible she was abducted by human traffickers.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who abducted her.¡±


    ¡°If you dare to use me, do you believe I¡¯ll report you to the authorities?¡± ¡°Hmph, well, she came to find you.¡±


    ¡°Why would shee to see me? I don¡¯t owe her anything. It¡¯s your family¡¯s absurdity that led her here. You should be responsible for that.¡±


    Mayor Qian listened and rubbed his temples. ¡°Did she really leave?¡±


    ¡°She left after eating the bun. If you want, send guards to ask around the town.


    Someone must have seen her.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll send the guards to inquire first.¡±


    Qiao Jiang became anxious. ¡°Mayor, my daughter must be at her house. Please have the guards search her ce!¡±


    The guard gave him a push in the belly. ¡°Do you dare to obstruct the mayor¡¯s orders? Are you willing to bear the false usation charge? If they search and find nothing, you¡¯ll end up in jail.¡±


    Qiao Jiang held his stomach and red at Qiao Mai, ¡°You¡¯re really heartless. I only asked a child toe here for some food, but you actually kept her from going home?¡±


    Qiao Mai pointed to the sky and swore, ¡°If I detained your daughter, may lightning strike me dead.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at him and immediately turned to the mayor with a smile, ¡°The girl isn¡¯t young anymore. The possibility of her being abducted is low. You can inquire at the shops on both sides of the main road.¡±


    The mayor and his guards left. Qiao Jiang looked up at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°People should have a conscience, Sis.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you have let dogs eat your consciences. How dare you have the nerve to talk about it with me? Get lost!¡±


    Qiao Mai turned around and closed the courtyard gate, then returned to the kitchen to continue caramelizing chestnuts.


    Just as she finished two batches, someone knocked on the door again, which annoyed her.


    She opened the door in frustration, only to find that it was Yuan Jiaqi who had returned. She managed a faint smile and took the New Year¡¯s supplies from his hands.


    ¡°Back already?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, close the door. I¡¯ve bought almost everything.¡±


    The two headed straight for the warehouse with the goods and stored them. After that, Yuan Jiaqi went to the kitchen to light the fire for her.


    Smelling the sweet chestnuts, he couldn¡¯t help but take one.


    ¡°You cook them so deliciously. The chestnuts are both chewy and sweet.¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re tasty, eat more.¡±


    ¡°About that Qiao girl¡¯s matter, the guards found out that the dentist sold her to a wealthy household in the county. When her father heard that, he was happy and didn¡¯t even ask about her condition. He only asked where the money from the sale was. The mayor got so angry that he ordered the guards to beat him up.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°The dentist imed the girl sold herself, so she has the money. Guess what Qiao Jiang did?¡±


    ¡°He probably inquired about the location of that household and urgently hired an ox cart, right?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqiughed and praised her, ¡°You¡¯re really clever.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m clever. That family has no decency at all. They¡¯re only focused on money. If that girl were clever, she¡¯d keep the money for herself. If she weren¡¯t, she¡¯d give it to him.¡±


    ¡°Both of our families are like this. It¡¯s hard for me to understand.


    ¡°It¡¯s in their nature. No need to try to understand. Any person with a bit of conscience wouldn¡¯t do something as despicable as sucking their child¡¯s blood.¡±


    As they spoke, the courtyard gate sounded again. Qiao Mai took a deep breath to console herself.


    Seeing her troubled expression, Yuan Jiaqi immediately got up to open the door.


    In front of them stood a plump girl apanied by a maidservant. The girl was dressed in silk clothes and draped in a fur-cored cloak.


    When the plump girl saw Yuan Jiaqi, her eyes lit up. ¡°Brother Yuan, I¡¯ve finally met you.¡±


    ¡®I¡¯m sorry, youngdy. You should show some restraint. I don¡¯t ¡°know you.¡±


    In the kitchen, Qiao Mai had been suppressing her anger for a while. She held a stick in her hand, gripping it tightly, struggling to control her frustration. ¡°Brother Yuan, I¡¯m from Tiannan Town. I¡¯m the girl who¡¯s supposed to marry you.¡±


    ¡°I have already married into the Qiao family. Please leave, Miss.¡±


    The plump girl smiled, trying to enter the courtyard, but Qiao Mai rushed to the entrance. She reached out and pushed the girl, nearly causing her to fall.


    Having lost the pretense of being a refineddy, the girl let out a cry, pointing at Qiao Mai and unleashing a torrent of curses.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the one, huh? You stole my Brother Yuan, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°You shameless wretch, how dare youe to my house and cause a scene? No wonder you¡¯ve remained unmarried until now. You want to buy a husband with money, but your ns failed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fight you! You stole my man and still dare to insult me?¡±


    Themotion drew the attention of the neighbors. Despite the cold and heavy snow, they came out to witness the spectacle.


    Qiao Mai threw aside her stick, lunging forward to grab the girl¡¯s hair.


    In a woman¡¯s fight, there were few techniques, and victory was often determined by who managed to grab the other¡¯s hair. The girl¡¯s maidservant tried to intervene but was kicked aside by Qiao Mai, left lying on the ground, unable to get up.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Qiao Mai yanked on the girl¡¯s hair and confronted her.


    Strands of hair fell to the ground as the plump girl cried out in pain. However, her foul mouth didn¡¯t let up.


    ¡°Do you dare release my hair? I¡¯ll beat you until your teeth are scattered on the ground.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a worthless nobody, unwanted on the street. You rely on your pathetic money, thinking you can buy my man. Who do you think you are? Let me tell you, I do notck money. He¡¯d rather be my live-in husband than take you. That just shows how pitiful you are.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the pitiful one!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the pitiful one today!¡±


    Holding onto the girl¡¯s hair, Qiao Mai freed one hand and pped her several times. Smacks echoed through the air..

 Chapter 72 - 72: Go Home and Cause a Fuss!

    Chapter 72: Go Home and Cause a Fuss!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the meantime, her other hand continued to pull and tug at her hair. The pain was excruciating, causing the plump girl to beg for mercy.


    ¡°Let go of me, please! I didn¡¯t want toe either. It was Brother Yuan¡¯s parents who persuaded me toe.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi watched Qiao Mai hold her own in the fight and didn¡¯t step in to stop it. When he heard the plump girl¡¯s exnation, he approached.


    ¡°Wife, release her and listen to what she has to say.¡±


    Qiao Mai released her grip on the plump girl¡¯s hair, pushing her into the snowy ground.


    ¡°Tell me. Who sent you?¡±


    The plump girl sat on the ground, wiping away tears that smudged her makeup. Her hair was disheveled, and her maid rushed to pick up her hairpin and help her up.


    ¡°It was Brother Yuan¡¯s parents.¡±


    ¡°What did they say? Let everyone hear and be witnesses.¡±


    ¡°They said you stole him from me and wanted me toe settle the score.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know you. Besides, I was married before and has a child. What¡¯s the truth behind this marriage matter?¡±


    ¡°Your parents arranged the match through a matchmaker and praised you exaggeratedly. I was moved, so they brought me to see you secretly once.¡± ¡°Did they tell you where I live as well?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I knew where you lived when you were there, and they brought me here too. So when they mentioned you, I knew where to find you.¡±


    With the plump girl¡¯s hair still in Qiao Mai¡¯s grasp, she divulged everything when Yuan Jiaqi asked her.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you know I am now a part of the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°I know, but your parents received benefits from my family and haven¡¯t returned the money. They know they¡¯re in the wrong, but they¡¯re holding onto the money.¡±


    ¡°Look for them, or even go to the local authorities if needed. My rtionship with them is severed, anding to me won¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°Brother Yuan, I know you don¡¯t like her. Look, she¡¯s not even prettier than me. Why not leave her family ande to mine? I promise to treat you and your son well.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes narrowed. She moved forward, ready to grab the plump girl¡¯s hair. Startled, the girl hastily retreated a couple of steps.


    Yuan Jiaqi held Qiao Mai back and said, ¡°Youngdy, please go back. There¡¯s no point in this. My wife and I will never be separated in this lifetime.¡±


    After leading Qiao Mai back into the yard, he closed the gate.


    Qiao Mai shook off his hand. giving him a stern re that turned his face red


    ¡°Right, sorry. I caused you trouble.¡±


    ¡°More than just trouble.¡±


    Qiao Mai ignored him, returning to the kitchen to wash her hands and continue making candied chestnuts.


    With the crowd outside dispersing, the plump girl stormed out of the alley, fuming. She got into her carriage and left.


    Determined to reim her lost pride in this ce, she headed back home to seek revenge.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to cause a scene in Tianshui Town, not because she was afraid of Qiao Mai, but because of the mayor.


    She had heard her father talk about the mayor, knowing that causing a disturbance here would be irrational. Even if she suffered a loss, she could only swallow her anger and return home, nursing the resentment.


    However, back in Tiannan Town, no one dared to bully them.


    Apricot Blossom Vige is closest to Tiannan Town. Those two geezers not only refuse to return her money, but they also incite her to cause trouble. This debt must be settled.


    They act as if they can take money from anyone. Today, she¡¯s determined to find that pair of old scoundrels, reim her family¡¯s money, and give them a good beating. Otherwise, this pent-up anger won¡¯t dissipate.


    As for that woman from the Qiao family, she¡¯ll find an opportunity to deal with her. She won¡¯t take a beating in vain.


    From now on, Qiao Mai has acquired another enemy.


    Yuan Jiaqi stoked the fire and added firewood in front of the kitchen hearth. ¡°The Yuan family won¡¯t hold up much longer. Madam Qiao, please bear with this situation for now.¡±


    ¡°What did you say to them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just me who¡¯s had enough of the Yuan family¡¯s troubles. My other brothers can¡¯t stand them either. I believe a family split will happen soon. At that point, they won¡¯t have the energy to bother me.¡±


    ¡°I wonder, if the Qiao family treated me this way, how would I react?¡± ¡°If the old ones can¡¯t move anymore, nothing else would matter, right?¡± Qiao Maiughed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t care about a mere grasshopper.¡±


    ¡°Even though a grasshopper is small, a bite can still be painful. Don¡¯t underestimate any enemy. Sometimes, the more inconspicuous they are, the more they can harm the ones you care about.¡±


    Qiao Mai squinted, unsure if she was ready to resort to violence as she came here for an ordinary life.


    She¡¯ll deal with it when the timees. Yuan Jiaqi might be saying all this, but his parents had forced him to marry into the Qiao family, yet he hadn¡¯t taken action. Why should she rush?


    During the morning, she fried ten pots of candied chestnuts, leaving a small bowl for the children and sealing the rest in jars, even though they would be in her space.


    After lunch, she wasn¡¯t idle either. She fried five pots of peanuts and melon seeds. Seeing she had extra time, she made two pots of fruit candy, producing over twenty kilograms of candy blocks.


    In the evening, too exhausted to cook, Qiao Mai reheated some buns and drank rice soup.


    The three older children took excellent care of Ling¡¯er, who also liked her brothers. They fed her whatever she needed, and she didn¡¯t cry or fuss. When she saw them, she smiled, making all three brothers fond of her, unsure how to treat her even better.


    That night, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t return to her space. She and Ling¡¯er slept on the warm bed.


    Over ten months old, Ling¡¯er was now eating egg custard and porridge in addition to nursing.


    Her stomach wasn¡¯t too strong due to the umbilical hernia, so she often ate smaller meals. Since birth, she hadn¡¯t been sick, thanks to Qiao Mai¡¯s careful attention.


    On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, Yuan Jiaqi took the children and cleaned the house thoroughly.


    Meanwhile, in Apricot Blossom Vige, the Yuan family¡¯s home was inplete disarray. Madam Yuan Xu sat on the bed, crying, while Old Yuan sat on a low stool, puffing on his pipe.


    None of their sons were around, each staying in their rooms.


    Inside the main room, a woman spoke in hushed tones, ¡°Husband, we can¡¯t go on like this. Greed for money is one thing, but they shouldn¡¯t hold onto the money they don¡¯t deserve. They know they can¡¯t handle the consequences, yet they refuse to let go. They¡¯re causing all this trouble, and in the end, they must return the money anyway. We¡¯ll suffer a beating for nothing. I don¡¯t understand what they¡¯re trying to achieve.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve discussed it with my other three brothers. After the New Year, we¡¯ll tell our parents we want to split the family. Whether they agree or not, it¡¯s happening. The inheritance they¡¯ve amassed over the years must be distributed. If they don¡¯t¡­¡±


    The eldest son¡¯s eyes glinted with determination and ruthlessness.


    ¡°Will that work? What if they report us?¡±


    ¡°On the second day of the new year, we¡¯ll visit your family together. We¡¯ll ask for their help. If things get tough, they¡¯ll help us.¡±


    ¡°How will they help?¡±


    ¡°If our parents insist on pushing us to the edge, we won¡¯t hold back, whether through persuasion or force. If they refuse to agree, they¡¯ll face the consequences. We might identally hurt them¡­¡±


    His wife widened her eyes. ¡°But that¡¯s a serious crime of unfilial conduct. Will we end up in jail?¡±


    ¡°Who said that? If there¡¯s a dispute and physical altercation between inws, what does it have to do with us? By that time, they won¡¯t be able to move, let alone crawl to the government office. Even if thev go to the government office, it¡¯s an internal family matter, and the town magistrate won¡¯t meddle much. In the end, it will likely be resolved without much fuss.¡±


    ¡°Can we really do it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing major will happen. With so many of us, the mayor won¡¯t punish all of us.¡±


    ¡°But who will take care of our parents?¡±


    ¡°After we divide the money, we¡¯ll build our houses and move out. Let them live here in their old age. When the timees, I¡¯ll discuss with my brothers to take turns bringing them food.¡±


    ¡°I feel uncertain about this.¡¯


    ¡°Come what may, it¡¯s worth a try. If we don¡¯t resist now, we¡¯ll be under their thumb forever. I¡¯ve already discussed it with my brothers. Just make sure the children are safe.¡¯


    The eldest son of the Yuan family had been contemting this issue since he returned from Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s ce.


    After decades of oppression, rebelling required a strong determination. Under the threat of their lives, filial piety seemed insignificant


    He had secretly discussed the matter with his three brothers. They were all on the same page¡­

 Chapter 73 - 73: We Will See

    Chapter 73: We Will See


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    As the Lunar New Year approached, families were preparing to celebrate the end of the year by buying meat to improve their lives. However, the elderly couple in this household remained unmoved. They continued their regr meals, showing no sign of the festive atmosphere.


    But that¡¯s not the main issue; what¡¯s concerning is that they secretly purchased better-quality meat and kept it hidden.


    Late at night, when everything was quiet, they would take out this meat and feast on it, not allowing the younger members to partake. Such behavior left a cold feeling in the hearts of those around them, and it seemed like they had no concern for their health.


    To be honest, the Yuan brothers often cursed them despite being their sons.


    In the main house, the two money-minded elders were unaware that their four sons were growing dissatisfied with them.


    As night fell, no one bothered to light a fire or prepare a meal. This angered Madam Yuan Xu, who shouted angrily from the main house.


    Old Yuan pounded on the door and called for the others toe out and cook.


    The four sons instructed their wives to cook while Madam Yuan Xu took the keys and opened the warehouse door, supervising their gathering of provisions.


    And thus, the resistance began at that moment. The four daughters-inw pushed her aside. The eldest daughter-inw scooped several bowls of rice, the second took a whole strip of meat, the third took several heads of cabbage, and the fourth even grabbed some radishes and a piece of cured meat.


    Enraged, Madam Yuan Xu howled, her intention to strike her daughters-inw thwarted as they pushed and kicked her back. One even used her buttocks to bump her, and thest woman pinched her viciously.


    Yuan Xushi fled from the warehouse in shock, rushing to the main house.


    ¡°Old man. they¡¯ve gone mad! Not only did they take so much food. but they even hit me!¡±


    Old Yuan knocked his pipe and walked out of the house. ¡°Do you intend to rebel?¡±


    He had thought that his daughters-inw would be so frightened that they would obey him with a few words. However, he was taken aback to see them still busy in the kitchen, ignoring his words.


    His four sons walked out of the house and stared coldly at him. The look in their eyes could freeze him on the spot.


    His heart tightened, his tone bing gentler. ¡°Do you want to rebel too?¡± ¡°Dad, it¡¯s New Year. Let¡¯s all have a good meal.¡¯


    ¡°Managing a household frugally is how we umte wealth. Do you not understand?¡±


    ¡°Then what about you and Mom secretly eating meat at night?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°If we can¡¯t live together, we should split up. If you and Mom think you¡¯re capable, you¡¯re wee to live on your own. We¡¯ll earn money to support our families. If our children work as maids in wealthy households, we should receive the earnings as their parents. Moreover, we hope you will return the money we earned to us.¡±


    ¡°What? You¡­ You want to split the family?¡±


    ¡°What else? You drove Fifth Brother away, and now you¡¯reing to control us. You sold our children, yet we can¡¯t even have a full stomach as their parents. But you secretly bought meat for yourselves?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re the elders.¡±


    ¡°Then act like elders. Stop causing trouble. We also want to live well and enjoy good food.¡±


    Old Yuan raised his pipe, ready to strike. But seeing his sons step forward together, he backed down.


    He was afraid. Madam Yuan Xu stood in shock in the house, not understanding what was happening.


    How had their children suddenly stopped listening to them? Their daughters-inw no longer treated them as elders?


    ¡°You don¡¯t listen to your parents. Are you being unfilial?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t use the same old tactics on us. If you want to sue us, go to the magistrate, but pass the hurdle with the town mayor first. Everyone knows what kind of people you are.¡±


    ¡°What kind of people are we?¡±


    ¡°A pair of money-hoarding demons who can sell their sons and granddaughters for money. You both drink children¡¯s blood and eat their flesh.¡±


    Old Yuan and Madam Yuan Xu never expected their children to speak to them this way. Just as they were about to retort, they held back when they saw their sons¡¯ determined stance. It seemed that they would confront them physically if they dared to speak ory hands on them.


    Having spent years avoiding physicalbor, they were no match for their sons. Trembling hands pointed at their children


    ¡°Well done. Let¡¯s see where this leads.¡±


    Seeing the two elders retreat into the house, the brothers exchanged nces. They had won. Their rebellion was effective, and they would finally have a satisfying meal tonight.


    The dinner at the Tian family consisted of a pot of watery coarse rice porridge, hardtack, and arge bowl of stir-fried cabbage in the middle.


    Tian Yaozu had returned home on break, but seeing the spread before him, he had no appetite. He stood up and left.


    Madam Tian Li noticed her eldest grandson wasn¡¯t eating and fetched some eggs from the warehouse. She prepared a bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it to him.


    ¡°Yaozu, eat. You still have to study. How can you do that without eating?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Why don¡¯t you sit here and eat with me?¡±


    ¡°No, you go ahead. I¡¯ll eat with the others.¡±


    In the Tian family, apart from mistreating their daughters-inw, they treated their own children quite well. They were better than the Yuan family in that regard.


    In Lihua Vige, the Qiao family was also facing difficulties. Qiao Shicheng could move around now, and since Qiao Mai announced her marriage, his expression had remained gloomy.


    A few days ago, he sent his granddaughter to Qiao Mai¡¯s ce to ask for food. However, the girl hadn¡¯t returned, and they thought she might have been left in town to enjoy the festivities.


    Little did they know that wasn¡¯t the case at all. When Qiao Jiang went there, Qiao Mai admitted the girl wasn¡¯t with her.


    Theyter learned from the dental clinic that the girl had sold herself to the county town. Qiao Jiang chased after her but was stunned to find that she refused to admit them.


    This made Qiao Jiang furious. He cursed that daughters were nothing but a financial burden. He even suggested selling the rest off to a wealthy family.


    He was afraid they would follow in her footsteps.


    Frightened, the few other granddaughters burst into tears. Qiao Shicheng threw down his chopsticks and left the table without eating.


    These three families, who had tried to scheme others, were now facing the consequences of their actions. The atmosphere wasn¡¯t conducive to celebrating the New Year, and it seemed they wouldn¡¯t have a good holiday.


    Not only these families were in turmoil, but Madam Chen wasn¡¯t in a happy state either.


    Since the day they had stewed pork ribs at the Qiao family¡¯s and returned home, her mood had been unsettled. She feared Qiao Mai would find out about her feelings for Yuan Jiaqi and that it might affect her child¡¯s education and their family¡¯s reputation.


    Therefore, she sent Chen Hao to y with their children.


    However, when Yuan Jiaqi refused to let him in, her anxiety only grew worse.


    She even paid a visit in person, but Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t say much.


    ¡°Sister Chen, it¡¯s almost the New Year. I¡¯ve given the child some time off. Let¡¯s have hime back after the fifteenth. We¡¯re quite busy these days, so we can¡¯t take care of Chen Hao.¡¯


    ¡°My son can help watch over Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. If hees, my wife and I will still need to look after him. He cane over when we¡¯re free. He shouldn¡¯te for these few days.¡± Madam Chen could only force a smile and left, feeling ufortable.


    Yuan Jiaqi nced at her retreating figure and let out a sigh. Though the adults may not be exemry, the children are innocent.


    In the kitchen, Qiao Mai was busy at work. Upon hearing the exchange at the courtyard door, her eyes crinkled with a smile.


    For the New Year¡¯s gifts, she had only prepared for Shopkeeper Lu and the mayor¡¯s family. She hadn¡¯t even thought about anything for Madam Chen. Since August 15th, when Madam Chen had brought some jujubes over, she came empty-handed almost every time after.


    Although Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind, she had ssified Madam Chen as an ordinary acquaintance.


    As for Madam Chen, upon witnessing Yuan Jiaqi delivering New Year¡¯s gifts, an ufortable feeling settled in her heart. She also wished to receive a New Year¡¯s present from Qiao Mai.


    Unfortunately, Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t considered her at all.


    Now, even her child wasn¡¯t allowed inside their home. Madam Chen returned home and was so angry that she wanted to throw something but couldn¡¯t bear to damage anything. Instead, she hugged a pillow and cried..

 Chapter 74 - 74: People Should Have Dignity

    Chapter 74: People Should Have Dignity


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Chen Hao heard themotion and walked over with a frown, asking,


    ¡°Mother, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be? Madam Qiao treats your mother like an outsider.¡± ¡°But, Mother, we are outsiders to them.¡±


    ¡°We are neighbors. We eat together now and then. How can we be outsiders?¡±


    ¡°A gift exchange involves giving and receiving. When we eat at their ce, we rarely bring anything. We always eat their food. Moreover. Mr. Yuan is mv teacher. Aunt Qiao told you not to worry and only give a gift for the New Year and festivals, but you haven¡¯t given anything.¡±


    ¡°Well, they¡¯re together now.¡±


    ¡°Even so, you still need to give a gift to Mr. Yuan. We are two different families.


    Etiquette should not be disregarded.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve only been in school for a few days, and now you dare to lecture your mother?¡±


    ¡°Mother, this is the way things are. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t understand, but you are always seeking advantages without walking the right path. Don¡¯t be surprised if they look down on us.¡±


    ¡°Our family is poor, aren¡¯t we? I am a widow raising children. Isn¡¯t it tough for


    ¡°Being poor in wealth doesn¡¯t mean you have tock dignity. I won¡¯t visit the Qiao family after New Year¡¯s. I can study at home.¡±


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t you go? As long as he doesn¡¯t kick us out, we will go to their house. I don¡¯t have to go, but you must. If you can eat at their ce, we can save some money.¡±


    ¡°Mother, you have thicker skin than your son. Mr. Yuan said I can go after the fifteenth, so let it be. Don¡¯t go to their house anymore.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to drive your mother to an early grave?¡±


    ¡°People should have dignity. If people criticize you, do you have to rush to face the insults?¡±


    Without caring whether his mother was crying, Chen Hao turned and returned to his room. Madam Chen was so angry that she threw the pillow by the door.


    She was starting to hate Qiao Mai from that day onwards. She med her for provoking Yuan Jiaqi. Otherwise, Yuan Jiaqi wouldn¡¯t prevent her from entering the house.


    From that day on, she developed a strong resentment for Qiao Mai.


    On New Year¡¯s Eve, as the head of the family, Qiao Mai had already hung up the couplets early in the morning. Since they had a horse and dogs, she decided not to set off firecrackers.


    In the morning, she cooked dumplings for her family. For lunch, they had pan-fried dumplings. In the evening, Qiao Mai put in extra effort and prepared various dishes that the children loved.


    She also squeezed some fruit juice for them. The family spent the New Year¡¯s Eve together in a warm atmosphere.


    The children, who were used to going to bed early and rising early, got sleepy before the New Year¡¯s bell rang. Yuan Jiaqi carried them back to their rooms and tucked them in.


    After tidying up the table, the couple bid each other goodnight and returned to their rooms.


    Qiao Mai brought the sleeping Ling¡¯er into the space. She wanted to see if herptop with inte ess could stream the New Year¡¯s G.


    Unfortunately, theptop only had limited ess to useful knowledge like news. Movies and TV shows were not essible.


    However, Qiao Mai could ess online shopping websites. Even though she couldn¡¯t purchase anything, she could still browse through various products and enjoy window shopping.


    Qiao Mai sighed. She couldn¡¯t fall asleep and nced at the farnd outside. Over forty types of crops were flourishing, with vibrant green vegetables and juicy fruits, making her feel hungry by looking at them.


    With the space expanding over twenty times and its seemingly limitless growth rate, it wouldn¡¯t take long for it to berger than a small town.


    She sat by the side and absentmindedly grabbed a cucumber to munch on.


    If her space had this function in her previous life, Qiao Mai could have happily farmed there and never left for the rest of her life.


    Standing up and walking around thend, she realized that these forty plots ofnd were arranged circrly around her house and shelves.


    They formed a circr shape, encircling the house. Every time thend expanded, the area of the central house also increased ordingly.


    It always maintained a space the size of one acre. Qiao Mai was pleased.


    Having a spacious living area would make life morefortable. If there was water, she could raise fish, shrimp, lotus, and more, making the space even more dynamic.


    Feeling content, she spread a mat in front of the house and covered herself with a thin nket. She ended up falling asleep till dawn.


    If it weren¡¯t for her children knocking on the door, she might have slept through the morning.


    Hastily carrying Ling¡¯er out of the space, Qiao Mai opened the door.


    ¡°Mother, Happy New Year! Your son wishes you health and happiness in theing year.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I also wish my children to be another year older.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    ¡°Here, this is a red envelope I prepared for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her three children, all dressed in new clothes with neatlybed hair, and hurriedly let them go outside. She also needed to change into new clothes with Ling¡¯er.


    Firecrackers were continuously set off in the small town. The horses neighed restlessly in the stable, and the dogs refused to leave the house.


    Qiao Mai quickly dressed up nicely with Ling¡¯er. She even wore aplete set of silver jewelry.


    Carrying Ling¡¯er, she walked out of their house, catching everyone¡¯s eye.


    Yuan Jiaqi also looked decent. Without waiting for Ling¡¯er to greet him, he handed her a red envelope.


    ¡°Happy New Year!¡±


    ¡°Happy New Year! Hold Ling¡¯er. I¡¯ll go cook dumplings.¡±


    Feng¡¯er quickly took over Ling¡¯er. ¡°Mother, let us take turns holding our little sister. Dad could help you. It will be faster this way.¡±


    The family¡¯s dumplings were cooked in one pot.


    Despite having dumplings all day yesterday, the children were still not tired of them.


    The dumplings were filled with cabbage and shiitake mushrooms, while the ones yesterday were filled with leeks. The symbolism of these fillings was meaningful, and the children loved them.


    When the leftover dumplings were fried in oil for the next meal, they were incredibly delicious.


    After finishing the dumplings, the family dressed warmly and followed Qiao Mai to visit neighbors.


    The first stop was at the Mayor¡¯s house. During this time every year, they were usually the busiest. Qiao Mai and her husband brought their children to greet the Mayor and his family for the New Year.


    Without saying much, they left after the greetings. A guard came out with four red envelopes.


    ¡°Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Brother Guard.¡±


    ¡°These are from the Mayor, for the four children. Please ept them. There were people around just now, and it wasn¡¯t convenient for the Mayor to say anything.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    The second stop was naturally at Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s house. They had been in the town for almost a year, but Qiao Mai¡¯s family hadn¡¯t visited them yet.


    Following the description previously given by Shopkeeper Lu, they found their way to the house. Upon opening the courtyard gate, Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s family came out to wee them.


    Ruxin took Ling¡¯er and entered the living room. The three children greeted Shopkeeper Lu and received red envelopes. Even Ruxin and Ruyi received red envelopes.


    Qiao Mai had prepared red envelopes as well. She gave one to her two apprentices, as well as Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu, who had helped her at her stall. She wanted to express her gratitude on this asion, so the amount of money certainly wasn¡¯tcking.


    They sat, drinking hot tea and munching on melon seeds. Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t say much. He just listened.


    ¡°Sister, your house is quite nice.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a two-story courtyard. I wanted to buy a three-story house, but my family is small. If I buy something toorge, it would feel empty.¡±


    ¡°As long as it¡¯sfortable to live in, that¡¯s enough. Besides, not many peoplee to visit me with my identity. And if they do, they are mostly female rtives.¡±


    After sitting for a while, Shopkeeper Lu was about to go cook. Qiao Mai got up and followed her to the kitchen.


    Shopkeeper Lu seemed a bit embarrassed. ¡°Don¡¯t think badly of me. Even though I¡¯m a woman, I¡¯m really not good at cooking.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°Is this dish prepared in advance?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu grinned at Qiao Mai. ¡°Before the New Year, I ordered some dishes from Jingtai Restaurant. It¡¯s so cold these days that the dishes won¡¯t spoil. I was waiting for you toe today.¡± Qiao Mai¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Their food isn¡¯t very delicious.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s still better than what I can cook.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat at my house from now on.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind our noise, I¡¯ll go to your ce. I don¡¯t care about all those formalities. As long as we¡¯re happy, it¡¯s good. By then, I¡¯ll watch over Ling¡¯er while you cook. I love eating your dishes. They¡¯re truly exceptional. If


    Shopkeeper Tong knew about your culinary skills, he would probably kneel and beg to buy your recipes.¡±


    ¡°Is it that exaggerated?¡±


    ¡°It is. Since I started eating your dishes, I haven¡¯t wanted to eat from any other


    ce. I even prefer yours to homemade ones..¡±

 Chapter 75 - 75: This Was Her Secret

    Chapter 75: This Was Her Secret


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Just put more seasoning in it. Since you like it,e to my house for holidays in the future. When Ruxin gets married, call me to cook for you when she visits.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Not only will youe to cook, but your whole family will be invited to apany us.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of that, do you not have any siblings?¡±


    ¡°I have one older brother; no one else. My family is from Plum Blossom Vige in Tianshui Town. Although my family is from a vige, my six uncles have a united front. My brother is a schr, so in the vige, my parent¡¯s words hold weight. I¡¯m not easily bullied in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°If I knew your parents live so close, I would have paid them a visit.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t youe to my hometown with me tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Haha, never mind. Let¡¯s pick another time. That day is special for you.¡±


    ¡°What about you? If you don¡¯t visit your parents, how will you spend the festival?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll eat, drink, and sleep at home. Or I might take the whole family out for a trip.¡±


    ¡°The roads are covered in snow, and the weather is freezing. It¡¯s better to stay warm at home. Plus, Ling¡¯er is still young.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu brought the cold dishes to Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu and then reheated the hot dishes.


    Watching her awkwardly handle the food, Qiao Mai had her hold the baby while she took over the cooking.


    Shopkeeper Lu chuckled awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m worse than my two daughters in the kitchen. Maybe I¡¯ll go to the market and hire a cook. We won¡¯t have to buy food from outside anymore. The cook can prepare everything for us at home.¡±


    ¡°Home-cooked meals that are delicious, affordable, and clean are the best.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±


    They dined at Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s house for lunch on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t eat much. Yuan Jiaqi and the children were still polite, eating and drinking their fill.


    Qiao Mai ate a few bites, then put down her chopsticks and stopped eating.


    After sitting for a while, she took her family back home.


    As soon as they arrived home, Qiao Mai left the children to watch over Ling¡¯er and entered the kitchen. She fried a bowl of meat sauce for herself and cooked noodles.


    The scent filled the air, and the children¡¯s appetites immediately reignited. After Qiao Mai finished her noodles, she cooked a bowl for the children and Yuan Jiaqi.


    Looking at the unappetizing appearance of the dish that was actually very delicious, Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but ponder.


    If they left the Qiao family in the future, he would never get to eat such delicious food again. If Madam Qiao found a beloved man in the future, he, as the pretend husband, would have to step aside.


    That man would enjoy Madam Qiao¡¯s cooking every day. The noodles in Yuan Tiaai¡¯s mouth instantly lost vor. making him uneasy.


    Before he could delve further into these thoughts, Chuan¡¯er¡¯s shout snapped him out of his reverie.


    ¡°Dad, I want to eat hawthorn candy. Can you get me a few pieces?¡± Yuan Jiaqi gently patted his son¡¯s belly. ¡°Did you eat too much again?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, me it on Mother¡¯s delicious cooking. Aunt¡¯s food isn¡¯t as good as


    Mother¡¯s, so I didn¡¯t eat enough.¡± ¡°What will you do if we leave the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°Then we won¡¯t leave. Why would we?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed. He decided to let it go. His son was still too young to understand these things.


    Seeing everyone finish their noodles, Qiao Mai picked up Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°We won¡¯t cook dinner tonight. Everyone should rest early. Ling¡¯er and I will go to bed.¡±


    ¡°Sure, go rest. If they aren¡¯t hungry tonight, I won¡¯t cook. But if they are, I¡¯m here. You don¡¯t need to worry about household matters.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled at Yuan Jiaqi, hugged Ling¡¯er, and went inside. Once the door closed, they entered the space.


    Since Ling¡¯er was still young, she could bring her into the space. However, as she grew older, she wouldn¡¯t be able to enter with her.


    This was her secret, something she wouldn¡¯t tell anyone, not even the closest person.


    After harvesting winter melons, Qiao Mai started nting pumpkins. She had already finished nting most non-tree fruit varieties. Currently, she is nting vegetables.


    Her n was to finish nting vegetables, then move on to fruit trees, and finally to medicinal herbs. The types of medicinal herbs were numerous.


    The three hundred types of seeds she brought back from City Wei included onlymon ones. She would have to collect many rare varieties herself.


    For now, she needed to finish nting the seeds she already had.


    Qiao Mai took a bottle of beer from the shelf and grabbed a bag of chicken-vored tofu. As she ate, she sipped on the beer.


    She reminisced about the past few months, smiling to herself.


    This space was the reason she could survive. It made her life better and less tough.


    She set a goal for herself: to raise Ling¡¯er, watch her grow up, and then embark on a journey riding Dong Zao to explore the world after Ling¡¯er was married.


    She nned to travel wherever she wanted, rest wherever she felt like, and stay in one ce when she got tired. Once she felt refreshed, she would continue her journey.


    Traveling wasn¡¯t just for men; women could do it too. The same went for adventure. It wasn¡¯t exclusive to men.


    She believed that ancient times had even more unknown territories than the present.


    After breakfast, Qiao Mai had nothing to do. She left the children in charge of watching over Ling¡¯er and entered the kitchen to prepare snacks.


    The children couldn¡¯t go out to y, so she wanted to make sure they ate and drank well.


    Qiao Mai prepared fifty skewers of fruit-studded candy hawthorns.


    She found a sturdy piece of wood in the firewood shed, carved it round, and sharpened the bottom into a point. She nted the wood in the courtyard¡¯s center, drilling holes all over it.


    Then, she stuck the skewers of candy hawthorns on it and called, ¡°Children, put on something warm ande out. Mother has prepared something for you.¡±


    A burst of excitement followed, and the children, being held or led by Yuan Jiaqi, rushed out. They were all wide-eyed.


    ¡°Wow, Mother, are these candy hawthorns?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be made of hawthorns?¡±


    ¡°Who said they could only be made from hawthorns? As long as it¡¯s fruit, it can be used. You can pick your favorite vor.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s mind was spinning. Having green vegetables during winter was understandable, but where did these various fruitse from?


    He looked at Qiao Mai, who was interacting with the children with a bright smile, and wondered, what kind of woman is she?


    How can she obtain all these things? Before knowing her, Madam Qiao was just an ordinary vige woman. Since leaving the Tian and Qiao families toe to town, she had changed. She was no longer the weak woman she used to be; she had be strong and mysterious.


    Suddenly, this woman could fight, acquire rare items, and even do double-sided embroidery.


    Thinking carefully, she waspletely different from the woman she used to be. He could say that she had changed entirely.


    Could she be another person?


    Yuan Jiaqi did not dare to think about it. After all, she couldn¡¯t have changed. The concept of changing souls was absurd.


    He could only categorize her as someone whose luck turned around after leaving her old family. Fate favored her, and she started turning things around.


    Regardless of who she was or how she changed, Qiao Mai was kind and good to the children. She was always thinking about their well-being. That was enough.


    Once he came to terms with this, Yuan Jiaqi stopped obsessing. When he looked at Qiao Mai, he even had a smile in his eyes, filled with the glow of happiness.


    Qiao Mai brought a skewer of strawberries over and handed it to him. She reached out to take Ling¡¯er from his arms.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick a skewer as well?¡±


    Qiao Mai extended the skewer of candy hawthorns to Ling¡¯er, who stuck out her little tongue and licked it. She tasted the sweetness, and her giggles filled the air.


    Just then, someone knocked on the courtyard gate. Everyone turned to look at Qiao Mai. ¡°Mom, should we open it?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi walked over. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re from the town. It¡¯s the second day of the Lunar New Year, and we¡¯d like to buy some snacks from you. Do you have any?¡±


    The children eyed the candy hawthorns. ¡°Mother, there are so many. How about we sell some?¡±


    ¡°Brother Yuan, go to the storeroom and bring out chestnuts, melon seeds, peanuts, quail eggs, pine nuts, and licorice cakes. Then get a bowl. We don¡¯t have a scale, so we¡¯ll sell by bowls.¡±


    ¡°What about the candy hawthorns?¡±


    ¡°It will be one hundred coins per skewer. Each of you can keep two skewers for the kitchen. Sell the rest..¡¯

 Chapter 76 - 76: I’m Addicted to Making Money

    Chapter 76: I¡¯m Addicted to Making Money


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Feng¡¯er opened the door, and the wealthy residents of Tianshui Town streamed into her home. They all cried out when they saw the sugar-coated hawthorns in the courtyard.


    ¡°Are these for sale?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re a hundred coins per skewer.¡±


    ¡°Give me ten skewers!¡± Instantly, they were surrounded.


    Some who hadn¡¯t managed to buy any were anxious. Eventually, Feng¡¯er and his siblings reluctantly handed over their own skewers.


    Seeing this, Qiao Mai consoled them, ¡°I¡¯ll make more for youter.¡±


    Hearing this, the children became happy again, and the townspeople quickly ced orders.


    ¡°Give me another ten skewers. I have many kids at home.¡±


    ¡°I want ten skewers too.¡±


    ¡°These can only be picked up in the afternoon.¡±


    ¡°Is it okay to have them after lunch?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The people bought some more snacks and left satisfied. Just as Feng¡¯er was about to close the door, Chen Hao arrived.


    ¡°Aunt, Happy New Year! My mother and I visited my grandparents¡¯ house yesterday, so we didn¡¯te to wish you a Happy New Year. Please forgive me.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°Happy New Year, Hao¡¯er. Here, this is from Aunt.¡± Chen Hao politely epted it. ¡°Thank you, Aunt.¡±


    ¡°Feng¡¯er, quickly take your Brother Hao inside and bring out the delicious food.


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took baby Ling¡¯er from Qiao Mai. ¡°You¡¯re working hard again.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard at all. I have an addiction to making money. Look, in a short time, I¡¯ve earned over a dozen taels of silver. It¡¯s almost New Year, and everyone has money. If we don¡¯t make money now, when will we?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held Ling¡¯er andughed, following her into the kitchen.


    Sitting in front of the stove, preparing to light the fire, Qiao Mai went to the storeroom and started shaving wooden sticks.


    After half an hour of preparation, she began to cook the sugar.


    ¡°Madam Chen and her son are back. Should we go over and wish them a Happy New Year?¡±


    ¡°No. If she¡¯s sensible, she shoulde over. After all, you¡¯re her son¡¯s teacher.¡± ¡°Whatever you say.¡±


    ¡°Making these sugar-coated hawthorns is quite easy. Just string some fruits together. The key is the sugar syrup. Dip the fruits in the syrup, ce them on a board, and the sugar will set as it cools and hardens. Once it¡¯s cold, it¡¯s ready.¡±


    ¡°It sounds easier said than done. Your version seems simple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy once you get the hang of it. Everything takes practice.¡±


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re making money quite easily.¡±


    ¡°Just like how you easily copy books with your knowledge. It¡¯s easy for you, but if I were to do it, I wouldn¡¯t know how. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    In the time they talked, all the sugar-coated hawthorns were done. Qiao Mai also found a wooden stake, shaved and pierced holes in it.


    They made a hundred in one go. In addition to the pre-orders, there were still dozens left, enough for the children to eat.


    Seeing that it was almost noon, Qiao Mai cleaned the pan and decided to prepare some fresh food for everyone. She went to the storeroom, used it as cover, and took a dozen pieces of steak from the frozen cab in the space.


    These steaks were marinated and were well-known brands from the supermarket.


    After the pan dried, she didn¡¯t add any oil and put the steaks in directly. She cooked three pieces at a time, ced them on a te after frying, and held Ling¡¯er as she had Yuan Jiagi taste them.


    ¡°These are medium-rare steaks. Give them a try.¡±


    ¡°Steaks?¡±


    ¡°Yes, beef tenderloin. I named them steaks.


    Yuan Jiaqi tasted a piece. ¡°They taste good and tender, unlike anything we¡¯ve had before. Cattle are a vital workforce in the fields of our Great Ming Dynasty.


    The court doesn¡¯t allow their casual ughter.¡±


    Worried that she might not understand, Yuan Jiaqi exined further.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. These were purchased legally from the Capital. I have all the proper documents. After you finish, call the children to eat. Steaks are best eaten hot. They¡¯re not as good when they¡¯re cold.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi finished three pieces in a few bites. Qiao Mai shook her head in disbelief. At this rate, each person would need at least five pieces. With Chen Hao included, they would need thirty pieces.


    While Yuan Jiaqi called everyone to eat, she used her mental power to check the freezer. There were fifty pieces in there. She took fifteen pieces, so there were still thirty-five pieces left. Yuan Jiaqi had eaten three, so there should be thirty-eight remaining.


    After counting, Qiao Mai felt relieved. The food he consumed was quickly replenished by the space.


    With the replenishment taken care of, she no longer needed to worry about running out of steaks.


    ¡°Mom, what are you cooking? It smells so good.¡±


    ¡°Get your tes and chopsticks ready. I¡¯ll ce a piece on each te as soon as I fry them. We have plenty of meat today.¡±


    The children¡¯s mouths watered. ¡°Mom, why are you serving the meat like this? Aren¡¯t you going to stew it?¡±


    ¡°No. It tastes best this way.¡±


    As she fried the steaks, Qiao Mai ced one piece on each child¡¯s te. She kept frying until she lost track of how many pieces she had cooked. The children were full.


    ¡°Mom, this meat is so delicious.¡±


    ¡°Go to y if you¡¯re full. There are sugar-coated hawthorns in the courtyard to whet your appetite.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re too kind. You¡¯re the best mother in the world.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. Children thought highly of their mothers only when they had something to eat or drink.


    Qiao Mai fried a few more pieces for Yuan Jiaqi and took over Ling¡¯er. ¡°You can carry her once you¡¯re full.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±


    ¡°I had this before you all came. It¡¯s nothing special.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really skilled. If you don¡¯t find a man in the future, can I stay in your home forever?¡±


    After saying this, Yuan Jiaqi blushed.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Sure, if I don¡¯t find another man in the future, you can all stay in my home forever. I don¡¯t mind. Having someone do the work for me will save me a lot of trouble.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded unconsciously, feeling a sweet sensation in his heart.


    Starting from the second day of the lunar month, the Qiao family had been busy every day. People came to buy things from them daily.


    Qiao Mai cleared a corner of the living room, set up a shelf where they used to sun-dry firewood, and disyed their goods there. Yuan Jiaqi and the twins knew the prices. Qiao Mai only prepared the goods. The rest was up to them.


    They earned almost twenty taels of silver per day, and Yuan Jiaqi even lost interest in copying books.


    He worked hard all day, copying half a book, which took three days for a book. In a month, he earned merely a few taels of silver. For more demanding books, he earned only two taels after copying one book. On the other hand, Madam Qiao made more daily than he made in a month.


    Life was indeed unfair. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s expression showed his dilemma, which left Qiao Mai amused.


    ¡°Brother Yuan, don¡¯t forget that I have costs too. Even though I earn so much daily, why aren¡¯t you subtracting my expenses?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Your goods are all of high quality, so the costs must be higher.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t be jealous. Although I earn over twenty taels a day, I¡¯m only making a few taels of profit.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s still quite a lot. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m jealous. I think that in this world, schrs are valued less than they should be. We spend ten years studying, but apart from bing an official after passing the imperial exam, the rest seems rather pointless. People say schrs are noble, but what does that mean? A peddler on the street earns more money than us. What use is a noble reputation? It¡¯s better for us to have money and let our families livefortably.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true. While it¡¯s true that studying costs money, those who seed in the imperial exam be prominent. Even if you don¡¯t, being a schr can be a profession, like a bookkeeper or a county office clerk. At worst, you can do something like copying books, which isn¡¯t as hard as working in the fields and doesn¡¯t require enduring the weather. Take you and Feng¡¯er, for instance. You don¡¯t need to work in the fields like the farmers, and your lives are better. This is thanks to your education. What do you think?¡± Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°You make a good point. I was overthinking it.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Brother Yuan, haven¡¯t you noticed? Among the peddlers, my business is the best. That¡¯s because I have good products. As for other peddlers, earning a few taels a month is considered good.¡±


    ¡°True. You¡¯re a capable woman.¡±


    ¡°However, I won¡¯t tell anyone where my goodse from. This is my source of


    ie. If I tell others, I¡¯ll lose it..¡±

 Chapter 77 - 77: Because We Are Professionals

    Chapter 77: Because We Are Professionals


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi watched her as she worked, discussing matters with him in a serious tone, and couldn¡¯t help but startughing.


    ¡°Thanks to your blessing, the whole family eats and drinks well, especially me and Chuan¡¯er. We¡¯ve benefited a lot from you.¡±


    ¡°Here you go again. In the future, if you study well, you can take care of me within your capabilities.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t n to marry again. If I be sessful, then Madam Qiao will be my nominal wife.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. Who would want to be a fake wife?


    ¡°In this world, only you don¡¯t care about fame and fortune.¡±


    Selling goods at home saved Qiao Mai a lot of worries, and the household goods increased as well, but it still wasn¡¯t quite the same as being right by the main road.


    On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, she invited Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s family to have a meal, but not Madam Chen and her son.


    Everyone would start their businesses the next day as it was thest day of the New Year celebration. After today, they would all be busy.


    Shopkeeper Lu and her family enjoyed the delicious meal again and were pleased. They ate heartily without any hesitation.


    ¡°Sister, are you going to set up your stall tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°No, tomorrow I¡¯m going to the Broker Center. If there¡¯s a house for sale in town, I¡¯ll buy a ready-made one. If not, I¡¯ll buy a piece ofnd and build a house myself.¡±


    Lu Sanniang nodded. ¡°It¡¯s best to build one yourself. You can build a row of shops in the front and leave a big space to sell your goods. Rent out the rest of them. It¡¯s better than constantly setting up stalls and moving things back and forth. This way, you¡¯ll have shops in the front and a residence in the back. If somethinges up, your children can help.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. After the New Year, the teacher I hired for Jiaqi and the children wille. This yard is a bit small.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you hired a teacher?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss Wang introduced him. She said he woulde after the New Year.¡± ¡°You do need to buy a big house. If you build it, it will take at least a year.¡±


    ¡°This house is also livable, but I¡¯m afraid he might find fault with it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see first. With Miss Wang here, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll see how it goes.¡±


    And so, the day passed. Qiao Mai took Ling¡¯er and went to the Broker Center. She wrapped Ling¡¯er up tightly, leaving only a pair of eyes visible.


    Bringing her out was also to let her interact with others more. She couldn¡¯t let Ling¡¯er be timid and afraid.


    On the other hand, Qiao Mai also wanted people to see that she really did adopt a girl.


    In fact, as early as the second day of the Lunar New Year, the people already knew about this when they came to her house to buy stuff. Within a few days, the whole town knew.


    People sighed at Qiao Mai¡¯s kindness and showed contempt and sympathy for the Tian, the Qiao, and the Yuan family.


    What a good woman she was, kind-hearted and capable of making money. She wasn¡¯t appreciated. Instead, she was chased out the door. They did not know how to enjoy blessings and had lost a money-making tree.


    Qiao Mai was dressed neatly, wearing aplete set of jewelry. Her small face was fair and clean. Even if she wasn¡¯t particrly good-looking, fairness covered many ws. With a change of clothes, she seemed like a different person, exuding an air of confidence that made it impossible to underestimate her.


    ¡°Madam, are you looking to buy people, buy a house, or seek assistance? Our


    Broker Center can help you with all of these.¡±


    ¡°Oh, even seeking assistance is possible?¡±


    ¡°Naturally. Our establishment has some backing. As long as it doesn¡¯t involve the royal family, we can assist you. It just depends on whether you can afford the fee.


    ¡°Well, if I have valuable items, can you offer a higher price than a pawn shop?¡±


    ¡°Of course. We won¡¯t cheat customers or engage in counterfeit transactions.


    However, our processing fees are slightly higher.¡±


    ¡°How much?¡±


    ¡°Twenty percent!¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here this time to buy a house in this area.¡±


    ¡°There are no ready houses avable. Many people don¡¯t want to sell houses. They prefer building small houses and renting them out. They can recover the investment in a few years, which is more profitable than selling.¡±


    ¡°Do you have farnd near the official road?¡±


    The assistant pondered, then turned around to find a map and looked at it for a while.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s right here, to the south. It¡¯s past the town sign. The area isn¡¯t small.¡±


    ¡°How muchnd is there?¡±


    ¡°One hundred acres.¡±


    ¡°How much per acre?¡±


    ¡°For fertilend in the vige, the normal price is ten taels per acre. In the town, it would be slightly higher at fifteen taels. Land near the official road is even more expensive. This piece would cost twenty taels per acre. Currently, it¡¯s nted with wheat. The master says it¡¯s twenty-five taels per acre, including the wheat crop.¡±


    ¡°So, does that mean I must wait until May to build a house?¡±


    ¡°If you want to build a house, you can dig up the wheat now. It hasn¡¯t started growing again, so it¡¯s not much of a loss.¡±


    ¡°Do you ept construction projects here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we do, but we charge higher prices than the houses in the vige.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Because we are professionals. Our craftsmen, especially the carpenters, are much better than ordinary workers. Look at the houses in the vige. Do they have ornate carvings and decorative columns? Their houses merely need to be habitable, but ours need to be sturdy, beautiful, andfortable. We can also help design beautiful courtyards for you, ensuring afortable life.¡±


    ¡°Well, that sounds good. Let¡¯s talk about thend. If I use part of it to build a house and part to farm, can I have separate title deeds?¡±


    ¡°Of course. We will have an officiale over to measure thend and proceed with the necessary paperwork. Thend will be subject to taxation in the future, but not the house deed.¡¯


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. The assistant saw her holding a child and hurriedly invited her to sit down, then pointed to the map while exining.


    ¡°This one hundred acres ofnd is outstanding. Several people have inquired about it. I¡¯m not trying to deceive you. You see, there are five acres right by the official road. It extends back twenty acres. It¡¯s a long and narrow shape, perfect for building houses in the front and farming in the back. It¡¯s convenient. You should act quickly, or else it might be gone.¡±


    Qiao Mai calcted in her mind. If she built shops on the five-acre area, they probably wouldn¡¯t be easy to rent out. If she had shops in the front and a small courtyard that could be used as a residence or storage in the back, five acres should be sufficient.


    It could amodate ten shops. She would use one herself and rent out the rest.


    While she contemted, the assistant noticed her absentmindedness and asked, ¡°A penny for your thoughts?¡±


    Qiao Mai came back to her senses and looked at the map. ¡°This one will do.¡±


    The assistant was in disbelief. ¡°Are you really going to buy it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Can the price be lowered?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t lower it any further. Our office can waive the processing fee to save you some money at most.¡±


    ¡°What if I want you to build the houseter?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll waive the cost of the architecture design.¡±


    ¡°If I draw up the ns and want the house built ording to my specifications?¡±


    ¡°That¡­ I need to consult with my superiors.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Go ahead and secure thisnd for now.¡±


    ¡°Madam, you are very decisive. I¡¯ll write up the documents for you. Three days from now, I¡¯ll deliver thend deed to you. May I ask where you live?¡±


    ¡°Right here in town. My surname is Qiao.¡±


    The assistant¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯re Madam Qiao, aren¡¯t you? Oh my, forgive my rudeness. Everyone in town knows your name.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. She thought, ¡®You can keep pretending, but workers from the Broker Center run around everywhere. How could you not recognize me? I don¡¯t believe you.¡¯


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about mynd purchase.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I won¡¯t mention the house construction either. Everything you¡¯ve entrusted to us will remain confidential. ¡°Alright. Do I need to tell you where I live?¡±


    ¡°No need. We all know.¡±


    ¡°After I finish drawing the ns, how long will it take to build?¡±


    ¡°That depends on your ns. For a three-section house, it will take about a year.¡±


    ¡°What if I want it done faster?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need to pay more. We can dispatch more craftsmen to expedite the process.¡±


    After getting the details, Qiao Mai signed two documents at the Broker Center, officially purchasing thend..

 Chapter 78 - 78: Your Words Represent You

    Chapter 78: Your Words Represent You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the Great Ming Dynasty,nd ownership required formal recognition. The taxes to be paid were determined, making it convenient for the court to oversee and prevent tax evasion. Other aspects were simr to other dynasties.


    Officials were allowed to ownnd under their names but were prohibited from engaging in business activities. Starting from the rank of an exam candidate, they were entitled to a certain amount of tax exemption as they moved up the ranks.


    Bing a high-ranking official didn¡¯t mean endless tax exemption. After all, how could the court sustain its military without revenue?


    Qiao Mai had inquired and learned that an exam candidate could be exempted from taxes for five acres ofnd; Elementary Schrs could be exempted for twenty acres; Rmended Schrs for fifty acres; Tribute Schrs for one hundred acres; Advanced Schrs for five hundred acres; and a Grand Academician for one thousand acres.


    For individuals below the rank of a Tribute Schr, the court would cease providing sries once tax exemption was granted. Those withoutnd would receive five taels of silver per month. Elementary Schrs would receive one hundred grams of flour, and an exam candidate would receive ten grams.


    It appeared that the Great Ming Dynasty¡¯sws were rtively well-established and reasonably distributed, especially in matters of taxation. Qiao Mai, a modern person, felt a hint of fairness.


    Of course, it was just a hint, as this was still a feudal society and true fairness was absent.


    All systems were designed to serve the rulers and govern the country more effectively.


    After signing the documents, Qiao Mai paid a deposit of five hundred taels of silver notes before taking Ling¡¯er back home.


    Upon arriving home, they found Wang Jiaru¡¯s carriage parked at their door.


    ¡°Grandfather, this is Sister Qiao¡¯s home.¡±


    ¡°The estate isn¡¯t very big.¡±


    ¡°She mentioned buying a new estate after the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re quite protective of her.¡±


    ¡°Naturally. She¡¯s the only woman I acknowledge. Otherwise, who would I address as a sister?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, spare me. I know your little scheming mind well. You and your brother are eyeing their delicacies.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Grandfather, don¡¯t you like those delicacies too?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Wang Zihan also came, knocking on the door. Yuan Jiaqi opened it.


    Seeing so many people, he only recognized Wang Jiaru and hurriedly bowed his head, saluting.


    ¡°Miss Wang hase. Pleasee in.¡± ¡°Yes, I brought the teacher to visit our home.¡±


    ¡°Greetings, Teacher!¡±


    Wang Jiaru led her grandfather and brother inside. Upon entering the living room, they saw Feng¡¯er, Yun¡¯er, and Chuan¡¯er reading and writing. Seeing guests, they set aside their books and stood up to greet them.


    ¡°Auntie, greetings. Nice to meet all of you.¡± ¡°Ah, they¡¯re bing more sensible and polite. It¡¯s quite pleasing.¡±


    ¡°Please, have a seat. We¡¯ll make some tea.¡±


    In her bedroom, Qiao Mai heard themotion. Holding Ling¡¯er, she entered the living room and understood the situation immediately.


    ncing at the three men¡¯s appearances, she immediately recognized the old gentleman.


    ¡°Let me pay my respects.¡±


    ¡°You must be Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    The elder sized her up. She looked like an ordinary person, but her spirit and demeanor were beyond what one could find in a small town.


    Wang Jiaru approached, grabbing Qiao Mai¡¯s clothes. ¡°Sister Qiao, we were busy during the New Year, so we didn¡¯te. Please don¡¯t be upset.¡±


    ¡°Your words are too kind. If the journey weren¡¯t difficult, I would have brought my family to pay for a New Year¡¯s visit.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, since you¡¯ve recognized the teacher, I won¡¯t keep it from you. This is my grandfather, who¡¯s alwaysining about being bored. I thought of finding him something to do; gifts do not matter. It¡¯s about making sure he eats and drinks well. He¡¯s just as fond of good food as my brother and me.¡±


    After saying this, she winked at Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°My grandfather was a Tribute Schr, which is a hundred times superior to a Rmended Schr.¡±


    By this time, the children had served the tea. Old Mister Wang looked at the three children in this household. Observing the lively gleam in their eyes, he knew that these children were teachable.


    Wang Zihan spotted the two shelves in the corner of the room and pointed, saying, ¡°Eat.¡±


    The twins, along with Chuan¡¯er, nced at Qiao Mai. She nodded, and the three youngsters went to the kitchen to get tes. They filled them up and brought them to the table.


    With food on the table, Wang Zihan stopped being restless. He obediently sat down and started eating.


    Chuan¡¯er approached and held Old Mister Wang¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Grandfather,e eat. My mother made this. It¡¯s clean and delicious. Would you like to try


    Old Mister Wang was delighted by Chuan¡¯er¡¯s gesture. He sat at the table, sipped tea, and began asking questions. Yuan Jiaqi was on the side, apanying them.


    Old Mister Wang began with the children and ended with Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°I heard you transcribe books at home?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°May I see them?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi returned to the room, bringing a half-transcribed book to Old Mister Wang.


    After looking at Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s handwriting, Old Mister Wang nodded. ¡°Your handwriting is good, but it¡¯s too conventional. You must have your own style. Your words should represent you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, Sir.¡±


    ¡°I heard you never attended school?¡±


    ¡°We were poor, so I listened outside the school when I was a child.¡±


    ¡°Have you read any books?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi smiled bitterly. ¡°Without money to buy books, I practiced calligraphy diligently to ess books. I managed to read a fair amount of books through copying.¡¯


    ¡°None of you have a strong foundation. Remember, a solid foundation is the most important. Just like a child¡¯s health, if their foundation is weak, their body will be feeble, always falling ill. But if you only aim to recognize characters, what you¡¯ve learned is sufficient.¡±


    ¡°Please teach us further, as learning has no end. Students desire to acquire more knowledge.¡±


    Old Mister Wang looked at him, then at the three children. He didn¡¯t answer immediately. Chuan¡¯er handed a chestnut to him, putting it in his mouth.


    ¡°Grandfather, my father is intelligent and ambitious.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Tell me more about these aspirations.¡±


    ¡°To travel a thousand miles and read ten thousand books, to learn and apply knowledge for the court, the people, and the nation, bing a useful person.¡±


    A gleam appeared in Old Mister Wang¡¯s eyes. ¡°Correct, bing a useful person, whether for one¡¯s family, for the people, or the nation. In reality, no matter the scale of one¡¯s achievements, everyone is useful while alive. Being useful is not limited to bing an official through reading.¡±


    ¡°This student understands. There¡¯s great use in the grand and small.¡±


    ¡°Wrong. A drop of water can pierce a rock. An army¡¯s strength isn¡¯t derived from generals alone. What you learn is useless without the soldiers. Your studies, without them, are mere theoretical talk.¡±


    ¡°Please guide us, Sir.¡±


    At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi realized Old Mister Wang was a true schr.


    ¡°Very well, I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s have lunch.¡±


    Wang Jiaru chuckled and tugged Qiao Mai¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°You can start cooking. My grandfather¡¯s hungry!¡±


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t reserved and handed Ling¡¯er to Wang Jiaru. ¡°Look after the child. I¡¯ll treat you all to a good meal at noon.¡±


    ¡°Hey, can we get some fresh ones?¡±


    ¡°Does your grandfather like fish and shrimp?¡±


    ¡°He loves it.¡±


    ¡°That simplifies things.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled up her sleeves and entered the kitchen, retrieving the pre-prepared dishes from her modern world¡¯s freezer.


    Sour and Spicy Fish, Braised Red Prawns, Spicy Hot Pot with Mixed


    Ingredients, Garlic Stir-Fried ms, Stir-Fried Squid Rolls, Steamed Crabs, Scallop Vermicelli, Steamed Sea Bass, Saut¨¦ed Sea Cucumber, Saut¨¦ed m Meat, Cheese Prawn Balls, and finally, an Australian Salt and Pepper Lobster.


    All ready-made, with many more seafood dishes left unmentioned.


    Qiao Mai intended to heat these dishes, whetting Old Mister Wang¡¯s appetite. In the future, she could asionally bring out one or two to keep him interested. Otherwise, if he had them all at once, what would she use to attract himter?


    Fortunately, her space had a replication function. Otherwise, she¡¯d hesitate to bring these out.


    These were her favorites, and she had never had the chance to enjoy them after they were delivered. If it weren¡¯t for this man¡¯s love for food, she wouldn¡¯t have used them to retain his presence.


    Some dishes were reheated in arge pot, some roasted in her space¡¯s oven, and others microwaved.


    With the kitchen door closed, she worked for a while. The dishes were finally ready.


    Old Mister Wang gazed at the table filled with fish, shrimp, and seafood dishes, his eyes widening. Excitedly, he pointed at them.

 Chapter 79 - 79: You ‘re Interesting, Young Lady

    Chapter 79: You ¡®re Interesting, Young Lady


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Ruler, am I seeing things? We¡¯re seeing Southern seafood in this Northern town?¡±


    Wang Jiaru didn¡¯t expect Qiao Mai to be capable of making such dishes. She swallowed her saliva.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had this. It smells so good.¡±


    Among the dishes, only one had been tried by the children. The rest were entirely new to them.


    Qiao Mai wiped her hands and entered the living room. ¡°Feng¡¯er, you guys go set the tableware. I¡¯ll open a jar of grain wine. Remember, you can¡¯t eat fruits or drink fruit juice with this. It can upset your stomach. In severe cases, pose a danger to your health.¡± ¡°Yes, they usually pair it with rice wine in the south.¡±


    ¡°Grain wine is the same.¡±


    The smell of seafood wafted through the living room, and everyone couldn¡¯t help but take their seats.


    After the tableware was set, Qiao Mai first filled a ss of wine for Old Mister Wang.


    ¡°Sir, I promise you that as long as you agree to take in my husband and children and educate them, I can provide you with meals like these every month.¡±


    ¡°Is that so!¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s false, you don¡¯t have to teach them.¡±


    ¡°Let it be settled then. In appreciation for these meals, I¡¯ll ept them. We don¡¯t need to worry about things like tuition fees. Having a table like this once a month will bepensation enough.¡¯


    ¡°Sir, you truly are an enthusiastic schr.¡±


    Once everyone had taken their seats, Old Mister Wang ignored his wine and reached out towards a king crab.


    Wang Jiaru reached out for arge lobster, while Wang Zihan wanted the oysters. The children were all dumbfounded, not knowing how to eat these dishes. Even Yuan Jiaqi was in the same state, holding his chopsticks in a daze.


    With a smile, Qiao Mai guided them through each dish, exining how to eat them.


    The dishes were pre-prepared, and even the crabs were properly processed. It was a matter of plucking the meat out.


    Practice makes perfect. After eating it a few times, they got the hang of it.


    Old Mister Wang thoroughly enjoyed this meal, finishing all twelve dishes until the tes were spotless.


    ¡°What does everyone want for the main dish?¡±


    ¡°Take care of it. I can¡¯t eat dry rations anymore. Could you prepare something soupy?¡±


    ¡°Sure thing!¡±


    Qiao Mai went back to the kitchen and prepared the food personally. From her space, she retrieved a few crabs and made a pot of crab roe and egg drop soup. The taste was exquisite.


    Old Mister Wang had three bowls. Afterward, he paced around the courtyard to digest his meal.


    Seeing the quails, the puppies, and Dong Zao, he thought the Qiao family could consider raising pigs, as even the birds here were plump.


    Pointing at the quails, he asked, ¡°Can these little things be eaten?¡±


    Qiao Mai held her child and said, ¡°Yes, but I won¡¯t eat the ones we raise at home. I¡¯ve watched them grow from eggs to now, and I¡¯ve developed an attachment to them. I can¡¯t bear to eat them.¡±


    ¡°What about the ones outside?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not attached to them, so I can eat those without feeling guilty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite interesting, youngdy.¡±


    ¡°When will sses begin?¡±


    ¡°Your ce is too small. I feel suffocated staying here.¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Qiao Mai responded, ¡°I bought somend and n to build a house.¡±


    ¡°Would you listen to my suggestion?¡±


    ¡°Please speak your mind.¡±


    ¡°How about letting them stay at my ce? I¡¯ll cover their expenses. They cane back every month for three days. I¡¯ll apany them. You can prepare a meal like this for me ore over and cook at my ce.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s better for them to return once a month. My sons shoulde home. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of being a family? Also, I have to continue running my business here.¡±


    ¡°That works. Separation is hard for the older ones. Your husband wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed and didn¡¯t join the conversation. Qiao Mai rolled her eyes again, thinking the old man was quite cheeky.


    ¡°When my house is built, you cane over and teach. I¡¯ll make you a seafood feast every day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to your word. Build your house quickly. I¡¯m eager to start teaching at your ce.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing. By the way, I¡¯ll also give you a three-day break sometime. You can experience the feeling of spending less time together with your family.¡±


    Old Mister Wang red at her. ¡°Br*t, you won¡¯t let go of a grudge. I¡¯m an old man. As long as I eat well, sleep well, and live well, it¡¯s the same anywhere. It¡¯s not like you youngsters who can¡¯t stand being apart for a while and start to miss each other.¡±


    Wang Jiaru tugged at his arm from behind. ¡°Grandfather, it¡¯s about time. Shall we head back?¡±


    ¡°Prepare yourselves. I¡¯ll send a carriage to pick them up the day after tomorrow. I¡¯ll have a courtyard cleaned up tomorrow, exclusively for them to stay. There¡¯s no need to bring bedding. I¡¯ll prepare everything on my side. Just bring their clothes.¡±


    With that, he left. If it weren¡¯t for the limitations of the carriage, Old Mister Wang might have cleaned out the entire Qiao household.


    After sending them off, the matter of hiring a teacher was also settled, relieving the weight in her heart.


    Back in the living room, Yuan Jiaqi bowed deeply to her.


    ¡°Thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, Chuan¡¯er and I wouldn¡¯t have had this opportunity. In the future¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough about the future. I¡¯ve bought a hundred acres ofnd. No matter what, you have to get a Rmended Schr title. Dealing with taxes every season is too troublesome.¡±


    ¡°I will do my best!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. From now on, speak less about empty words and focus on doing practical things.¡±


    ¡°Yes, from now on, I¡¯ll listen to Madam Qiao¡¯s orders.¡±


    ¡°Well, everyone¡¯s tired today. I won¡¯t cook dinner tonight. I¡¯ll take Ling¡¯er to rest. ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    Qiao Mai carried Ling¡¯er back to the room. Yuan Jiaqi looked at her door and couldn¡¯t help but tear up.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in a rush to draw her design after resting. After preparing well, she packed their luggage.


    She prepared onerge trunk for each. Inside were their everyday clothes, as well as writing materials. Although Old Mister Wang said they would prepare everything, using someone else¡¯s things wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. After all, they hadn¡¯t even given him anything.


    The four of them would be like students in a school, just that their meals and amodations were provided.


    After getting everything ready, she called the family members into the room and reminded them again.


    ¡°The Capital isrge, and there are many human traffickers. Try not to go out.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let them go out. Even if they want to, I¡¯ll hire a carriage and let them see the outside from the carriage.¡±


    Qiao Mai took out four money pouches, giving thergest to Yuan Jiaqi and a smaller one to each of the three children.


    ¡°Here are some silver coins. Take them in case of emergencies.¡±


    ¡°I have some with me too.¡±


    ¡°These are for self-defense. I know you don¡¯t have much left.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s expression softened. He had spent a hundred taels of silver to transfer his household registration and another hundred taels to his parents. He didn¡¯t have much left. Qiao Mai could see right through him.


    He owed her so much. Even if he sold his life to repay the debt now, it was not enough.


    He might not want to owe other people, but for some reason, he felt the more he owed Qiao Mai, the better. The more he owed, the more he felt willing to spend his whole life repaying.


    Sure enough, the carriage from the Wang family arrived on the agreed-upon day. Qiao Mai hired a carriage from the town, loaded it with their belongings, and followed the Wang family¡¯s carriage.


    She held Ling¡¯er and bid farewell at the courtyard gate.


    It wasn¡¯t a long journey, and they would be back soon. There was no need to be reluctant.


    She would be fine, but the children held onto the windows, tears streaming down their faces. A month without their mother¡¯s food must be really ufortable.


    And their pet quails, Wu Zhui, Sai Xue, Dong Zao ¡ª They wouldn¡¯t be able to see them for a long time.


    With just Qiao Mai alone to care for Ling¡¯er without anyone to help, how hard it must be! Thinking of this, the three children started crying in the carriage.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t feel well either. They had met by chance, but she saved him and his son. They treated each other with respect and lived as closely as a family.


    In the days they had spent together, he had grown ustomed to her presence, enjoyed her cooking, and cherished their conversations.


    Even though their separation would be brief, he felt like a small piece of his heart was empty.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. If you think your mother is working hard, then study well. Exercise every morning and practice the martial arts your mother taught you. Don¡¯t disappoint her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father. We won¡¯t let Mother down.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Your mother and sister are women. We are men. We must be strong and excel in both literary and martial arts to protect them.. What do you say?

 Chapter 80 - 80: The Rich Get It

    Chapter 80: The Rich Get It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Father is right. We must study hard, practice martial arts well, and protect mother and sister when we grow up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, wipe your tears. We are men. Men don¡¯t cry easily, understand?¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Finally, Qiao Mai could have some peace. Without them around, she was free. She ced Ling ¡®er on the bed and sat by the table. She took out some paper and paintbrushes and sketched the blueprints for her new home.


    Ling¡¯er, who was almost a year old, could already walk. However, she spoke a littlete and still could not call her mother.


    However, she was obedient. When her mother worked, she would y with balls, blocks, and boxes on the brick bed. She would put things in, take them out, put them in again, and take them out again. She did not feel bored at all.


    Qiao Mai would asionally turn to look at her. They would always smile at each other when their eyes met.


    A hundred acres ofnd. The first five acres would be used to build ten shops. The house at the back would have arge living room at the front and a penthouse on both sides. The surrounding empty area would be nted with cold-resistant flowers and nts.


    After entering the main entrance, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t need a shadow wall. Instead, she wanted somerge stones to make a pose and have arge pool at the bottom. It didn¡¯t need to be deep. There were children at home. Whoever came to y in the future wouldn¡¯t have to worry about falling into it.


    In this way, there were mountains and rivers, which were in line with Feng Shui.


    The house in front upied ten acres ofnd. There were four children at home, and each had to have a courtyard. They were still young now, but they would use it when they were older.


    If there were guests, she had to build a guest courtyard. Yuan Jiaqi could stay in the same courtyard as his son.


    As the head of the household, Qiao Mai wanted to live in one courtyard. She would build six courtyards, two in a row, three in front and three in the back, and one in the main courtyard. The residence would be in good shape. The front hall and the main courtyard would upy two ends to suppress the corners of the array.


    If the row of shops in front were included, the house would have a good meaning behind it, although she did not know anything about Feng Shui.


    However, based on her intuition, such a design should be good.


    After she finished the design, Qiao Mai began to draw. Soon, the people from the Broker Center arrived.


    She carried Ling¡¯er to open the door. It was the young man who had traded with her.


    ¡°Hello, Madam Qiao. This is your title deed. When you want to build a house, you cane to me with the blueprint. At that time, we will divide thesends.


    After it is settled, I will have to take the title deed and go to the court again.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it with you for now. I¡¯ll send the blueprints to you in two days.


    After we settle this matter, I¡¯ll pay the deposit.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I will take my leave. Pleasee to the Broker Center as soon as possible to finalize the blueprint.¡±


    After the worker left, Qiao Mai was about to turn around when Madam Chen asked a question from her doorstep. ¡°Madam Qiao, is your husband not going to teach anymore?¡±


    ¡°Yes, didn¡¯t he tell Chen Hao yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Where did he go if he didn¡¯t teach?¡±


    ¡°He went to school in the prefecture with the children and will only return once a month.¡±


    ¡°What? He went to school in the prefecture?¡±


    ¡°My husband is also learning with them, so he can¡¯t teach Hao¡¯er. Don¡¯t dy him and quickly find him a school. My husband said that if he studies hard, bing a schr won¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Madam Chen turned around and returned to her courtyard with some disappointment. Qiao Mai also returned to her room after saying that. She would not take such a person to heart at all.


    Shopkeeper Lu came over on the 16th day of the first lunar month after she opened her shop. Qiao Mai gave her a screen, four pce fans, and a set of fashionable clothes that were not embroidered.


    Shopkeeper Lu was so happy that she immediately sent someone to the county town to tell her sisters.


    She had opened her shop on the same day Yuan Jiaqi and the kids left.


    Therefore, Shopkeeper Lu did not know and did note over.


    It was only at night, when she delivered the silver to Qiao Mai, that she found out that her husband and sons had gone to the prefecture.


    ¡°The teacher is Miss Wang¡¯s grandfather?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I heard that he was a Tribute Schr.¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, you¡¯re too capable. In the future, I¡¯ll have to rely on you to protect me.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at her. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that. What ability do I have? I could only get some fresh food. It was a trading rtionship with them.¡±


    ¡°No, no, you don¡¯t understand. Once they start learning, there will be a teacher-student rtionship. Rtionships are established through frequent interactions. If someone likes your food, they have eyes for you. You must make good use of this rtionship.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re just a small family. We don¡¯t need to make use of each other, but we need to build a good rtionship with them. After all, they can help us in the future.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s right. In the future, your husband, your sons, and your daughter will have more leverage with this connection.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that far ahead. No matter the rtionship, it¡¯s fine as long as we maintain a sincere heart.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so kind. You¡¯ll be the only one at home from now on. Why don¡¯t I send


    Xiu Yu to help you look after the child?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m not going to set up my stall.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    Qiao Mai waved the pen in front of her eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m drawing?¡±


    ¡°Are you doing something big?¡±


    ¡°D*mn, you actually boughtnd?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°How big is the house?¡±


    ¡°The shop in front is five acres, the house behind takes up thirty acres, and the fertilend is sixty-five acres.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu gulped. ¡°You bought a hundred acres ofnd?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen it. At the end of my house, there¡¯s a river. For watering, we only need to dig a ditch. It¡¯s convenient.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk. How long has it been? You¡¯ve be the wealthiest in town.¡±


    ¡°Are you not? You and I earn the same amount of silver.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. You earn more than I do.¡±


    ¡°I indeed profit, but it cannotpare to the embroidery work.¡±


    ¡°Here, this is the money for your embroidery before and after the new year.¡±


    This time, Lu Sanniang gave her three thousand taels of silver. Qiao Mai epted it without much hesitation.


    ¡°Do you still have embroidery work here?¡± Shopkeeper Lu asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already given it to you. If you want more, you¡¯ll have to wait for a month.¡±


    ¡°Your embroidery work is in short supply.¡±


    ¡°Raise the price. The rich will get it.¡±


    ¡°Is that appropriate?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s best if you scare them away with the price.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I can¡¯t be ruthless.¡±


    ¡°Then you won¡¯t make big money. Remember this. Truly valuable things are not afraid of burning a hole in your pocket. It¡¯s better to chase after quality rather than settle for something low.¡±


    ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll insist firmly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the right attitude.¡±


    Seeing her busy with designing and the child ying with herself, Lu Sanniang left without staying for long.


    Apart from Qiao Mai, there were four other embroiderers in her workshop. On top of that, Qiao Mai would asionallye up with new design ideas for her.


    Business after the New Year was much better than the previous year, to the extent that matchmakers practically wore out her doorstep.


    Although Shopkeeper Lu didn¡¯t openly mention that her daughter could do double-sided embroidery, the news about Ruyi Embroidery Manor producing double-sided embroidered products spread like wildfire.


    The observant could easily deduce the situation, especially for those sharp-witted matchmakers.


    Quite a few matchmakers even sneaked into the shop. Without a doubt, Lu Sanniang¡¯s shop had double-sided embroidery. The two daughters and maidservants were often seen doing embroidery work in the shop. Who else but them could be responsible?


    Matchmakers were constantly running to the Lu family. They worked diligently, and the matches they gave to Ruxin only got better and better. Lu Sanniang¡¯s ears were practically calloused from hearing it so often. Whenever there was a chance, she apanied the matchmakers to meet potential partners. However, she wasn¡¯t satisfied.


    Choosing a son-inw was sometimes a matter of destiny. She wasn¡¯t overly concerned about appearances, but she always felt a slight gap between her family¡¯s fate and theirs.


    After the Lunar New Year, she nned to take Ruxin along to meet prospective partners, but Ruxin was shy and refused, insisting that Lu Sanniang should make the decision.


    This situation greatly vexed Lu Sanniang. Luckily, at this moment, her good friend came to see the double-sided embroidery and rmended a potential match. She said she would bring the person to the shop on another day..

 Chapter 81 - 81: I Won’t Split Up

    Chapter 81: I Won¡¯t Split Up


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She wanted Qiao Mai to help on that day, but seeing how busy she was, Lu Sanniang gave up on that idea.


    After Yuan Jiaqi and the children arrived at the Wang family¡¯s mansion, they were arranged to stay in a courtyard. For this reason, Wang Zongsheng even went to take a look.


    He had a good impression of Yuan Jiaqi and the three children. Although Old Mister Wang had epted them as his students, he only provided sses. He did not take them as disciples, so they could not mess up the etiquette of addressing people.


    Qiao Mai and Wang Jiaru called each other sisters, so Yuan Jiaqi naturally had to call Wang Zongsheng uncle.


    The children called Old Mister Wang their great-uncle. Wang Zongsheng even gave each of them a greeting gift because of Wang Jiaru.


    Seeing that the Wang family was good to them, the father and sons were relieved.


    The Wang family did not mistreat them in terms of food. They had two hours of sses in the morning and afternoon, and they had to study at night. Old Mister Wang had arranged a full schedule for them.


    He taught them from the beginning andid the foundation for them. Yuan Jiaqi was no exception.


    Don¡¯t look at the simple strokes of words. There was a story behind them. Old Mister Wang had told them the origin of the text.


    Yuan Jiaqi and the three kids were engrossed in every lesson. Old Mister Wang did not fail his reputation as a knowledgeable Tribute Schr. Yuan Jiaqi was impressed. He once again thanked Qiao Mai. Without her, he would not have been able to listen to his lecture.


    On the 20th of the first month, Qiao Mai handed the blueprint to the Broker


    Center. The two parties discussed the blueprint and finalized it the next day.


    The house and shop upied thirty-five and sixty-five acres ofnd respectively.


    With the blueprint and title deed, the worker reported to his superior, went through the relevant procedures, and finally quoted the total cost.


    It was a brick-wood-stone structure. Ordinary wood costs about 5,300 taels of silver, and quality wood costs about 8,500 taels of silver. The construction period was half a year, which meant it would bepleted in July.


    All the greenery and roads were included. Everything was ording to the requirements of the blueprint. There were some slight changes, but it was not major.


    The ten shops had been changed to eight to add a main road in the middle that led to the house. Qiao Mai had not considered everything and had forgotten to design a door.


    Qiao Mai counted the silver she had. Even if she didn¡¯t set up her stall, she would still have a surplus. She agreed to the cost.


    After signing the document with the Broker Center, the worker was overjoyed. This was a big deal. If he made the deal a sess and got the appreciation of his boss, he might get a reward, either a promotion or a raise.


    Qiao Mai was happy when she got home. She cooked meat porridge for her daughter and fed her to sleep. She also ate a bowl of porridge.


    She was alone in the house now. Seeing that the living room was messy, she vacated the other room in the west wing.


    She had no intention of doing business for the time being.


    Anyway, everyone knew she was selling goods at home. They could buy whatever they wanted to eat. She could withstand the wind and the sun, but Ling¡¯ er could not.


    After she was done, Qiao Mai fed the quails and the horses and watched the two puppies run behind her.


    She poured the rest of the meat porridge for them. The two puppies were gluttonous. After the new year, they had grown bigger.


    Every day, she would cook or stir-fry the goods to be sold at home and add items that needed to be sold to the shelves.


    She would sell goods when there were customers. When there were no people, she would apany Ling¡¯er around the house to practice walking and learning how to speak. Just like some simple objects, she could slowly learn to read.


    Qiao Mai inserted a sign in her stall¡¯s location. It was written that Madam Qiao¡¯s stall had moved back home. Those who wanted to buy things coulde to her house.


    She even wrote the items she wanted to sell on the sign so that people wouldn¡¯t have to make a wasted trip if the stuff they wanted wasn¡¯t on it.


    Some people wanted to buy rare items, so they came to the Qiao family with the mentality of trying.


    As long as the price was right, Qiao Mai would ask them toe back the next day, saying she would help look for it. She had never disappointed anyone.


    Her reputation for being able to get good food was well-known in the surrounding viges.


    Whenever the elderly in the family wanted to eat something unavable in the market, the people could not help but think of her.


    However, her items are not cheap. Beforeing, don¡¯t hold onto the mindset of seeking bargains. Otherwise, not only will you fail to purchase anything, but you will also be met with disdain from Madam Qiao.


    It¡¯s not that Qiao Mai is money-minded, but rather, she follows the principle that valuable things are hard toe by. Raritymands a high price. If you want to acquire something rare and precious, you can¡¯t expect it to be cheap. This is an age-old rule that cannot be broken.


    Otherwise, in the future, everyone would think they could buy something rare with a small amount of money.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai is not at all idle at home nowadays. Early in the morning, she starts preparing the goods for sale. Throughout the day, there is a constant stream of visitors. She¡¯s constantly upied.


    It¡¯s only when it¡¯s almost dark that there are no more visitors.


    However, asionally, some peoplee knocking at her door in the evening, but these are a few exceptional cases.


    Either it¡¯s because a child at home has a fever and wants fruit, or it¡¯s because an elderly feels unwell and has no appetite. They want to eat something from Qiao Mai.


    She never gets angry; being amiable leads to prosperity, after all. Who would want to have a conflict over money?


    So, her business hasn¡¯t worsened; in fact, it¡¯s bing more and more prosperous.


    Upon hearing that Qiao Mai had adopted another daughter, the Qiao family was infuriated, especially her two brothers, Qiao Jiang and Qiao He.


    Can she adopt other people¡¯s daughters but not take care of her nieces and nephews?


    Other people¡¯s children eat well and dress warmly, but she can¡¯t help her family a bit?


    However, what could they do? She ignored the severed ties. If they dared to cause trouble, Qiao Mai wouldin to the town magistrate.


    In the end, they were the ones suffering. They could only be anxious and frustrated, with no way to vent their feelings.


    The Tian family had been simmering with anger all along. Upon learning that Qiao Mai¡¯s business was thriving, it was as if their hearts were scratched by a cat¡¯s ws.


    They constantly fantasized about those silver coins being theirs. They dreamt of the day Qiao Mai would change her mind and return to the Tian family.


    Daydreaming at its finest!


    At the moment, the Yuan family had no time to worry about Yuan Jiaqi. On the day after the fifteenth, the four brothers approached their parents to discuss splitting the family.


    Not only did they bring the vige head, but they also invited their inws. They dered that it must happen today, or not only would the old couple be unable to leave the house, but their lives would also be in danger.


    The Yuan family was surrounded by vigers, facing a crisis like never before. For the first time in history, all the sons pressured their parents to split the family.


    While other families might have one son who cared for them, their family was different ¡ª None of their sons sided with the parents.


    Looking at the four sons, ring at them with stern expressions as if they would fight to the death if the split didn¡¯t happen, the Yuan couple felt distressed.


    Who could they me for this situation? They had brought it upon themselves.


    The vige head could do nothing but sigh. He looked at them pitifully, but everyone knew about the Yuan family¡¯s circumstances ¡ª No one could intervene.


    He sighed and said, ¡°Why not split the family?¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t split the family. You are joining forces to bully us.¡±


    ¡°By splitting the family, you can live your days in peace. It¡¯ll prevent your children from growing resentful of you. We all know about your family¡¯s situation. It¡¯s time for the struggles you¡¯ve put your children through all these years to end. Let your children live their lives in peace.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t split the family. I gave birth to them, and they must serve me for their whole lives. Until I die, they must earn money and give it to me. They must serve us until we¡¯re old.¡±


    The vige head really wanted to scold them. Even now, they couldn¡¯t see the reality.


    At that moment, the people from the inws¡¯ families suddenly surged forward. Instantly, they pounced on the Yuan couple, causing them to cry out in pain.


    The people behind them hurriedly stood up, and someone shouted from behind.


    ¡°Who was it? Who pushed me? Oh, dear, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know which b*stard pushed me. I didn¡¯t realize I was pressing on you. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    One by one, they got up and then looked at the Yuan couple. One was lying on the ground, unable to move, and the other was clutching their leg and wincing in pain..

 Chapter 82 - 82: I Won’t Split The Family

    Chapter 82: I Won¡¯t Split The Family


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The vigers quickly dispatched people to check. Although Madam Yuan Xu¡¯s leg was not seriously injured, the pain was so intense that she couldn¡¯t walk.


    Old Yuan had been knocked unconscious by the pressure exerted on his acupoints. When the vigers pressed on his acupoints, he regained consciousness, wincing in pain.


    Upon opening his eyes, he pointed at the four inws. ¡°You, you did it intentionally!¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t do it on purpose. We don¡¯t even know who pushed us. Sorry, dear inws.¡±


    Old Yuan knew that if he continued to resist, their lives might not be in danger, but they could lose an arm or a leg.


    These people hade to facilitate the split for their daughters.


    The onlookers were well aware, but the Yuan couple was extremely unpopr. No one sided with them.


    The vige head asked them again, ¡°Do you agree to the family split?¡±


    Old Yuan clenched his teeth and squeezed out a word, ¡°Yes!¡±


    The Yuan family¡¯s eldest son continued, ¡°Fifth Brother gave you money to support your old age. We won¡¯t take it, but you should distribute the silver you¡¯ve collected from us over the years. Once thend is divided, it¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Why should we? This money is ours.¡±


    ¡°That money was earned by us brothers. When the children and adults in our family got sick, you didn¡¯t contribute a single coin. We ate poorly while you ate well. We haven¡¯t used a single cent from the public fund. This money must be divided.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t split the family. What can you do to me?¡±


    It was a case of forgetting the pain once the wound had healed. The pain in her leg hadn¡¯t subsided, yet Madam Yuan Xu couldn¡¯t see the situation.


    Suddenly, someone struck them again. Immediately, the surrounding people surged forward and pinned the old couple down again.


    This time, both screamed in agony, clutching their arms and howling. Old Yuan and Madam Yuan Xu felt that they had been hit with something.


    Now, they were thoroughly frightened. They looked at their four sons, who had murderous intent in their eyes.


    ¡°We¡¯ll divide the money!¡±


    They quickly agreed and stopped their protests.


    The vige head instructed someone to follow them into their room and retrieve the silver they had saved over the years.


    Excluding the one hundred and twenty taels given by Yuan Jiaqi, they had saved nearly six hundred taels.


    The title deeds for fifty acres ofndy before them. The vige head couldn¡¯t help but swallow, thinking this old couple was truly impressive. They had saved up so much wealth over the years.


    ¡°Fifty acres ofnd, divided into five parts. Each family gets ten acres. The six hundred taels of silver will be divided among the four sons, one hundred taels each. The remainder will go to the elderly. In the future, each family will provide the elderly with one hundred coins per month. During the New Year, they will be given a new set of clothes and three hundred coins as festive money. For their daily meals, your families will take turns providing them.


    Don¡¯t let the elderly starve.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll eat what we eat. We won¡¯t mistreat them, but we won¡¯t be feasting all the time.¡±


    ¡°Naturally.¡±


    ¡°The division is fair, and we have no objections. Let¡¯s split it this way.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s settled.¡±


    The vige head finalized the decision. Old Yuan and Madam Yuan Xu didn¡¯t resist anymore, their hearts aching as they watched their hard-umted wealth being divided.


    Today, the four sons were determined to split the family, even if they needed to report them to the town magistrate or the government office. They had seen through this that the elderly couple couldn¡¯t push their sons to their limits since they might end up sacrificing themselves.


    At least they hadn¡¯t reached the point of valuing money over life. The family was finally split.


    Once the family was split, Old Yuan and Madam Yuan Xu no longer had the energy to cause trouble. They were like a deted balloon.


    They had five sons, all of whom had turned against them. They all resented them. If they were harsh, their sons were now harsher than them.


    With the document in ce, the sons would provide the couple with a fixed amount of money every month and prepare their meals. They could not cause any problems.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t know about this. Even if he did, he would have apuded.


    Fortunately, the couple wasn¡¯t very old, and their health was robust. They had over two hundred taels of silver, plus ten acres ofnd they could lease out.


    They weren¡¯t worried about food. If they wanted to improve their lives, they could spend their own money. For now, there wouldn¡¯t be any issues.


    With these families causing no more trouble, the residents of Tianshui Town enjoyed peaceful days.


    At the Zhennan Gate Arch, construction began on January 26th. The Broker Center even set off a few firecrackers for the asion.


    They first fenced off the entire thirty-five acres ofnd for their residence. The remaining sixty-five acres were what Qiao Mai intended to lease out.


    She had asked the town magistrate to find three honest and reliable tenant farmers. She leased out the sixty acres of wheat fields for five years. Of these, the five acres ofnd closest to the courtyard¡¯s back wall remained, as she intended to use it for nting greenhouses in winter and rare fruits and vegetables in summer. Therefore, these five acre were enclosed within the courtyard.


    For one year¡¯s worth of grain, each acre only required three hundred grams, which included the grain tax. The rest depended on how much they harvested, which would be their ie.


    The rental fee was a bit lower than market prices. The three tenant farmers were quite satisfied. If they could harvest an extra one hundred and fifty grams per acre, that would be three thousand grams for twenty acres. In two seasons, that would amount to six thousand grams, enough tost a family for a year.


    With good management, they could even earn more. These sixty acres of the Qiao familynd were located near a water source, saving the tenant farmers a lot of trouble.


    Whenever she had time, Qiao Mai would bring Ling¡¯er to thend to take a look.


    Almost every day, dozens of workersbored ceaselessly. When Qiao Mai was in a good mood, she would buy buns and soup from a local bakery and send them over, providing a decent meal for the workers.


    The workers praised the master for her kindness, and Qiao Mai¡¯s reputation improved even more.


    Not only did the people of Tianshui Townmend her, but even people from other ces gave her a thumbs-up.


    On the second day of the second lunar month, known as ¡°Dragon Raises Its


    Head,¡± it was Ling¡¯er¡¯s birthday. However, Qiao Mai told nobody. In the morning, Qiao Mai gave her noodles to eat. At noon, she made a small cake for her. In the evening, she prepared a few dishes that Ling¡¯er could eat.


    Ling¡¯er, who was one year old, could already eat solid foods.


    The birthday girl sat in front of the table while Qiao Mai fed her fish and meat. Ling¡¯er pped her hands in excitement, then suddenly eximed, ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. ¡°You need to call Mommy first for a lifetime of wealth. How can you call ¡®Daddy¡¯ first?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    ¡°Call me Mommy, or else there won¡¯t be any delicious food for you tomorrow morning. ¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    ¡°Do you miss Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Brother?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be back at the end of the month. You can see them then. Come on, call ¡®Mommy¡¯.¡±


    Ling¡¯er blinked her eyes several times. ¡°Mum-


    ¡°Alright, works too. The pronunciation is simr.¡±


    Qiao Mai never forced her children. They could call her whatever they liked as long as they were happy. That¡¯s what mattered.


    After they were full, Qiao Mai had the child walk back and forth in the house to aid digestion.


    Although spring hade, it was still cold outside. The charcoal pot in the house burned, making it warm and cozy.


    After putting the child to sleep, Qiao Mai checked the courtyard gate, the stable, and the quails before bringing the two puppies into the house. With the three sons absent, the puppies slept in Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    However, they were alert to any disturbances outside.


    Raising these two puppies was worthwhile. During the winter, several groups of thieves tried to scout the area. Upon hearing the dogs barking, they would go somewhere else.


    Neighboring residents also benefited, avoiding unnecessary losses.


    On Ling¡¯er¡¯s birthday night, the thieves returned. The two puppies growled in front of the bed, which was highly unusual.


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and immediately moved Ling¡¯er into her space. She retrieved a silent pistol and ced it in her bosom. In one hand, she held a stick, and the other hand was on the gun.


    As soon as the puppies saw their owner wake up, they immediately silenced and hid in the darkness.


    The thieves had nced at the entrance of every room and probably already scouted the ce, discovering only a woman and a child in the house.


    Perhaps they were familiar faces, as five thieves entered this time. They all wore ck masks. Some held machetes, while others had daggers.


    Silently, they headed straight for the room where Qiao Mai was sleeping..

 Chapter 83 - 83: The First Murder

    Chapter 83: The First Murder


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath and carefully pulled open the window. With the moonlight, she saw five shadows. Taking in their height and figure, she could not recall anyone familiar from her memory.


    She quietly took the silent pistol from her chest pocket, ced it on the window sill, and aimed it at a person¡¯s head.


    With a dull thud, one of the ck shadows fell to the ground.


    Before the other figures could react, five muffled gunshots rang out in session, and one after another fell to the ground.


    After waiting for a moment, there was no sound around.


    Qiao Mai quietly opened the door and put the five of them into her space with a thought. Then, she quickly cleaned up the blood at the door.


    After returning to her room, she quickly locked the door and entered the space.


    There were five men in ck on the ground. Qiao Mai lifted their masks. She didn¡¯t recognize three of them but recognized the other two.


    It was the two thieves who visited her housest time. It seemed they were dissatisfied after being released from prison and brought three more people with them. Did they think that five people would be enough?


    Qiao Mai thought, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill youst time but let you live for many more days. It¡¯s considered merciful for you, hmph!¡±


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make sure nobody will see you, alive or dead. Your families


    won¡¯t be able to tind you even it they look tor you.¡±


    ¡°Tian Yaozu, you didn¡¯t instigate it again, did you?¡±


    ¡°Looks like if I don¡¯t teach you a lesson, you¡¯ll forget your ce!¡±


    ¡°There are still two months left before your exam. Boy, just you wait.¡±


    Looking at the five bodies on the ground, she ignored them and moved Ling¡¯er out. The mother and daughter slept until dawn.


    When Qiao Mai woke up, she checked the door again. There was no trace left on the curtain.


    After eating, she pulled out Dong Zao, tied the saddle on the horse, and locked the door after leaving the courtyard. She carried Ling¡¯er in one hand and supported the horse with the other. She flipped over and got on the horse. The sun was out. The weather was good today. As soon as she went out, many acquaintances greeted her.


    ¡°Are you bringing your daughter out for a walk?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s spring. The weather is good, so we¡¯re going out to y for a while.¡±


    She rode her horse and slowly strolled towards the north, looking into the distance. The mountains in the northwest were the closest, so she took Ling¡¯er and took a shortcut through the wheat fields.


    After riding for about an hour, mountains appeared in front of them.


    Dong Zao carried her and shuttled through the forest. If there was no danger, it would continue to move forward until it felt there was no way out and danger ahead. Only then did it stop.


    Qiao Mai moved her daughter into the room in her space and the horse into the empty space.


    Then, she walked into the mountains alone. After walking for almost two hours, she observed the surrounding scenery. There were wolves, bears, and tiger feces in the mountains. She was already deep in the woods.


    With a thought, she threw the five people out.


    She did not touch anything on them, including the knife and dagger in their hands.


    Cautious, Qiao Mai checked the five people again. After confirming they were all dead, she turned and left without hesitation.


    When she arrived at the periphery, she took out Dong Zao again, rode on the horse¡¯s back, and then moved her daughter smoothly.


    When the mother and daughter returned to Tianshui Town, it was already afternoon. Ling¡¯er was so sleepy that she was napping on the horse¡¯s back. The purpose of this trip was to get rid of the corpses. From the beginning to the end, no one suspected her, and no one knew what she had done.


    Qiao Mai had done this many times in her previous life, so she was not nervous at all. In fact, she was even a little excited.


    As long as no one reported them, no one would notice that these five people were missing. As time passed, let alone their bodies, even their bones could not be found. They had long been eaten by the wild beasts in the mountains and turned into feces.


    This was the first time she had killed someone since she came here.


    When she returned home, Qiao Mai ced Ling¡¯er on the brick bed and took out her ount book to calcte the ounts.


    Throughout the winter, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t set up her stall to sell goods at home. She still made around three to four hundred taels of silver each month. From the fifteenth onwards until now, even if sales were slightly lower, she still earned around one hundred taels per month.


    Adding the ie from embroidery, it should be around three to four hundred taels. She would still have four thousand taels of silver left after building the house.


    That should be enough to buy some furniture.


    With the shop lots, she could add many snacks to sell.


    With more variety, the money earned will naturally increase. As long as she doesn¡¯t hire anyone, it will cover the household expenses.


    With such a big house, it feels a bit empty without any servants.


    But all of this is for the future. Qiao Mai will deal with it when ites. Right now, she doesn¡¯t have any ns to hire anyone.


    Being able to live in arge house and allowing the children to y freely inside is enough. Other things are not that important.


    After calcting the ounts, she counted all the silver in the space, which totaled four thousand eight hundred sixty-three taels.


    She walked around the shelves, taking out a ginseng root and two embroidered items.


    There are many expenses for the new house. When she gets to the Capital, she¡¯ll sell the ginseng at the medical clinic and give the embroidered items to Shopkeeper Lu.


    These items won¡¯t reappear as long as they are outside.


    Qiao Mai regretted not moving the entire supermarket into her space. The modern Earth has many valuable items.


    Especially those rows of jade ornaments she has stored on the shelves. Each one of them is priceless.


    In addition, there are various gemstones and diamonds, all part of her collection.


    There are also many items obtained through less legitimate means, all strewn on the shelves, waiting to be sold once she can protect herself and her family.


    In reality, making money isn¡¯t difficult at all. It¡¯s just that she has bezy and doesn¡¯t want to exert herself to earn money anymore.


    Time flew by, and it was the end of February. Yuan Jiaqi and the children were supposed to return.


    Qiao Mai cleaned up the house and prepared another room. Old Mister Wang would being back with them.


    She even had the heated bed ready. Despite it being nearly March, the weather was still cold.


    Qiao Mai and her daughter woke up early to have breakfast, and then she carried Ling¡¯er on her back and got busy in the kitchen.


    Calcting the time, they should being back around noon. When they entered, a table of food was alreadyid out on the table.


    Indeed, close to noon, a carriage stopped at the entrance of the Qiao family¡¯s home.


    Several people got off the carriage, and Old Mister Wang waved his hand. The carriage drivers then urged the horses and moved on.


    Qiao Mai opened the courtyard gate with a smile.


    ¡°Well, Old Mister Wang, pleasee inside.¡±


    ¡°Is the food and wine ready?¡± ¡°Of course.¡¯


    ¡°Haha, you are considerate.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi smiled at her. ¡°My wife has worked hard at home.¡±


    Feng¡¯er, Yun¡¯er, and Chuan¡¯er rushed over. ¡°Mother, sister, we missed you so much.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you missed your mother, huh? Thene back home and eat more. Have a good sleep and help your mother with some chores in the next couple of days.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s a given.¡±


    Entering the living room, Old Mister Wang saw a table full of his favorite dishes and immediately took a seat at the head.


    He picked up his chopsticks and urged, ¡°Jiaqi, pour the wine, pour the wine!¡±


    After a month of interaction, Yuan Jiaqi had already understood Old Mister Wang¡¯s temperament. Despite his age, he was like a child.


    He could be pampered, liked hearing ttering words, was optimistic, and as long as there was food and drink, he was content.


    The family gathered around the table, watching the mouth-watering spread of dishes.


    ¡°Mother, we haven¡¯t tasted your cooking for over a month. We¡¯ve missed it so much that we¡¯re practically drooling.¡±


    ¡°Then eat more. Just don¡¯t overeat.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi filled Old Mister Wang¡¯s cup with wine and did the same for Qiao Mai. After putting down the wine jug, he took Ling¡¯er from her arms.


    ¡°Here, let Daddy hold her. Mother worked hard, let her eat, and Daddy will feed you, okay?¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked at Yuan Jiaqi and suddenly smiled, ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Everyone at the table was momentarily stunned, then burst into joyfulughter.


    ¡°Little sister can talk now. That¡¯s great! Little sister, call us brothers!¡±


    Qiao Mai gave them a yful look, ¡°She only knows how to call Daddy for now.


    If I ask her to call me mother, she just says ¡®Mum.¡¯ It¡¯s driving me crazy.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! ¡°

 Chapter 84 - 84: Be a Good Father to The Children

    Chapter 84: Be a Good Father to The Children


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Old Mister Wang nced at Ling¡¯er, ¡°A child that started talkingte will be clever. ¡±


    ¡°Is there such a saying?


    ¡°It¡¯s amon saying, but not necessarily urate.¡±


    ¡°Having some cleverness is good to avoid being manipted in the future.¡±


    Qiao Mai peeled a crab for Old Mister Wang, then for Yuan Jiaqi, and finally for the children.


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t bear it. ¡°You should eat too. They can handle it themselves.¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re not at home, I end up eating all by myself. You only get to eat once a month. Enjoy your meal, and don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    The children said, ¡°Mother, we can handle it. We know how to.¡±


    During the meal, Qiao Mai took care of Old Mister Wang and the children. She barely ate herself.


    After the satisfying meal, Old Mister Wang sat and enjoyed a cup of hot tea.


    Qiao Mai thought of something and asked, ¡°Old Mister Wang, in the Great Ming


    Dynasty, when is the Imperial Exam held each year?¡±


    ¡°Every spring, during the revival of all things, the Imperial Exam takes ce on the 26th of March. For the children, it¡¯s the county-level exam. For schrs, it¡¯s the prefectural-level exam, and for Rmended Schr and Tribute Schrs, it¡¯s the metropolitan-level exam. The higher the rank, the more prestigious the exam hall. The Advanced Schr participates in a separate examination in the side hall of the Imperial Audience Hall.¡±


    ¡°The 26th of March? That¡¯sing up soon.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I n to have Jiaqi participate in the county-level exam next year after a year of preparation. He¡¯s intelligent, grasps things quickly, can make connections, and has a sharp mind. He¡¯s a promising student.¡±


    ¡°And the other two?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that in five years.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that works. Let my husband take the exam first and earn a title. Then ournd can be registered under his name.¡±


    Old Mister Wang gave her a look. ¡°Is that all you¡¯re thinking about?¡±


    ¡°What else? You don¡¯t know how tough life is for farmers. Not to mention us in business, dealing with wind, rain, and snow without interruption. But what about them? When disaster strikes, has the court ever considered them? Whether there¡¯s a good harvest or a poor one, they still have to pay taxes. When the court goes to war, they raise taxes. Finally, when we manage to educate a schr, why shouldn¡¯t we be exempt from taxes?¡±


    Old Mister Wang was left speechless by her words. He knew the hardships of themoners.


    In this case, he couldn¡¯t argue back.


    He found an excuse and returned to his room to rest.


    The room wasn¡¯t spacious, but it was clean and had a warm atmosphere. Old Mister Wang genuinely liked it.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned to his room,y on the heated bed, and felt a warm feeling in his heart. Qiao Mai had done so much for them. As long as Qiao Mai didn¡¯t push him away, he would be a good husband in the Qiao family and a good father to the children.


    If he became an official in the future, he would protect them throughout their lives.


    In the evening, Qiao Mai prepared a pot of vegetable congee, made about twenty vegetarian pancakes, and prepared four cold dishes.


    After the heavy lunch, a lighter dinner was appetizing. Old Mister Wang ate quite a bit.


    The family took a leisurely walk around the courtyard to aid digestion, and Old Mister Wang grumbled.


    ¡°Look how small this ce is. It feels like I can¡¯t even stretch my legs for a walk.¡±


    ¡°The space outside is more open. Go for a walk outside.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡±


    ¡°In August, we¡¯ll be able to move to our new home. By then, you can stay at my house. If possible, you can bring your wife over. It¡¯s a good time for a change of scenery.¡±


    Old Mister Wang waved his hand. ¡°She can¡¯te. If she changes her environment, she won¡¯t be able to rest well for a long time and might get sick. Let her stay at home. She really enjoyed the things you broughtst time and praised them a lot.¡±


    ¡°When you return, I¡¯ll bring you another load.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re quite thoughtful. If you were a man, you would be extraordinary.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled without saying a word. Before going to sleep, the children pestered her for a story before she finally returned to her room to rest.


    As the moonlight faded, the outside world grew quiet. Qiao Mai looked at Ling¡¯er, who was sleeping peacefully. With a thought, she moved her into the space.


    Wearing a ck night robe, she covered her face and slipped out of the room.


    Regardless of whether the thieves were instructed by Tian Yaozu or not, he had caused her trouble multiple times. This was a debt that needed to be repaid.


    Regardless of whether he had the potential to be a schr, she had to cut off his path to education. A person like him would undoubtedly harm others in the future if he became an official.


    Although he attended the town¡¯s school, he didn¡¯t reside there. He would leave in the morning and return in the evening, following this routine for years.


    Under the moonlight, Qiao Mai sprinted through the fields. She didn¡¯t have internal energy, but her speed wasn¡¯t slow.


    From Tianshui Town to Peach Blossom Vige took half an hour by cart, but she managed to reach it in half a quarter-hour.


    Standing at the vige entrance, looking at the familiar vige, Qiao Mai took a deep breath and made no sound.


    She arrived at the Tian family, jumping and climbing over the wall, silently entering.


    The Tian family didn¡¯t keep dogs, and everyone was sound asleep.


    She reached Tian Yaozu¡¯s door, took a pipe from her space, poked a hole in the window paper, and blew in some smoke.


    Seeing Tian Yaozu¡¯s head peeking out of the nket, asleep like a child, she thought he was merely an immature child.


    Despite that, he was constantly plotting against her. Since that was the case, he couldn¡¯t me her for dealing with him.


    Seeing how he would be incapacitated, how would the Tian family treat him? Would he still feel invincible? Would he continue to plot against her?


    As she contemted, she took out a handkerchief, soaked it with an anesthetic, and ced it over his nose. Soon enough, he waspletely unconscious.


    Qiao Mai retrieved a shiny hammer from her space. Without hesitation, she immobilized his arms with two quick strikes to his wrists.


    With these two blows, his wrists were rendered useless. Even if a highly skilled doctor treated him and they healed, he could never hold a brush or write again.


    After finishing, she double-checked everything, stashed her tools back into the space, cleaned the footprints on the floor, and retraced her steps. Qiao Mai ced the door back in its original position.


    She inspected every mark and trace on the ground and walls of the courtyard, ensuring that no evidence was left behind. Then, before dawn, she returned home.


    Discarding the ck robe into the space, she took Ling¡¯er out of it, lying beside her.


    The roosters outside had started crowing. Qiao Mai closed her eyes, falling asleep in no time.


    Yuan Jiaqi woke up before dawn and began cleaning the courtyard. He added wood to the stove and started working in the kitchen. He had no idea about Qiao Mai¡¯s activities outside the night before.


    Early in the morning, he steamed arge bowl of egg custard for each person and kept it warm on the stove.


    Then, he made buns and prepared a few side dishes, following Qiao Mai¡¯s example.


    The children were up as soon as it was light outside. They brushed their teeth, washed their faces, and did their exercises, just as usual.


    Old Mister Wang looked through the window, nodding in approval at the family¡¯s healthy routines.


    With good habits and disciplined children, he liked this family a lot. His granddaughter had made a great choice for him.


    In over a month, he had grown fond of these children and considered them his family. He treated Yuan Jiaqi like his disciple.


    Although he never expressed his affections verbally, he taught them earnestly and was strict when necessary. He was a person who might criticize with words but cared deeply for those he took a liking to.


    At this moment, in Peach Blossom Vige¡¯s Tian family.


    Some were cleaning while others were cooking. Madam Tian Li knew her eldest grandson had been studyingte into the night, so she cautioned everyone to keep their voices down.


    Tian Yaozu was about to take the Imperial Exam this year. The family had high hopes for him, and even the teacher regarded him as a promising student.


    Everyone believed he would pass, so they were shocked when a cry of agony came from Tian Yaozu¡¯s room not long after they woke up.


    Everyone panicked, rushing to the door. However, the door was stuck. After struggling for a while, they managed to take the door off its hinges and get inside.


    Tian Yaozuy in bed, his hands raised on the nket, screaming like a pig being ughtered. ¡°Grandson, what happened? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It hurts, it hurts!¡±


    ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± ¡®


    My wrists. I can¡¯t move them.¡±


    ¡°Quick, get up. Let Mother help you get dressed. We¡¯ll go to the medical clinic.¡±


    They helped him up, but every time his clothes brushed against his hands, he would let out a painful wail..

 Chapter 85 - 85: Cut Off His Path to The Imperial Exam

    Chapter 85: Cut Off His Path to The Imperial Exam


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    With great difficulty, they managed to put his clothes on. By this time, the vige¡¯s ox cart had already left, so they had to use a handcart from their home to push Tian Yaozu to the town¡¯s clinic.


    After being examined by the doctor, it was diagnosed that his wrist bones werepletely shattered.


    Hastily applying bone-setting ster, they immobilized his hands and prescribed medicines for his recovery.


    The Tian family anxiously looked at the doctor and asked, ¡°Will his hands recover?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still young, so there should be a chance of recovery. However, he won¡¯t be able to exert force anymore.¡±


    ¡°What about holding a pen?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s unlikely. But who knows? Maybe it¡¯s possible. It depends on how well he recovers.¡±


    The doctor didn¡¯t rule it out, giving the family a glimmer of hope. However, Tian Yaozu¡¯s spirit was crushed.


    ¡°Oh, who could have done such a wicked thing? My son was about to take an exam, and now, this happened. I swear I¡¯ll catch whoever did this and kill them! This has infuriated me.


    Leaving the clinic, the Tian family couldn¡¯t swallow their anger, so they went to the vige head¡¯s house.


    They informed the vige head about Tian Yaozu¡¯s persecution. Despite the vige head¡¯s unfavorable opinion of the Tian family, he knew he needed to protect these schrs during such a critical time.


    As a result, he dispatched guards to apany them back home. Inside and out, they searched for traces and clues and questioned Tian Yaozu and his family about the events from yesterday until this morning.


    The result of their inquiries was futile. They asked but gained no useful information. There were no traces around either, which left the guards in a tough situation.


    ¡°Tian Yaozu, do you have any enemies?¡±


    Tian Yaozu shook his head in frustration, his eyes revealing an unknown glint.


    ¡°If we talk about enemies, there¡¯s only Madam Qiao from the town. We had conflicts before, and she must resent me.¡¯


    One of the guards interjected, ¡°It¡¯s not possible. Besides her?¡±


    ¡°No one else!¡±


    ¡°To capture someone, we need evidence. You don¡¯t even have an enemy. Is it possible for someone to ruin your path to the Imperial Exam without any reason? That¡¯s unlikely.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just Madam Qiao. No one else would hate me so much.¡±


    ¡°Say less of the useless stuff. She¡¯s just a woman, selling goods during the day and caring for her child at night. The men in her family and her older children are studying in the Capital. It¡¯s impossible for her to do this. She doesn¡¯t have the capability.¡±


    ¡°What did you say? Her husband and children are studying in the Capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they went after the New Year, returning for three days every month. I heard he¡¯s an old schr, even a Tribute Schr.¡±


    Immediately, the faces of the Tian family members turned grim. They cursed Qiao Mai in their hearts.


    Since Qiao Mai left the Tian family, she had been doing well, while the Tian family¡¯s reputation deteriorated. They had faced trouble after trouble and spent money on various matters.


    Both guards had received favors from Qiao Mai. Seeing the family¡¯s reaction, they knew they were cursing her internally.


    With a stern expression, one guard said, ¡°Since you can¡¯t provide any clues or evidence, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    ¡°What about my son¡¯s injured hand then?¡±


    ¡°What else can we do? Even if you went to the authorities, it would be the same.¡±


    The guards turned and left. The Tian family exploded in anger, and their cursing could be heard from far away, sounding unpleasant.


    After a long time, things quieted down. Regarding Tian Yaozu¡¯s misfortune, the vigers expressed sympathy but were powerless to help.


    Some were there tough at the situation, while others took pleasure in their suffering.


    The Tian family had always unted themselves in the vige, boasting that Tian Yaozu would be a high official. They looked down on their fellow vigers.


    Now, their situation had changed. Tian Yaozu¡¯s path to the Imperial Exam had been cut off. Now, everyone was on the same level, and no one should underestimate anyone else. He would have to stay home and farm and might even lose that ability.


    Thinking back to the past, when the vige chief had shown favoritism towards the Tian family due to their schr, he regretted his decision.


    Currently, Qiao Mai is doing well in town. She was wealthier and more influential than the Tian family. If the vige chief had helped her back then, she might not have ignored them if they faced problems in the future.


    After venting their frustration, the Tian family began to think about Tian Yaozu¡¯s situation.


    With his wrists broken, even if they healed, he couldn¡¯t study anymore. He also couldn¡¯t work in the fields.


    A truly useless person. Tian Yaozu still hadn¡¯te to terms with reality.


    During dinner, when he saw that the food wasn¡¯t his liking, he wanted to throw a tantrum. However, Old Tian shut him down with a single sentence.


    ¡°We were already struggling to support your studies, and now we must pay for your treatment. If you¡¯re dissatisfied and keepining, we can refund the money for your treatment. Do you think your hand is more valuable than that?¡± The entire family stared at him coldly, and even he could sense it.


    This was only the first day, and the Tian family¡¯s demeanor changed rapidly.


    After dealing with Tian Yaozu, Qiao Mai was in a good mood. After breakfast, she prepared lunch.


    With the family members back, she didn¡¯t need to care for Ling¡¯er, making her much more rxed.


    Lunch involved a hot pot, where various ingredients and food items were prepared.


    Old Mister Wang stood outside the kitchen, scratching his head and looking inside, sniffing. Qiao Mai had been busy there for quite a while, yet there was no aromaing out.


    ¡°Can we have a hot pot?¡±


    ¡°Do you have seafood?¡±


    ¡°We haverge shrimp, fish balls, and crab sticks. Is that okay?¡±


    Old Mister Wang licked his lips. ¡°Sure, hurry and set the table. I¡¯m starving.¡± He was enticed.


    Qiao Mai smiled without giving away her secret. Yuan Jiaqi, who was at her side, heard him and immediately went to the living room to start setting the table.


    The siblings and Ling¡¯er were ying in the courtyard. As soon as they heard the mention of hot pot, their eyes lit up. They were still reminiscing about the meal they had before the New Year.


    Themb slices were thin and tender, rolled into neat coils, and beautifully arranged on the te.


    And there was beef. Right, beef. When would they have the chance to eat the pan-fried beef steak Qiao Mai had mentioned?


    Chuan¡¯er was thinking about the steak, but he blurted it out. As soon as he spoke, everyone fixed their eyes on Qiao Mai, full of anticipation.


    Qiao Mai looked at their hopeful eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow morning, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll make it for you tomorrow morning. Eat your fill before you leave.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great, Mother! Thank you, Mother.¡±


    Old Mister Wang, who had been listening from the side, was puzzled. ¡°Madam Qiao, what¡¯s a beef steak?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s marinated beef, seared over high heat, and eaten while hot. It¡¯s called a steak because it¡¯s made from beef tenderloin. Do you understand now, Old Mister Wang?¡±


    ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll have that tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°I promise you¡¯ll love it.¡±


    ¡°How about we leave in the afternoon? You can prepare a whole table of dishes for lunch.¡¯


    ¡°What else would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Anything you make will be delicious.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s focus on the hot pot for now.¡±


    After everyone was seated, Old Mister Wang eagerly picked up meat to cook in the hot pot. Just by looking at him, it was clear he was a meat lover.


    However, he didn¡¯t hold back today and ate many of the other dishes as well.


    After filling their stomachs, when they started sipping tea, he began to ponder.


    ¡°Youngdy, there are many things on your table we haven¡¯t seen in the Great Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°I researched these myself when I had nothing else to do. Are you interested in these?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m interested in everything. As you know, there were many families in the Great Ming Dynasty, each supporting arge household with their own business. Our Wang family naturally has several businesses.¡±


    ¡°I only sell my recipes, not give them away, even though you¡¯re my husband¡¯s and children¡¯s teacher.¡±


    ¡°Of course, money is money. I won¡¯t take advantage of you. After I return, I¡¯ll have my son and granddaughtere over. Can you prepare the recipes and let them taste these things?¡±


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ve spent quite a bit of silver building my house. Now, I need more silver.¡±


    ¡°In the future, keep some good recipes for yourself. Our family won¡¯t need them, but we can help you sell them to others.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Old Mister Wang. But I don¡¯t want anyone outside my family to know about this.¡±


    ¡°Of course. The Wang family will bear this responsibility.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and nced at Old Mister Wang. ¡°A gentleman¡¯s promise?¡± ¡°It¡¯s harder to chase after a galloping horse!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I trust Miss Wang, and I trust Old Mister Wang even more. I hope our families have a pleasant cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Definitely!¡±

 Chapter 86 - 86: What Is This Taste?

    Chapter 86: What Is This Taste?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Wang family selling what she had in hand was more reassuring than selling it at the Broker Center. After all, Wang Jiaru¡¯s character, coupled with her grandfather¡¯s, made her willing to trust them.


    Having had a good meal for lunch, naturally, dinner would be lighter.


    Sweet potato porridge and side dishes made Old Mister Wang quite satisfied, especially the sweet potato porridge. It had been long since hest had it, and he found it delicious.


    The next morning, as nned, Qiao Mai served them steak for breakfast.


    After taking the first bite, Old Mister Wang¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t stop moving. The children at home didn¡¯tpete with him for food; they only started eating after he was full.


    This made him a bit embarrassed. After finishing his meal, he didn¡¯t leave but sat on the side, watching the children eat.


    ¡°What a pity that the Great Ming Dynasty protects cattle. Otherwise, I really want to get a couple of cows and enjoy a delicious meal. It¡¯s so tasty.¡±


    ¡°If you want to eat,e over. While I can¡¯t let you have it every day, asionally satisfying your cravings is still possible.¡±


    Watching the children eat with relish, Old Mister Wang was full, but his mouth was watering.


    ¡°What¡¯s for lunch?¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. They had just finished breakfast, and he was already thinking about lunch.


    She was also a bit worried. She didn¡¯t know how to cook many dishes yet and was still learning. What to have for lunch? She used her mind to check the refrigerator.


    There wasn¡¯t anything particrly special in the fridge, so she checked the shelves. Finally, her attention stopped at the snail noodles.


    That¡¯s it!


    Seeing her lost in thought, Old Mister Wang thought she was considering recipes and didn¡¯t disturb her. Soon, Qiao Mai returned to her senses and smiled at him.


    Why did it feel a bit mischievous? Why was he feeling a little scared?


    ¡°Old Mister Wang, can you eat food with a special taste?¡±


    ¡°What kind of taste?¡±


    ¡°The taste of pickled bamboo shoots.¡±


    ¡°Probably. Bamboo shoots seem to be a southern dish.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make a pot of rice noodles. Can you eat it?¡± ¡°Maybe?¡± Even he wasn¡¯t sure.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have snail noodles for lunch today.¡±


    Hearing the name, Old Mister Wang thought it should be delicious, so he happily nodded. Even Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but gulp.


    After the children finished their meat, they went off to y, and Yuan Jiaqi finishedst.


    Qiao Mai only had two pieces and then started preparing the noodles for lunch.


    The soup ingredients were all in the packaging bags; what she needed to prepare were some additional ingredients, which would be added to the soup as vorful garnishes.


    For example, pig¡¯s trotters, deep-fried peanuts, deep-fried bean curd sheets, and also fried eggs and sausages.


    Don¡¯t be fooled by it being a bowl of noodles; its preparation process was quite borate.


    Ling¡¯er was already one year and one month old. Everyone coaxed her to walk in the courtyard, rewarding her with a piece of cake after a short distance.


    This atmosphere made Old Mister Wang very pleased. He sat at the door, watching Qiao Mai cook, asionally turning his head to watch the children.


    ¡°All these kids are good.¡¯


    ¡°Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have adopted them. I only act when they seem promising.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s the vor of the noodles you made?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s delicious, but I¡¯m unsure if you can handle it.¡±


    ¡°What vor is it, exactly?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a kind of smell that¡¯s stinky but tastes delicious when eaten.¡±


    Upon hearing the word ¡°stinky,¡± Old Mister Wang wrinkled his nose. ¡°If we can eat it, we¡¯ll eat it. If not, bring us some other food for the road.¡±


    ¡°Naturally, you can eat it. It has a sour and spicy taste. I made it mildly spicy


    today.¡±


    Finally, it was noon. With the ingredients prepared, Qiao Mai poured the broth from the packaging bag into the bowl. The smell was intense.


    Sitting at the door, Old Mister Wang took a sniff and immediately choked. Holding his nose, he said, ¡°I say, Madam Qiao, this vor is too unique, isn¡¯t


    ¡°But it¡¯s very delicious. Trust me!¡±


    To prevent the smell of the snail noodles from filling the house, they set up tables in the yard.


    Qiao Mai gave adultsrge bowls, while children got smaller ones. The idea was to let the soup soak into the garnishes, making them more vorful.


    Bowl after bowl of noodles was served on the table. The children sat there holding their noses.


    Yuan Jiaqi was also embarrassed. Only Qiao Mai took a deep breath as she missed the smell.


    The joyful eating began. Old Mister Wang was the first to give up.


    Afraid of the smell? As long as it tasted good, what was there to mind? Even Madam Qiao did not say anything.


    So, pinching his nose, he took a bite and then put his hand down.


    ¡°Eat quickly, it¡¯s delicious. If you don¡¯t eat, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    The children began eating with chopsticks, and their eyes brightened with the first bite.


    Fried eggs, fried bean curd sheets, intestines, and pig¡¯s trotters soaked in the soup tasted incredibly good.


    No one was pinching their noses anymore except Yuan Jiaqi. He held his nose while eating and the child in his other hand.


    ¡°Eat first. I¡¯ll watch the child. I¡¯ll eatter.¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately took Ling¡¯er from him. Seeing little Ling¡¯er imitating everyone pinching their noses, she couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    ¡°Eat up. The stink isn¡¯t the same as the other kind. The pickled green beans and pickled bamboo shoots are tender. I love fried eggs. One bite, and it¡¯s fragrant, spicy, and satisfying. Eat quickly. Who knows how long it¡¯ll be until next time?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi put his hand down and, with bated breath, took a bite, finding it surprisingly tasty.


    From now on, if Qiao Mai said something was delicious, it definitely was. Never resist.


    Old Mister Wang chuckled, ¡°Do you have the recipe for this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but people around here can¡¯t handle this vor. If you start a shop like this, others won¡¯t be able to open their shops around you because it¡¯s too stinky.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Can we have this again next time?¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind. It¡¯s much easier than other dishes.¡±


    The family ate snail noodles in the yard, causing distress among their neighbors. They thought the Qiao family was cleaning manure.


    Why would they do it in the middle of the day?


    The whole neighborhood suffered, unable to eat a proper lunch.


    Madam Chen cursed inside the house. Her son couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and went to the Qiao family to see what was going on.


    He found an excuse and knocked on the Qiao family¡¯s door, ¡°Mr. Yuan, there¡¯s a strange smell in this area. Is iting from your ce?¡±


    This statement was already quite tactful. Yuan Jiaqiughed, and Qiao Mai saw him, waving him over.


    ¡°Hao¡¯er,e, sit down. Auntie will cook you a bowl of noodles.¡±


    Chen Hao walked to the table, seeing everyone¡¯s bowls. Suddenly, he understood. The strange smell wasing from the food they were eating.


    He pinched his nose. The Qiao family wasn¡¯t cleaning manure; they were making strange food.


    Qiao Mai cooked a bowl for him and ced it on the table. ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot. It¡¯ll get clumpy when it¡¯s cold.¡±


    ¡°Auntie, is this edible?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Can¡¯t you see everyone else eating it? Eat with confidence. I guarantee you¡¯ll want a second bowl after finishing the first.¡±


    Chen Hao wasn¡¯t as finicky as the rest. He put down his hand and picked up the chopsticks to eat.


    Few people disliked the taste of snail noodles. Once they took a bite, the rest was just continuous eating.


    Just as they ate, the neighbor on the right came over as well. Upon entering the yard and seeing what they were eating and then smelling the strong aroma, they understood.


    Madam Qiao was making another new dish, and that¡¯s where the smell came from.


    They were about to bid farewell and leave when Qiao Mai stopped them, making them wait to taste it.


    As expected, anyone who tasted it fell in love with this vor.


    They carefully smelled it and realized it was different from the smell of digging manure; the former had a fragrant stench, while thetter was truly foul.


    After consuming the pungent-smelling snail noodles, everyone finally distinguished between the two types of odors and epted this unique delicacy.


    Old Mister Wang was delighted,ughing and clutching his stomach for quite a while.


    After eating, they helped wash the bowls and chopsticks, cleaned the house and yard, and then finally sat in the horse carriage that had been waiting outside.


    With a carriage of food prepared by Qiao Mai, they left the small town and headed to Wei City¡­

 Chapter 87 - 87: Ignorant Fools

    Chapter 87: Ignorant Fools


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The people finally left, and Qiao Mai heaved a sigh of relief. She closed the courtyard gate and returned inside, embracing Ling¡¯er and falling asleep.


    Although they had only returned for three days, it had worn her out.


    The Yuan family had already split their household. The four brothers boughtnd in the vige and started building houses.


    Each family cooked their own meals. Starting from the eldest, every meal was prepared, and the children would bring a portion to the old couple.


    They did not care if the old couple ate it. They didn¡¯t mistreat the elderly, providing them with the same meal they ate.


    At first, the old couple cursed and scolded, but when the children didn¡¯t pay attention and simply left, it escted to physical confrontation. The four brothers decided that the children shouldn¡¯t even deliver meals anymore.


    If they had the strength to beat the children, they¡¯d be better off hungry.


    Seeing their sons treating them like this, the old couple thought of making a fuss, but they didn¡¯t expect the four families to join forces.


    In the pushing and shoving, the old couple was pped and pinched by their daughters-inw. They suffered quite a bit. After that, they didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble anymore.


    With things quieting down, they had time to hear news about their fifth son.


    When they heard that their youngest son had gone to the Capital to study, they immediately panicked.


    They were not afraid he would be an official but that they wouldn¡¯t be able to gain recognition in the future. So, not caring about anything else, they went to the Qiao family on the second day after the Yuan family left.


    It was still early in the morning when the sky was brightening. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.


    The two dogs heard the noise and kept barking. Qiao Mai, sleeping soundly in her space, sensed something unusual.


    When she emerged from her space, she heard the courtyard gate rudely pounded from outside.


    Qiao Mai quietly approached the door, rolled her eyes at the cursing outside, and went to the kitchen. She fetched a basin of water from the barrel, grabbed some ashes from the stove, mixed them, and threw it over the gate.


    Early March days were quite cold, especially in the early morning chill.


    The two old folks who got sshed with water screamed, wiping the water off their heads with their hands. They cursed even more fiercely while holding their waists.


    Qiao Mai picked up a stick and opened the door, hitting their legs and buttocks.


    After the first blownded, they felt the pain. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t give them a chance to curse; she followed up immediately with a second blow. The strikes were fast, and Madam Yuan Xu was hit first, followed by Old Yuan.


    They didn¡¯t care to curse back. They got up and rushed towards the entrance of the alley.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t chase after them. She turned around, reinserted the courtyard gate, and returned to the kitchen.


    The Dair of old troublemakers at the alley¡¯s entrance sat down and started patting their thighs, crying loudly.


    Some people recognized them and knew that if they weren¡¯t reported to the authorities today, this pair wouldn¡¯t leave. They might even cause more trouble. It was annoying to look at them, let alone listen to them. There was an impulse to go up and give them a beating.


    Thus, early in the morning, they sent someone to request the presence of Mayor Qian.


    Mayor Qian arrived with a few guards. The troublemakers quieted down immediately in his presence and began moring about being injured. ¡°Mayor, we were injured by Madam Qiao. We implore you to mediate for us.¡±


    Grinding his teeth, Mayor Qian asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at home early in the morning? Why did youe here?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for our son!¡±


    ¡°You people can¡¯t remember a beating. Looking for your son? Who¡¯s your son?¡±


    ¡°Yuan Jiaqi! ¡±


    ¡°If I recall correctly, you have long severed your ties under my witness.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s still our son.¡±


    Mayor Qian¡¯s expression fell. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be taken to the court, I¡¯ll count to five. Don¡¯t me me for being impolite if you don¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°Mayor, you can¡¯t do this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a bunch of ignorant fools. You severed your ties, and yet you still want to cling to a connection? Were your heads kicked by a donkey? Or was your brain blown away by the wind? Thew states that once you¡¯ve signed a document to sever ties, you¡¯re as good as strangers. You¡¯ve lost that rtionship. Yet, shamelessly, you still dare toe here?¡±


    ¡°No matter what thew states, our blood rtionship with him still exists.¡±


    Knowing that reasoning with these people was futile, Mayor Qian waved to his guards.


    ¡°Bind them, take them to the court, exin the situation, and let them spend a few days in prison.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡±


    Saying this, a guard took out a rope from his waist and was about to approach the troublemakers. But as soon as the old couple saw it, they quickly got up from the ground and ran away like a streak of lightning.


    iming to be injured? It was all a scheme to extort money. They ran faster than rabbits. How could they look like injured people?


    Mayor Qian spat at their retreating figures on the ground.


    ¡°Damn it, all kinds of trash are showing up. Even Madam Qiao has the misfortune of encountering these scum.¡±


    One of the guards chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that Madam Qiao has a good official like you to handle this. Otherwise, she¡¯d be in for a hard time.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, if not for you, Sir, I¡¯d have had a tough time.¡±


    With a swish, the courtyard gate opened. Qiao Mai walked out with a smile on her face.


    ¡°How about I invite you to have breakfast at my ce?¡±


    Mayor Qian rolled his eyes, shaking his head, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare enter your house. If your husband is at home, I might consider it.¡±


    ¡°Then, how about waiting here for a while? I¡¯ll prepare something. You can eat at the entrance.¡±


    ¡°No need. Maybe next time. When your husband is back, invite me to your house.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine too. Then, I won¡¯t see you off.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, always sweet-talking.¡±


    As Mayor Qian was about to leave, Shopkeeper Lu arrived. Seeing him, she twisted her lips in distaste.


    ¡°Oh, Mayor Qian, you¡¯re working hard. You¡¯re already out here upholding justice early in the morning?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you sisters are both up to no good.¡±


    After saying that, he red at Shopkeeper Lu and left with the guards. Shopkeeper Lu looked at his retreating figure and childishly made a face.


    ¡°Sister Lu, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I was free, so I came over.¡¯


    ¡°Coincidentally, I just finished two embroidery pieces. Take them and sell them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s great. People have been asking about them recently.¡±


    Qiao Mai held her hand and entered the courtyard, closing the gate behind her.


    Before entering the room, there was a small table set up in the courtyard. Shopkeeper Lu sat on a stool by the table.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ling¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s still asleep inside. Did you have breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll make something delicious for you.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s mouth watered as she waited. When she saw two bowls of snail noodles, her face turned dark. She held her nose and pointed at the noodles.


    ¡°Does something so stinky taste good?¡±


    ¡°If I tell you to eat, then eat. It¡¯s delicious.¡±


    Qiao Mai ignored her and started eating, feeling hungry herself.


    Seeing how deliciously she was eating, Lu Sanniang also started eating. After taking a bite, she realized how tasty it was.


    ¡°DeliciousQ¡±


    After finishing arge bowl each, they wiped their mouths.


    Qiao Mai went back inside to get two smaller pieces of embroidery and onerger piece for her.


    ¡°I won¡¯t have more embroidery pieces until May or June.¡± ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s fine, as long as you don¡¯t stop embroidering.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not just here for embroidery, right?¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you¡­¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu leaned closer and whispered in her ear, ¡°Ruxin¡¯s marriage has been arranged.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Who did she get engaged to?¡± Qiao Mai was happy for her apprentice. ¡°To a family in the county town, the second son of the Feng family.¡±


    ¡°Have you checked their background?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that family is like ours, a merchant family. Not too big, not too small. It¡¯s a good match.¡±


    ¡°You said the second son. Does that family have concubines?¡±


    Talking about this, Lu Sanniang seemed a bit embarrassed, ¡°Yes, they do. Other than this, I¡¯m quite satisfied with everything else.¡±


    ¡°Families with concubines usually have a murky environment.¡±


    ¡°I know, but that child is really good. He¡¯s been well-educated by the Feng family. It¡¯s a pity to miss out.¡± ¡°Has Xin¡¯er met him?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and she¡¯s willing.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good as long as she¡¯s willing. Everything else isn¡¯t that important.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. Besides, that child vowed from a young age that he wouldn¡¯t take concubines.¡±


    ¡°I hope his vow holds true.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the case, he¡¯s good for now.¡±


    ¡°Is it confirmed?¡±


    ¡°On March 6th, they¡¯ll visit to propose formally.. Why don¡¯t youe over then?¡±

 Chapter 88 - 88: This Lazy Woman

    Chapter 88: This Lazy Woman


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle over and cook for you.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, that suits me just fine. I¡¯ll have Xiu Hong watch over Ling¡¯er.¡± ¡°Sure, but they must be within my sight. Otherwise, I won¡¯t feel at ease.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er is almost like the apple of your eye, truly like family.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I treat her like my own daughter.¡±


    ¡°What about your sons?¡±


    ¡°I care for them just the same. But with several sons at home and just one daughter, I have to pamper her a bit more.¡±


    ¡°Well, pamper her then. I need to take these embroidered pieces back. There might be a big customering soon. Stay at home and cherish your daughter. And don¡¯t forget March 6th,e to my house early.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    After seeing off Lu Sanniang, Qiao Mai quickly got to work in the kitchen. Every day, people came to buy goods from her, so she needed to be prepared.


    Time passed by quickly, and it was already March 6th.


    Qiao Mai dressed herself appropriately and put a new outfit on Ling¡¯er. She carried her daughter in one hand and a basket in the other. After having an early breakfast, she headed to Lu Sanniang¡¯s house.


    The embroidery shop was closed, and the Lu family had already cleaned the courtyard.


    Everything was shining and tidy. When Qiao Mai arrived, Ruyi eagerly took Ling¡¯er from her arms. The sisters were thrilled and kept hugging and ying with her.


    Shopkeeper Lu weed her into the house. ¡°Since you¡¯re here,e in. What did you bring?¡±


    ¡°Do you expect anything less than special?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll leave the cooking to you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll be satisfied. I¡¯ll head to the kitchen first to prepare. When they arrive, don¡¯t call me over. I¡¯m not a fan of socializing.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You¡¯re Ruxin¡¯s Master.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s in secret. I don¡¯t want people to know too much about me.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s settled then. I don¡¯t want people to know my secrets.¡±


    ¡°Fine. ¡±


    Qiao Mai carried the basket and went to the kitchen. Xiu Hong followed with Ling¡¯er in her arms.


    Lu Sanniang was hesitant to hire someone, so the kitchen was still without a cook even though they had nned to hire one after the New Year.


    Qiao Mai took a nce around the kitchen. It was clean and neat, but she could tell it was mainly Ruxin and her sister who did the cooking. What azy woman!


    She took the vegetables out of the basket and nced at Xiu Hong, who was entertaining Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°Xiu Hong, how¡¯s your two-sided embroiderying along?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not as good as Miss¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Take vour time. Mastering this skill isn¡¯t something that can haDDen


    overnight. ¡±


    ¡°I know. Can I help?¡±


    ¡°Just keep an eye on the child.¡±


    The small basket was filled with so many vegetables that it would surely astonish anyone who saw it.


    Shopkeeper Lu had also prepared some vegetables, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t find them appealing and set them aside in a separate basket.


    After checking the tes and utensils, making sure they were all clean and sufficient in number, Qiao Mai focused on cutting, nching, and preparing the dishes.


    She prepared a variety of dishes ¨C Eight vegetarian and meat dishes.


    The weather was pleasant that day, and she anticipated it would be warm around noon. In consideration of her visiting prospective inws, Shopkeeper Lu had even prepared a charcoal brazier in the living room, a gesture of genuine hospitality.


    Before long, Ruxin came over.


    She assisted Qiao Mai in picking vegetables and said, ¡°Master, the guests will be here soon. Can you help me take a look?¡±


    ¡°Your liking matters most. My opinions might not align. What you find appealing may not be what I like, and vice versa. Just because you don¡¯t like something doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t.¡±


    Blushing, Ruxin added, ¡°Could you please sneak a peekter, Master?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but at this point, changing your mind isn¡¯t an option.¡± ¡°I just want to hear your thoughts. I¡¯m not confident.¡± ¡°Do you trust your Master so much?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master is always so self-assured. I believe in you.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured. If you like him, Master will support your choice. And if one day he mistreats you, Master will do everything to ensure he regrets it and lives a miserable life.¡¯


    Ruxin¡¯s eyes welled up. ¡°Thank you, Master!¡±


    Wiping her tears, Ruxin nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Just then, Ruyi entered. ¡°Sister, Mother wants me to find you. The visitors from the Feng family have arrived.¡±


    Ruxin quickly stood up. ¡°Master, I¡¯ll go first.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll be watching from the window.¡±


    The sisters left, and Qiao Mai got up and cleaned her hands. ¡°Xiu Hong,e with me. Let¡¯s take a look.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, this servant also wants to peek at the future son-inw.¡±


    They approached the living room quietly. Through the half-open window shutters, they saw Shopkeeper Lu engaging in a lively conversation with the Feng family.


    Eight people from the Feng family hade ¨C A matchmaker, a couple, a young man, two maids, and two servants.


    Without a doubt, the young man was Ruxin¡¯s fianc¨¦.


    He had a pleasant appearance, was of medium height, not too thin or too plump, and his attire gave off an air of schrly refinement.


    Ruxin stood respectfully behind Shopkeeper Lu, her head slightly lowered. She didn¡¯t even dare to meet her fianc¨¦¡¯s gaze, clearly nervous.


    Judging by the young man¡¯s appearance, he was satisfied with the potential match.


    With both parties content, the foundation for a harmonious union wasid. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t need to be too involved at this point.


    She looked forward to the marriage being finalized when she could contribute by adding her touch to Ruxin¡¯s bridal preparations.


    After a few nces, Qiao Mai returned to the kitchen. The living room was now bustling with the formalities of the betrothal ceremony.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai deftly prepared various dishes, cutting and nching with precision in the kitchen.


    Half an hourter, Xiu Yu and Ruyi came.


    ¡°Master, my mother says we can start serving.¡±


    ¡°Alright, serve the cold dishes first. The rest can follow soon.¡±


    The dishes not only looked appetizing, but they were also incredibly delicious. The fish and the te ofrge prawns left the people from Ru Xin¡¯s family astonished.


    The fish, apart from being delicious, was expertly sliced and prepared.


    Even the prawns, with their backs sliced open, required no peeling. Just a slight pull on the head, and the skin came off effortlessly, leaving a crispy texture that was incredibly delightful. The taste was exceptional.


    A simple dish like pickled lotus root slices was so crunchy, spicy, and sweet that it was utterly irresistible. Once tasted, people couldn¡¯t help but want more.


    All sixteen dishes were swept clean.


    Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s face was radiant, and she immediately went to the kitchen after sending the guests off.


    Qiao Mai and Xiu Yu were having their meal at the same table. Lu Sanniang smiled awkwardly.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m really sorry for today.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I didn¡¯t want to go.¡±


    ¡°Today¡¯s dishes made me so proud. You don¡¯t know how those people from the


    Feng family ate.¡±


    ¡°So, should you reward me?¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re quite funny. Do you even want rewards?¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you something. Sit down.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°When¡¯s the engagement?¡±


    ¡°It will be on May 26th, and the wedding will be on October 18th.¡±


    ¡°My house should be ready by August. How about your family moving in around that time? My apprentice will get married off there.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°First, your ce is small. Second, it¡¯s inside an alley and not grand enough. Third, have you forgotten? I¡¯m still technically a servant in your family. If I were to live alone there, wouldn¡¯t it expose the situation?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so embarrassed.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to feel embarrassed. I¡¯ve always treated you like a sister. Ruyi can get married there too. If you don¡¯t want to remarry, you can live with me in the future. You can rent out this house and the one you¡¯re living in now. What do you think?¡±


    Touched, Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Why are you so kind?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you greedy for my cooking? Just know that as long as you have me, you won¡¯t have to go hungry.¡±


    After she had teared up, Lu Sanniang burst outughing after hearing that.


    ¡°Sister, the luckiest thing in my life is getting to know you.¡±


    ¡°Stop being so sentimental. Just tell me. Do you agree or not?¡±


    ¡°I agree! This is a matter of great honor. How could I disagree? When Ruxin gets married from your new house, it will bring glory to our Lu family.¡±

 Chapter 89 - 89: This Group of Foodies

    Chapter 89: This Group of Foodies


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then. After the house is finished, I¡¯ll pick a good day, and we¡¯ll move in together. At that time, we won¡¯t invite anyone else, just my husband¡¯s teacher and his family and Mayor Qian, to have a lively gathering at our house. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°The teacher is wee, but why invite Mayor Qian?¡±


    ¡°During this time, he¡¯s been looking out for us, so why not invite him?¡±


    Liu Sanniang pursed her lips, looking somewhat unwilling, which piqued Qiao Mai¡¯s curiosity.


    ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not much of a rtionship, just someone who pursued me in my younger days.¡±


    ¡°Is that the only reason?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t ask about my past with him.¡±


    ¡°Alright, when the timees, don¡¯t be unwilling. I¡¯ve already decided to invite the mayor.¡±


    ¡°Up to you. But let me tell you, hide your valuable things well. He has sharp eyes and a love for money.¡±


    ¡°But he treats you differently, and he¡¯s nice to you. What do you say?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu blushed and stopped discussing this topic.


    As the weather gradually warmed up, Qiao Mai stayed home with Linger, selling goods. She rarely went out.


    When she did, it was either to the embroidery workshop or to look at her new house.


    Since there were no men at home during the day, she set up a table at the courtyard gate, blocking the entrance with some goods.


    This way, customers could buy what they wanted without entering the house, reducing gossip and criticism.


    Their left neighbor, Madam Chen, didn¡¯te by again. Qiao Mai enjoyed some peace.


    With a wide variety of products for sale, her business attracted wealthy individuals from several nearby towns. When people thought of having a meal, they thought of Qiao Mai first.


    As a result, her business was booming. Madam Chen often climbed adder to peek at her goods.


    Qiao Mai had noticed her long ago but ignored her.


    Madam Chen watched Qiao Mai make so much money every day. Her envy knew no bounds. She wished that those goods and the money were hers.


    Qiao Mai enjoyed seeing Madam Chen¡¯s envy and frustration.


    She must have wanted to fly into their house when Chen Hao came over to eat snail noodles.


    People like Madam Chen, who wanted to benefit without effort and were unhappy when things didn¡¯t go their way, were not worth her attention.


    Time flew by, and before she knew it, it was the end of the month, the day Yuan Jiaqi and the kids were supposed to return.


    At noon, the group of food enthusiasts stepped into the house.


    The table had already been set with avish spread of dishes. Among those who arrived were Wang Zongsheng and his two children, Wang Jiaru and Wang Zihan.


    They introduced themselves, took their seats, and began eating the sumptuous meal prepared for them.


    Wang Zongsheng hade specifically for the food. Old Mister Wang couldn¡¯t wait to share their deal as soon as he returned home.


    He had nned toe the next day, but some urgent matter suddenly came up.


    He decided toe along with the Yuan family to save trouble.


    Seeing the table filled with dishes he had never seen, Wang Zongsheng finally believed what his father said.


    He ate while savoring the dishes slowly.


    There was no denying it; Father¡¯s words were right. Their daughter had made a special friend indeed.


    The Wang family¡¯s business extended throughout the country and included restaurants.


    If they could obtain these recipes, it would not only elevate their restaurants but potentially be well-known in other cities as well.


    Wang Zongsheng restrained his curiosity and focused on eating. On the other hand, Qiao Mai remained calm, pretending not to know what they were there for.


    It seemed they wouldn¡¯t be returning that day because there was still one more meal to enjoy ¨C the hotpot dinner.


    After eating and having tea, they watched Qiao Mai do business in the courtyard.


    The two cunning old foxes from the Wang family were amazed by Qiao Mai¡¯s ability to keep them guessing.


    She knew what they came for but stubbornly refused to reveal their intentions. It was obvious they were eager to discuss business.


    Wang Zongsheng, after watching her finish her sales, inquired, ¡°Do you have connections for these products?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Well, the dishes you¡¯ve prepared taste excellent.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Uncle.¡±


    ¡°As for the recipes, my father already talked to you about it, right?¡±


    ¡°No rush. Let¡¯s discuss it after we enjoy the hotpot tonight.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng couldn¡¯t help but admire Madam Qiao. She remained unfazed even when he broached the topic. It seemed like she wanted to keep him in suspense.


    In the evening, as they saw a table filled with ingredients, Wang Zongsheng couldn¡¯t resist the temptation any longer.


    He knew that hotpot was best enjoyed in winter, but even in summer, it had its unique charm. Even without meat, dipping various ingredients into the broth and enjoying them with the sauce made for a delightful meal.


    Especially with these unfamiliar ingredients. If they could set up a workshop and produce them all, selling them throughout the country and even internationally, it would be a lucrative business.


    ¡°Miss, is this duck blood made from actual duck¡¯s blood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it can also be made from pork blood, used for hotpot, stir-frying, or even pan-frying. It¡¯s incredibly delicious, but for hotpot, duck blood is the best.¡±


    ¡°What about these ss noodles?¡±


    ¡°Besides hotpot, they can be used for cold sds or making soup.¡± ¡°Could you make some dishes with these ingredients tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Of course, just let me know what you want.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. We appreciate it.¡±


    Later that night, the three men from the Wang family slept together in arge bed while Wang Jiaru and her maidservant squeezed onto the same bed as Qiao Mai.


    Old Mister Wang was alreadyfortably snuggled under the covers, feeling the warmth emanating from the bed. It seemed that the bed had been slightly heated.


    ¡°See? All these recipes are here, and once they are ready, your business will improve significantly,¡± Old Mister Wang said.


    ¡°Do we need to inform the main family about this?¡±


    ¡°This stuff belongs to us. There¡¯s no need to inform the main family; just focus on it. They have their business, and we have ours.¡±


    ¡°How much silver do you think is appropriate?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say a thousand taels of silver for each dish. Don¡¯t undercut her. These are recipes from Ruler¡¯s friend.¡±


    ¡°Twelve dishes would be 12,000 taels of silver. We can exclude the beef andmb rolls for the hotpot; our kitchen staff can handle those. But those ss noodles are quite good. We should make those.¡±


    ¡°That blood thing is also good, but it¡¯s not suitable for setting up a stall. We can tell the kitchen staff how to make it and buy fresh ingredients to prepare it when needed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s check those dishes tomorrow. If they¡¯re suitable, we should offer 20,000 taels of silver to buy the recipes outright. Except for her personal use, it shouldn¡¯t be sold to anyone else.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s essential. If she sells it to others, our business won¡¯t thrive.¡¯


    ¡°Themb and beef rolls are excellent. We should instruct our kitchen staff to prepare them the same way.¡±


    ¡°Right. Her condiments are also crucial; that¡¯s where the magic lies.¡± ¡°Absolutely. Make sure she writes them down.¡±


    The father and son were so excited that they talkedte into the night. On the other side, Wang Jiaru, who had never slept on a brick bed, couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She pulled Qiao Mai aside to talk.


    ¡°My father is very wealthy. Just look at the dishes we had today, tonight, and tomorrow morning. You should ask for at least 30,000 taels of silver. Don¡¯t let him off easily.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°Are you trying to fleece your own father?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. He¡¯s making money, but a portion of it goes to the main family in the Capital.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re not from the main family?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re a branch of the Wang family in the Capital.¡¯


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°So, you should seize this opportunity and get as much as ypossible. Otherwise, that money will go to the main family, not us.¡±


    ¡°And what about your family?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re making money too. Don¡¯t ask too many questions. Just listen to me. If it¡¯s less than 30,000, don¡¯t sell, alright?¡±


    ¡°Of course. The recipe for the condiments alone is worth 1,000 taels, not to mention the rest.¡±


    ¡°Right, you just insist on a good deal.¡±


    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t demand an exorbitant price if it¡¯s not worth it.¡± ¡°Just remember that the Wang family can afford this sum easily.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    The next morning, Qiao Mai entrusted Ling¡¯er to Wang Jiaru¡¯s maidservants to look after her and headed to the kitchen.


    In the kitchen, she prepared a batch of ss noodles, first making sweet potato starch and then cutting it into squares twice the size of a fingertip. She then stir-fried it.


    She also cooked some broad bean noodles, which could be used for cold dishes, and made a soup with ss noodles. She prepared a dish with bean noodles and another withrge sheets of rice noodles..

 Chapter 90 - 90: Can’t Protect the Formula

    Chapter 90: Can¡¯t Protect the Form


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai stir-fried duck blood, made a sour soup with beef slices, and prepared a sour soup with fish. She took arge portion of sauce-covered beef bones from her space and heated them. She also steamed a pot of rice.


    Although there weren¡¯t many different dishes, each one had generous servings, enough to satisfy everyone.


    Early in the morning, the aroma from the kitchen lured the people who were still sleeping.


    One by one, they got up and went to the kitchen. When they saw Qiao Mai cooking, they all smiled.


    After the Wang family¡¯s father and son had breakfast, they asked Yuan Jiaqi to take the children to y in the yard. Inside the house, negotiations began.


    ¡°With yesterday¡¯s recipes plus today¡¯s, I offer twenty thousand taels to buy them outright.¡±


    Qiao Mai shook her head. ¡°Fifty thousand taels, not a single tael less.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for quite a lot, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry. Please listen to what I have to say first. If I¡¯m wrong, you can use me of being unscrupulous.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°First of all, while they seem like recipes, there are several items that aren¡¯t recipes at all. For example, the condiments used for hotpot. Do you know what they are made of?¡±


    ¡®¡±TIA11


    1 ell uS.


    ¡°They are made from sesame seeds, and sesame seeds can also be fried into sesame oil. Pure sesame paste doesn¡¯t taste good; it must be processed with something else. In addition, the condiments also contain two other recipes:


    fermented tofu and chive flower sauce. For this one type of condiment, there are three recipes, and they are all beneficial. Would I sell them for twenty thousand taels?¡±


    ¡°Is there more?¡±


    ¡°Take, for example, what we had for breakfast this morning: ss noodles, wide noodles, and vermicelli. They are made from sweet potatoes. You need to turn them into starch first. Tell me, how many recipes are there in this?¡±


    The Wang father and son were taken aback. ¡°There are indeed quite a few.¡±


    ¡°There are many recipes, and all of them bring substantial benefits. Sweet potatoes can not only be used to make these dishes but can also be used to thicken soup. When added to dishes, they enhance the vor, especially when used in soup, making it thick and vorful. You should know that all these items can be stored for a long time and produced inrge quantities, sold all over the country and even abroad.¡±


    The Wang father and son were once again shocked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you open a workshop for this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s simple. I don¡¯t have the connections. I can¡¯t protect these forms.


    They are limited to personal use, and I will only share them with people I trust.


    When ordinary peoplee to my house, I only prepare regr dishes.¡±


    Both of them nodded. ¡°Are the recipes ready?¡±


    ¡°They are all ready.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng took the silver notes from his pocket. Fortunately, he had brought extra.


    He handed over fifty thousand taels to Qiao Mai. ¡°Miss, do we need to write a contract?¡±


    ¡°We must write one. Clear ounts make good friends. I¡¯ve taken your family¡¯s silver. From now on, I will only use these recipes at home. Others shouldn¡¯t even think about extracting a single word from me. Of course, you need to keep this a secret. Don¡¯t reveal my identity.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s necessary.¡±


    Qiao Mai handed the recipes to Wang Zongsheng, who carefully examined them. ¡°What if my people don¡¯t understand something?¡±


    ¡°They cane to me anytime, and I¡¯ll teach them personally. However, I don¡¯t think that will happen. I¡¯ve written everything down thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get some paper and pen to write the contract!¡±


    Both sides were straightforward, and they quickly drafted the agreement.


    Wang Zongsheng looked at Qiao Mai with admiration. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you,


    Madam Qiao, to be so outstanding.¡±


    ¡°Ie from a farming background. I only know how to cook. I hope you both are satisfied.¡¯


    With the deal done, Wang Zongsheng, Wang Jiaru, and Wang Zihan departed after a short rest.


    They had collected quite a bit of goods from Qiao Mai¡¯s house. Their vehicle was almost filled to the brim when they left.


    Qiao Mai was in a good mood after receiving fifty thousand taels.


    She believed that with these recipes, the Wang family wouldn¡¯te to her again for at least three to five years.


    She also hoped the Wang family would flourish with these recipes. That way, she could buy sesame oil, sesame paste, and other items like hotpot ingredients in the future right here in Tianshui Town.


    After enjoying several good meals in a row, Old Mister Wang no longer made any demands.


    They opted for lighter dishes for the next few meals, but the vors were still good.


    After finally sending them off, Qiao Mai made up her mind. She would hire two kitchen maids once she moved to her new house. She couldn¡¯t continue to cook like this. It would exhaust her.


    Everything she did was a hobby driven by interest. Her passion and interest would be eroded if it turned into a profession.


    Also, their shop was about to bepleted. Once she started the renovation, it would be ready for business.


    Her daughter was still young, and she couldn¡¯t divert her attention too much to handle the shop. Otherwise, she might neglect her daughter.


    Qiao Mai calcted that the shop would need twelve employees ¨C One manager, two assistants, two maids, two cooks, and five service crew.


    If Shopkeeper Lu and her family were moving over, they would need even more staff.


    The main issue was that Lu Sanniang¡¯s maids were all skilled in embroidery. They could help temporarily, but in the long run, it wouldn¡¯t work.


    So now, Qiao Mai had to hire twelve people. If it weren¡¯t for these fifty thousand taels, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to think about it.


    In any case, working at her ce is better than elsewhere. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s fortunate enough.


    The worker who had served herst time greeted her. ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, is the shop about to bepleted?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can start renovating and using it anytime.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to hire twelve people: one manager, two assistants, two maids, two cooks, and five service maids. They should be honest and reliable, with good character as the top priority and appearance as a secondary consideration. Do you have such people?¡±


    ¡°We do. That¡¯s what our Broker Center specializes in.¡±


    ¡°I trust you. Please select them for me. The manager should be around thirty years old, the assistants around twenty, the cooks around thirty, and the service maids shouldn¡¯t be older than forty.¡±


    ¡°You can rest assured. I¡¯ll carefully pick for you.¡±


    ¡°Great. Please also prepare the left side of my house for them. Here¡¯s the blueprint. Can you finish the work in ten days?¡±


    ¡°Ten days might be tight, but I think it should be doable.¡±


    ¡°Add it to my ount for settlement.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡¯


    With her child in her arms, Qiao Mai came to look at the new house. The construction had progressed significantly, and it seemed she could start the renovation and buy furniture in June.


    She took a deep breath. She would have to stock up more once the shop was open. With such arge household to support, there would be a lot of monthly expenses.


    Qiao Mai had plenty of grains in her space and didn¡¯t need to buy fruits and vegetables. She also had all the seasonings she needed. The only expenses would be the monthly wages for the twelve employees.


    Monthly wages here were not high; a well-trained servant maid would cost only two hundred coins a month, while a cook would be around the same. A service maid would only cost one hundred coins.


    A manager would cost about one tael, and an assistant would be two hundred coins. These were the rates she had inquired about and were considered higher-end.


    Including the pocket money for her children, she would need around twenty taels per month.


    Based on this calction, it wouldn¡¯t be much, mainly because her space allowed her to save a lot of money on supplies.


    Qiao Mai could earn that much in one day of business. She didn¡¯t have to worry about running out of money.


    On the ninth day of April, a manager and two assistants were hired.


    Qiao Mai had to admit that Assistant Qiu from the Broker Center had a good eye for people. She was satisfied with these three.


    She immediately hired them and took them to the shop. Although the front was still under renovation, the back, where people would live, and the warehouse didn¡¯t need much work, just some basic furniture.


    The manager¡¯s surname was Niu, and the assistants didn¡¯t have names. She named them Dong Cheng and Xi Jiu.


    Qiao Mai gave the manager a hundred taels of silver to buy furniture and other essentials, such as ount books, an abacus, pens, ink, paper, and inkstones¡­

 Chapter 91 - 91: I’m Craving It When You Say It

    Chapter 91: I¡¯m Craving It When You Say It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    From now on, the three would live and eat together here, and all expenses would be managed from their ounts.


    Shopkeeper Niu saw that the hostess was a woman, but her words and actions were far from those of an ordinary woman. He was rather pleased with this.


    Beforeing, Assistant Qiu had told him that Qiao Mai was generous and that working under her would not lead to any grievances or unfair treatment.


    He had been secretly observing this mistress. She had an ordinary appearance but exuded confidence from every pore. It was her first time ordering servants, yet she handled it effortlessly.


    Everything had been arranged properly. It seemed that what Assistant Qiu from the Broker Center had said was correct.


    Leading his two assistants, he procured all the necessary household items. Afterward, he allocated the rooms in the courtyard.


    There were three rooms on the upper floor. The living room was for receiving guests or temporary resting. It had to be prepared, whether it was being used or not.


    On the left was the kitchen for cooking and dining, and on the right was his bedroom.


    The two assistants had their rooms in the west wing, with one room serving as storage, and the other for misceneous items.


    Upon hearing that this shop was for selling fruits, vegetables, and snacks, Shopkeeper Niu immediately bought several loads of bricks. He had the entire backyard, including the rooms and courtyard, paved with green bricks.


    A clean environment was crucial when selling food. On rainy days, mud would be off-putting to customers.


    Seeing that Madam Qiao didn¡¯t object, he was relieved.


    He could tell she had faith in him. He had a reason for everything he did. As a leader, it was better not to meddle too much.


    As his boss refrained from asking further, Shopkeeper Niu gained a better understanding of Qiao Mai. The three of them eagerly anticipated the shop¡¯s opening.


    On the twelfth of April, the remaining workers also arrived.


    Due to limited space at home, Qiao Mai temporarily arranged for these nine people to stay in another court¡¯s backyard.


    During the daytime, they helped with household chores at Qiao Mai¡¯s residence. At night, they returned to stay in the backyard. For now, this was the only arrangement possible.


    With these people, Qiao Mai¡¯s life became much easier. Two maids helped with her child, and five servants handled the cleaning and washing. Two cooks took charge of the kitchen.


    Their cooking skills were quite good. They all came from wealthy families, and basic snacks were within their repertoire.


    Qiao Mai had heard from Assistant Qiu that they hadn¡¯t done anything wrong; it was the masters who had erred, which had led to the sale of these servants. This meant these two people had no issues.


    It was only April. There were barely any fruits or vegetables in the market, but the two cooks exchanged nces.


    The kitchen was filled with spices and ingredients they hadn¡¯t even seen before, let alone various fruits and vegetables.


    What kind of person was their new mistress? They didn¡¯t dare to specte, but they knew she was no ordinary person.


    This is something even wealthy households can¡¯t obtain easily. The fact that it¡¯s present in such a modest household suggests that the owner is quite extraordinary.


    In private, the two cooks had informed the other servants to keep their eyes open. They should not underestimate the mistress. If something happened, they should not me them for not giving a heads-up.


    Without being told, the servants were well aware. They had been trained by the Broker Center in serving.


    When it came to serving others, they were top-notch, especially the two maids, who were observant.


    On their second day here, Qiao Mai took them to a clothing store and bought several pieces of fabric, along with needles and thread. She wanted them to sew clothes for each other when they had free time.


    Everyone had high-quality cotton fabric, much better than what they were wearing.


    Shopkeeper Lu couldn¡¯t believe her ears when she heard that Qiao had hired people. She came to check it out and almost fainted.


    ¡°How many people have you hired?¡±


    ¡°Twelve. Three are in the shop. It will open mid-month.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite something, stunning us as soon as you take action.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d feel afraid moving into such arge house with only a few of us. It¡¯s a 35 -acre estate. How can we maintain it without someone to clean and take care of it? And I would be exhausted to cook for so many people. You talk a big game but haven¡¯t bought any maids yet.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary.¡±


    ¡°I do. Once we live together, you¡¯lle home to eat?¡±


    ¡°Of course, with our maids and your cooking, why would I eat outside, especially when it¡¯s so expensive?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m teaching them to make one dish every day. Once we move, they¡¯ll be able to do what I do.¡±


    Lu Sanniang swallowed. ¡°Every time you mention it, I get hungry.¡±


    ¡°Have lunch here then. You can taste our cooks¡¯ skills.¡± ¡°When will you give me two embroidered pieces?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three in May.¡±


    While they chatted, Xiu Hong appeared at the courtyard gate. ¡°Mistress, a guest is looking for you at the store.¡±


    Lu Sanniang felt a little regretful. ¡°Next time, I¡¯lle to your house for dinner. I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu left, and Qiao Mai focused on her embroidery while the two maids apanied her daughter, Ling¡¯er, and yed with her.


    However, not long after, Shopkeeper Lu returned with a parcel.


    ¡°Sister?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up?


    ¡°Could you take a look at this screen? Can it be repaired?¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the parcel and inspected the screen. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to repair in this condition. It¡¯s beyond saving.¡±


    ¡°What should we do? The customer said their child identally knocked it over, and a candle fell on it. By the time they rescued it, it had be like this. Can you think of something?¡±


    ¡°Do they want a replica?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the customer loves this peacock design.¡±


    Qiao Mai remembered that this screen had been taken out of her space. It wasn¡¯t something she had embroidered since she arrived here. ording to her understanding, the space would produce an identical recement when the original was damaged.


    It was indeed there.


    ¡°When does the customer need it?¡±


    ¡°The sooner, the better.¡±


    ¡°I can do it in half a month. If they can¡¯t wait, give it up.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu gritted her teeth and left. Soon, she returned.


    ¡°Alright, half a month it is. The customer was in a hurry, so I charged an additional five hundred taels. They¡¯ll pay five thousand five hundred taels for this screen.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re bing more sensible now. Good things should be expensive, and expedited orders should be even more expensive.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, now that she¡¯s gone, I¡¯ll have lunch at your ce.¡±


    Turning to the cooks, Qiao Mai instructed, ¡°Aunt Zhang, Aunt Zhou, make some good dishes for lunch. My sister wants to eat here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu looked enviously at Qiao Mai. ¡°Look at the people you bought and then at mine!¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve turned your purchase into embroiderers. They¡¯ll make you money.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, speaking of that, when Ruxin gets married, I n to buy two maids to apany her. ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t choose the beautiful ones; they tend to be restless and might end up in your son-inw¡¯s bed.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Speaking of this, I n to buy two shops in the county for my eldest daughter and provide a dowry of three thousand taels, one thousand taels in cash. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for you to decide. As a master, I¡¯ll pay one thousand taels when Ruxin marries. I won¡¯t add jewelry or anything.¡±


    ¡°So much?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not much. When Ruyi gets married, I¡¯ll contribute the same. That¡¯s what being a master is about; I can¡¯t contribute less.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, thanks.¡±


    ¡°You prepared so much for your daughter¡¯s dowry. Have you received a betrothal gift from their side?¡±


    ¡°Their side mentioned thirty bridal sedan chairs.¡±


    ¡°I think they¡¯re not that well-off. Thirty sedans? It would be good if they give you a thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Their family isn¡¯t as rich as ours, but as long as they treat my daughter well, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think highly of such families that have concubines.¡±


    ¡°What else can I do? It¡¯s rare to find a wealthy household without concubines.


    They wouldn¡¯t even consider someone like us.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of disdain. In the wicked old society, men could have three wives and four concubines as the norm. Even someone as strong-willed as Shopkeeper Lu had to ept it.


    Fortunately, women here were allowed to remain single. Unlike what was written in books, in some dynasties, if girls reached a certain age, they had to marry or be forcibly wed by the government to any man.


    If Yuan Jiaqi took a liking to someone else, she would readily grant him his freedom.


    Qiao Mai had always been rational. Regardless of whether she had feelings for this man, she would never force it..

 Chapter 92 - 92: The Price Is Too High

    Chapter 92: The Price Is Too High


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At noon, Shopkeeper Lu stayed with the Qiao family for lunch. The chef prepared six dishes, and she quickly devoured half of them.


    ¡°Your chef is really talented. Her cooking is on par with yours.¡± ¡°Of course. When we live together, you¡¯ll get to eat like this every day.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t move in when Ruxin is engaged, right?¡±


    ¡°It will be August by then. After the new house is built, it will be the rainy season. We¡¯ll need to let it air out and maybe buy some furniture. Otherwise, moving in with all the moisture will be bad for our health.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense. When it¡¯s almost finished, shall we take a look together?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu also looked forward to the new house beingpleted sooner. This way, Ruxin could get married from there, and although it wasn¡¯t her house, it would be fine as long as everything went smoothly.


    On the fifteenth of April, the shop¡¯s renovation was finallypleted.


    Qiao Mai arrived at the shop and looked at therge signboard ¨C Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    It has a ck background and shiny gold letters. Inside, the shelves were empty but clean.


    In the front was a circr counter where customers could get close to select goods, and workers would fetch the items.


    At the entrance was a front desk where the Shopkeeper was stationed.


    The goods had all been prepared in advance, and the Shopkeeper oversaw them in the shop. Qiao Mai, along with two assistants and five maids, began moving goods from the family warehouse to the shop.


    Seven people made multiple trips back and forth, using carts to transport the goods, indicating the substantial inventory in the warehouse.


    All these goods were moved to the warehouse at the back of the shop and were recorded in the ounts by the Shopkeeper.


    Qiao Mai guided him, informing him of the cost of these goods.


    She wanted everyone to know that these were not obtained through ordinary means; even if someone inquired, the Shopkeeper could exin.


    In fact, all these goods didn¡¯t cost a single penny. They were pure profit, and she was well aware of it.


    Besides the few items she used to sell at her stall, Qiao Mai had added many varieties of fruits, vegetables, and fried snacks.


    In another half month, May would arrive, and many ces in the south would have fresh fruits and vegetables avable. Therefore, Qiao Mai took advantage of the opportunity to sell the fruits and vegetables from her space.


    Shopkeeper Niu, who was experienced, was a bit surprised, but he didn¡¯t say much.


    On the sixteenth and seventeenth, she hired workers to set up a sturdy and beautiful canopy in front of the shop. Underneath it, she ced exquisite tables and chairs for customers to rest.


    The small eatery provided tea. Although the quality of the tea leaves wasn¡¯t top-notch, it was free.


    Of course, this was all done to attract business. Wealthy customers who rest here might visit the shop and buy some items.


    When the weather got hot, customers could cut open a watermelon and enjoy some slices or purchase dried fruits and snacks to eat on the road.


    In short, everything Qiao Mai had arranged was aimed at boosting the shop¡¯s business.


    After finishing the setup, the eatery officially opened for business on the eighteenth day.


    Firecrackers rang out, and the town¡¯s regr customers came to show their support.


    Seeing so many fresh fruits and vegetables, everyone wanted to taste something new. No one left empty-handed.


    Shopkeeper Lu and Mayor Qian also came. They were delighted to see the wide variety of goods inside the shop, and their eyes lit up with excitement.


    Although they didn¡¯t bring gifts, they showed their support by buying many items. Naturally, they paid in full.


    Shopkeeper Tong of Jingtai Restaurant also arrived. Upon seeing the diverse selection of vegetables, he immediately purchased all the vegetables on the shelves.


    They were green without a single blemish. He was so captivated that he could hardly leave the shop.


    The chives were bundled in one-pound packages, clean and soil-free, priced at one hundred coins per bundle. Although it was expensive, it was worth it.


    Cucumbers. Driced Der root. were thirtv coins each. Two roots were nearlv a pound, making them reasonably pricedpared to chives.


    Garlic shoots, priced at one hundred coins per bundle; scallions, one hundred coins per bundle per pound; fresh ginger, one hundred coins per pound. When the drugstore owner heard about it, they immediately sent someone to buy ten pounds.


    Fresh garlic was one hundred coins per pound. As long as it was a vegetable that had ever appeared in the Capital, Qiao Mai put it up for sale.


    The prices were high, and poor people couldn¡¯t afford them. Formon folks, they would eat cabbage and radishes. The nobility bought these vegetables, but the servants rarely got a chance to taste them.


    Items like boiled corn, roasted sweet potatoes, five-spice quail eggs, five-spice edamame, salted peanuts, roasted chestnuts, watermelons, cantaloupes, strawberries, ice cubes, and more maintained their old prices without any changes.


    Qiao Mai brought out the rice pancakes she made before the New Year. With a new home now, she had the space to make more when the season came. Not only that, when things like garlic chives were in season, she would also make chive flower sauce.


    She didn¡¯t sell them cheap right away; instead, she waited until the spring and winter seasons to sell them at higher prices.


    Furthermore, Qiao Mai ordered Shopkeeper Niu to sell a certain quantity of each item every day. Once the quota was reached, it was gone. For example, with garlic chives, they would sell only twenty bundles each day.


    Shopkeeper Niu was puzzled and asked, ¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we sell more?¡±


    ¡°Scarce items are valuable. If people know they can get them anytime, how can we charge a higher price?¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu thought about it. ¡°You are right.¡±


    After deducting the cost of goods, they still made twenty or thirty taels of silver.


    Such an inconspicuous little shop could earn nearly a thousand taels of silver a month.


    This was just with the townsfolk as customers; many traveling merchants didn¡¯t even know about it. If word got around, what would happen to this shop?


    Shopkeeper Niu didn¡¯t dare to imagine. It was no problem at all to feed ten mouths.


    Regarding Qiao Mai opening a shop, someone asked if she had repaid her debts.


    Shopkeeper Lu had already answered this. ¡°Yes, she has repaid them. Now, the shop belongs to Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°What about the house behind the shop?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s mine. She will live with me from now on.


    ¡°It seems Shopkeeper Lu has been making quite a bit of money these years.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thanks to everyone¡¯s blessings, the business is good. My daughter is getting married, so it¡¯s only natural for us to move to the new house, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    She discussed these words with Qiao Mai beforehand. While the debt had been repaid, Qiao Mai still lived at the Lu residence.


    It was to prevent the Qiao and Yuan families from causing trouble. The Qiao family would be unwilling, and the Tian family kepting over to make a fuss. Tian Sanzhuang had been away for almost two years, and whether he was alive or dead remained unknown. If he returned alive, there would likely be furtherplications.


    The Great Ming Dynasty conscripted soldiers every year, and the usual service term was five years. After five years, those who wanted to stay in the army received a monthly sry, while those who didn¡¯t were allowed to return home. The court also provided somepensation.


    Most people chose to return home when their five-year service was up.


    Tian Sanzhuang had been gone for almost two years. Qiao Mai needed to be stronger within the next three years, economically and in terms of martial prowess.


    Herbat skills were decent against ordinary people, but when it came to martial arts, she still had a long way to go.


    Thinking about internal energy cultivation techniques, she was worried. Qiao Mai nned to ask Wang Jiaru for help and offered to pay for any information she could obtain.


    Her physical condition had already recovered, and herbat skills had returned. Now, the urgent matter was to study internal energy cultivation techniques.


    However, Qiao Mai had been hesitant and didn¡¯t want anyone to know she was practicing internal energy, which was why she had not asked Wang Jiaru yet. After the shop¡¯s opening, she went out every five days to ¡°purchase goods.¡±


    The rest of her time was spent at home, either doing embroidery during the day or tending to her farm in the space and preparing goods at night.


    Without the need to cook, wash clothes, or care for children, her free time significantly increased.


    The news of Qiao Mai¡¯s shop spread to the Qiao family within days.


    Upon hearing this news, Qiao Shicheng and his wife were furious. They had just recovered and heard that Qiao Mai had repaid Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s money and obtained her sale contract and promissory notes.


    They fainted from shock on the spit. Qiao Jiang and Qiao He pinched their acupoints to revive them.


    Qiao Mai was making money by selling goods, and everyone was envious. Previously, she had owed money and had to repay it. The Qiao family was jealous but didn¡¯t dare to make a fuss.

 Chapter 93 - 93: Regretting It to Death

    Chapter 93: Regretting It to Death


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Now that she has paid off the debt, does this mean Qiao Mai will have plenty of money in the future?


    This is outrageous. Why does she need so much money? To raise other people¡¯s children?


    The Qiao family is like sitting on pins and needles; the whole family can¡¯t sit still.


    They were busy inquiring discreetly in town, and it turns out to be true.


    Her shop was impressive, and she even hired a shopkeeper and assistant. By looking at the carriages parked outside the shop, one would know that business is booming.


    They were green with envy. This money should have belonged to the Qiao family.


    They regret it so much. Why did they cut ties with Qiao Mai so decisively? If they had endured a little hardship, they could have asked her for money when she became a money-making tree.


    But now, Qiao Mai holds the Letter of Disownment, and her household registration is under a woman¡¯s name, so they have no way to benefit. They can only watch in frustration.


    On the other hand, Tian Yaozu¡¯s hands are injured. Teacher Lin was furious when he found out. It¡¯s not easy to train a disciple, and he was about to take the Imperial Exam when someone harmed him.


    After visiting him at home and realizing Tian Yaozu could never study again, he knew that everything he had done for Tian Yaozu before was in vain.


    Now that Tian Yaozu has dropped out of school and can¡¯t do anything, his living standards have plummeted. Old Tian is determined to raise a schr in the family.


    Apart from Tian Yaozu in the main house, the others are incapable. In the second house, there¡¯s Tian Yaohui. Shortly after the eldest grandson was injured, Old Tian sent Tian Yaohui to the town¡¯s school.


    Tian Yaozu was so mad that he wanted to smash things but couldn¡¯t do it now. He wasn¡¯t a fool. In this situation, how could he dare?


    He feared the family would give up on him and find an excuse to kick him out.


    Not to mention, the writing materials he used were all given to Tian Yaohui by Old Tian.


    Now, he needs someone to feed him even during meals; the Tian family has abandoned him.


    Tian Yaozu was disheartened. After eating, he went to Tianhe Town to chat with his hooligan friends.


    But when he arrived in Tianhe Town, he couldn¡¯t find them, no matter how hard he tried. He only found out after asking around.


    Those troublemakers in town disappeared overnight and still haven¡¯t been found.


    Tian Yaozu noticed those people disappeared around the same time he got injured.


    He tried recalling what he had done with those five people before they disappeared.


    Right. He found those two people who had been released from jail strongly criticized Qiao Mai in front of them.


    He incited those two to hate Qiao Mai and said they should find a few more people to deal with her in a few days.


    Thinking about it, his face turned pale. If Qiao Mai managed to hurt his hand without anyone noticing, could those people be long dead?


    Even though he was arrogant, he was still afraid of death. Tian Yaozu hurried back home, locked himself in his room, and didn¡¯t dare to leave for several days.


    The more he thought about it, the scarier it seemed. Qiao Mai had be a murderous demon. But when he thought about it, it didn¡¯t make sense. If she could kill people, why didn¡¯t she do it before? Why did she almost die at the hands of her family?


    Could she be possessed by an evil spirit after giving birth prematurely? Thinking about this, Tian Yaozu got so scared that he crawled into his bed and didn¡¯t move.


    What a coward!


    As for the Yuan family, their faces turned dark when they heard about this. The fact that their fifth son could study in the Capital was definitely rted to Madam Qiao.


    She had money, and their fifth son would surely prosper. They had severed ties with her and wouldn¡¯t benefit at all. What could they do?


    During the New Year, the four sons of the Yuan family boughtnd and built houses. In mid-April, when Qiao Mai opened her business, they all moved out of the family house.


    The old couple sneaked into Qiao¡¯s eatery and saw the business booming.


    It was even better than when she set up her stall back then, and the variety of goods she sold was more.


    They felt bitter. After dreaming of having maids and servants waiting on them, bing officials and wealthy, they had nothing to do with it now.


    How could they be content?


    No matter what these three families were thinking, Qiao Mai lived the life she wanted.


    Next door, Madam Chen heard that Qiao Mai had boughtnd and was building a house. She was anxious.


    She didn¡¯t care if Qiao Mai moved out, but when Yuan Jiaqi left with her, it would be challenging to see him again.


    Not to mention, Chen Hao¡¯s education at the town¡¯s school was not going well. It was worse than when he was with Yuan Jiaqi.


    Chen Hao always received criticism from Teacher Lin, while Yuan Jiaqi always encouraged him. The more he praised Chen Hao, the more motivated he became.


    In thisparison, it was clear who was better and worse.


    Madam Chen had some thoughts. She thought about whether she could arrange for Chen Hao to study with the Yuan family in the Capital.


    This way, her child could excel in his studies, and she could see Yuan Jiaqi more often to alleviate her longing.


    Now that Qiao Mai was doing better, she could continue to bask in her glory if possible.


    Madam Chen even thought she could have Chen Hao recognize Qiao Mai as his godmother if necessary. After all, Qiao Mai had adopted several children, so caring for her son wouldn¡¯t make a difference.


    What kind of people was she? If Qiao Mai found out, she would tear her face apart and give her a few ps.


    Madam Chen climbed up thedder every day to spy on Qiao Mai¡¯s family. Every time she saw several maids cleaning and two maids watching over Ling¡¯er, she felt jealous.


    Qiao Mai wore clean and elegant clothes, with a full set of silver jewelry on her head, ears, and hands. She sat in the courtyard doing embroidery, looking leisurely and rxed.


    Seeing this, she was so envious that her eyes turned red.


    Today was the day when the Yuan brothers and the children returned. Madam Chen had opened her courtyard door early and stood at the door, holding a piece of clothing to sew while waiting.


    When Yuan Jiaqi returned, their carriage passed by her house. She wanted to look at him from the door and discuss with him whether her son could go to the Capital with them.


    But as soon as she saw them and was about to mention Chen Hao¡¯s matter, Yuan Jiaqi kept his distance from her.


    ¡°Are you thinking about discussing the matter of Hao¡¯er going to school?


    Teacher Lin¡¯s school is quite good. Let him study there.¡±


    ¡°But for some reason, the teacher at that school always scolds him, and my son bes less motivated to study there. He does better when he studies with you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have to study too. I don¡¯t have time to teach him.¡±


    ¡°Then, can he go to the Capital with you and study under the old teacher?¡±


    Before Yuan Jiaqi could speak, Old Mister Wang snorted inside the carriage. ¡°Madam Qiao gives me a thousand taels of silver in annual tribute. If you have that, you cane too.¡±


    This sentence choked Madam Chen. A thousand taels? She would rather die. Even the town¡¯s school was too expensive for her, and Yuan Jiaqi taught for free. She wanted to save on the gift. How could she possiblye up with a thousand taels?


    Seeing her speechless, Old Mister Wang snorted again.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have the money but still want to go with us? You want to freeload, don¡¯t you? I¡¯ve seen shameless people before, but I¡¯ve never seen someone as shameless as you. You¡¯re even thinking about taking advantage of someone else. Look at the way you¡¯re looking at her husband; you¡¯re practically sticking to him. A woman with no morals. Get out of here!¡±


    He almost humiliated Madam Chen to death. She blushed and turned around, ran to her courtyard, and cried in her room.


    After getting off the carriage, everyone entered the courtyard, and the coachmen drove the carriage away.


    When they saw the maids in the courtyard, everyone was dumbfounded. They hadn¡¯t been home for a month, but there were so many more people in the house.


    Two little maids were holding Ling¡¯er. When they saw the young master return, along with the young master¡¯s teacher, they quickly greeted them with proper etiquette.


    ¡°Yue Hong and Yue Xie greet you, Old Mister Wang, Master, and Young Master.¡±


    The other cleaning maids also greeted them in the same way. Even the two chefs came out.


    Experienced, Old Mister Wang snorted, ¡°Do what you need to do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Teacher..¡±

 Chapter 94 - 94: Not A Bad Layout

    Chapter 94: Not A Bad Layout


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The maids were busy moving chairs and tables to the courtyard, and the cook brewed tea and ced it on the table.


    Qiao Mai put down her embroidery and smiled at them.


    ¡°You must be tired. Sit down and have some tea.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s all this about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve hired over ten servants. Three are in the front shops, and these few work at home during the day and stay in the house behind the shop at night. They¡¯ll move in once the house is ready.¡±


    ¡°You should have hired two maids long ago to look after Ling¡¯er. She¡¯s too young to be left alone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not toote for that.


    Yuan Jiaqi felt ufortable with the sudden addition of so many women in the house.


    Old Master Wang noticed this. Feng¡¯er and the other two children also felt ufortable. However, in the Wang household, there were servants, so it wasn¡¯t as noticeable.


    ¡°This ce is small. You¡¯d feel scared living in a big house without all these people. Remember, in a big mansion, you can¡¯t have too few people, or you won¡¯t be able to control it, and it will attract negative energy.¡± ¡°Master, do you also study Feng Shui?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve dabbled in it a bit. What are we having for lunch today?¡±


    ¡°The cook is preparing it right now. You should rest for a while. I¡¯ll prepare some fruit for you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Feng¡¯er immediately stood up. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll go. You stay with Master. ¡±


    The three younger ones quickly got up and headed to the warehouse. They knew where everything was, and even Ling¡¯er mored to go with her older brothers.


    Listening to the quails in the eastern wing of the house, Old Mister Wang asked, ¡°Is there a ce for them in the new mansion?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated area for raising quails, one for raising chickens and ducks, and another for raising deer. We¡¯ll also keep two dairy cows.¡±


    ¡°With so many animals, won¡¯t the mansion smell bad?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll be kept in a corner at the back. There¡¯s a five-acre field behind the house. When it¡¯s time, we can burn the manure with the straw to use as fertilizer for thend.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to know about farming.¡±


    ¡°Well, how do you think you could have fresh vegetables in the winter?¡±


    ¡°You sure know how to argue.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Lunch was served in the courtyard, with the maids and servants eating in the kitchen. While their meals were different from the masters¡¯, it wasn¡¯t much of a difference.


    There was still fish and meat. Since they came to Qiao Mai¡¯s house, they had all put on some weight.


    After lunch, Qiao Mai took them to the new house, exining as they walked.


    ¡°There are eight shops in the front, and they haven¡¯t been rented out yet. I n to take one for my business. The mansion is designed in a hundred-character shape, and the architect said theyout was good. We didn¡¯t make many changes to the blueprint.¡±


    Old Mister Wang, who had read many books and had knowledge about houses, nodded in agreement. ¡°Theyout is indeed good.¡±


    ¡°We started with the interior rooms first, and next will be the construction of the main gate and the courtyard. The walls will be builtst.¡±


    ¡°Building the walls consumes more bricks than the houses.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s worth it. Compared to the houses, the walls are easier to repair. What are these two sides for?¡±


    ¡°One side is for nting pomegranate trees, symbolizing a prosperous family with many descendants.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and in the middle, there should be a pond to rece the ornamental wall, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Ornamental walls are toomon. Having mountains and water is in line with Feng Shui principles.¡±


    ¡°You sure know quite a bit. What about over there? Is it a corner room?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s the kitchen, a small courtyard for the cook to live in. It¡¯s more convenient this way. There¡¯s an icehouse and a well inside. The house across is for the servants and has a well for washing. In the middle is the reception hall, with rooms on either side for various purposes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it looks quite spacious. When there¡¯s no one around, you can even hold sses in the courtyard, which would be nice for them to get some fresh air.¡±


    Entering the central courtyard with six courtyards neatly arranged, with blue bricks and green tiles, it was a pleasing sightpared to the typical mansionyout.


    At this moment, workers were busy installing doors and windows. Old Mister


    Wang entered the courtyard and nodded in approval of theyout.


    ¡°Did you design this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, each courtyard has a surrounding corridor. I heard thisyout is called ¡®Four Waters Return to the Hall,¡¯ which is auspicious and convenient. When it rains, you can walk around the rooms and enjoy the rain from the corridor.¡±


    Old Mister Wang stared at her. ¡°Yes, a residence should befortable.¡±


    ¡°There are six courtyards. You can choose one, and I¡¯ll assign two maids to serve you.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ll bring two from home when the mansion is built.¡±


    ¡°That works. When it¡¯s built, in addition to our family, my good sister will also move in.¡±


    ¡°I heard from Ruler that she¡¯s a friendly woman. She saved you back then. It¡¯s right to be grateful.¡±


    Finally, they arrived at the back, where her own residence was, even grander than the front reception hall.


    ¡°This is where I live, with the sameyout as the front reception hall.¡±


    Old Mister Wang nodded but didn¡¯t enter. He turned left. ¡°What¡¯s this area for?¡±


    ¡°A yground for the children, with slides, a merry-go-round, seesaws, and other facilities. There¡¯s a small house here for raising quails and chickens, with space for around a thousand quails and over a hundred chickens.¡±


    Old Mister Wang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯tment. He moved to the right and asked, ¡°And what¡¯s this for?¡±


    ¡°This is a martial arts training ground for physical exercise. A craftsman is currently making fitness equipment. The building and the space next to it are for raising ducks, geese, and deer.¡±


    ¡°Why on earth are you raising deer?¡±


    ¡°Raising deer has many benefits. We can sell their antlers, blood, and other valuable parts. A deer¡¯s body is a treasure trove of medicinal uses. However, I won¡¯t kill them. If I want to use them for medicine, I¡¯ll wait for them to die naturally. I also n to raise some sika deer, maybe extract musk from them each year; these things are quite valuable at the apothecary.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi saw how she talked about making money with such enthusiasm, her eyes lighting up. He felt tempted.


    Old Mister Wang snorted, ¡°If you have the money, go ahead.¡±


    Finally, they reached the edge of the five-acre field at the back. Old Mister Wang remarked, ¡°The wheat is growing quite tall.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I had the workers help me weed and water the field when they had some free time. I didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, but I n to nt something else once we harvest the wheat. Growing grains would starve me.¡±


    ¡°I remember you didn¡¯t havend before, but you were still doing well.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, of course. I¡¯m best at business.¡¯


    After touring the mansion, Old Mister Wang returned to the Qiao residence. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he couldn¡¯t settle his mind.


    The mansion¡¯syout was too reasonable, and even he couldn¡¯t help but want to renovate his own house.


    A mansion spanning thirty acres ofnd required significant resources, financial and natural. The arrangement of trees and buildings was well-nned, and he couldn¡¯t wait for it to bepleted so that he could see it for himself.


    Qiao Mai had a purpose in raising animals. She kept guard dogs for security, and the other animals were meant to generate ie. The cows were for milk, and their waste served as fertilizer for thend.


    She liked animals but had principles. She didn¡¯t believe in killing them. Instead, she wanted them to create wealth and value for her.


    If Yuan Jiaqi and his children continued to advance and the children excelled academically, each step would require resources. Without money, how could they seed?


    By umting a family fortune early on, they could be prepared for future needs.


    Yuan Jiaqi became even more insecure after seeing the mansion. Qiao Mai could make money, and in such a short time, she had hired over ten servants and acquired arge house. He and his three children felt like freeloaders.


    They would feel like they had disappointed Qiao Mai if they couldn¡¯t pass their exams.


    The blow had been too significant for him, and he remained silent. However, the children were excited. They could now live in arge mansion.


    Old Mister Wang noticed this and took Yuan Jiaqi aside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Your strength lies in your education. As long as you excel in your studies, you can also be powerful. Being weak now doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll be weak in the future. She may have money, but without powerful backing and influence, it won¡¯t be enough. In the future, you can be her support, protecting her and the children.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath and said solemnly, ¡°I will work hard, Master.¡±


    ¡°Remember, there will always be someone better than you. Don¡¯t be arrogant or impatient. Stay true to your initial aspirations.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Teacher!¡±

 Chapter 95 - 95: Interdimensional Platform Trading Network

    Chapter 95: Interdimensional tform Trading Network


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The day of departure reached soon. Qiao Mai wrote a letter and entrusted it to Old Mister Wang to deliver to Wang Jiaru.


    She also packed a carriage full of gifts and sent it to the Wang residence. When Wang Jiaru received the letter, she opened it happily but soon pouted.


    ¡°Sister Qiao only thinks of me when she needs something, hmph.¡±


    ¡°Sister, look at all these snacks! So many!¡±


    ¡°Well, she does have a conscience, bringing me so much food. Come on, let¡¯s eat first.


    It turned out that Qiao Mai had asked her to find a martial arts manual. The higher the level, the better, regardless of the price. This was not an easy task for the Wang family.


    They had a long tradition of civil officials. They didn¡¯t know any military officers. Even if they did, those who possessed martial arts manuals wouldn¡¯t sell them. True martial experts were usually found among ordinary people.


    Although it was challenging, the letter didn¡¯t insist on her seeding; it only asked her to inquire and do her best.


    After putting Ling¡¯er to sleep, Qiao Mai entered her space.


    At night, the servant girls went to rest after dinner, and the Qiao family was quiet.


    Wu Zhui and Sai Xue, who had grown tall and powerful, were much bigger than


    ordinary farm dogs. They no longer needed to stay indoors. They guarded the courtyard gate like two generals. They would growl at any sign of movement during the day and bark loudly. If their master is at home, they wouldn¡¯t bite, but if their master is away, they would not hesitate. However, they could distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people and wouldn¡¯t attack those they knew. They were quite clever.


    These two dogs were fed exceptionally well and had a special bond with their master. They wouldn¡¯t eat anything that wasn¡¯t given to them by their owner, and ordinary people couldn¡¯t even enter the courtyard.


    In the space, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t have to worry. She sat in front of theputer, searching for martial arts manuals.


    However, she didn¡¯t trust what she found online, feeling that most of it was a scam.


    She entered ¡°martial arts manuals¡± in the shopping website¡¯s search bar, and the results astonished her.


    She licked her lips when she saw the prices.


    A regr Internal Qi manuscript costs tens of thousands, equivalent to several dozen taels of silver. A better one costs several hundred thousand and even millions. There were even some priced at tens of millions. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but gulp while staring at theputer screen.


    If these were genuine, it would be eptable, but what if she spent tens of thousands of silver on a fake manuscript?


    It was frustrating to think about it.


    She stared at the manual priced at thirty million, equivalent to three hundred thousand taels of silver after the discount.


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath and clicked the purchase link. To her surprise, her address was already filled in.


    ¡°Qingfeng Continent, Mundane ne, Great Ming Dynasty, to Qiao Mai! Oh my gosh!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe how unbelievable it all was. If this had happened in the past, she would never have thought it, but after being transported from the modern world to this ancient one, she believed even in ghosts.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t rush to buy it, though. If virtual manuscripts like this could be purchased, what about other items?


    She had big ambitions and knew she needed more than Internal Qi manuscripts to satisfy her. So, she typed ¡°cultivation¡± in the search bar, and the results left her in awe.


    Void Body Cleansing Pills, cultivation manuals, beginner¡¯s guides, they had everything.


    However, when she looked at the prices, Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned dark. They weren¡¯t priced in money, silver, or gold but in spirit stones, divided into low, medium, and high grades.


    ¡°Damn it, where am I supposed to get all these things?¡±


    But she didn¡¯t give up. Qiao Mai opened the customer service page and asked,


    ¡°Can I buy spirit stones with silver?¡±


    ¡°No, but you can use gold. One low-grade spirit stone costs a thousand gold.¡±


    Qiao Mai almost bit her tongue. ¡°A thousand gold for one stone?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°One low-grade spirit stone is worth ten thousand taels of silver, and your Void Body Cleansing Pill, which costs ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones, is equivalent to a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, which is a hundred thousand taels of silver?¡±


    ¡°Wrong. Ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones are a million low-grade spirit stones.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m illiterate, so that¡¯s a million taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have that much gold. Can I barter with items?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Our tform allows flexible trading.¡±


    Qiao Mai really wanted that Body Cleansing Pill. After all, when she arrived in this world, her body was already sixteen years old, and her foundation was weak. If she didn¡¯t cleanse her body, it would affect her growth in the future.


    Basics were the most important. She had spent a lot of time reading cultivation novels online to ignore it.


    She was obsessed with them.


    She said, ¡°Scan my space.¡±


    Theputer suddenly emitted an intense light, and Qiao Mai quickly closed her eyes. After ten seconds, theputer returned to normal.


    The customer service sent a message: ¡°Your space is quite low-level. You should upgrade it quickly, or you¡¯ll only be able to buy virtual products.¡± ¡°Virtual products?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are products without physical form but provide direct benefits to your body, like manuals, martial arts skills, and pills.¡±


    ¡°How can I upgrade my space?¡±


    ¡°Your space seems to be a farming type. You need to keep nting to expand it to a certain range, and it will upgrade automatically. This way, yourwork will also improve.¡±


    ¡°What kind ofwork is this?¡±


    ¡°This is the Interdimensional tform Trading Network, awork for trading between differents. It¡¯s also known as the Knowledge and Shopping Network.¡±


    Qiao Mai was amazed. That¡¯s why she couldn¡¯t find any news, movies, or TV shows. It was a differentwork from the one on Earth.


    ¡°Do I need to buy spirit stones for cultivation?¡±


    ¡°Yes, from what I see in your space, there¡¯s no spiritual energy. You need to buy spirit stones.¡±


    Qiao Mai was at a loss. ¡°It¡¯s too expensive.¡± ¡°Then work on upgrading your space.¡± ¡°How long will that take?¡±


    ¡°You can temporarily cultivate both internal energy and spiritual power. In your dimension, reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm should be enough for you to dominate.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I still want to ascend to immortality.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still a child.¡±


    ¡°Well, help me figure out what¡¯s most valuable in my space. I want to trade for the best Internal Qi manuscript, a Body Cleansing Pill, and a good cultivation manual.¡±


    The customer service took ten seconds to respond. ¡°Based on what I see now, the sports car in the left corner of your space, the motorcycle on top of it, and thetest assault rifle are quite valuable. With these three items, you can trade for an Internal Qi manuscript and a Body Cleansing Pill. If you add the gemstones to your shelf, you can get a good cultivation manual. It just so happens that our interdimensional tform is running a discount event, and there are buyers interested in these items, allowing you to buy those three.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath and asked with a bold face, ¡°If it¡¯s an event, are there any freebies?¡±


    The customer service hesitated for ten seconds. They had already given quite a discount, and this mortal still wanted to haggle.


    However, years of customer service experience taught them not to offend this customer. Qiao Mai was a potential big spender, and without scanning her space, they wouldn¡¯t have known how to handle Qiao Mai.


    After seeking approval from their superior, the customer service replied,


    ¡°Alright, our leader said we can include ten low-grade spirit stones as a bonus.¡± ¡°Okay, onest question. I have silver notes. Can I buy spirit stones with them?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯ll have to exchange your silver notes for gold and then transfer them to your space. When the timees, you can buy spirit stones from me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do the transaction.¡±


    Theputer emitted a golden light, and Qiao Mai closed her eyes as it enveloped her. When it was over, she fell to the ground.


    The process of cleansing her body and opening her meridians had begun. It was so painful that she cursed everything and everyone.


    Why was it so agonizing? The novels hadn¡¯t lied. It hurt so much. She cursed and groaned in pain.


    However, Qiao Mai remembered that in the novels, it was crucial not to faint, no matter how painful it got. Otherwise, all the previous efforts would be in vain..

 Chapter 96 - 96: Doing Everything to Earn Money

    Chapter 96: Doing Everything to Earn Money


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She was in pain for two hours, so much so that she wanted to bite her tongue.


    After the Body Cleansing wasplete, Qiao Mai saw that all the ck impurities on her skin¡¯s surface had been purified by the space when she regained consciousness.


    She was satisfied with this, as it meant she didn¡¯t have to go through the smelly and time-consuming process described in some novels.


    She sat cross-legged and began to organize the information in her mind.


    Qiao Mai put aside the Internal Qi manuscript for now and started to read the cultivation manual.


    She began her cultivation journey, but there was still the matter of spirit stones. Weren¡¯t ten of them given as a bonus?


    Unable to find the spirit stones, she contacted customer service and learned that the spirit stones had been converted into spiritual energy and sent to her Dantian.


    She quickly followed the manual¡¯s instructions and started cultivating to avoid overloading her Dantian.


    With the ten low-grade spirit stones¡¯ worth of spiritual energy, she only advanced a couple of stages, reaching the third level of the Qi Refinement Realm before it was depleted.


    She stood up and stretched, then performed a set of martial arts she had learned in her previous life. Qiao Mai felt light on her feet. Her strikes were powerful, and she left an imprint on a piece of wood with a single grab.


    Observing the sky outside and the still-sleeping Ling¡¯er, she sat cross-legged and cultivated the Internal Qi manuscript.


    By the time dawn broke, she felt the flow of internal energy.


    It had been a fruitful night. She had gained insights into the space¡¯s capabilities and learned how to use the shopping tform.


    In the future, she would have tomunicate more with customer service. When her space leveled up, she would have the capital to reward that customer service representative.


    This night has been full of surprises. With a space like this, she had newfound motivation.


    With examples of bartering goods, Qiao Mai could exchange her less useful items for what she needed.


    Her immediate task was to go to the county and exchange her silver notes for gold. She couldn¡¯t do it all at once to avoid drawing too much attention.


    She was excited about the possibilities. After leaving the space, she couldn¡¯t sleep all night.


    Qiao Mai tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing with thoughts. The next morning, she finally got up, had the kitchen staff prepare breakfast, entrusted Ling¡¯er to her maidservant, and took a short nap.


    After breakfast, she instructed the staff and then rode Dong Zao to the county. At the Da Ming Money Bank, she exchanged one thousand taels of gold. She carried the box of gold and headed for the prefectural city. As soon as she left the county, the box entered her space.


    At another branch, she exchanged another two thousand taels of gold. Her initial fifty thousand taels of silver had now dwindled to twenty thousand.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but sigh. To spend three thousand taels of gold for just three low-grade spirit stones was quite a drain. She would need more spirit stones in the future.


    She would have to work tirelessly to make money. How long would it take if she were to umte wealth little by little?


    When she arrived at the pharmacy in Wei City, she dismounted her horse, tied it to a wooden post, and carried two boxes in her hands as she walked in.


    As Qiao Mai was dressed nicely, and her skin had be fair and radiant after taking the Void Body Cleansing Pill, the shopkeeper and the attendants dared not underestimate her.


    ¡°Madam, are you here for a medical consultation or to purchase medicine?¡± ¡°I have two old ginseng roots that I¡¯d like to sell. Does your shop buy them?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Please let me take a look.¡±


    Qiao Mai ced the two long boxes on the counter. At a nce, the shopkeeper could tell that these ginseng roots were not ordinary.


    Indeed, when he opened the boxes, he couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, carefully examining the ginseng roots.


    ¡°Madam, one of these ginseng roots is 520 years old, and the other is 680 years old. Unfortunately, neither of them has reached a thousand years.¡±


    ¡°Please make an offer. If it¡¯s reasonable, I¡¯ll sell them to your pharmacy. If not, I¡¯ll go somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°A thousand-year-old ginseng root would cost several tens of thousands of taels of silver and are considered priceless. I¡¯ll offer you twenty thousand taels for these two ginseng roots, nothing more.¡±


    The shopkeeper¡¯s exnation made sense, and Qiao Mai agreed.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take gold. Is that eptable?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll send someone to the bank.¡±


    Twenty thousand taels of silver would be equivalent to two thousand taels of gold. Qiao Mai sighed silently in her heart; making money was a slow process, and impatience wouldn¡¯t help.


    Afterpleting the transaction, she carried the box of gold to her horse. She had no interest in shopping and quickly turned her horse to head back.


    Once she left the city, she tossed the box into her space, letting out a self-deprecating sigh.


    Cultivation was a costly endeavor. She had thought she was well-off, but this experience quickly brought her back to reality.


    Upon returning home, Qiao Mai felt a bit downhearted. She reminded herself that once her space upgraded and had its spiritual energy, she wouldn¡¯t need to purchase spirit stones. With renewed determination, she decided to focus on cultivating her internal energy for now.


    She sat down, pondering her next steps. She nned to write the Internal Qi manuscript for her children and Yuan Jiaqi.


    Even if Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t seem like a martial arts talent, practicing a bit was better than bing a weak schr.


    Qiao Mai spent a day thinking about it, and by evening, she entered her space.


    Looking at the ground, she was concerned. The new four-acre plot had already duplicated itself.


    She clenched her teeth and decided to harvest all the crops on the two plots, clearing them entirely, including the roots.


    Looking at the eight empty plots, Qiao Mai decided not to nt fruits and vegetables but to cultivate medicinal herbs, specifically ginseng, which was the most valuable.


    She would let them grow in the space, and they would be more valuable as they aged.


    All she could think about was money now.


    After nting a whole bag of ginseng seeds, she muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll see the results in five days. I wonder how many years these ginseng nts will be.¡±


    She anticipated the oue. If it weren¡¯t for the cultivation aspect, she would have been content to wait for her ginseng to mature and turn into gold.


    She sighed and sat down, focusing on cultivating her internal energy.


    With only five thousand taels of gold left, she could only afford five low-grade spirit stones, which wouldn¡¯t even be enough to level up once. She decided not to bother customer service anymore and settled into her new routine.


    One monthter, as May arrived, Tianshui Town began to heat up.


    The watermelon, ice, and chilled fruit juice sold at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery became the best-selling items for travelers passing through.


    Travelers who frequented the main road knew about this small eatery.


    Whenever they passed by, they would stop, find an empty table outside, order some watermelon, and enjoy a bowl of chilled fruit juice while nibbling on sticky corn. It was incredibly satisfying.


    When tired from her embroidery work, Qiao Mai would bring Ling¡¯er, as well as Yue Hong and Yue Xie, to the eatery.


    She would often make something delicious when she visited, mainly for Ling¡¯er to enjoy.


    Items like fruit sds and yogurt with fruit chunks were a hit with female customers. When the women saw it, they often asked Qiao Mai to sell them a bowl.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t turn away anyone, charging them one or two taels of silver per bowl.


    The female customers quickly fell in love with the refreshing taste of the fruit sds and the unique vor of the yogurt.


    She could sell more than ten bowls in a day.


    The profit made Shopkeeper Niu quite ecstatic. He would often praise Qiao Mai, saying she was clever, as she had introduced him to the concept of yogurt.


    How would he have known otherwise?


    Since he started working for her, he has learned a lot about food.


    For example, not serving fava beans with wine, avoiding mixing fruits with seafood, and being aware of food ipatibilities.


    If someone ordered something that wasn¡¯t a goodbination, he would kindly inform them to save the trouble of ming their food for difortter.


    While Qiao Mai was at the shop, the ce was always packed with people eager to take advantage of her offerings. Many wanted to try rare and delicious treats.


    Sometimes, she would count her earnings at the end of the day. It could add up to two hundred taels of silver, which left Shopkeepr Niu overjoyed.


    After observing the workers for a month, Qiao Mai told Shopkeeper Niu that each person would receive an extra hundred coins from the next month onwards, and his wages would increase to two taels.


    As expected, Qiao Mai appreciated their hard work and did not mistreat them¡­

 Chapter 97 - 97: Cancel It?

    Chapter 97: Cancel It?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Seeing this, the servants at home and the workers in the front yard worked even harder than before.


    Time flew by, and it was already May 26th. This day marked the formal engagement between the Lu and Feng families.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t attend the event; she sent two kitchen maids in her ce.


    In the afternoon, Shopkeeper Lu came to her house with an unpleasant expression.


    ¡°Sister, you were right.¡±


    ¡°How much is the betrothal gift?¡±


    ¡°Thirty carriages. I checked the gift list, and after double-checking the betrothal gift, it doesn¡¯t exceed one thousand silver taels.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel uneasy about it. The Feng family has many descendants and supports several schrs. Though they may be wealthy, it¡¯s only on the surface. By providing such a generous dowry for Ruxin, they won¡¯t dare to covet it. After she marries into their family, Ruxin will stand tall. It will be considered a beneficial match for us.


    ¡°Sigh, I shouldn¡¯t have been so hasty. I should have waited a bit longer. If it weren¡¯t for a rtive of my friend, I would¡¯ve wanted to cancel this engagement. ¡±


    ¡°Everyone has their advantages. At least you have a young schr as your son-inw with a bright future.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but I can¡¯t help feeling uneasy. If the betrothal gift is too modest, it means they look down on my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to cancel it, then?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave it as it is.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you can¡¯t have everything. Nothing is perfect, not even a son-inw.¡±


    ¡°If he dares to mistreat my daughter in the future, I¡¯ll find someone to deal with him.¡±


    ¡°No need for you to take action. As her master, I will turn him into mince meat.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s too serious.¡±


    ¡°Has Xin¡¯er started embroidering the wedding dress?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t let her. I ordered it directly from the Capital. It cost two hundred silver taels for the entire set.


    ¡°It¡¯s not in vain that you¡¯re her birth mother, truly generous.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime event like this.


    Seeing how enthusiastic Lu Sanniang was when talking about her daughter, her mood inexplicably improved.


    Ling¡¯er was still young. When she got married in the future, she, as a mother, wanted her daughter to have a splendid wedding.


    The next day, Qiao Mai had Yue Hong and Yue Xia carry a box while she held Ling¡¯er and went to the embroidery shop. In front of Shopkeeper Lu and Ruyi, she handed Ruxin a thousand silver taels in banknotes, two double-sided embroidered pce fans, and an embroidered folding screen as dowry.


    Ruxin was so moved that she cried. In this world, besides her mother, it was only her master who treated them well.


    Not only did she teach them embroidering skills, but she also gave them such valuable dowry gifts.


    She was about to kneel to thank Qiao Mai, but Qiao Mai helped her.


    ¡°As your master, of course, I¡¯d treat you well. If you were to marry a yearter, I would have given you even more dowry gifts. Your mother is eager for you to marry early. If it were me, I¡¯d keep you for a year or more.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ruxin blushed. ¡°I follow my mother¡¯s arrangements. Besides, it¡¯s not far. If I want toe home, a carriage ride of an hour is all it takes.¡±


    Qiao Mai understood the meaning behind her words. This girl was willing to marry into the Feng family.


    When girls grow up, they only have one person in their eyes. They don¡¯t consider their future. Perhaps, with love, even hardship bes sweet.


    Qiao Mai casually said, ¡°Sister, remember to take the dowry list to the local authorities for documentation.


    Upon hearing this reminder, Lu Sanniang became alert.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Our dowry is many times more valuable than their betrothal gift.


    MV daughter is gentle, and we must not let them take advantage of her. Sis, your reminder is excellent. I¡¯ll go to the court tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, never let your guard down. We¡¯ve worked hard to earn this money, so we must protect it.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    With their taskspleted and their concerns addressed, Qiao Mai brought Ling¡¯er to the store.


    At this time, the shop was bustling with customers. Some regrs were resting at the tables outside and greeted Qiao Mai.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering, Madam Qiao, what have you been up to at home? We¡¯ve been looking forward to your delicious dishes here.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be cooking today. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯ll y with my daughter and then head home.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how old is your daughter?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a little over one year old.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s so beautiful. You¡¯re still young yourself, but you¡¯re such a great mother.


    Her appearance is charming.¡±


    ¡°She eats well and is dressed nicely, so it¡¯s natural.¡±


    The people looked at Qiao Mai¡¯s daughter in her arms with envy. Her clothes, the silver ne she wore, and the delicate shoes all showed Qiao Mai¡¯s love for her child.


    ¡°Some say Madam Qiao had a daughter in her previous marriage, but she was born prematurely and passed away within a few days. She adores this daughter because of the previous one, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. I heard they were born on the same day.¡±


    ¡°Ah, it must be hard for her.¡±


    Since Qiao Mai had practiced internal energy, her hearing had be exceptionally sharp. She heard their conversation clearly but pretended not to.


    She smiled, knowing this was the effect she wanted.


    Everyone believed her daughter was adopted. The Tian family wouldn¡¯t dare to target Ling¡¯er.


    The child was hers alone, and she wouldn¡¯t allow the Tian family¡¯s dirty hands to reach her. If they ever dared to harm Ling¡¯er, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to eliminate the entire family.


    The next day, Yuan Jiaqi and the children returned home.


    Seeing Old Mister Wang, Qiao Mai felt a headacheing on. This old man never took a break. He followed them every time.


    But this time, she didn¡¯t let them rest.


    The other families had already harvested their wheat, but their five acres ofnd were still waiting. She waited for their return to start harvesting.


    The sixty acres ofnd leased to tenant farmers had all been harvested, with each acre yielding three hundred catties of grain.


    The weather was ideal today, and they harvested five hundred catties per acre.


    The tenant farmers received two hundred catties, and each family obtained about four thousand catties of grain.


    They didn¡¯t lift a finger butted four thousand catties in total. All three tenant families were delighted.


    The Qiao family paid a tax of 100 catties per acre. For sixty-five acres, it amounted to 6,500 catties. Additionally, there were 11,500 catties of wheat.


    If they harvested the remaining five acres, the granary would have over 14,000 catties of wheat, which would be sufficient for the family for a year.


    Come autumn, they could harvest another batch.


    The three tenant farmers cultivated corn. Generally, good farnd was used for corn, while less fertile and uncultivatednd was reserved for root crops like sweet potatoes and peanuts.


    The family had prepared all the necessary farming tools. Qiao Mai ordered more than a dozen sets from the cksmith shop.


    Apart from the cook and Yue Hong, who looked after the children, everyone else went to the fields. Even Old Mister Wang wanted to experience the feeling of harvesting wheat as a farmer.


    With five acres ofnd, the eight adults and three children managed to finish all the harvesting in a single day.


    Fortunately, the weather had been dry, so there was no need to sun-dry the wheat. They threw it in an open area. With over two thousand catties of wheat, it took them two days to store in the storage room.


    With so many people working, none of them felt exhausted. On the third day, Qiao Mai hired one of the tenant farmers to plow thend and nt corn.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to deal with the rainy season, so she decided to nt corn. Once they harvested the corn and entered winter, they would nt vegetables out of season.


    Old Mister Wang generously allowed them a couple of days off. They spent five days at home.


    Given the hot weather, they enjoyed cold noodles and fried sauce noodles. Fortunately, they always had six delicious cold dishes to apany their meals, so Old Mister Wang didn¡¯tin.


    Hemented, ¡°After a hard day¡¯s work, a meal tastes heavenly.¡±


    When he departed, he once again piged Qiao Mai¡¯s store and delivered a message from his granddaughter.


    Wang Jiaru said she would visit when they moved to their new home, but she was currently busy with her family¡¯s business because they had acquired many recipes. She was too busy to spare any time.


    As the date for thepletion of their new home drew closer, Qiao Mai made arrangements with the Broker Center to procure several spotted deer, a few mule deer, two cows, and a calf. She wanted the deer for their antlers and the musk deer for their musk. These animals mainly fed on grass, which she could grow in her space, eliminating concerns about their feed..

 Chapter 98 - 98: Not Even the Words Heaven-Defying Are Worthy of It

    Chapter 98: Not Even the Words Heaven-Defying Are Worthy of It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Finally, she had some free time. Qiao Mai noticed that Shopkeeper Niu¡¯s amodation and the storefront were getting cramped. They needed to expand their operations. So, she had the neighboring store connected and had the Broker Center handle the renovation.


    The front canopy was also widened, and she hired three more assistants.


    She left all these matters to Shopkeeper Niu without interfering. When business was booming, they naturally needed more staff. Two assistants had to manage sales and inventory, and it was exhausting work.


    Even if she gave them a raise, prolonged work hours could lead to illness.


    Due to the increased staff, she taught them skills such as making candied chestnuts, roasted peanuts, roasted melon seeds, sugar-coated haws, and juice squeezing.


    Even when she wasn¡¯t around, people could enjoy a refreshing cold drink in front of her store.


    In the summer, these items sold well. Not only women and children but also men enjoyed them.


    Even when the rainy season arrived, it couldn¡¯t deter customers froming to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery for cold drinks while enjoying the rain scene. Shopkeeper Niu was delighted every day, busy with his abacus, calcting profits with great enthusiasm.


    Qiao Mai saw that the business was doing well and didn¡¯t n on further expansion. Sustaining the current situation was good enough. Having a house,nd, and a shop was sufficient. As for buying spirit stones, she wanted to focus her energy on her space.


    From the wheat harvest, which started in June andsted until the fifth day of the month, she didn¡¯t enter her space for ten days.


    One evening, after putting Ling¡¯er to sleep and entering the space, Qiao Mai was stunned.


    The space feltrger. She closed her eyes and surveyed it with her mind. To her amazement, there was much more space now.


    Just as she was about to inspect it, a piece of information appeared in her mind.


    [Space Level 2, Spiritual Energy Density 10%, Total Area 200 acres.]


    She was taken aback. Had it expanded to twice its size? Would the next level, Space Level 3, increase it to 300 acres?


    Was it because she nted ginseng that this happened?


    She immediately checked her ginseng field. To her surprise, the eight-acre ginseng field had produced red ginseng seeds and even seemed to have tripled in size. The other fields where she had grown watermelons, strawberries, and more also appeared to have tripled in size.


    She swallowed hard, crouched down, and used her hand to dig out a ginseng root.


    Unlike most crops that mature in about five days, she had nted the ginseng ten days ago. She was too busy to check on them.


    The eight-acre field had be 2.4 hectares, filled with ginseng.


    She couldn¡¯t determine the ginseng¡¯s age, so she brought it to theputer.


    Logging onto the online shopping tform, Qiao Mai contacted the customer service representative she had dealt with before.


    ¡°Hello, do you remember me?¡± ¡°Yes. How can I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Can you check the age of my ginseng?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    After a quick sh of light, the customer service representative replied with two words. ¡°Ten years!¡±


    ¡°Wow. I nted it ten days ago, and it¡¯s already ten years old?¡±


    ¡°Your space doesn¡¯t have time eleration functionality, but it might be due to the soil.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. Her space had another function ¨C soil eleration. It seemed to have had this feature all along.


    ¡°How much is this ginseng worth?¡±


    ¡°A ten-year-old ginseng is worth ten taels of silver, a hundred-year-old is worth a thousand taels of silver, and a thousand-year-old is worth fifty thousand taels of silver. Of course, we convert everything to gold for you.¡±


    ¡°Then why bother with any other business? I can just sell ginseng. By the way, I can¡¯t buy physical items, but can I sell them?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I see your space is at Level 2 now. Keep up the effort, and you¡¯ll be able to buy physical items soon. You can sell now.¡±


    ¡°What level do I need to reach to buy physical items?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. You can try buying items each time you level up. I guess it might be at Level 5 or above.¡±


    Qiao Mai swallowed. ¡°Selling is fine for now. I don¡¯t urgently need to buy things.¡± ¡°How many of this ginseng are you selling?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡±


    Qiao Mai collected all the replicated ginseng from the 2.4-hectare field. Upon inspection, there were five thousand ginseng nts.


    She ced them before theputer and said, ¡°Just these behind me.¡± ¡°Fifty thousand taels of silver, converted to gold, five hundred taels. Deal?¡±


    I-yean


    With a sh of golden light, the ginseng on the ground disappeared, reced by two hundred small golden ingots. Qiao Mai looked back and smiled. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Is there anything else you want to trade?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Wee, and feel free to return anytime.¡±


    ¡°Wait, how can I list my items for sale here?¡±


    ¡°You need to apply for a store. The tform will assign you a suitable store name based on location,, dimension, and space. Prepare the items you want to sell, pack them in boxes or baskets, and you can set the size of the baskets in your store. Just make sure to describe your products well, and the store will automatically disy your items. Remember not to list items you don¡¯t have in stock, or the tform will fine you. For specific instructions, you can check the beginner¡¯s guide on the shopping tform.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a try myself. Sorry for the trouble. ¡±


    ¡°Not at all!¡±


    After closing the customer service window, Qiao Mai set up her own store.


    After paying a deposit of a thousand taels of gold, her Qing Qiao Store was officially open. This shopping tform was trulyzy.


    Qing Qiao? It was named after the Qingfeng Continent and her surname.


    She found some wooden boxes she usually used, specified their sizes in the store¡¯s toolbar, and packed the items she wanted to sell.


    She provided descriptions for each item, and the store automatically disyed them with prices.


    To test it out, she checked the prices of various goods on the tform and chose to sell at a lower price to see if it worked as the customer service representative had exined.


    As soon as she listed the items, someone ced an order.


    In ten seconds, all the boxes of fruit on the ground disappeared, reced by a small bag of money containing a pile of silver coins.


    Qiao Mai blinked and burst intoughter.


    This was incredible! Who designed this space? It was beyond amazing. Not even the words heaven-defying are worthy of it!


    With a space like this, she won¡¯t have to worry about selling her space-produced items.


    Thinking about it, her space was essentially infinite! She can keep selling without having to nt or restock continuously!


    Qiao Mai was so excited that she felt she was on top of the world. This was an amazing development. When her space leveled up, she could buy whatever she wanted from other ces. Just think about it!


    She felt like she was standing at the pinnacle, looking down at the mountains.


    Suppressing her excitement, she returned to the side of the field, scattered reishi spores across the 2.4 hectares, and sprayed them with water.


    Even though reishi wasn¡¯t as precious as ginseng, she hoped that this time, it would help her space level up again.


    After nting, she sat down and nned to cultivate her internal energy. She attempted to absorb the spiritual energy of the space.


    Ten percent was quite thin. After trying for a while, she gave up and decided to focus on her internal energy.


    Seeing a glimmer of hope and a bright future, she gained confidence in her life.


    When she became the most powerful, she could confidently walk all over the imperial pce. What did she have to fear from those petty conspirators lurking in the shadows?


    In the face of overwhelming martial strength, those were just small-time crooks!


    At that moment, she couldn¡¯t calm down to cultivate. After leaving the space, shey on her heated bed and giggled.


    Fortunately, it was just her and Ling¡¯er in the house. Otherwise, people would think she was a female ghostughing maniacally in the middle of the night.


    Now it¡¯s great. The shops outside, thend, and the poultry she raises are all legitimate sources of ie.


    She doesn¡¯t need to expand anymore, nor does she need to worry about finding new ways to make money. Her space takes care of that for her.


    When she has free time, she ns to organize her space properly. No more nting little by little.


    She¡¯ll use her mental allocation, a skill she learned when she first got the space ring. Qiao Mai will nt with her thoughts and harvest with her thoughts, which will also help her train her spirit and mental strength..

 Chapter 99 - 99: Someone Is Scheming Against Qjao Mai Again

    Chapter 99: Someone Is Scheming Against Qjao Mai Again


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The cultivation manual stated, ¡°Cultivation is important, but a powerful soul and spiritual energy are also crucial.¡±


    When her space levels up and it¡¯s time to grow spiritual herbs, she would buy two manuals on this topic.


    Her n is to make money, make money, and keep upgrading the space.


    The rainy season has arrived. Although the shop¡¯s business has slowed down, they can still earn a good amount of silver every day.


    Qiao Mai found methods on the inte to prevent moisture from affecting her goods and learned how to keep vegetables and fruits fresh even in the summer.


    In reality, she can¡¯t store them for long. She prepares batches of fruit and vegetable snacks every three days and goes out to replenish her stock every few days. The snacks at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery are always in demand, so the disyed products are always fresh.


    While Qiao Mai busily tends to hernd, harvests, and sells goods in the space, in the territory under the jurisdiction of Tianhe Town, there¡¯s a farmhouse in Qingzhu Vige.


    A group of people, young and old, are sitting in the courtyard having a meal.


    An elderly man took a sip of wine and said, ¡°I heard those two little brats were adopted and living well now?¡±


    ¡°Dad, they escaped too quickly. When we tried to find them during the day, they hid. We nned to sell them far away but didn¡¯t manage to get our hands on them. It¡¯s a pity.¡±


    ¡°We need to find a way to locate them. It would be best if we could get them back from their adoptive parents.¡±


    ¡°Dad, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Extort some money from them and say their family abducted our children.¡± ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t rush into things. Let me find out more first.¡±


    As it turns out, this family is the grandfather and uncle of the twins. After their parents were buried, they seized their family property.


    They also intended to sell the twins. When Feng¡¯er overheard their ns, he took his younger brother and ran away.


    During the day, they dared note out, nor did they dare to stay in Tianhe Town. They hid and wandered until they encountered Qiao Mai.


    Unknown to them, another group is secretly plotting against Qiao Mai.


    At the end of June, Yuan Jiaqi and the children returned home. Surprisingly, Old Mister Wang did not apany them.


    Upon inquiry, Qiao Mai learned that he had given them a two-month vacation because he knew their new house was almost ready. He wanted them to help with the move and take a two-month break.


    The new residence was almostplete. Qiao Mai had already purchased and moved chickens into the chicken coop. She had also relocated the quails¡¯ dwelling with all the animals she had acquired.


    Now, all that was left was the furniture, and the carpenters worked tirelessly through the night.


    The gate was crafted by the Broker Center¡¯s craftsmen and looked grand.


    However, instead of ¡°Qiao Residence,¡± it was inscribed with ¡°Lucky Garden.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought about it; if she wrote ¡°Qiao Residence,¡± everyone would know about her background. So, she named it ¡°Lucky Garden¡± to symbolize a fortunate andfortable home.


    In front of the main gate, an area was paved with blue stones, and on either side of the two doors, rectangr flowerbeds were nted with osmanthus trees.


    To the left of the main gate was a smaller door for everyday use. The main gate would only be used for significant asions.


    The blue bricks and green tiles were clean and tidy, making people feelfortable looking at them.


    Even the three-meter-high courtyard walls, which cost an additional two thousand taels of silver due to their height, were nned ording to Qiao Mai¡¯s suggestion.


    Even if someone jumped, they couldn¡¯t easily climb over it at this height. With therge estate, even with Wu Zhui and Sai Xue guarding it, there were times when they couldn¡¯t keep track of everything.


    During this period, Shopkeeper Lu was busy preparing a dowry for Xin¡¯er and spent little time at the store. She went out with Dong Zao every day.


    Qiao Mai noticed that the mayor had approached Lu Sanniang once and had slipped her a piece of paper. She guessed it was probably a banknote to add to Ruxin¡¯s dowry.


    Seeing their rtionship, there was no way the mayor woulde empty-handed. As expected!


    After thoroughly cleaning and moving into the new house for a month, Qiao Mai settled ounts with the Broker Center.


    The estate, including the staff and the livestock she had bought, had cost eleven thousand one hundred and twenty-six taels of silver. The Broker Center rounded off the numbers, and after deducting the deposit and the intermediate payments, she paid an additional six thousand six hundred taels.


    The moving day was set for August 6th. The Wang and Qian families both posted invitations.


    On the first day of August, the twins celebrated a lively birthday, and on the second day, all the furniture was in ce.


    Qiao Mai and her family cleaned the old residence meticulously, transferring the deed to the house to Lu Sanniang,


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯ve transferred the household registration to you. The house is still yours.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve said it¡¯s yours, so why be so polite with me, sister?¡±


    ¡°I have so many shops, but you only have these two houses and one shop. Take them. We agreed on this from the beginning.¡±


    Lu Sanniang looked at the deed Qiao Mai had handed her and wiped her tears away.


    ¡°Sister, I only helped you find a ce to live. If I hadn¡¯t been there, you could have stood on your own.¡±


    ¡°There are many kind-hearted people in town, but none came to help me except for you.¡±


    ¡°I also have my ulterior motives.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I can see that your affection for me is genuine. I¡¯m willing to treat you well for the rest of my life.¡±


    Tears welled up in Lu Sanniang¡¯s eyes, and she gently tapped Qiao Mai with her hand.


    ¡°You keep talking about those sentimental things, making me cry.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going. Cry as much as you want.¡±


    ¡°Go to hell!¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    August 6th arrived. Qiao Mai, along with her family, packed up their belongings and set off with firecrackers to their new residence.


    Madam Chen stood at the door, gazing at their backs with resentment. She would no longer see Yuan Jiaqi and the bustling scene.


    Chen Hao had yed well with Fengyun and the others. When they left, he wanted to go with them to help move some things, but he was dragged back into the yard by Madam Chen.


    As a result, they had a big argument.


    Shopkeeper Lu, along with her family, continued to move things into Lucky


    Garden. Many people gathered outside Lucky Garden to watch the excitement.


    ¡°Sanniang, did you build this house?¡± ¡°Yes, how could I move in if I hadn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I saw Madam Qiao moving in as well.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s my adopted sister now, so it¡¯s only natural for her to live here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve adopted her?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s such a capable sister. I¡¯m proud to have her as my sister.¡±


    ¡°This house must have cost quite a bit of money, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, it cost a considerable amount, but I won¡¯t tell you the exact figure. In any case, it was quite a hefty sum of silver. Haha!¡±


    Finally, everyone took their respective ces in the new residence.


    Mayor Qian, apanied by two guards and carrying some items, arrived at Lucky Garden. He nced at the entrance and then smirked.


    No one understood the deeper meaning here better than him. However, he couldn¡¯t say it and didn¡¯t want to.


    As soon as he entered, two carriages stopped outside the courtyard gate. The gatekeeper quickly opened the side gate to allow the carriages to enter.


    Turning back to look, Mayor Qian noticed that quite a few people had disembarked from the carriages.


    He couldn¡¯t recognize some of them, but he did recognize Wang Zongsheng and Old Mister Wang.


    Seeing these two, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill down his spine. When did the Qiao family establish a connection with the Wang family?


    Without dwelling on it, he quickly put aside his thoughts and approached Old Mister Wang with a courteous bow.


    ¡°Zhongyu pays his respects to the old master and old mistress.¡±


    Old Mister Wang cast a nce at Mayor Qian and nodded. ¡°Oh, you must be Zhongyu. You¡¯re here too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam Qiao sent an invitation.¡±


    ¡°Well, you should be here. You¡¯re the town mayor here, after all. This will be my student¡¯s home, so I hope you¡¯ll take good care of them.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s teacher?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been some time, but you¡¯ve only just found out? Your information isn¡¯t very up-to-date. It¡¯s a rare asion for my granddaughter and Madam Qiao to get along so well, and I also crave her cooking. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve started teaching her family..¡±

 Chapter 100 - 100: Did You Snatch It or Not?

    Chapter 100: Did You Snatch It or Not?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The mayor finally understood the situation.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai and Shopkeeper Lu had already weed their guests. This time, even Old Mistress Wang hade along, as it was insisted upon by her husband.


    Instead of heading to the living room, they first toured the house.


    Initially skeptical of the Qiao family, Old Mistress Wang was now intrigued. The house was interestingly designed, and it had many small animals. Furthermore, there was a long stretch ofnd behind the house, filled with thriving corn crops that looked delightful.


    Lu Sanniang and Qiao Mai paid their respects to Old Mistress Wang, each assisting her on one side, followed by Ruxin and Wang Jiaru.


    The men were apanied by Yuan Jiaqi. He loved this house dearly ¨C It was clean, elegant, and full of life.


    In their leisure time, they could feed the small animals or tend to the fields in the backyard, making their days feel incredibly wonderful.


    He introduced them to everything as they walked along, speaking with excitement and pride. This house felt like his home.


    Wang Zihan followed behind the men, holding a pomegranate Qiao Mai gave him, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t wander around. Someone was tasked with keeping an eye on him and offering him snacks.


    There were six courtyards. Yuan Jiaqi and his son had one, the Fengyun brothers had one, and Lu Sanniang initially had one to herself, but she insisted on living with Ruxin and the others. Therefore, the Lu family upied only one courtyard.


    Old Mister Wang had a separate courtyard for themselves, and their attendants had already started tidying it up.


    Wang Jiaru was quite taken with the ce and requested that her grandfather arrange a room for her to stay whenever she wanted.


    This idea didn¡¯t sit well with Wang Zihan, who also insisted on staying here. Thus, the Wang family upied one courtyard, leaving two others temporarily for guests, which were regrly maintained.


    The servants had their living quarters, and two maids stayed in the main courtyard with Qiao Mai, helping her look after Ling¡¯er. In their free time, they learned sewing from Qiao Mai.


    asionally, she taught them embroidery skills, benefiting the two maids greatly.


    The most popr area was the left corner of the backyard.


    Although the twins were eight, they were still children at heart. Qiao Mai had built an amusement park for them, and the children were having a st. Yue Hong held Ling¡¯er and watched from the side, who was eager to join in the fun.


    Unable to resist her excitement, they finally helped Ling¡¯er up to the slides and carousel. They took turns ying on the equipment, and the amusement park echoed with the children¡¯sughter.


    After a round of y, everyone was tired, so they returned to the living room to drink tea and rest. A servant stood by the door and reported, ¡°Master, there are several people outside looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Looking for me? Do we know them?¡± Qiao Mai asked.


    The servant shook her head. ¡°They all look unfamiliar, and I¡¯ve never seen them before. They haven¡¯t bought anything from our shop either.¡±


    ¡°Do they mention the reason for their visit?¡± ¡°They only said they are looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Ask them toe here.¡±


    Qiao Mai was tired and thirsty and didn¡¯t want to move.


    Shortly after, the servant led several people into the living room. When they entered and saw so many well-dressed people, especially the elderlydy sitting at the head, they suddenly appeared quite humble.


    Particrly, their eyes, which had initially held an air of arrogance, now bore a sense of submission.


    Qiao Mai nced at them. There were four people ¡ª two older ones and two younger ones. They all wore rough clothing without patches, but they didn¡¯t look well-off.


    Their eyes kept darting around, revealing their greed. They seemed like troublemakers.


    ¡°What do you want with me?¡±


    ¡°Are you Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Yes. What can I help you with?¡± ¡°Please return our two children to us.¡±


    ¡°Children? Return two of them?¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately thought of Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er. Her face darkened. She knew about the children¡¯s past.


    ¡°Exin clearly.¡±


    ¡°We are from Qingzhu Vige in Tianhe Town. Our surname is Jiang. One year ago, we lost two boys, one named Jiang Yuanpeng, the other Jiang Yuanqing¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold on. You lost them a year ago, but you¡¯re onlying now? I don¡¯t understand. Tianhe Town is not far from Tianshui Town, and my name is well-known here. When I adopted two children, the whole town knew about it.


    How could you onlye now?¡±


    ¡°Well, the two children thought we snatched their family¡¯s property, so they left home out of anger. We searched for a long time but couldn¡¯t find them. We thought they might be avoiding us.¡±


    ¡°I see. Did you really take their property?¡±


    ¡°How could we, their uncles, take their property? We only helped them manage it temporarily since they were still young.¡±


    Qiao Mai frowned. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯vee here, and I¡¯m not an unreasonable person, you can take them back. However, since you¡¯re their rtive, you¡¯ll have to settle the expenses for their upkeep over the past year.¡±


    ¡°What? You want an ount for that?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, should I have raised them for free?¡±


    ¡°Well, how much is it then?¡±


    These children were in poor health when I adopted them. I spent ten taels of silver on their medical treatment alone.¡±


    ¡°In addition, I¡¯ve been giving them a monthly allowance of one hundred coins each. Last year, they started studying at the school, and I paid a thousand taels of silver for their education.¡¯


    ¡°This trantes to eighty taels per month. For half a year, it¡¯s two hundred and forty taels. We can forget about the small change. In total, you owe me three hundred taels.¡±


    The Jiang family members were stunned. They hade for the children, nning to sell them offter. They never expected to be asked for money. ¡°Isn¡¯t it supposed to be Madam Qiaopensating us?¡±


    Mayor Qian couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer. ¡°You scoundrels! Madam Qiao has been taking care of these children for over a year. How dare you demandpensation from her?¡±


    ¡°Did she adopt them? I think she kidnapped them.¡±


    Mayor Qian was furious. He shouted to his guards, ¡°Zhang, Liu,e in here and shut their mouths.¡±


    The two guards entered withrge knives and quickly intimidated the intruders. They ended up cowering on the floor.


    ¡°Please have mercy, Sir!¡±


    No one interceded on their behalf. The two guards grabbed them by their cors and pped them on the face.


    Before long, their faces were swollen.


    Mayor Qian, still angry, asked, ¡°Do you still wantpensation?¡±


    ¡°No-no.¡±


    ¡°Damn, I can¡¯t believe my eyes. These two children used to beg for food in our town for a long time. I even helped them once. If it weren¡¯t for Madam Qiao, they would have starved to death. You should be grateful instead of trying to take advantage of her.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°Mayor, please calm down.¡±


    At this moment, the twins had arrived in the front hall. Qiao Mai had sent someone to call for them earlier.


    Upon entering and seeing the Jiang family, the two brothers immediately ran to Qiao Mai, their eyes red with anger, ring at the intruders.


    ¡°Mother, it¡¯s them. They seized our family¡¯s property andnd and even wanted to sell us, saying some rich man from a wealthy family fancied boys.¡±


    Hearing this, Old Mister Wang¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°Old Qian, send your men to Tianhe Town and bring their mayor here. Tell him it¡¯s my invitation. Also, invite the vige head of Qingzhu Vige. I want to see who dares to bully my students, especially when they are being wronged by their uncles.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡±

 Chapter 101 - 101: The (Mao Family’s Happy Move to a New Residence

    Chapter 101: The (Mao Family¡¯s Happy Move to a New Residence


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Jiang family, seeing that things did not go well, tried to escape, but Yuan Jiaqi was guarding the door. Having trained in martial arts for so long, dealing with these four people was easy for him.


    He kicked each of them back one by one.


    At this point, the Jiang family realized that the Qiao family was not someone they could extort.


    Aside from the fact that they had the town mayor of Tianhe Town, the two elders sitting above gave the impression that they were high and mighty.


    Half an hourter, two guards on horseback arrived, one bringing the mayor of Tianhe Town and the other the vige head of Qingzhu Vige.


    Upon seeing Wang Zongsheng, the mayor of Tianhe Town immediately paid his respects. ¡°I pay my respects to Sir Magistrate and Old Mister Wang.¡±


    ¡°Get up and speak.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The vige head also paid his respects when he saw the mayor, and he knelt immediately.


    ¡°A humble viger pays respects to Sir Magistrate and Old Mister Wang.¡±


    ¡°Speak while standing.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Qiao Mai nced at Wang Zongsheng. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be the magistrate of Wei City.


    Now that their identities were revealed, Wang Zongsheng didn¡¯t hide it anymore.


    ¡°You, tell me about the Jiang family¡¯s situation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    The vige head didn¡¯t dare to hide anything and exined the Jiang family¡¯s situation in detail.


    It turned out that the Jiang family favored their younger son and despised their elder son¡¯s family. They had separated the family early and followed the younger son.


    When the family division happened, the vige head was also present. They got nothing and even had to pay the old couple every year.


    The subsequent properties were diligently acquired by the elder son and his wife through thrift and hard work.


    There was no rtion between the elder son¡¯s family and the younger son¡¯s family. Since the tragedy that befell the elder son¡¯s family, the younger son¡¯s family had set their eyes on their property.


    They spoke grandly to outsiders but did dirty things behind their backs. The vige head didn¡¯t know at first, and when he found out, the two children had already disappeared without a trace.


    The vige head was helpless. He couldn¡¯t resolve a family dispute.


    When he exined the Jiang family¡¯s situation, Wang Zongsheng nced at the mayor of Tianhe Town. ¡°What should be done about this matter?¡±


    ¡°I will handle it strictly.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: The elderly parents will each receive ten strokes of the paddle and be imprisoned for one month, while the younger ones will receive twenty strokes and be jailed for three months. They will all be sent to the county prison. The vige head will look after their families. In the future, anyone who dares to do such things should not me me for harsh punishments. It¡¯s disgraceful that one¡¯s family members will bully each other when outsiders don¡¯t. Hmph!¡±


    Upon hearing this sentence, the Jiang family members fainted. Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er knelt before Wang Zongsheng, tears in their eyes.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Get up. We¡¯re not outsiders. This time, I¡¯ll help you make the decision. Do you want to take back the property?¡±


    ¡°Give it to the vige. I remember there are a few families that are particrly struggling. Give them the houses and the harvested grains from thend to help them.¡±


    The vige head of Qingzhu Vige lowered his head in shame, and Wang Zongsheng held the hands of the two brothers.


    ¡°You¡¯re both good kids, like your current mother. Don¡¯t you want to go back home?¡±


    ¡°No, not anymore. Mother has been very kind to us. Although we miss our old home, Mother gave us a second chance at life. So, we must study hard to repay her kindness.¡±


    ¡°What about your father? Won¡¯t he lose his inheritance?¡±


    ¡°As long as there¡¯s his blood running in our veins, it¡¯s enough. I believe they will not be happy if they know we did not repay our benefactor.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng nodded, thinking that these two children were indeed clever.


    No matter the conditions of the Jiang family, the Qiao family, or their surnames, they still carried the blood of the Jiang family.


    Even children know that people should aim high. Wang Zongsheng couldn¡¯t help but sigh silently in his heart.


    On the 6th of August, the Qiao family celebrated their move to the new residence. They hadn¡¯t expected the Jiang family to cause such amotion.


    Qiao Mai was good at handling people. When the mayor of Tianhe Town left, she had them take away some items from the store. Even the vige head of Qingzhu Vige didn¡¯t return empty-handed.


    After all, it¡¯s always best to give and receive. As long as they¡¯re willing to ept, they¡¯ll be more inclined to support the Qiao family in the future.


    Today, the Jiang family didn¡¯t gain any advantage and suffered a big loss. Qiao Mai believed they wouldn¡¯te again in the future.


    The lunch banquet was unexpectedly dyed, but it was sumptuous. Wang Zongsheng did not receive any special treatment just because he had revealed his official position. Everything was as it used to be.


    The Qiao family¡¯s atmosphere wasfortable, and Shopkeeper Lu was delighted that Qiao Mai had such connections.


    With a powerful master, her daughter won¡¯t be bullied. Shopkeeper Lu was willing to cooperate with Qiao Mai in everything.


    Staying at home was morefortable, with good food, good drinks, and everything they needed.


    In the evening, everyone gathered again, enjoying a table of vegetarian dishes.


    The dishes were stir-fried and delicious, which greatly pleased the olddy. She could also visit the poultry house, feed the animals, and enjoy the delicious food. She didn¡¯t feel bored; on the contrary, she felt happy to move around, eat well, and sleep soundly.


    At night, the Wang family stayed at the Qiao family¡¯s house. Each person¡¯s courtyard was equipped with tables and chairs, which were filled with fruits, tea, and snacks.


    They sat in the courtyards. ¡°It¡¯s been such a short time, and Madam Qiao already has a beautiful new home.¡±


    ¡°Yes, a woman who can achieve this is truly remarkable.¡± ¡°She livesfortably, and the house¡¯syout is reasonable.¡± ¡°I heard that all those flowers, nts, and grasses were moved here directly and cost a lot of money.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Those fruit trees are all mature, with fruit hanging on them.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao is extraordinary.¡±


    Sitting in rocking chairs, the old coupleyfortably, with maids fanning them.


    Wang Zongsheng reported to his father, ¡°Dad, the workshop has been built, and it has already started operation.¡±


    ¡°Well, the autumn season will bring a wave of sweet potatoes. Slowly harvest them. If you harvest too quickly, the prices will drop. Don¡¯t be in a hurry. First, perfect your craft.¡±


    ¡°I am not in a hurry. Nowadays, our family¡¯s restaurant has seen a significant increase in business after using Qiao Madam¡¯s recipes. We¡¯re expected to recoup the money spent on the recipes within a year.¡±


    ¡°Well, you can handle it. I¡¯ll give you some guidance. When your wife is free, have her interact more with Madam Qiao. It will be beneficial.¡±


    Wang Jiaru grinned and looked at them. ¡°Dad, Grandfather, do you think my friend is good?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your judgment is quite sharp. But when the workshop is on track, you should also consider your marriage.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry. I¡¯m only sixteen this year. Let¡¯s wait for two more years?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in a hurry, but they are. They can¡¯t wait for you forever.¡±


    ¡°But once I¡¯m married, I won¡¯t be able to do anything. I¡¯ll be stuck in the backyard every day.¡±


    ¡°You decided on your marriage. It¡¯s toote to go back on your word now. When autumnes, their family will send someone. At thetest, your marriage will be arranged next year.¡±


    ¡°But if I leave, what will happen to Zihan?¡±


    ¡°We will be fine without you. Rest assured, get married, and let Zihan stay with Grandfather here. I see that he quite likes the Qiao family.¡±


    Wang Jiaru sighed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow Grandfather¡¯s and Dad¡¯s arrangements.¡±


    She nced at the olddy, who had closed her eyes, indicating she wouldn¡¯t be on her side.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to find Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Come back. She¡¯s been busy entertaining us all day. Let her rest.¡±


    In Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s courtyard, two people sat.


    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I feel that since we came to the Qiao family, we¡¯ve been eating for free.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. When I was at home, I helped Mom with the work.¡± ¡°Can those work justify all the food we¡¯ve ate and your school expenses?¡± ¡°Hehe, when I grow up, I¡¯ll help Mom more. Are you feeling troubled by this?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Mom ask you to study well and be an important official to support


    ¡°Your mom is capable, and now she has the support of a high-ranking official and a schr. By the time that happens, she won¡¯t need me at all..¡±

 Chapter 102 - 102: Don ‘t Want to Be a Heroine Anymore?

    Chapter 102: Don ¡®t Want to Be a Heroine Anymore?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°But Mother has always been good to you and has never mentioned divorcing you. This shows that she has no intention of climbing higher.¡±


    ¡°You little schemer. Come on, wash up and go to sleep.¡±


    In Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s courtyard, people were still awake, excited about their new home.


    There was also today¡¯s big news that made her excited. How could she fall asleep now?


    ¡°Xin¡¯er, you don¡¯t know, when Mother finds out that the son of that old man is the magistrate, my legs went weak.¡±


    ¡°Mother, you don¡¯t need to be like this. Master said that even the Emperor is a mortal like us, just with a different official rank. You don¡¯t need to take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°Master has someone to protect her; she won¡¯t be bullied. Did you see what happened today? The Jiang family wanted to bully your master. If it weren¡¯t for Lord Wang and Mayor Qian, things wouldn¡¯t have ended well today.¡±


    ¡°That shows that Lord Wang is an upright official. Lord Wang would have done the same even in an ordinary family.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu shook her head. ¡°You have a straightforward heart. I need to talk to you.¡±


    Ruyi, Xiu Hong, and Xiu Yu chuckled while Shopkeeper Lu gave Ruxin a good lecture. They didn¡¯t go to bed untilte night.


    On the other side, Qiao Mai let Yue Hong and Yue Xia rest in the side room. After putting Ling¡¯er to sleep, she went to the space.


    She checked on the reishi, which had already sprouted but hadn¡¯t matured yet. On the side, she had replicated an additional acre and six-tenths ofnd, now totaling three acres and two-tenths, all filled with reishi.


    There was no change in the space, but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. As long as she could level up, there was hope.


    She went to theputer and looked at the boxes on the ground, which had all disappeared and turned into money bags.


    Her merchandise had been sold. So, she stocked up a room full of goods and disyed them in her shop.


    She gathered the money bags and put them in one ce.


    She didn¡¯t count them yet. After finishing these tasks, she went to the field, starting from her starting point.


    She cleared ten acres in one breath and nted them all with ginseng. She nned to start with valuable medicinal herbs and gradually have fruits and vegetables in batches.


    This time, Qiao Mai had to n her nting more carefully. She couldn¡¯t nt little by little like before; it was too slow.


    It wasn¡¯t her fault that her initial plot was small, requiring more money andnd. She could only nt small patches at a time. Now that she had morend, she could farm on arger scale.


    After nting, she sat down and started cultivating her internal energy.


    Shortly after, she could feel her internal energy circting throughout her body.


    Qiao Mai concentrated her internal energy on her feet. With a slight push, she could easily jump three to four meters high.


    With internal energy, she could perform light skills, moving quickly. A hundred miles only took half an hour to reach.


    As her internal energy increased, the time would decrease.


    She had a good grasp of grappling and fighting techniques from her previous life, and with internal energy, it felt like second nature to her. She had filled in the gap in her skills.


    After she had washed her marrow and opened her veins, her sensitivity to internal and spiritual energy was exceptionally strong. Despite being only sixteen years old and the original host having lost her virginity, she would be a great asset if a skilled martial artist took her as a disciple.


    The only thing that bothered Qiao Mai was marrying someone like Tian Sanzhuang, which made her feel a bit disgusted.


    The night passed in the blink of an eye.


    The people in the small town couldn¡¯t sleep that night as well. They had witnessed a woman who was only a stall owner living in such a grand new residence in merely a year. It was obvious that her shop was making bank.


    When Wang Zongsheng and his daughter left, Qiao Mai prepared another cart of local specialties for them.


    She held Wang Jiaru¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Forget about the martial arts manuals.¡±


    ¡°Oh, do you not want to be a martial artist anymore?¡± ¡°No, I only need to know some basic martial arts for self-defense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. It¡¯s difficult to find those manuals.


    ¡°If you have time, stay at my ce for a few days. I have space now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Once I¡¯m free, I¡¯lle.¡±


    The two sisters hugged, and Qiao Mai waved goodbye as the carriage drove away, only returning to her shop afterward.


    Yuan Jiaqi started their lessons after breakfast in the front hall while Old Mistress Wang took her maids to feed the poultry. She had nned what she would do when she came here long ago.


    After eating their ready-made breakfast, Shopkeeper Lu and her family went to their shop as usual.


    In no time, Qiao Mai inspected her shop and came to Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°Ruxin doesn¡¯t need to embroider her wedding dress. She¡¯s about to get married, so why not go to Old Mister Wang¡¯s and learn something there?¡± ¡°What can she learn there?¡±


    ¡°Your children are too naive. I¡¯m afraid my disciple won¡¯t be able to handle the


    Feng family. So, don¡¯t let here to the shop during this time.¡±


    Saying this, she pulled Ruxin and went back home. Shopkeeper Lu opened her mouth but didn¡¯t say anything further.


    She knew that Qiao Mai was doing this for Ruxin¡¯s good, so she let her be.


    At this time, Old Mistress Wang was feeding the cows. She wore ordinary clothes with sleeves and a sleeve cover, holding a bundle of green grass and cing it in the trough for the cows.


    Seeing Qiao Maiing, she waved to them affectionately.


    ¡°I thought I would have nothing to do when I came to your house, but I didn¡¯t expect to be helpful.¡±


    ¡°As long as you like it.¡±


    ¡°Of course I do. I used to drink cow¡¯s milk and knew it was good for the body. I¡¯ve never seen such big udders on a cow before; they startled me when I first saw them.¡±


    ¡°These two cows have just reached adulthood, so their milk production isn¡¯t high yet. Give them another year or so, and they can produce dozens of pounds of milk every day.¡±


    ¡°But how can your family drink it all?¡±


    ¡°If we can¡¯t finish it, we¡¯ll sell it. We can¡¯t let the milk go to waste, right? Besides, I can make various dairy products. When the timees, we can go to the kitchen together.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. I like messing around in the kitchen.¡±


    Qiao Mai held Ruxin¡¯s hand. ¡°Old Mistress Wang, my student is getting married. If you have time, can you teach her something?¡±


    ¡°Teach her what? Don¡¯t teach her those rigid rules that only do harm.¡±


    ¡°Not those rules. She¡¯s too straightforward. The family she¡¯s marrying into has concubines, if you know what I mean.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang nodded. ¡°Alright, when is she getting married?¡±


    ¡°On the 18th of October.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s soon. Her name is Ruxin, right?¡±


    Lu Ruxin quickly gave Old Mistress Wang a salute. ¡°Yes, Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at Ruxin from head to toe. ¡°Hmm, you¡¯re a good girl.


    You can follow me during the day, and I¡¯ll teach you whateveres to mind.¡¯


    ¡°Thank you, Old Mistress Wang!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Old Mistress Wang¡¯s shrewd eyes and knew Ruxin would not leave empty-handed.


    She was skilled in teaching people, as evidenced by the maids and servants around her.


    To ensure everyone¡¯sfort, they didn¡¯t eat together. Instead, each person¡¯s maidservant would report to the kitchen, where the cook prepared the meal. The food was then taken back to their courtyard by their maids.


    Seeing that the two kitchen maids were a bit overwhelmed, Qiao Mai went to the Broker Center to hire four more servant girls, which she handed over to the kitchen maids.


    She also bought five maidservants, one of whom was a shrewd gatekeeper. The others were allocated by the head maid among the rough maidservants.


    After all, they had many poultry to take care of, and with so muchnd, they needed enough manpower.


    Most importantly, she had five acres ofnd to cultivate. When the time came, she needed enough people to keep up with the work.


    To grow winter vegetables, she needed a greenhouse with transparent fabric. There was no such thing as a transparent fabric here.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai bought two pieces of ordinary white fabric from a clothing store. Afterparing it to her field, she realized it couldn¡¯t block the wind. It let the wind through and decreased the temperature inside the greenhouse when the grass curtains were open during the day, which would quickly kill the vegetables.


    That night, she searched the inte and found a solution. She could apply a white adhesive to the fabric, making it waterproof and windproof while allowing light to pass through.


    Qiao Mai smacked her lips. ¡°White adhesive? Where can I find that?¡±


    It was obtained from rubber trees.. Did she have to nt rubber trees on ten acres ofnd?

 Chapter 103 - 103: Sister, I Regret It

    Chapter 103: Sister, I Regret It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai searched online for how to nt rubber trees, how to harvest them, how to collecttex, and how to process them. She stored all this information in her mind.


    She started looking for rubber tree seeds. Last time, she bought over three hundred types of seeds, so she should have them.


    With a try-it-out attitude, she was surprised to find that she had them.


    She grinned and cleared another ten acres ofnd, nting rubber tree seeds. Each seed was spaced ten meters apart, with four trees per hundred square meters. With over six thousand square meters in ten acres, she nted over sixty trees.


    After watering them, she cleared another ten acres and nted them with reishi. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t cultivate but immediately started nning her space.


    She rented ten acres at a time. This way, the space could double the amount ofnd.


    Next, she nted herbs such as Epimedium, Tianma, Sangi, Snow Lotus, Polygonum Multiflorum, Emia, Poria, and Huoxiang. She filled the remainingnd with valuable medicinal herbs.


    Once these herbs matured, thend area in the space would increase by nearly five hundred acres.


    When it was time to harvest, she would rent, making thend increase faster than before.


    She couldn¡¯t bezy anymore. Qiao Mai urgently wanted to buy physical items online and hoped the space upgrade would save her the expensive cost of spirit stones.


    On the 10th of August, the Feng family sent a gift to Lucky Garden, congratting Shopkeeper Lu on her housewarming.


    Holding a box of gifts, Shopkeeper Lu looked somewhat displeased as she called for Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Sister, can you believe this? We didn¡¯t send invitations, so why are they sending gifts?¡±


    ¡°It might be a misunderstanding. They might think this is your housewarming, and since you didn¡¯t invite them, they¡¯re sending these out of ill will, or they genuinely want to congratte us.¡±


    ¡°The former seems more likely. Their family isn¡¯t that generous. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have remained in the middle ss for many years.¡±


    ¡°Should we visit the Feng family to clear things up? It would be better than letting misunderstandings pile up and be more awkwardter.¡±


    ¡°You shoulde with me. I won¡¯t take no for an answer. You never got a chance before when you were busy with Ling¡¯er, so now you must apany me as my sister.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    They instructed the maid to bring the carriage and set out for the county.


    The Feng family¡¯s residence was a three-in-three-outpound, about sixty to seventy percent new, with signs of repairs, suggesting they had been living there for a considerable time.


    Once they arrived, they were met by a servant who led them inside.


    ¡°Inform thedy of the house that the Lu family from Tianshui Town hase to visit.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the servant quickly bowed to them and hurried inside. It didn¡¯t take long for thedy of the Feng family to greet them.


    Their horse-drawn carriage didn¡¯t enter the Feng residence. When the two families met, they warmly held hands.


    ¡°Oh my, I just had someone send a congrattory gift, and you¡¯re here in person?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit awl?vard to ept the gift.¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°The house belongs to my younger sister. My two nieces and I are living with her. It¡¯s not the Lu family¡¯s new home.¡±


    Madam Feng then noticed Qiao Mai standing to the side and asked, ¡°Who is


    ¡°This is my younger sister.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Madam Feng.¡±


    ¡°Very well, pleasee inside. Come on in.¡±


    ¡°Let someone bring the gifts down from the carriage. It¡¯s my younger sister¡¯s first visit, and we can¡¯te empty-handed. These are some of the fine items from her shop. Please, have a taste.¡±


    ¡°No need to be so polite!¡±


    The three entered the Feng residence¡¯s living room, and Qiao Mai found herself a seat.


    ¡°Xin¡¯er will get married at the new house?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my sister thought that since Lu family consists of just us three women, and with Xin¡¯er getting married, we¡¯d have even fewer people. She suggested that we move in together.¡±


    ¡°When should we go and pay our respects then? We wouldn¡¯t want to get lost on the way when it¡¯s time for the wedding.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu nced at Qiao Mai, and Qiao Mai immediately understood. ¡°I leave it to your discretion, Sister. It¡¯s your home.¡±


    ¡°How about the 8th of September? The weather should be pleasant by then.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good to us.¡±


    Lu Sanniang and Madam Feng conversed for a while. Qiao Mai remained quiet the whole time. Soon, Lu Sanniang wanted to leave.


    However, Madam Feng insisted they stay for lunch.


    Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai had no choice but to stay for lunch. Madam Feng, Old Mister Feng, their servants, and their children were all present during lunch.


    The atmosphere appeared festive, but upon closer inspection, their smiles did not reach their eyes, which seemed fake.


    Seeing this, Qiao Mai had an unsettling feeling. While she had been trained as a special agent in her past life and knew how to handle different people and situations. she wanted to live ording to her own values now.


    After paying his respects to Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai, he obediently sat on the side and began eating.


    The Feng family had good manners and etiquette when it came to dining, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but it was primarily observed when they had guests.


    Without Shopkeeper Lu and Qiao Mai, it was uncertain how the atmosphere would be.


    After lunch, they headed back home. On the way, Shopkeeper Lu sighed.


    ¡°Sister, I regret it!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s toote now.¡±


    ¡°I know the consequences of breaking off a marriage.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just that Xin¡¯er has set her sights on Feng Yinshi. If we break the engagement, it¡¯s like separating two people in love. We might face some divine retribution. ¡±


    ¡°I could tell their family was being overly warm. They must have ulterior motives.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take it one step at a time.¡±


    ¡°Forget about that. It¡¯ll be the Mid-Autumn Festival soon. I need to make mooncakes. I had the oven built in the new house but haven¡¯t used it yet.¡±


    ¡°The county and the prefectural city sell mooncakes now. You should know that your mooncakes are popr. The Qian family has made quite a profit from them.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about them. I¡¯ll make my own. Besides mooncakes, I¡¯ll make something else. I still owe the town mayor a favor. I promised to give him a new recipe almost a year ago, so I should fulfill that promise.¡± ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you now. When I figure it out, I¡¯ll let you taste it.¡±


    After a good night¡¯s rest, Qiao Mai began preparing the ingredients for mooncakes the next day.


    She had built an oven in her new home when it waspleted. Not only that, but she had also ordered a t-bottomed frying pan from the cksmith¡¯s workshop. This pan could be used to make pancakes or pan-fry steaks.


    She had not used it yet.


    In the small kitchen, Qiao Mai, wearing an apron, worked diligently. With the experience from her first attempt, she was faster and more efficient.


    Once everything was prepared, she started baking.


    The aroma of mooncakes wafted through the air, attracting Old Mistress Wang, Xin¡¯er, and a maid to Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard.


    They saw the boxes filled with delicate mooncakes and the ones already baked on the table.


    Taking a deep breath, Qiao Mai, still wearing her apron, greeted them with a smile.


    ¡°Please have a seat and help yourselves to the mooncakes.¡±


    Yue Hong kept an eye on Ling¡¯er while Yue Xia collected a couple of tes and picked a few mooncakes to ce them on the table.


    Old Mistress Wang divided one in half and handed it to Xin¡¯er. ¡°You should also try it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    In recent days, she has been learning a lot from Old Mistress Wang, observing her walking style, speech patterns, and mannerisms. She was gradually adopting the demeanor of a youngdy from a wealthy family.


    Qiao Mai observed this transformation with satisfaction. As long as she could learn and adapt to her surroundings, it was a good thing.


    She has the capability to not go with the flow, but Xin¡¯er can¡¯t. She belongs to this world and should follow the rules.


    Qiao Mai hoped that these interactions would foster a closer rtionship between the two. In the future, even if she wasn¡¯t around, Xin¡¯er could seek assistance from Old Mister Wang when needed.


    ¡°Hmm, the taste is great, quite simr to the pastries in the Capital. Did you provide the receipt to the Qian family?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and nodded, neither confirming nor denying it.


    ¡°I knew it.¡±


    ¡°Yue Xia, please give each of us one so we can all have a taste..¡±

 Chapter 104 - 104: I Want This Recipe

    Chapter 104: I Want This Recipe


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Not long after that, Old Mister Wang arrived with four students.


    ¡°Haha, sorry for the abrupt visit, girl.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all family. No need to be polite. Please have a taste.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re heading back to the Capital the day after tomorrow for the festival. We¡¯ll be back on August 18th.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared some mooncakes for you when you leave.¡±


    ¡°Must have! Your pastries are delicious. I think they¡¯re even better than those in the Capital.¡¯


    ¡°I use better ingredients.¡±


    As evening approached, they all gathered at Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard for dinner. Due to the hot weather, they had cold noodles for dinner, and although there were no vegetables. everyone enjoyed it. with some even having second servings.


    The next day, Qiao Mai used her spatial tools to whip cream.


    She also baked many egg cakes, following the tutorials she had found online.


    It took her five tries to get them right.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia ate the first five cakes. Though they didn¡¯t look great, they tasted delicious. Qiao Mai only let Ling¡¯er have a taste when she baked the sixth cake.


    Children loved this kind of taste.


    Her craftsmanship is excellent. She made various cream cakes, had Yuexia carry them on a tray, and delivered them to the other courtyards as soon as they were ready.


    Old Mistress Wang tasted one and loved it. She ate the whole piece in one go.


    When the children saw such beautiful cakes, they instantly lost interest in studying and started eating.


    Even Old Mister Wang and Yuan Jiaqi ate and praised them.


    Qiao Mai also sent a fewrge pieces to the embroidery shop, not missing out on Mayor Qian.


    After Mayor Qian took the first bite, he immediately got up and went to the Qiao family. After paying his respects to Old Mister Wang, he asked Yuan Jiaqi to take him to the main courtyard.


    When he saw the various cream cakes on the table, Mayor Qian pointed and said, ¡°Girl, I want this recipe.¡±


    ¡°Price?¡±


    ¡°What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Two thousand taels, no less. These can¡¯t be left overnight in hot weather and must be consumed immediately. In winter, they can only be kept for three days.¡±


    ¡°Deal. Write the recipe, quickly.¡±


    Qiao Mai reluctantly put down her work, took a pen and paper, and wrote five sheets in one go.


    ¡°It¡¯s quiteprehensive. A pastry chef can understand it at a nce.¡±


    Mayor Qian looked at the recipe and immediately took two thousand taels of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to her. Then he sniffed.


    ¡°Did you make anything else?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m baking egg tarts.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any ready?¡±


    ¡°These are for the children. It is suitable for people of all ages.¡±


    ¡°I want the recipe for that as well.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it? Is it delicious?¡±


    ¡°I trust you. Everything you make is delicious.¡±


    With a snap, he handed her another two thousand taels of silver notes.


    ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. ¡±


    Qiao Mai wrote another recipe while Yuan Jiaqi watched with envy. In a short while, his wife had earned four thousand taels of silver.


    After receiving the recipes, Mayor Qian finally sat quietly, eagerly looking at the oven.


    The first batch of egg tarts was ready. After letting them cool for a while, Qiao Mai gave one to Mayor Qian and one to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Try the first batch. I don¡¯t have much experience, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s good.¡± When the two took the first bite, their eyes lit up.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious! The outeryer is crispy, and the inside is tender with a unique texture. It¡¯s so delicious. If any child doesn¡¯t like to eat rice, this can be its substitute. It¡¯s so delicious.¡±


    Qiao Mai also took a bite. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. Next time, I can set a shorter time.¡±


    Then, she baked the second batch. Mayor Qian, who had no self-control, ate one after another, finishing the entire batch by himself.


    Finally, he patted his stomach and saidfortably, ¡°So delicious! Bless my Qian family. We¡¯re definitely going to prosper now. Madam Qiao, I¡¯m benefiting from your sess. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Humph.¡¯


    ¡°Old Mister Wang is going home to celebrate the festival tomorrow. Would you like to have dinner at my house tonight and apany him?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve known Old Mister Wang for a long time, and we have a good rtionship.¡±


    ¡°Let bygones be bygones. That¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    As Qiao Mai chatted with Mayor Qian, she continued to bake egg tarts. On that day, she made cream cakes and egg tarts and even baked two batches of bread. After they came out of the oven and cooled down, she sliced them with a knife.


    Mayor Qian, who was quite curious, reached out and took a slice.


    ¡°It¡¯s better than steamed buns.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ced two lettuce leaves on the bread, fried an egg, added a homemade luncheon meat slice, and then spread secret sauce before handing it to him.


    Mayor Qian, who was almost full, eagerly took it and dug in.


    ¡°Wow, this taste! I want the recipe.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not selling it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°The luncheon meat in the middle is from arge recipe. Those two recipes are enough for your Qian family to make a fortune. I¡¯m not selling this one.¡±


    ¡°I really want to buy it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not selling it; this is the food I make for my children, exclusive to my Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re rejecting money?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Mayor Qian was defeated. Yuan Jiaqiughed secretly, putting his fist near his mouth.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t sell it, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sending you off!¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to let me have dinner at your ce?¡±


    ¡°I changed my mind; you¡¯ve eaten enough. What else do you need to eat? Jiaqi, escort our guest!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at Mayor Qian, who suffered a loss. After escorting him back, he found a ce with no one around and burst intoughter.


    Today, the three dishes Qiao Mai made were all well-received by her family. Everyone at home got a share, allowing them to enjoy a delicious meal.


    The two kitchen maids begged her for a long time, but in the end, Qiao Mai only taught them thest recipe.


    She can¡¯t teach them the recipe she sold.


    Even with the recipe sold to the Wang family, Qiao Mai only taught what she thought was teachable, leaving out what she thought wasn¡¯t.


    The next day, the Wang family returned to the Capital. Qiao Mai had someone pack two boxes of mooncakes for them.


    Before dawn, she made an extrarge round cream cake for Wang Jiaru and put it in a wooden box.


    Wang Zihan¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw it. He held onto the box and said he would eat it with his sister when they returned.


    Qiao Mai also packed various fruits and vegetables, picking the rare ones and putting them in a box.


    The old couple were overjoyed, especially Old Mistress Wang. She held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand and didn¡¯t want to leave, fearing there would be no one to take care of the small animals after she left.


    During this time, she had developed feelings for them, and she would pick quail eggs, chicken eggs, duck eggs, and goose eggs whenever she had free time.


    Qiao Mai also thanked her for the help. She gave them a box of eggs when they left. Old Mistress Wang really liked Qiao Mai¡¯s character and demeanor.


    The Lu family didn¡¯t go to their shop to send them off. They truly appreciated how well Old Mistress Wang had treated Xin¡¯er during this time. They sent them off with genuine goodwill.


    Watching the carriage recede into the distance, Xin¡¯er finally raised her wrist. ¡°Mother, Master, Old Mistress Wang gave me a jade bracelet.¡±


    Lu Sanniang hurriedly grabbed her hand and took a look. ¡°Oh my, this bracelet is not cheap.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her. ¡°If it¡¯s given to Xin¡¯er, she should keep it. During this time, serve Old Mistress Wang well. Her teachings are better than what you¡¯ve learned over the years.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Master.¡±


    As for Xinyi, she looked on with envy, and Qiao Mai yfully patted her nose. ¡°Later, when you¡¯re engaged, Master will also give you a jade bracelet.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s my sister¡¯s good fortune to receive this jade bracelet. I¡¯ll have my own good fortune in the future.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you can admire, but you mustn¡¯t be jealous. Everyone has their own fate, and you can¡¯t force it.¡±


    ¡°You look like a master from a temple.¡±


    ¡°Amitabha!¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Watching Qiao Mai asionally jest, Lu Sanniang suddenly realized she had only just turned seventeen after the New Year.


    She unintentionally nced at Yuan Jiaqi and saw that he was secretly looking at Qiao Mai, his gaze resembling someone looking at a beloved person. Could it be that he had feelings for her?

 Chapter 105 - 105: What Are They Trying to Do?

    Chapter 105: What Are They Trying to Do?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    If it were that easy, it would be perfect. They are a great match for each other.


    As they were about to return home, they heard the voices of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents at the door.


    ¡°Jiaqi, our fifth son!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi felt ufortable hearing their voices. While most people would be delighted to hear their parents, he couldn¡¯t stand it.


    He was considering ignoring them when another voice spoke up.


    ¡°Mai, my dear Mai!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai stopped in their tracks. One voice belonged to Qiao Mai¡¯s mother, and the other was Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents.


    Why were they all here together?


    Qiao Mai waved to the children. ¡°Go home and study for an hour, then you can y freely.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    In the meantime, Shopkeeper Lu asked Ruxin and Ruyi to return to the shop. She stood side by side with Qiao Mai, ring at the neers.


    ¡°Mai?¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi?


    The Yuan and Qiao families stepped forward, but Qiao Mai¡¯s icy tone made them stop.


    ¡°If we were as poor as we used to be, I doubt you would havee here. You¡¯ve searched for us so many times, only to gain benefits from us.¡±


    ¡°Mai, what are you saying? We may be old, but we¡¯re still your parents. That¡¯s a fact you can¡¯t change.¡±


    ¡°If you keep bothering me, do you think I won¡¯t go to the authorities and have you jailed for a few months?¡±


    ¡°Are you going to be so heartless?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you can try me.¡±


    ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way. But you know, in our vige, in the town, in any family, women are never well-treated. I came from that era.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you. I¡¯ve settled the financial matters between us, understand?¡±


    ¡°Mai, please forgive us as we¡¯re getting older. Life has been hard, and we had to ask you for money because times were tough.¡±


    ¡°Does that give you the right to watch me suffer, see me sell myself, and witness me mistreated by the Tian family? Where is yourpassion? Do you have any conscience left? Look at other mothers and fathers who do anything to protect their children, and then look at yourselves, only thinking about squeezing money out of your child. Are you even human?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I know I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Go away. Even if you know you were wrong, it¡¯s toote now. I will never forgive you, and I will never acknowledge you.¡±


    After saying this, Qiao Mai grabbed Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s hand and walked into Lucky Garden. Madam Qiao Lu wanted to follow but was stopped by the maid. Seeing that they had sticks in their hands, she cried outside.


    When Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents saw the Qiao family had finished their scene, they walked to Yuan Jiaqi. He stepped back a few steps.


    ¡°I am the same with my wife. We won¡¯t acknowledge any rtives. Please leave and stop causing a scene.¡±


    ¡°Son, our family has split up, and your elder brother and the others treated us poorly. Now that you¡¯re living well, can¡¯t you help us a little?¡±


    This couple was straightforward, asking for things directly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything now, and I won¡¯t have anything in the future, forever.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t bring himself to say the word ¡°get lost,¡± but he turned away and entered the courtyard. The old couple knew that this was not the Qiao family, so they didn¡¯t dare to force their way in. Learning from Madam Qiao Lu, they sat at the gate and cried.


    The gatekeeping maid immediately shouted at them.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll report to the authorities. When theye, you¡¯ll see!¡±


    ¡°You dare! I¡¯m Qiao Mai¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, and I¡¯m her mother-inw.¡±


    The maid coldly hummed. ¡°How disgusting to see shameless people like you. Our mistress doesn¡¯t acknowledge you, but you stille here with your heads high. If you had treated our mistress well from the beginning, would she treat you like this?¡±


    ¡°Wait until we make amends; I¡¯ll have your mouth torn apart.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, do you think this is your home? Even if you reconcile, this ce doesn¡¯t belong to you. Now, go away!¡±


    ¡°Hey, everyone, look at this pair of shameless couples. They don¡¯t acknowledge their child. They had a good life once they got rid of us.¡±


    Another maid with a stick and a few others approached them. Scared, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents and Madam Qiao Lu got up and ran.


    The maids chased them for a few steps before scolding them.


    ¡°You cowards!¡±


    Seeing the crowd gathering outside their gate, one of the maids spoke up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them. Both of these families are no good. They suck their children dry and eat their flesh. They even wished for their children¡¯s deaths. Don¡¯t trust a word they say.¡±


    ¡°We heard long ago that it was their fault. We¡¯re just here to watch themotion. Madam Qiao and her husband are good people. We don¡¯t believe a word from those three scoundrels.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Ourdy has been through tough times, and her parents tried to harm her. Remember this. When ites to marriage, never look for the Qiao family from Lihua Vige or the Yuan family from Apricot Blossom Vige. These two families are despicable.¡±


    The maids returned to Lucky Garden. After Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents returned home, they cursed angrily.


    They were unwilling to give up so easily. Since they had rented out their ten acres ofnd and had nothing to do all day, they nned to visit Lucky Garden regrly.


    They would coax their son back no matter what.


    Once they reconciled, they would definitely live in Lucky Garden.


    After Madam Qiao Lu ran away, Qiao Shicheng arrived at the north gate¡¯s archway to wait for her.


    Seeing her return in a hurry, Qiao Shicheng asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°What can you expect? That girl has a stubborn personality, as you well know.¡±


    ¡°In a few days, we¡¯lle back. I don¡¯t believe that even if we acknowledge our mistakes and speak kindly to her, she won¡¯t relent. If that doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll kneel in front of her, and everyone will judge who¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°If she cared about what people thought, she wouldn¡¯t treat us like this. Haven¡¯t you seen how she cares for those children, spending so much on their clothes and essories? She would rather raise other people¡¯s children than help her poor parents.¡±


    Qiao Shicheng¡¯s eyes shed with a malicious gleam. ¡°Once we coax her back, I won¡¯t spare her. By then, her shop will be handed over to the Jiang brothers, and our family will have a better life.¡±


    ¡°Seeing how well her business is doing, even if she shows a slight opening, our family will be much better off than before.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That shop will be in our hands.¡±


    ¡°She even dares to write ¡®Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery¡¯ on it, using the family name. That shop rightfully belongs to us.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t hear the conversation of this couple. If she had, she would have given them a good piece of her mind; they were shameless beyond measure.


    Shopkeeper Lu led Qiao Mai into the living room. Yuan Jiaqi took the children to the back to study.


    The two maids carried Ling¡¯er to the back garden to y while the two sisters sat together in the living room, sipping tea and chatting.


    ¡°Every family has its troubles. Although you¡¯ve managed to get rid of them, they still want to squeeze money out of you.¡±


    ¡°Even if theye up with a thousand schemes, I have my steadfast rule: I won¡¯t pay attention to them or give them any money.¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­


    Qiao Mai gave her a side-eye. ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, it seems like your family also has its own share of troubles?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, my parents and brother treat me well. But that sister-inw of mine, for some reason, always finds me displeasing. Even when I bring so many gifts to their house during holidays, she still doesn¡¯t like me. She¡¯s always hot-tempered and acts as if I were an outsider.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just jealous.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    loves you. She¡¯s also a woman, so naturally, she wants to be loved. When your family showers you with love, it means less attention for her.¡±


    ¡°But my parents treat her well. As their daughter, I haven¡¯t visited home in a while, so it¡¯s natural for me to be excited when I do. She¡¯s always by my parents¡¯ side, enthusiastic every day, acting like a stranger needs to prove themselves.¡±


    ¡°If she understood this, she wouldn¡¯t reject you. By the way, I made mooncakes this time, and you have a share. Your family too.¡±


    ¡°You are so considerate.. Thank you on behalf of my parents!¡±

 Chapter 106 - 106: You’re Tough Because You’re Rich

    Chapter 106: You¡¯re Tough Because You¡¯re Rich


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Bring your parents here when it¡¯s winter. I¡¯ll stock up on charcoal. We¡¯ll keep every room warm and drive away the dampness in the new house.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if they wille.¡±


    ¡°Xin¡¯er is getting married. Won¡¯t theye?¡±


    ¡°They said they would. We¡¯ll return to my parents¡¯ house on the fifteenth, but we won¡¯t stay overnight.¡±


    ¡°Your sister-inw is foolish. You¡¯re better off now, but instead of currying favor with you, she treats you poorly.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s holding me back because she knows my parents will depend on her in their old age. That¡¯s why she treats me this way.¡±


    ¡°Women can also be filial to their parents and support them in their old age. If it doesn¡¯t work out, we can bring your parents here in the summer and winter. Your brother and his family can care forthem for half a year, and we can take care of them for the other half. They¡¯re not so old that they can¡¯t move. She won¡¯t have a chance to mistreat them. She¡¯s putting on a show now, but we¡¯re not afraid of her. If she dares to mistreat the elderly, we won¡¯t spare her.¡±


    ¡°Hehe. you¡¯re tough because you have money.¡±


    ¡°Stick with me, and you can be tough too. You have money now, a hundred times more than her. I¡¯ll support you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve lightened my mood with your words.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my servant girl bring you mooncakes tonight. If you want cakes, I¡¯ll make them for you in the morning when you leave.¡±


    ¡°No need for that. Mooncakes are fine. You work hard every day. Enjoy some rest during the festival.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still young. Why rest? Even when I¡¯m old, I¡¯ll stay active. If you don¡¯t move, your bones will stiffen.¡±


    On the fifteenth day of August, business at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery was booming. Everyone wanted the best offerings for the Moon Goddess Festival, and as the festival drew nearer, items were selling out quickly.


    The mooncakes Qiao Mai made were not avable in her shop. She had a box sent to the Mayor and another to Assistant Qiu.


    He was deeply touched to receive mooncakes personally made by Madam Qiao, even after just a few transactions.


    Though the Mayor was not particrly interested, he was pleased. He realized that even with the same ingredients and recipe, his pastry chef couldn¡¯tpare to Madam Qiao¡¯s creations. There was always that extra touch of perfection in her offerings.


    Qiao Mai was oblivious to all this. She neverpared her pastries to those from the Qian family.


    Wang Jiaru was thrilled when she received the exquisite cake. It was toorge for her, so she called her family to share it.


    She had wanted to get the recipe, but Old Mister Wang discouraged her.


    Realizing that the Qian family had made the first move, she was so furious she wanted to argue with Mayor Qian.


    However, when she thought about it, she realized she could always buy them in the Capital if she ever craved them. She decided not to dwell on it further, knowing that she had plenty of other business matters to attend to, keeping her busy.


    Thinking about her rtionship with Qiao Mai, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. She considered it easy to gain ess to her recipes.


    When she is free, she could stay at Qiao Mai¡¯s house and learn more.


    As the Moon Goddess Festival approached, the Qiao family prepared for a


    festive meal. After an early breakfast, Shopkeeper Lu took her daughters and a cart of gifts to return home. Lunch at the Qiao household was simple due to their absence.


    The six kitchen maids started bustling about, and Qiao Mai spared no expense on delicacies.


    She made sure her children didn¡¯t miss out on delicious food. In the future, she doesn¡¯t want them to feel left out when they visit others¡¯ homes.


    However, she didn¡¯t spoil them either. Every five days, the kitchen maids prepare a meal of coarse grains.


    Anyone picky about their food would be punished, including Ling¡¯er.


    Whether it was sweet potato porridge, brown rice, cornbread, or other simple dishes, everyone had to eat their fill.


    The Lu family lived in their new house, rotating through a variety of meals every day. They never had the same dish twice and always returned for meals promptly.


    Ruxin felt like she didn¡¯t want to get married anymore. After marriage, she wouldn¡¯t have the opportunity to enjoy such delicious meals.


    The two cooks, who had learned numerous recipes from Qiao Mai and had ess to a rich variety of ingredients and spices, became more motivated.


    They kept developing new recipes to delight everyone¡¯s taste buds.


    Ten days before the Moon Goddess Festival, Qiao Mai ced an order with the carpenters to create arge, round table that could be easily assembled and disassembled.


    The owner of the carpentry shop personally crafted it and didn¡¯t charge her as long as she agreed to let him sell simr tables to others.


    Qiao Mai agreed without hesitation. Thus, on the night of the Moon Goddess Festival, a beautiful and practical rotating round table appeared in the courtyard of the Qiao household.


    The family gathered around it,ughing and talking. The kitchen maids kept serving dishes until the table was full.


    Qiao Mai took little Ling¡¯er and asked Yue Hong and the others to have their meal on the side. Even the dishes prepared for the servants during the festival were excellent.


    Yuan Jiaqi reached out to take Ling¡¯er, saying, ¡°Let Daddy hold you.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded at him. ¡°Come on, everyone, let¡¯s raise our cups. This year marks our second Moon Goddess Festival together. Cheers to a joyful holiday!¡±


    ¡°Happy holiday!¡±


    They all stood up, clinked their bowls, and then dug in.


    The children ate earnestly and attentively while the adults peeled shrimp and crab.


    Qiao Mai noticed that it was inconvenient for Yuan Jiaqi to hold the baby while eating, so she peeled some crab meat and ced it in his bowl. As she fed Ling¡¯er, she asked Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°How was it when you went back to your family?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu nced at Yuan Jiaqi and replied, ¡°It¡¯s the same as usual. They take the things I bring, but it doesn¡¯t change much.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, but my parents are unwilling. I told them today, and they¡¯re afraid my brother won¡¯t be able to hold his head up if theye with me.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s the daughter¡¯s wish to have her parents with her. It¡¯s not that your brother is being unfilial.¡±


    ¡°The vigers can be quite gossipy.¡±


    ¡°We live for ourselves. Let others say what they want. If you take their words to heart, it can be harmful. If you don¡¯t, they¡¯re just a bunch of busybodies.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense, but my parents care about it.¡±


    ¡°Have you told them about the house?¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t mentioned it. I don¡¯t want to make trouble. If my sister-inw finds out that the house is in my name and that you all live here, she¡¯ll insist on bringing her whole family over.¡±


    ¡°Is your brother scared of her?¡±


    ¡°Not really, but he doesn¡¯t want to confront her. She¡¯s relying on having several brothers in her family. I¡¯ve never been afraid of her. Dealing with her family is just a matter of me saying a word.¡±


    ¡°We can always have a showdown.¡±


    While discussing this, she ced the peeled crab meat in Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s bowl.


    She admired him as a good man who neverined and always helped with whatever he could, even going so far as topete to hold the baby.


    She had never heard himin, and he was always willing to do whatever was needed. In truth, she could ept being a real coupled with him, and sometimes, when she saw him, the thought crossed her mind. However, the desire to be in a real marital rtionship wasn¡¯t very strong.


    After all, they were only living together and didn¡¯t share much emotional connection. Their interaction was primarily based on cooperation and practicality.


    Shopkeeper Lu watched their interaction and thought they were a good match.


    However, her smile dimmed as she thought of the Feng family.


    Feng Yinshi delivered their holiday gift to the shop yesterday, and as he left,


    Shopkeeper Lu handed him her own box of mooncakes as a token.


    Though it was just one box of mooncakes, there were quite a few in it. Mooncakes in the city cost a hundred coins per piece, so this box was worth several taels of silver, not inferior to the gift from the Feng family..

 Chapter 107 - 107: The Harvest Season

    Chapter 107: The Harvest Season


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Looking at Xin¡¯er¡¯s beautiful face and gentle smile, Shopkeeper Lu felt she was too good for the young man.


    She sighed in her heart and decided not to dwell on it. They must be happy during the holidays, and even if her daughter got married and moved to the county town, she could visit her often.


    While the Qiao family celebrated the Moon Goddess Festival with great enthusiasm, the Yuan, Qiao, and Tian families didn¡¯t celebrate at all.


    Qiao Mai was like a thorn in their hearts. No matter what they did, they couldn¡¯t help but think of her.


    The better she lived, the more painful it was for them.


    The Tian family had considered reconciling with Qiao Mai, but they knew deep down that it was just a dream.


    After all, she had lost her child, and the enmity ran too deep to be resolved.


    Besides, she was already married now. Reconciliation was even more unlikely.


    Seeing her thriving business and not being able to benefit from it, they felt increasingly ufortable, like ants on a hot pan.


    The Qiao family was even more affected. Their daughter was doing so well, yet they didn¡¯t make any preparations for the holidays. How could they be in a good mood?


    On this day, Qiao Shicheng made a big fuss.


    On the other hand, the Yuan family was thinking about their next steps. They realized that their efforts might not be enough.


    So, taking advantage of the holiday, Madam Yuan Xu prepared a feast and called her four sons to discuss matters.


    The sons thought their parents would ask for more money from them, but to their surprise, Old Yuan was calm.


    ¡°Now that our youngest son is doing so well, shouldn¡¯t you help each other as brothers? It was our fault, and we¡¯ve troubled him many times. But you are brothers, so shouldn¡¯t you help each other?¡±


    The eldest son gave Old Yuan a cold look and replied, ¡°Dad, our youngest brother is still living off others, so how can he help us? Besides, we¡¯ve already split our assets and all live our lives. We don¡¯t owe each other anything. When he struggled in the past, we didn¡¯t help him either.¡±


    ¡°Blood is thicker than water. In the future, if he encounters any problems, won¡¯t you be the ones he turns to?¡±


    All four brothers fell silent. They wanted to help, but considering their youngest brother¡¯s cold-heartedness and current status, reaching out to him would only bring disgrace upon themselves.


    The old Yuan couple continued to persuade them, ¡°You don¡¯t have to force him to change his mind immediately. Show goodwill gradually, see how he responds, and take it step by step.¡±


    ¡°Dad, Mom, we¡¯ve already split our assets, so please stop thinking about our youngest brother.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t push him. We merely hope he can change his mind and return to the Yuan family¡¯s genealogy. We still have hopes for him to carry on our family name.


    ¡°He loved studying, and you had enough money but didn¡¯t support his education. If you had known he had that potential, things wouldn¡¯t have escted to this point.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, we regret it. We hope to make amends for our mistakes.¡±


    No matter what these three families think or do, on August 18th, Old Mister Wang and his wife returned to the Qiao family. Wang Zihan did not apany them.


    Madam Wang was worried about him and kept him at home. This led to a big argument between Wang Zihan and his mother, but Wang Jiaru quickly resolved the situation.


    After the holiday, Qiao Mai focused on managing her space.


    She had expanded hernd to over two hundred acres, but her space had not yet leveled up. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry.


    This time, she didn¡¯t feel bad about harvesting the medicinal herbs. She harvested all the herbs from over two hundred acres ofnd, leaving only the rubber trees as they hadn¡¯t grown enough for tapping yet.


    She couldn¡¯t process the herbs inrge quantities, so she bundled them and sold them online at prices lower than the tform rates.


    Qiao Mai continued cultivating twenty acres of herbs, which meant hernd would soon increase from four hundred acres to nearly a thousand acres.


    Each time she rented, hernd would double in size.


    The fruits and vegetables she had harvested piled up like mountains. She sold them online and also at her eatery.


    Since opening her online store, she had already made nine hundred thousand taels of silver. She had seven thousand taels of gold, but now, she had ny-seven thousand taels.


    She purchased ny-seven pieces of spirit stones from customer service and raised her cultivation to the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment


    Realm.


    The third to fourth level cost fifteen spirit stones; the fourth to fifth level cost thirty-six spirit stones. To reach the sixth level, she used the rest of her spirit stones, almost failing to make the breakthrough if it weren¡¯t for the additional ten percent of spiritual energy from her space.


    Cultivation was truly costly, but she was now enjoying the benefits of advancing in cultivation.


    Her increased spiritual energy also boosted her internal strength. She could now travel from Tianshui Town to the county at full speed in half an hour.


    She could now hold her own in a fight against ordinary martial artists.


    In the evenings, when she had nothing to do, she would jump effortlessly onto the roofs of houses, reaching heights of five to six meters.


    Seeing the results, Qiao Mai was delighted. The money she spent on cultivation was worth it!


    She needed strength badly, so she slept only four to five hours a day, spending the rest of her time cultivating and strengthening her foundation.


    On September 8th, the Feng family came to visit. They brought the whole family but not the concubines or illegitimate children.


    Upon seeing the grandeur of the new mansion, the Feng family¡¯s expressions changed rapidly. They all put on happy faces and warmly greeted Shopkeeper Lu.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t appear and stayed in the kitchen with her chef to prepare the meal. She let Shopkeeper Lu take the main seat to assert her authority and let the Feng family know she had a say in this household.


    During the meal, the Feng family intentionally mentioned Qiao Mai and the teacher she hired.


    This made the shrewd Shopkeeper Lu realize their true purpose. The visit to the new house was just an excuse. They were here for Qiao Yinshi, hoping he would join Old Mister Wang¡¯s sses.


    They probably knew Old Mister Wang¡¯s identity and thought that by joining his ss, Qiao Yinshi would gain a powerful backer and a good teacher.


    So, she found an excuse to change the topic temporarily, but judging by the Feng family¡¯s attitude, they would probably bring up the matter againter. Shopkeeper Lu had only temporarily dispelled their thoughts.


    Time passed quickly, and the farmers were all smiles by early October. The weather had been favorable, with plenty of rain, making it a season of abundant harvests.


    People in the vige were busy with the harvest, and the three tenant farmers of the Qiao family were overjoyed. The corn yield was higher than wheat, with up to a thousand catties per acre. The Qiao family only took sixty percent, leaving the remaining forty percent to the tenants.


    These tenants were trustworthy and had already delivered their share of corn to the Qiao family after harvesting.


    They handed over 1,600 catties of corn for each acre while the remaining belonged to them. With twenty acres ofnd each, they had 8,000 catties of grain in total, enough for them to have a good year.


    As for the Qiao family, they only had 500 catties of corn per acre after deducting their share, which amounted to 2,500 catties.


    It may seem like a lot, but the Qiao family would finish it soon because they had many small animals to feed.


    They had never sold this grain before. The quails, chickens, ducks, and geese ate cornmeal mixed with vegetables, and even the deer, horses, and cows asionally had some.


    In addition, the family asionally made porridge and baked cakes, so even with several tens of thousands of catties, it wasn¡¯t considered arge quantity.


    Thanks to her diligence, Qiao Mai¡¯s space had already upgraded to level three, and she now had more than two thousand acres ofnd.


    The rubber trees had been harvested, and durable white fabric had been purchased. The only thing left was to process thetex and evenly coat it. Once thetex dried and solidified, they could start constructing the warm sheds.


    The family joined forces to harvest the five acres of corn in the backyard.


    In the courtyard, all the neatly tied corn cobs were drying under the eaves, presenting a dazzling and pleasing sight..

 Chapter 108 - 108: This Woman Is Not Simple

    Chapter 108: This Woman Is Not Simple


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    This time, she didn¡¯t hire anyone and worked with the servants to plow thend. They spread chicken and cow dung and sprinkled ayer of wheat straw on top before setting it on fire.


    Afterward, they plowed thend again and watered it.


    At this point, it was time to set up the wooden stakes.


    Qiao Mai instructed Shopkeeper Niu to order many unprocessed wooden materials from the carpenter¡¯s shop. These were freshly cut tree branches of simr thickness, with their ends sharpened.


    Upon arrival, they were systematically driven into the ground, enclosing the five acres ofnd.


    Qiao Mai divided thend into ten equal sections, each half an acre. Due to the size of the warm shed and the harsh winter conditions in the area, they could only work on half an acre at a time, splitting it into five equal parts.


    When Old Mister Wang finished his lessons, he often came to the backyard to observe Qiao Mai¡¯s work, curious about what she was doing.


    ¡°Girl, what are you nning to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m building a warm shed, simr to the ones thatrge households have, but without the underground heating.¡±


    ¡°What are you growing?¡±


    ¡°Vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t the costs rtively high for this?¡±


    ¡°The prices for vegetables are high, so it¡¯s worth it.¡±


    ¡°I see. Good things are always worth the price.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. I bought some vegetables from elsewherest year and sold them for two taels of silver per pound during the Chinese New Year. Many people bought them. If I can grow them myself, I¡¯ll make even more.¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯m looking forward to a delicious winter.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m growing these vegetables for two reasons: to sell and to have convenient ess to fresh produce for our family.¡±


    ¡°In my family¡¯s greenhouse, we use ss on the top. Can you obtain ss for this purpose?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t use ss; it¡¯s too troublesome to install and maintain. Instead, I¡¯ve made transparent fabric. Sunlight can still prate it, and the vegetables can grow just as well.¡±


    ¡°Impressive! I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡±


    ¡°You can count on it. Once they¡¯re ready, you can pick vegetables whenever you like.¡±


    After finishing his lessons, Yuan Jiaqi also came to help in the afternoons. The children couldn¡¯t be of much assistance, so they watched from the sidelines and lent a hand when needed.


    After all the wooden stakes were set up, Qiao Mai started making the transparent fabric.


    She cleaned the courtyard, removed any obstructions from the ground, and set up arge iron pot in one corner, filling it with wood underneath.


    They poured buckets of milky-whitetex into the pot. This was a physically demanding task, so Yuan Jiaqi volunteered to stir thetex when it became thicker.


    It was manageable, but as thetex thickened, the effort required increased.


    Qiao Mai saw Yuan Jiaqi struggling and took over, alternating with him to stir thetex. Once it reached the desired consistency, she took a small spoonful and spread it on a piece of fabric. When it cooled and solidified, theyid it out.


    Using a smooth scraper, Qiao Mai evenly spread thetex on the t white fabric.


    Old Mister Wang sat on the side, watching with great interest. He was deeply impressed by Qiao Mai¡¯s abilities.


    A woman who appeared delicate and petite was doing tasks that were even more challenging than those typically done by men. This woman was remarkable.


    He felt extremely fortunate to have be the teacher in this household. Although he wasn¡¯t paid, he realized he had gained much more in material and spiritual aspects.


    Yuan Jiaqi felt the same way.


    When he saw Qiao Mai looking tired, he took over the task she was doing and tried to do it himself. With her guidance, he became better at spreading the adhesive evenly.


    After they finished spreading the adhesive, two maids took needles and thread to join the pieces of fabric together.


    Qiao Mai had already torn the fabric into pieces in advance. For a five-acre piece ofnd, it was about 300 square meters, with a width of about twelve meters and a length of about twenty-two meters.


    The white fabric was 2 feet 7 inches wide and 10 meters long, roughly equivalent to one meter. To cover a five-acre piece ofnd, they needed to sew thirteen pieces of fabric together, with two on each side.


    They could only produce one piece of transparent fabric for a piece ofnd in a day. Once the adhesive on the fabric had cooled, the maids started sewing and joining the pieces together.


    When it wasn¡¯t too dark, they securely fastened the fabric to the wooden stakes in the field.


    In the middle was a 1.5-meter-wide and 2-meter-high opening for people to pass through, with a cotton curtain hanging from it. They had already made arrangements with tenant farmers to install a straw curtain on top.


    The straw curtain had ropes, which could be rolled up during the warm daytime and lowered during the cold nights.


    This whole process took more than ten days. By mid-October, the warm shed for thend was finallypleted. At this point, thend was ready for nting.


    Qiao Mai decided to start with some popr vegetables in the region.


    First, she chose Chinese chives, which the local people liked to use for dumplings and stir-fried eggs. It was a popr side dish.


    Next came garlic sprouts, great for stir-frying with cured meat, scrambled eggs, or adding to soups.


    Then there were braised eggnts, garlic mashed eggnts, cucumber slices with dipping sauce, sesame sauce with long green beans, stir-fried hollow heart vegetables, lily celery, hand-pulled cabbage, stir-fried eggs with red chilies, and stir-fried pork with green chilies.


    These were all staple foods, and she also enjoyed eating them, so she decided to grow these ten varieties.


    With the preparationsplete, they started their purchase.


    They purchased a good amount of white lotus roots, Chinese cabbage, white radishes, red radishes, hawthorns, chestnuts, and pine nuts.


    They needed to purchase and sun-dry Chinese sweetgum fruits.


    Fortunately, they had plenty of family members, which reduced a lot of pressure on Qiao Mai.


    They also had to stock up on peanuts, melon seeds, and other mountain products.


    During the harvest season, the prices were not high.


    This period kept Qiao Mai busy. She hardly had time to enter her space during the day, let alone do embroidery work. By night, all she could think about was getting some rest.


    As the auspicious day for Ruxin approached, she, as the master, naturally couldn¡¯t forget about it.


    She had already dispatched Shopkeepr Niu to prepare all the necessary wedding decorations, ready for the final setup on the day before the wedding.


    The wedding gown for the bride had also been collected and was ced in Ruxin¡¯s room.


    The marriage gifts from the Feng family amounted to thirty loads, and whenbined with the fifty loads of dowry prepared by Shopkeeper Lu, it totaled eighty loads. This was an exceptionally generous contribution, unique in the county.


    Additionally, Lu Sanniang had secretly arranged two shops in the county for her daughter. She provided her with two thousand taels of silver for her personal use.


    To ensure her daughter¡¯s independence and self-reliance, Shopkeeper Lu even hired a trusted housekeeper and two maids for Ruxin.


    The housekeeper was experienced and well-mannered, capable of teaching Ruxin the proper etiquette. This way, Ruxin wouldn¡¯t easily fall victim to sweet talk and deception.


    The Qiao family was hosting a grand wedding for the first time, and it was indeed a splendid affair. They invited the town mayor, but Qiao Mai did not extend an invitation to Wang Zongsheng. His status didn¡¯t quite fit in this celebration, and she didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention from the town. Therefore, she only invited Wang Jiaru.


    On the first day in the afternoon, Wang Jiaru and her brother moved into the


    Qiao family¡¯s residence.


    Qiao Mai also presented a congrattory gift to Ruxin, a pair of golden bracelets, which greatly pleased Shopkeeper Lu.


    The next morning, Mayor Qian arrived with two guards and presented a gift box to Lu Sanniang.


    Following that, several of Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s sisters and acquaintances from town, dressed in silk attire and apanied by two servant girls each, arrived with gifts.


    Some familiar faces from the town also attended, including the carpentry shop and Jingtai Restaurant¡¯s owner.


    Finally, the rtives from Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s family arrived, which was the first time Qiao Mai saw them.


    Her parents appeared to be around fifty years old and well-preserved. It was evident that they rarely engaged in manualbor.


    Her older brother, Lu Haoran, dressed in schrly robes, exuded an intellectual air. He currently runs a private school at home. Her sister-inw, Madam Lu Qi, was slightly plump and had an average appearance, but she had an astute and graceful demeanor, devoid of any unpleasantness.


    They brought along their son and daughter, both already married. The married couples held their children in their arms.


    Only Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s mother gave her daughter a red cloth bundle.


    There weren¡¯t many guests today, so there were no banquet tables. All the congrattory gifts were handed over to Shopkeeper Lu.


    Unexpectedly, the Mayor of Tianhe Town had also heard about the wedding and sent gifts¡­

 Chapter 109 - 109: Home Sweet Home

    Chapter 109: Home Sweet Home


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He and Mayor Qian were also considered friends. The gifts he sent were substantial. To put it inly, it was an attempt to establish a connection after meeting the Magistratest time.


    Lu Sanniang felt a bit embarrassed but didn¡¯t make a fuss. She graciously epted the gifts.


    Everyone sat in the living room, drinking tea and chatting while waiting for the groom to arrive.


    Old Mister Wang and his wife were present but as ordinary guests. They sat in a corner, sipping tea and snacking on melon seeds.


    The two mayors didn¡¯t dare to disturb them and sat on the side, chatting about the town¡¯s affairs and exchanging ideas.


    After exchanging greetings with her sisters and the elders of the Lu family, Lu Sanniang sat at a table in a corner and spoke softly.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia took all the children to the amusement park in the backyard. Snacks that children loved were prepared.


    Yuan Jiaqi remained by Qiao Mai¡¯s side. On this asion, as a married couple, they had to present a united front and not make a spectacle of themselves.


    He helped Qiao Mai with the household chores, knowing she was tired during this period. He did what he could to assist her.


    Lu Sanniang apanied her family to the backyard, gave some instructions upon seeing Ruxin, and then returned to the front hall.


    ¡°Daughter, your house is big and nice.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. There are still two courtyards empty. After the busy farming season, you cane to our house and stay until the end of the year. How about that?¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no ce like your home, even if it¡¯s not as grand as others. Once you get used to it, you don¡¯t want to move.¡±


    Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t try to persuade them further. She knew no matter how well she treated her parents, they would naturally follow their son when it came to their way of thinking.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi approached. ¡°Greetings, Uncle and Aunt, Elder Brother and Elder Sister!¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Lu Sanniang quickly introduced them, ¡°These are my sworn sister and brother-inw. They¡¯ve been helping me at home these days.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite. Sister Lu has treated me very well. This is what we should do.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly paid his respects, and the Lu couple praised his appearance and demeanor.


    After paying their respects, Qiao Mai only nced at Lu Sanniang¡¯s older brother and sister-inw before taking Yuan Jiaqi to the other side of the entrance.


    With nothing else to do, Yuan Jiaqi said, ¡°Did you notice? Mayor Qian didn¡¯t greet Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°I noticed. There might be something going on behind the scenes. Let¡¯s not ask too many questions.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Six tables of food were prepared in the kitchen. I wonder if it¡¯s enough.


    Have we prepared red envelopes on the bride¡¯s side?¡±


    ¡°Sister Lu should have prepared them, but it¡¯s fine even if she didn¡¯t. I¡¯ve prepared some just in case.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so nice to them.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t I good to your family?¡±


    ¡°Even better. You¡¯re nice to everyone. You¡¯re the best woman in the world.¡±


    As they talked, firecrackers sounded. The carriage from the Feng family had arrived to escort the bride, and several carriages stopped at the entrance of Lucky Garden.


    Each horse was adorned with red silk, and the groom, dressed in red, dismounted and bowed to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Feng Yinshi hase to escort the bride!¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him. He was still as shy as ever. She nodded and made a weing gesture. The husband and wife escorted him into the courtyard.


    The maids sprinkled red flower petals in front of them, and no one gave the groom a hard time. They arrived outside Ruxin¡¯s bedroom without any obstacles.


    Ruxin was already wearing her bridal veil, clutching Ruyi¡¯s hand tightly. She was exceptionally nervous.


    ¡°Sister, don¡¯t panic. Don¡¯t speak when your veil is on. You can¡¯t talk once it¡¯s covered.¡±


    She handed Ruxin an apple, and the maids and nannies beside her alsoforted her.


    Since Ruxin had no brothers, the Lu family of three had discussed it and decided to let Ruyi carry her.


    Today, Ruyi was dressed as a man to carry her sister to the wedding sedan. When Feng Yinshi entered Ruxin¡¯s room and saw how festive everything was, he was overjoyed.


    Seeing Ruxin, who was veiled, he took a deep breath and gently said, ¡°Xin¡¯er, I¡¯vee to escort you.¡±


    Two maids helped Ruxin to her feet, and Feng Yinshi blushed, approaching to take her hand. However, he was stopped by the nanny.


    ¡°Groom, you can¡¯t hold hands now. You should use the bridal silk to lead the bride when you arrive at the Feng family¡¯s doorstep.¡±


    Under the crowd¡¯s guidance, they arrived at the wedding hall. By this time, everyone had gathered around, and the maids and nannies showered them with fresh flowers.


    Shopkeeper Lu sat at the left side of the top seat, while the right remained empty. She approached and pulled Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°You¡¯re her Master, so sit here.¡±


    People nearby were curious, but Lu Sanniang exined to everyone despite Qiao Mai¡¯s objections.


    ¡°Madam Qiao is Xin¡¯er¡¯s master. She taught her the art of double-sided embroidery. Since my husband is not here, it is only right for her master to ept her bow when Xin¡¯er gets married.¡±


    Although Mayor Qian didn¡¯t know the details, he could guess. The Wang family probably understood as well.


    There was no choice. Under Lu Sanniang¡¯s insistence, Qiao Mai sat in the main seat on the right.


    They bid farewell to Ruxin and Feng Yinshi, watching as Ruyi carried Ruxin and the groom out of the living room. Tears welled up in Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s eyes. From now on, her daughter belonged to another family, and she couldn¡¯t see her every day.


    Her baby would have to make a living in someone else¡¯s house. Would she be wronged or spoiled there? She couldn¡¯t protect her at the first moment anymore. It was painful for her.


    Her good friends came up tofort her, but Qiao Mai sighed. This was the reality for daughters in ancient times. Once they married, they were far away from their parents. How long would it take to return to their parent¡¯s house?


    Unlike now, parents would be overjoyed if their daughter would get married.


    Half an hourter, the carriages from the Feng family, loaded with dowry, left Tianshui Town.


    The wedding banquet began, and the weather was quite nice today, so everything was set up in the courtyard.


    Sixrge rotating round tables were set up, giving the guests a glimpse of thevish feast. The dishes on the tables were unprecedented in Wei City.


    All of this was arranged by Qiao Mai!


    The wine served was the most famous Ten-Mile Fragrance in the city. Children who could eat by themselves were seated at separate tables, with Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er taking care of them.


    Mayor Qian, the Mayor of Tianhe Town, and the Wang family sat at one table.


    Shopkeeper Lu apanied her friends at one table, while Qiao Mai sat with the elder brother and sister-inw of the Lu family.


    Tong, the Jingtai Restaurant¡¯s Shopkeeper and the owner of the carpentry shop, along with a few others, sat at another table. It took only five tables.


    The remaining table was given to the kitchen, allowing them to prepare more dishes and inviting others to join the festivities.


    Lu Sanniang¡¯s brother¡¯s family acted like they were at home, assuming the role of hosts. In their conversations, they acted as if they were the masters of this ce, while Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were guests.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t mind. Ignorance was bliss, and Lu Sanniang hadn¡¯t told them the truth. Even if they treated this ce as the Lu family¡¯s residence, it was perfectly reasonable.


    After the wedding banquet, the two mayors bid farewell and left while the Wang family returned to their courtyard.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi directed the servants to clean up and restore everything to normal. After everything in the house was back in order, Qiao


    Mai took Ling¡¯er to rest in the backyard, and Yuan Jiaqi took Chuan¡¯er to rest. Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er returned to their courtyards.


    Lu Sanniang¡¯s friends also bid their farewells and left.


    Only the Lu family remained in the front hall. With no outsiders present, her parents asked questions.


    ¡°Is the old couple living here too?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu nodded embarrassedly. They continued, ¡°Is Madam Qiao¡¯s family also staying at your house?¡±


    She nodded again, her parents scolding her.


    ¡°Now that you have money, you don¡¯t know how to save. Do you think your money is blown in by the wind?¡±


    Lu Sanniang had Ruyi take her family¡¯s nephews and nieces to y in the courtyard.


    She felt that this misunderstanding couldn¡¯t continue. Earlier, she saw her sister-inw¡¯s eyes light up when she looked at those chickens, deer, and cows..

 Chapter 110 - 110: She Had a Poor Life Too

    Chapter 110: She Had a Poor Life Too


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Those are raised by her sister delicately. They¡¯re only allowed to eat eggs; not a single animal can be ughtered. If they want to eat chicken, they have to purchase it. But the way her sister-inw behaves, it¡¯s clear she wants a few.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, there are no outsiders here, so I¡¯ll tell you the truth.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is there something else here?¡±


    ¡°This house belongs to Madam Qiao, not me.¡±


    ¡°What? It¡¯s not yours?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    On the side, Madam Lu Guo sneered. ¡°Is this because you¡¯re afraid we¡¯ll ask you for things when we leave?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask the Mayor.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like this.¡±


    Lu Sanniang briefly exined Qiao Mai¡¯s situation, and the members of the Lu family finally understood. They realized their granddaughter¡¯s splendid marriage today was all thanks to Madam Qiao.


    ¡°She¡¯s had a hard life too.


    ¡°Yes, but she has a kind heart. Even with money, she doesn¡¯t forget me. She took in Ruxin and Ruyi as apprentices and taught them double-sided embroidery. Since my house is small, she let us move in, saying she wanted Ruxin to marry in style from here. Our family freeloads on her, and even this wedding feast is provided by her. She does it willingly. Dad, Mom, please don¡¯t mention anything else in the future.¡±


    ¡°No, no, you¡¯ve made it clear. We won¡¯t be so oblivious to right and wrong.¡±


    ¡°Humph, no matter how good she is, you¡¯re her benefactor. Without you, could she have what she has today?¡±


    ¡°Sister-inw, don¡¯t speak so harshly. Without me, someone else might have saved her. With her skills, someone else would have saved her. At that time, the one who became wealthy would be someone else, and I¡¯m fortunate to bask in her glory.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a fool!¡±


    Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t want to bother with her. ¡°Dad, Mom, big brother, now that you know about this matter, please keep it to yourselves. It¡¯s better not to talk about it outside. She doesn¡¯t want to be entangled with her blood rtives and inws who are like vampires.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t say anything.¡±


    All three assured Lu Sanniang, except for Madam Lu Guo, who gave a cold snort.


    Although she didn¡¯t like her sister-inw, Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t let them leave empty-handed. She brought many gifts for them, including many items from Qiao Mai¡¯s shop.


    These were all prepared in advance by Qiao Mai as return gifts. Today¡¯s wedding guests wouldn¡¯t leave empty-handed.


    Especially for the Lu family, who received the most and heaviest gifts.


    Old Mister Wangyfortably on the bed, and his wife sat on the side, drinking hot water.


    ¡°Lu Sanniang¡¯s family is good, but her eldest sister-inw is difficult to get along with.¡±


    ¡°Do you see that?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t be fooled by her appearance. She may look kind, but her eyes are cold, and she exudes a sense of cruelness. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s not easy to deal with. ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. Shopkeeper Lu lives in the Qiao family, not her own. Her sister-inw has parents-inw and a husband. She wouldn¡¯t dare to cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they have Mayor Qian backing them up. They won¡¯t dare to do anything.¡±


    ¡°I heard her brother is a schr.¡±


    ¡°Schrs are everywhere in the county town. What¡¯s so special about a schr?¡±


    Old Mister Wang didn¡¯t think much of schrs, and Old Mistress Wang snorted.


    ¡°You don¡¯t care about schrs because of your status, but in the eyes of themoners here, schrs have official positions. Most people won¡¯t dare to provoke them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The Qiao family has me backing them up.¡±


    ¡°True. Madam Qiao is great. She not only has a kind heart but also a good temper. If you treat her well, she¡¯ll treat you ten times and a hundred times better. During the time I lived in her house, I felt sofortable, even more so than at home. You know my temperament. There aren¡¯t many people who get along with me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s not nosy at all. She treats us like family, and everything in her house is at your disposal. She never interferes. If she does say something, it¡¯s probably because she wants to make you something delicious.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Look at how well she¡¯s kept the house. It¡¯s full of flowers and nts and clean everywhere. As long as it¡¯s visible, there¡¯s no clutter. It¡¯s sofortable.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to take a liking to her. If you have time, pay more attention to her. Don¡¯t just look at her skills. There are all kinds of humans in the society.


    It¡¯s easy to make others jealous. Even if we protect her, it¡¯s hard to guard against a hidden arrow. Be cautious, even with us backing her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be careful. If your family isn¡¯t enough, you have me. My family isn¡¯t one to be trifled with.


    ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re so old, yet still talking about your maternal family.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t forget that my parents are still alive. My brothers send gifts every year. They care about their sister. Unlike your Wang family, who ims to be harmonious on the outside but always trying to profit from the sidelines.¡±


    ¡°Alright, they¡¯re the main family, and we¡¯re a branch. We can only thrive as long as they don¡¯t fall.¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t like them.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like them, say less. Just keep it in your heart.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang red at him and even hit him with her hand. She wasn¡¯t afraid of him. After all, she used to be a fierce woman.


    She only began to calm down when she got older. Now, she likes to nt flowers and look after animals in Qiao Mai¡¯s house.


    She adores Wu Zhui and Sai Xue. She always goes out to buy meat and cooks a pot for them in her kitchen.


    As for the son-inw from the Feng family returning home in three days, Qiao Mai left it to Shopkeeper Lu to handle.


    She had a lot of other things to take care of, especially this season when she needed to stock up on goods for the winter.


    She had ordered manyrge jars from the craftsmen and ced them along the wall, one by one. They looked nice.


    Each jar came with a matching sealed lid, and Shopkeeper Niu had written a sign at the shop entrance, stating that they would purchase cabbage, radishes, and other vegetables. As long as the quality was good, the price was not an issue.


    Every day, farmers who came to her shop to sell vegetables lined up. Qiao Mai and the maids would clean and drain the cabbage at home, then divide it into portions.


    Some were used to make sour cabbage, some spicy cabbage, some spicy dried radish, and some to make a mixed pickle.


    The mixed pickle included cabbage, radishes, ginger, and long green beans, all stored in her space.


    Up to now, she hadn¡¯t had time to nt vegetables. All of hernd was nted with rare medicinal herbs. Once she sold this batch of herbs, she would make a lot of money, which she could exchange for spirit stones.


    With spirit stones, she could cultivate and also buy things like cultivation manuals from the tform.


    After finishing the external affairs, she would have time to tidy up her space and n again.


    After this round of nning, some of thend would no longer be used.


    When Ruxin returned home three dayster, Shopkeeper Lu and Ruyi weed them at the door.


    Seeing the couple holding hands as they got off the carriage, looking sweet and shy, it was clear they were deeply in love.


    The maids carried many gifts, which they brought back directly to the yard where Shopkeeper Lu lived.


    In the living room, Shopkeeper Lu held Xin¡¯er¡¯s hand, and Feng Yinshi sat at the bottom, bowing his head slightly in a respectful manner. There was no one else in the room, and Xin¡¯er felt a bit apologetic.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯ve already talked to Yinshi about Master and our family.¡± Lu Sanniang looked at her son-inw and said, ¡°I can¡¯t agree to it because that man is the grandfather of my sister¡¯s friend, not a real teacher. He takes students based on his preferences.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Later, I¡¯ll go with Xin¡¯er to see him. If it works, it works; if it doesn¡¯t, we won¡¯t force it.


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t go empty-handed. Even though the teacher doesn¡¯t value your things, courtesy is important.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Watching the two holding hands as they walked out of the living room, Lu Sanniang sighed. This was their purpose of visiting, and there was no escaping it.


    She also wanted the best for her son-inw, but since it was said to be inappropriate, trying it out would be a bit unkind.


    Qiao Mai was busy putting cabbage into jars when the maids came over to talk to her about this matter.


    ¡°Well, I understand. You can go do your work.¡±


    ¡°Okay..¡±

 Chapter 111 - 111: A Family Should Be Honest

    Chapter 111 - 111: A Family Should Be Honest


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After sending the maid away, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t stop her actions. She had nothing to do with this, pushing the responsibility to Old Mister Wang. If he were willing to ept one more student, he would teach; it would simply mean having one more student. If he wasn¡¯t, with his status, who would dare to be angry with him?


    At that moment, Old Mistress Wang was in the backyard feeding small animals, while Old Mister Wang was inside the house, sipping tea and reading a book.


    The maid at the door said, ¡°Master, Miss Xin¡¯er and her husband have returned ande to see you.¡±


    Old Mister Wang responded with an ¡°Okay¡± and instructed them toe in.


    Xin¨¦r and her husband entered the room and quickly paid their respects to Old Mister Wang.


    ¡°Xin¡¯er and Feng Yinshi pays respects to Old Mister Wang.¡±


    ¡°Okay, please have a seat.¡±


    Following them were two maids who ced a gift box on the table and then discreetly left.


    ¡°Where is Old Mistress Wang?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s in the backyard, spending all day with those little ones; she¡¯s fonder of them than our own grandson.¡±


    Feng Yinshi looked at Xin¡¯er with an expectant gaze. She had spent a considerable amount of time in the house and had some understanding of Old Mister Wang¡¯s preferences.


    ¡°Mister, are you still epting students?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not epting any more students. The few I have are keeping me busy. At my age, I should be enjoying retirement. If it weren¡¯t for your Master¡¯s excellent culinary skills, which keep meing back for more, I wouldn¡¯t even consider teaching these few.¡±


    ¡°Mister, Xin¡¯er¡¯s husband is eighteen this year. He passed the schr¡¯s exam at sixteen and wants to advance further. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°He should go to the Windforest Academy in the Capital. They produce many schrs and graduates.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s difficult to get in there without connections, and the tuition is quite high. My family can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Old Mister Wang narrowed his eyes, and his expression darkened slightly. He looked deeply at Xin¡¯er.


    Once a woman became someone else¡¯s daughter-inw, her thoughts revolved entirely around her inws, without considering Madam Qiao and Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to spend money but still want your husband to learn from a renowned teacher. Is there such a good deal in this world? Take your Master, for example. Despite not paying me for tuition, do you know how much she spends on me every year? It¡¯s three times more than the tuition fee.¡±


    Xin¡¯er and Feng Yinshi blushed. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mister.¡±


    ¡°You call me ¡®Mister.¡¯ Then I will be straightforward. Your Master has been exceptionally good to you. You won¡¯t be able to repay her in this lifetime. What have you done for her?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ashamed.¡±


    ¡°Do you see how hard she works day in and day out for this household, earning money to support it? Your family lives here, eats and drinks here, and all the moneyes from her. Even the money for your wedding was provided by her. Have you ever thought about sharing her burdens?¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°My tuition fees are much higher than those in the Capital, and you still want to benefit from your master¡¯s reputation by enrolling your husband here, right?¡±


    ¡°This aside, will you and your husband move back here if I agree, continuing to live and eat for free? Your Master won¡¯t take money from you.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll be here to bask in her glory. Have you thought about your


    Master? Is she tired? Does she have enough money to support this big family?¡±


    ¡°I care about your Master. She¡¯s exhausted and overworked. I don¡¯t want to bring more people into this household and burden her.¡±


    Xin¡¯er and Feng Yinshi were embarrassed and blushing. ¡°Mister, you¡¯re right. Xin¡¯er never thought that way. I only thought teaching one or two more students wouldn¡¯t be a big deal.¡±


    ¡°If it were that easy, anyone who enters a school could be an official. Do you realize a teacher does not take their role lightly? He needs to mentor and identify a student¡¯s shorings one by one. It¡¯s not just physically exhausting but also mentally draining.¡±


    ¡°Mister, I¡¯m truly sorry. Xin¡¯er didn¡¯t mean to do that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re used to it. You¡¯re used to your Master¡¯s efforts. If you¡¯reing here to ask me to help your husband enroll in the Windforest Academy, I wouldn¡¯t be upset. But you¡¯re thinking of pushing your husband to me, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The two hung their heads, rendered speechless by Old Mister Wang¡¯s words.


    ¡°Out of respect for your Master, I won¡¯t say harsher words. If it were someone else, I¡¯d definitely scold them.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Mister. Xin¡¯er was thoughtless today.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to go to the Windforest Academy?¡± ¡°Yes. Even if it means spending all my dowry, I want my husband to go.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t run out of dowry. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m a fool.¡±


    Old Mister Wang got up, went to the desk, and picked up a pen. He wrote a rmendation letter and sealed it in an envelope addressed to the dean of Windforest Academy.


    After sealing the letter, he handed it to Xin¡¯er.


    ¡°Girl, you should still consider your family even after you¡¯re married. Your mother and master have had a hard time. Your mother emptied her savings to ensure you had a good wedding, and Madam Qiao just built a new house but didn¡¯t have much money left. Look at that vegetable pickling pot by the courtyard wall; she and her staff pickle vegetables every day to make extra money, hoping to get a good price in the winter.¡± Tears welled up in Xin¡¯er¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mister, I was wrong!¡±


    ¡°Think before you act.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mister!¡±


    With the letter in hand, the young couple bid farewell to Old Mister Wang and left the main hall. Shopkeeper Lu saw their expressions and knew things hadn¡¯t gone as nned. Xin¡¯er told Shopkeeper Lu about her visit to Old Mister Wang.


    Madam Lu also felt embarrassed; she knew she shouldn¡¯t have let her daughter approach Old Mister Wang so casually. She shared the responsibility of not stopping her.


    ¡°It¡¯s Mother¡¯s fault; I didn¡¯t consider things thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful. When our inws first mentioned it, I was against the idea. After all, Mister Wang is getting old and only teaches in the morning.¡± ¡°Mother-inw, I¡¯m already grateful. I¡¯ve caused trouble for Xin¡¯er and you.¡±


    ¡°When you get to the Windforest Academy, study diligently and strive to be a sessful schr.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, Mother-inw.¡±


    At noon, they prepared a table full of dishes in the kitchen. Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi came to apany them while Old Mister Wang and his wife dined in their courtyard.


    Yuan Jiayi wasn¡¯t even an exam candidate, and he didn¡¯t hide this fact from Feng Yinshi, but Qiao Mai could see from the way Feng Yinshi looked at him that he didn¡¯t think highly of Yuan Jiaqi. Perhaps he felt that at his age, Yuan Jiaqi should have achieved some status.


    Although he concealed his feelings well, Qiao Mai¡¯s perception was sharp.


    Nevertheless, it didn¡¯t matter whether an outsider respected or looked down upon them. As long as her sister and her family were doing well, that was enough.


    As long as she respected herself, that was what mattered.


    After the meal, Yuan Jiaqi returned to their courtyard. Qiao Mai and Shopkeeper Lu prepared many gifts for them.


    Shopkeeper Lu held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand. ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be polite. We¡¯re good sisters, so there¡¯s no need for formalities.¡±


    ¡°Today, Ruxin made a mistake.¡±


    ¡°What mistake?¡±


    ¡°She went to ask Old Mister Wang to ept Yinshi as his student, but he refused and scolded her.¡±


    ¡°Well, you should havee to me first. You couldn¡¯t bear to refuse Yinshi, but I could. Old Mister Wang never wanted to teach my husband and the others. His granddaughter forced him. He definitely won¡¯t ept more students. He doesn¡¯t care about favors or obligations; if he doesn¡¯t want to teach, he won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I knew that too. When they visited us in September, I hinted at them, but they insisted on going against the old master¡¯s wishes. There was nothing I could do.¡±


    ¡°Ruxin may be married now, but she¡¯s still simple-minded. You should teach her a few things so she won¡¯t be taken advantage of in her inws¡¯ home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take Ruyi to the county town every month to visit her.¡±


    ¡°You should rest now. I need to pickle vegetables and have a lot of work.¡±


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    ¡°No need. You¡¯re not used to this work. I¡¯ll handle it..¡¯

 Chapter 112 - 112: Worth A Lot

    Chapter 112 - 112: Worth A Lot


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai smiled and left. Shopkeeper Lu found Old Mister Wang. They had just finished their meal, walking in the courtyard to aid digestion.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault for not teaching my daughter well and not stopping them. I¡¯ve been negligent.¡±


    ¡°No one is to me. She simplifies things. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t want to take in any more students. I¡¯m getting old andzy, but there are some principles she needs to understand. People should learn to be grateful. Madam Qiao is grateful for your help and has been exceptionally kind to your family. However, it doesn¡¯t mean you can take advantage of her. Some things should be discussed with her first. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, Sir.¡±


    ¡°No matter how close the rtionship between sisters is, they should still observe decorum. They shouldn¡¯t take undue liberties.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Although I got to know youte, I have some acquaintance with Mayor Qian. I know about your situation. Once your second daughter is married, the old fool in his family should have passed away. It¡¯s been dragging on for so many years. You should understand his feelings towards you. It hasn¡¯t been easy for him to wait for you all these years, and he doesn¡¯t even have a maid by his side. His feelings are quite clear.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu blushed, ¡°I will consider it!¡±


    ¡°Go then!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡±


    After Shopkeeper Lu left, Old Mistress Wang smirked. ¡°It¡¯s rare that you didn¡¯t scold anyone.¡±


    ¡°Why should I scold them? That would only cause trouble for Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°You know that? You shouldn¡¯t have said all those things in the morning. You should have refused directly. You said so much as if they were living here, and Madam Qiao might have grievances that she couldn¡¯t express.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s no trust between sisters, why live together?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, if someone is petty, they might think Madam Qiao said something outside.¡±


    ¡°If Lu Sanniang really thinks that way, Mayor Qian¡¯s affection for her would have been in vain.¡±


    ¡°Do you think those pickled vegetables she made can be sold out?¡±


    ¡°They can. Trust her. Have you seen any snacks she¡¯s made that didn¡¯t sell well?¡±


    ¡°True. When those pickles are ready, we should try them.¡±


    ¡°We must. Everything she makes is so delicious, you want to bite your tongue off.¡¯


    ¡°Old man, let¡¯s go check the vegetable garden in the back. It¡¯s been nted for several days and should have sprouted by now.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two of them, apanied by their maidservant, went to the back. Inside the warm shed, a servant was watering, and they bent down to take a look.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s really sprouting. Oh my, this girl is quite something. It¡¯s this time of the year, and she can still grow vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so surprised. The flowers in our warm room bloom just as well in the winter. But I wonder how it¡¯ll hold up when it gets colder.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, she knows how to handle it.¡±


    They had great confidence in Qiao Mai. In fact, Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t concerned about how much money she could make in reality, as she had the business from the Interdimensional tform Trading Network.


    She was doing all this to give her money a legitimate source and to provide a purpose for the things she brought from the space.


    After all, if she could grow vegetables in winter, she could also obtain rare fruits and other items.


    Furthermore, she wanted to make these pickled vegetables for herself.


    Sauerkraut dumplings, stewed ribs, and pickled vegetables with porridge were even more refreshing than salted vegetables. Spicy cabbage was also delicious, and mixing it with rice was a delight.


    She also made some pickled and dried vegetables, which would be delicious in winter.


    Fresh vegetables, dried vegetables, pickled vegetables, fermented vegetables, and marinated vegetables all had their unique vors.


    At the end of October, the weather got colder, and it felt like water would freeze instantly when it was poured outside.


    All the cotton clothes for the Qiao family had been distributed, one set per person. Even the servants had their clothes, and the same went for the masters.


    All of them were custom-made from the clothing store in the county.


    When Shopkeeper Lu held the clothes, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. Since they moved to Lucky Garden in August, she hadn¡¯t spent a single penny.


    Qiao Mai had spent a lot of money on her daughter¡¯s wedding, but she didn¡¯t say anything about it.


    Lu Sanniang took a box from the cab. It contained a pair of jade bracelets that Mayor Qian had given her, which she hadn¡¯t worn.


    The jade bracelets were a pair. She kept one for herself and wrapped the other one in cloth. Then, she went to find Qiao Mai.


    It was already cold at this time, and her pickling business had stopped.


    To prevent therge jars from cracking due to the cold, Qiao Mai had them wrapped in quilts, and they were sealed tightly on top.


    She didn¡¯t continue with the pickling. At the moment, Qiao Mai was watching Ling¡¯er ying on the floor, with Yue Hong and Yue Xia apanying her. The Qiao family had an ample supply of charcoal, and the fire had been lit early in the house. They had started the heated beds as well.


    When Shopkeeper Lu came in, she was busy embroidering.


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re here. Have a seat.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu went over and pinched Ling¡¯er¡¯s little face. ¡°You¡¯re so busy, yet raising this child so well. You¡¯re amazing.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu reached out and put the bracelet on Qiao Mai¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Oh, are you trying to bribe me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, our whole family has been eating well, drinking well, and living well at your ce. We haven¡¯t spent a penny. I¡¯m afraid if we don¡¯t show something, you¡¯ll drive us away after the New Year.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re considerate. That¡¯s right, you can continue living here after the New


    Year.¡±


    ¡°Haha, talking to you always makes me happy!¡¯


    Qiao Mai touched the jade bracelet with her hand. ¡°It¡¯s quite valuable, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Just wear it.¡±


    Suddenly, Qiao Mai remembered something. She turned and took a piece of paper from the drawer in the cab and handed it to Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°I¡¯ve written down a recipe. You bought two stores for Xin¡¯er, but renting them out for a year won¡¯t make much money. Give her this recipe and let her hire a few employees to start her own business. As long as she follows the instructions, she can definitely earn a lot of money.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu trembled as she held the recipe in her hand. ¡°I gave you a bracelet, and you gave me a recipe. I could never pay you back.¡±


    ¡°Just take it. If I treated you all as strangers, I wouldn¡¯t have let you stay here with us in the first ce.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, what kind of recipe is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a delicious snack. If you¡¯re not sure, you can help her make it. Once the shop gets on track, you can let go. Remember not to set the price too low; snacks can make good money. Look at me.¡±


    Lu Sanniang licked her lips. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of Xin¡¯er.¡± ¡°That child is sincere. After marrying, his family may no longer support his education. Knowing Xin¡¯er¡¯s dowry, they will surely make her support it. It¡¯s not good to rely solely on others. I hope this recipe can help her.¡±


    Lu Sanniang sniffled. ¡°I can¡¯t find another woman as good as you.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Why would you want to find me? I¡¯d find it troublesome. When the twelfth monthes, I¡¯ll give you a folding screen and two pieces of clothing. You can sell them for a good price. Ruyi is not young anymore. It¡¯s about time to talk about marriage, right?¡±


    ¡°The matchmakers are practically trampling our doorstep.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, no rush. If your son-inw passes the imperial examination next year,


    Xin¡¯er¡¯s future inws will be even better.¡¯


    ¡°True. Is your husband taking the examination next year?¡±


    ¡°He is. I¡¯m counting on him to be a schr or even higher, so I can put ournd under his name. That way, I won¡¯t have to pay taxes. Those government officialse to collect taxes twice a year, and it¡¯s annoying. Besides, I¡¯ve been supporting them for so long; I should at least get my investment back.¡±


    ¡°But a schr can only be responsible for ten acres ofnd, and you have sixty-five acres.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I want him to aim higher. Being a Rmended Schr is close enough.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want him to be an official?¡±


    ¡°If he wants to, he can. I won¡¯t stop him. We¡¯re a fake couple, remember?¡± Lu Sanniang pursed her lips. ¡°Sister, I think he¡¯s a good guy. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if you were a real couple?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thatter. I¡¯m not in the mood for that now. I have several children to support at home.¡±


    ¡°Good men should be taken early, or someone else might snatch him away..¡±

 Chapter 113 - 113: I Haven’t Drank It For A Long Time

    Chapter 113 - 113: I Haven¡¯t Drank It For A Long Time


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°If someone can snatch him away, he wasn¡¯t meant to be mine. Let¡¯s talk about this when he passes the Imperial Examination. Besides, if he doesn¡¯t take the initiative, expecting me to do so is a no-go.¡±


    ¡°You know, when ites to pursuing a woman, there¡¯s a mountain in between, but when it¡¯s the other way around, there¡¯s just a thin veil. He¡¯s quite easy to pursue.¡±


    ¡°No, I like it when he pursues me.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to help you two?¡±


    ¡°No need. Let things happen naturally.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I didn¡¯t expect to profit when I came over today. It¡¯s still early; I¡¯ll give Xin¡¯er the recipe.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want it, take the recipe back. My recipes aren¡¯t for others, not even the Feng family.¡±


    After Shopkeeper Lu left, Qiaomai got off the heated bed and checked the weather at the door.


    She then retrieved her coat from the rack. ¡°You two, take care of Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Qiao Mai first checked the ten greenhouses at the back. There were five maids responsible for each one, each overseeing two plots ofnd.


    ¡°Later, light the charcoal stoves in the warm greenhouses. Do it as I told you. Be alert when you go to sleep at night. If it snows heavily, clear the umted snow from the warm greenhouses every half hour.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Next, she went to the chicken coop, quail coop, horse stable, deer stable, and cattle shed. Charcoal stoves were lit in each shed, ensuring all the animals were warm.


    Finally, she went to the kitchen with two maids, picked some pickled cabbage from arge jar against the wall, tasted it to confirm it was ready to eat, and then scooped out more. She returned to the kitchen and instructed the maids.


    ¡°Wash these pickled cabbages. We¡¯ll make pickled cabbage dumplings for lunch. This dish is salty, so no need to add salt to the meat filling. The shop¡¯s staff and the shopkeeper will take turns having their meals in the kitchen. Prepare some for them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    After giving all the instructions, she went to the shop.


    Shopkeeper Niu was doing the ounts, and the two assistants were selling goods. In the backyard, three other assistants were roasting goods. As soon as their boss arrived, they quickly bowed and greeted her.


    ¡°Mistress, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Yes. How¡¯s the business in this cold weather?¡±


    ¡°Roasted goods are selling well, but the profit margins are not great due to the high costs. The buckwheat cakes are selling well. With the cold weather, it¡¯s a bit slow for the fruits, but there are still some buyers. Sugar-coated haws are selling the best, so I instructed the assistants to make an extra pot every day.¡±


    ¡°Starting tomorrow, have the assistants go to therge jar by the west wall and fill containers with pickled cabbage. It¡¯s fifty coins per pound.¡±


    ¡°Pickled cabbage?¡±


    ¡°Yes, tell the customers that it can be eaten raw, used for dumplings, or simmered with pork bones, which gives it a unique vor.¡±


    ¡°Oh, by the way, the pickled vegetables in the southeast can be served now. Fill a barrel of each variety every day, and sell them at the same price as pickled cabbage.¡±


    ¡°As for soy-pickled vegetables, I didn¡¯t make many this year, so we won¡¯t sell them.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Mistress, your soy-pickled vegetables are delicious. They go well with rice and get tastier with each bite.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make more next year. Soon, the fresh vegetables from the fields will be avable for sale.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡±


    ¡°How are sales for cooked goods?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re decent, especially since it¡¯s cold. Fewer people are going out.¡±


    ¡°Buy some coarse cloth and have someone make thick curtains. Enclose the outdoor tables and chairs with them, leaving a space for the entrance. Make sure they look nice.¡±


    ¡°Will this not affect business?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t. These are all regr customers. Let the traveling merchants take a break and enjoy some free hot tea. It¡¯s good for them.¡±


    Speaking of hot tea, she thought of something delicious.


    ¡°Find a small pot for me, clean it, and ce it on the charcoal stove. Also, fetch half a bowl of sugar, half a bowl of tea leaves, and have someone bring half a bucket of fresh milk from the house.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    In no time, the required ingredients were prepared. Qiao Mai ced the pot on the stove, added a couple of handfuls of sugar, stirred until it melted, added a pinch of tea leaves, and continued stirring until the sugar turned caramel brown. Then, she poured fresh milk, brought it to a boil, and used a strainer to remove the tea leaves.


    She carried the pot and had a sip.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had this. It¡¯s still as delicious as ever and never gets old.¡±


    Hearing her words, everyone in the room started salivating.


    She addressed the group, ¡°Everyone here today gets a share. Come on, each of you take a bowl and help yourselves.¡±


    She sipped while the people rushed to get their bowls and tasted the milk tea. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s tasty. I didn¡¯t expect milk and tea leaves to go so well together.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the assistant who had been watching her every move.


    ¡°Have you learned it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be responsible for making this milk tea. It¡¯s fifty coins per bowl, and you¡¯ll make fifty bowls a day. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress. Hehe, with you here, we can introduce some great new items.¡±


    ¡°Starting today, eggs will cost an extra coin each, and the quail eggs will also go up a bit. Feeding these poultry in winter is more costly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have any more instructions for now. Manage the sales yourselves. You can have the kitchen prepare the pickled cabbage as a finished product for customers to taste. After all, it¡¯s a new ingredient, and people need to get a taste of it to be familiar.¡±


    Having said that, Qiao Mai left the shop. At noon, the whole family gathered at Old Mister Wang¡¯s courtyard, enjoying a warm meal of pickled cabbage dumplings.


    This vor of dumplings conquered everyone.


    Old Mister and Mistress Wang praised them while eating, and with the addition of the freshly pickled garlic, each of them had a big bowl and even nned to have another feast in a few days.


    Since they moved to the Qiao family, they had never been tired of eating. The Qiao family¡¯s food suited their taste perfectly.


    Even a simple bowl of in congee, apanied by a few small dishes of pickled vegetables, tasted delicious in the morning. After finishing their meal, they would stroll to the backyard where they had a vegetable garden, and visit the poultry they were raising. Their days were sofortable that words couldn¡¯t describe it.


    When there was a market in town, they would often take some people with them to go and explore. If they came across interesting items, they would buy a few as well.


    Their life was never dull, and they always found something new.


    As night fell, snowkes began to drift down from the sky. The snowfall wasn¡¯t heavy, but the wind picked up soon after.


    Qiao Mai was worried about the warm greenhouses and went to check on them, wrapped up warmly.


    The greenhouses were securely tied, and the grass curtains were thickly woven from top to bottom. The maids had tightly secured them with stones, ensuring the greenhouses werepletely sealed.


    Qiao Mai appreciated the maids¡¯ attentiveness, and after inspecting all ten greenhouses, she felt reassured.


    As she was about to leave, a few maids approached.


    They hade prepared with bedding rolled up in mats and nned to sleep in the greenhouses tonight. Qiaomai didn¡¯t stop them. After all, it was warm and clean inside the greenhouses.


    After giving some instructions, she headed back.


    Ling¡¯er was sleeping soundly on the bed, her cheeks rosy and plump.


    She was one year and nine months old now, able to run around and even squat to urinate.


    Ling¡¯er had her own wardrobe, shoe cab, toy cab, and baby food cab, all filled to the brim.


    Qiao Mai made several outfits for her every season.


    Whenever she came across new children¡¯s clothes in the market, she couldn¡¯t resist buying them.


    As a result, Ling¡¯er¡¯s wardrobe was overflowing, and Qiao Mai had to purchase an additional wardrobe for her.


    Whenever she had free time, Qiaomai would style Ling¡¯er¡¯s hair into various cute braids, a skill she had learned online.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia had also learned how to do it, so they often took turns styling Ling¡¯er¡¯s hair.


    Qiaomai had someone clean up arge room in the eastern wing of the house. She nned to have it ready after the New Year, and once Linger celebrated her second birthday, she would move into that room.


    Of course, Yue Hong and Yue Xia would apany her. Ling¡¯er would stay inside while the two would sleep in the outer room. This arrangement would allow them to respond quickly if they heard any noise and needed to check on Ling¡¯er.


    Ling¡¯er was incredibly well-behaved, always greeting everyone with a smile.


    Such a child was genuinely adored by everyone.


    Old Mistress Wang loved having Yue Hong and Yue Xia carry Ling¡¯er to y, and sometimes, she would give Ling¡¯er lots of jade ornaments.


    The pearl flowers on her head, the nes around her neck, and the little bracelets on her wrists were all gifts from the olddy..

 Chapter 114 - 114: Your Family Owns This?

    Chapter 114 - 114: Your Family Owns This?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She regarded Ling¡¯er like a granddaughter, not only treating Ling¡¯er well but also Feng¡¯er, Yun¡¯er, and Chuan¡¯er.


    Outside, the snow fell gently while Qiao Mai worked tirelessly in her space.


    The two thousand acres ofnd had already expanded to four thousandst night, and there was no sign of any activity within the space.


    The trading tform still only allowed selling and buying virtual items.


    After her space reached the third level, the spiritual energy had reached twenty percent. Qiao Mai used spirit stones and the space¡¯s spiritual energy to advance her cultivation speed.


    Since she started cultivating, she has reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement Realm, just two levels away from being able to build her foundation.


    Her internal energy had also been cultivated due to the blessing of her spiritual energy.


    She had her eye on many things on the tform, but unfortunately, she could only look. It was making her envious.


    Everything, from food and drink to daily necessities and clothing, was top-quality.


    Qiao Mai thought about the items on the tform while farming and couldn¡¯t help but gulp.


    Tonight, she nned to reorganize thend. It wouldn¡¯t be just for nting medicinal herbs; her previous stock was almost depleted.


    Constantly nting and selling medicinal herbs had reduced the number of people buying them.


    After all, her space was too heaven-defying. Once she nted a piece ofnd, she could harvest infinitely. What dimension could resist such a supply and demand?


    So, she categorized the seeds. First, she nted fruits, ten acres each, doubling to twenty acres.


    She currently has over sixty varieties of fruit seeds. She nted tree fruits first, then saplings, and finally vegetables.


    Each type of vegetable was nted in ten-acre plots, with over fifty varieties, including sapling and vine vegetables, each doubling to twenty acres.


    Finally, she nted trees. The rubber trees from before were still there, with twenty acres left. Qiao Mai had cut down all the others and piled them in a corner.


    There were quite a few varieties of trees; she only nted valuable ones or those that were useful to her.


    For example, camphor wood, nanmu, sandalwood, redwood, and agarwood. She nted all these precious trees in ten-acre plots.


    She didn¡¯t need to be too greedy; as long as they were nted, they would be inexhaustible and useful.


    After nting all these seeds, she had quite a few left.


    Looking at the remaining one hundred acres ofnd and seeing that the sky outside was getting brighter, she had a thought and nted wheat in the remainingnd.


    Grains were the most essential. It was good to stock up when there was nothing else to do. You never knew when there might be a drought or flood.


    Her space woulde in handy at that time. She didn¡¯t care if she was considered a saint, but at least in emergencies, it could prevent some people from starving.


    What made her a bit regretful was that the space didn¡¯t have a river or well. Up until now, she had been using bottled mineral water to irrigate.


    Nearly five thousand acres ofnd were now nted with seeds.


    Qiao Mai calcted with her fingers and felt that the space could be upgraded again after thend doubled in the next round.


    Upgrading became more challenging as it progressed and was a prolonged battle. If she wanted to buy physical items from the tform, she had to pay a price.


    After leaving the space, the sky was already bright. In fact, it was the same time it usually got bright, but the snow made it appear exceptionally radiant.


    Linger was still asleep In me Inner room, ana mere was no movement from the rooms of Yue Hong and Yue Xia.


    Taking care of the children was truly exhausting, so she never asked Yue Hong and Yue Xia to wake up early.


    After leaving the house and seeing the thick snow on the ground, she quickly headed to the back. At this time, Yuan Jiaqi was already up, clearing the umted snow from the greenhouse with brooms.


    The sky was still snowing, showing no signs of stopping.


    The maids had added coal to the stoves in the middle of the night, and the poultry house and greenhouse were well taken care of.


    It was rare for Old Mister and Mistress Wang to wake up early. When they came to the back, everyone gathered while chatting andughing.


    Lu Sanniang and Ruyi didn¡¯t rush to the store so early. The two also came over to join the fun.


    Breakfast was served in the main house where Qiao Mai lived. The kitchen sent over a hotmb soup paired with soft pastries, warming everyone¡¯s hearts in this harsh winter.


    Old Mistress Wang ordered a hotpot for lunch, knowing that the family would be busy at this time of year.


    After breakfast, everyone dispersed, and Qiao Mai went to the butcher shop.


    It was the right time to make bacon. She needed to stock up as her family went through meat quickly.


    As she passed Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, she noticed customers inside early in the morning. She smiled and didn¡¯t stop.


    The butcher had just ughtered two pigs and was busy preparing the pork when he saw her. His smile almost stretched to his ears.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you came to buy meat?¡±


    ¡°Yes, were these pigs just ughtered?¡±


    ¡°Yes, very fresh.¡±


    ¡°Clean them up. I¡¯ll take both of these pigs. I don¡¯t need the innards but clean therge and small intestines for me. I¡¯ll take those.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°After you¡¯ve cleaned them, weigh them and deliver them to Lucky Garden. Bill it to Shopkeeper Niu.¡¯


    ¡°Of course.¡¯


    ¡°Oh, starting today until the end of the year, keep the pig¡¯s trotters and small intestines after ughtering and send them to my house every three days. Make sure they¡¯re cleaned.¡±


    ¡°You can count on us.¡±


    Qiao Mai made her instructions clear, and then she was about to leave when she heard someone calling her.


    ¡°Mai?¡±


    The voice made her heart tremble. She turned gently and saw an elderly woman wearing a patched cotton coat tearing up as she looked at her.


    ¡°Aunt?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long. I didn¡¯t expect you to remember me.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her, feeling conflicted. This woman had once been the only source of warmth for her host. ¡°What are you doing in town?¡±


    The woman lowered her head.


    ¡°Since your grandparents passed away, I rarely came home. After this year¡¯s harvest, I visited Lihua Vige and heard about you. So, I wanted toe to town and get some pork to take back home.¡±


    Qiao Mai watched as the snow wetted the woman¡¯s hair.


    Then she said, ¡°Come with me.¡±


    She led the woman to a table outside Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. ¡°Have a seat. It¡¯s warm, and there¡¯s a charcoal fire.¡¯


    They sat down, and one of the attendants came over to greet Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mistress, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Go pour a bowl of milk tea and bring a few tea eggs.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    The woman couldn¡¯t believe her eyes and stammered, ¡°Is this your ce?¡± In no time, milk tea and tea eggs were brought over, and Qiao Mai pushed the tray towards her. ¡°Go ahead, eat.¡±


    ¡°This?¡±


    ¡°Eat your fill first.¡±


    With tears in her eyes, the woman peeled the tea eggs and sipped the milk tea while trying to conceal her hunger. But Qiaomai could still tell that she was starved.


    This woman was Qiao Shicheng¡¯s younger sister, Qiao Cuihua. She had married in a distant ce, almost near the northern border.


    In that ce, there was only one season to harvest crops each year, and life was tough. Qiao Mai¡¯s grandparents used to help her when they were alive, but after they passed away, Qiao Shicheng severed ties with his younger sister. When Qiao Mai was young, her parents favored her brothers over her, and she often didn¡¯t have enough to eat at home. Every time her aunt came, she would secretly slip her a few pieces of bread, letting her hide them and eat slowly.


    Qiao Cuihua had a hard time at home and needed help, but she could still share a portion of what her grandparents gave her with Qiao Mai, making her quite a kind person.


    So the host had always remembered Qiao Cuihua¡¯s kindness.


    Qiao Mai watched as the woman finished a big bowl of milk tea and six eggs and then let out a satisfied burp.


    ¡°Are you still hungry?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m full now.¡±


    ¡°Tell me the truth. Who encouraged you toe here?¡±


    Qiao Cuihua quickly shook her head. ¡°No one did. Your parents kicked me out, and I heard about this in the vige, so I came to see you.¡±


    ¡°Is it because your family is struggling to make ends meet?¡±


    The woman lowered her head and nodded softly. ¡°They said you were doing well, so I thought maybe I could borrow some grain from you.¡±


    As she spoke, her confidence waned, and her voice grew quieter until it was barely audible.


    Qiaomai fixed her gaze on her and said, ¡°Why pretend then? Why buy meat? You should havee to my house directly.. Did you think that if you didn¡¯t buy anything, I wouldn¡¯t recognize you as my aunt?¡±

 Chapter 115 - 115: This Is My Niece

    Chapter 115: This Is My Niece


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The woman suddenly raised her head and looked at Qiao Mai, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°I thought, I thought¡­¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re not like Qiao Shicheng¡¯s family and still have some humanity, I¡¯ll ept you as my aunt.¡±


    ¡°Mai, thank you!¡±


    ¡°Tell me about the situation at your home.¡±


    ¡°My parents-inw have passed away. The family separated as soon as they passed away. I have a son and two daughters. Your uncle is an honest man who only knows how to farm and does whatever work is avable.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved to have the waiter bring another bowl of milk tea.


    Qiao Cuihua swallowed and continued, ¡°Your cousin got married, but she¡¯s not doing well. My younger daughter hasn¡¯t gotten married yet, and my son married a wife and had a son. He¡¯s seven years old now.¡±


    ¡°How muchnd does your family have?¡±


    ¡°About ten acres, but thend there doesn¡¯t yield much. Even in a good season, one acre only produces three to four hundred catties. This ten acres ofnd only produces for one season, which isn¡¯t enough to feed the whole family. My son found some work in the town and earns about a hundred or so coins a month.¡±


    ¡°What about your younger daughter?¡± ¡°She usually cooks and takes care of the house.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you and she have any skills?¡±


    Qiao Cuihua blushed. ¡°We¡¯re poor, and no one taught us. There¡¯s no ce to learn.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t keep relying on others for food like this. You need to learn some skills and be self-reliant.¡¯


    ¡°How did youe here?¡±


    ¡°We have ox carts from our vige thate this way. I took the ox cart.¡±


    At this point, the milk tea arrived. ¡°Drink up, and after you¡¯re done, I¡¯ll help you pack some things and send you back. I¡¯ll also visit my uncle and cousins. If they deserve my help, I will, but if not, I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Mai, don¡¯t worry. They are all good people and nothing like your parents.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Since you know about my situation with them, we are no longer family. Don¡¯t say such things in the future.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    They were poor, and despite being Qiao Mai¡¯s aunt, Qiao Cuihua was stillcking in confidence. Right now, she was begging her niece.


    After finishing the milk tea, Qiao Mai took her to Lucky Garden. Along the way, Qiao Cuihua was amazed. ¡°Your home is really nice.¡± ¡°If you work hard, you can have a good life too.¡±


    ¡°As long as you give your cousins a chance, they will definitely do well.¡± Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say anything and took her to the stable. She had the carriage prepared and called a maid who knew how to drive the horse carriage. They went to the warehouse and loaded a sack of cornmeal and flour onto the carriage.


    Then Qiao Mai took out three sets of her old cotton clothes from the previous year. She gave one to her aunt, one to her cousin, and one to their sister-inw.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t have sses today. He prepared three sets of their old cotton clothes. Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er heard about it and prepared one set each. They all loaded the clothes onto the carriage.


    Qiao Cuihua kept bowing and saying thank you. At that moment, the most important thing was food and clothing.


    Qiao Mai informed her family and had someone help Qiao Cuihua onto the carriage. The maid drove them out of Lucky Garden.


    Passing by a meat stall, she had the butcher weigh ten catties of meat and load it onto the carriage before heading north.


    ¡°Mai, thank you!¡±


    ¡°I hope you are all good people. Do not disappoint me. I also want to have family and someone to talk to. Don¡¯t let me down after I¡¯ve given so much.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what to say. Let¡¯s see how things go in the future.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say much to her during the journey, and the woman kept her head down.


    They traveled about 100 miles from Tianshui Town, roughly the distance to the county.


    Qiao Cuihua directed the woman to drive the carriage onto a vige road.


    ¡°My family is in Liushu Town. This vige is mostly surnamed Liu. Your uncle is named Liu Dashan, my son is Liu Hai, and my daughters are Liu Mei and Liu Ye. Your sister-inw is Madam Sun, and your little nephew is Liu Bao¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Well, those names sound nice.¡±


    While they talked, the carriage entered the vige. It was rare to see such a grand carriage in the vige, and many people stopped to look from a distance.


    Qiao Cuihua pointed down the road, and the carriage stopped in front of an adobe house.


    After getting out of the carriage, Qiao Mai saw that although it was an adobe house, the walls were not in tatters. Many old and damaged areas had been repaired.


    The door, though old, was not broken, indicating that this family was hardworking.


    Qiao Cuihua was somewhat excited and didn¡¯t even dare to hold Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll call them over.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    She ran a few steps forward, pushed open the door, and stood at the door, shouting inside, ¡°Husband, Dahai, Ye¡¯er,e out. Look who¡¯s here!¡±


    Her voice was loud, and everyone came out at once.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯re back. Did you borrow the grain?¡±


    ¡°Mother, who is it?¡±


    Several people walked toward her, and Qiao Cuihua stepped aside. They saw a young woman who wasn¡¯t tall but dressed nicely.


    ¡°This is my niece from Lihua Vige.¡±


    ¡°Is this really Mai?¡±


    Qiao Mai had only met Qiao Cuihua aside from her immediate family as they were poor and couldn¡¯t afford to visit rtives. They would save every bit of money. Even during the holidays, only Qiao Cuihua would return to her family.


    ¡°Uncle!¡± She nodded to him.


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ve been so poor all these years, and we haven¡¯t returned to


    Lihua Vige with your aunt. Come in quickly!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s grain in the carriage for you. Unload it first.¡¯


    When they heard about the grain, the family¡¯s mouths all watered, and Liu Hail s son raised his head.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m hungry!¡±


    Liu Hai wiped away a tear. ¡°Your aunt brought you something to eat. We can have it after a while.¡¯


    Tworge bags of grain and ten catties of meat were carried into the house. Qiao Mai sat down on an old chair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. Make some food for the child first. No need to cook for me; I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll go make it. Let your aunt and your cousin and sister-inw keep youpany.¡±


    Liu Dashan took Liu Hai to the kitchen.


    Madam Liu Qiao pulled Liu Bao and came to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Greet your Aunt!¡±


    Liu Bao timidly called out to Qiao Mai, ¡°Hello, Aunt!¡±


    Qiao Mai was always kind to children, especially when she saw a well-behaved and sensible child. Her stern face softened.


    She took a silver ingot from her purse. ¡°Since you called me Aunt, here¡¯s a gift for you. y with it.¡±


    Madam Liu Sun, the sister-inw, hurriedly said, ¡°Cousin, this gift is too valuable.¡±


    ¡°For me, it¡¯s not valuable. Take it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of the child.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked into her eyes, which were filled with excitement rather than greed. In this family¡¯s situation, money was the most suitable gift. Liu Ye also came forward and gave a salute. ¡°Cousin, I¡¯m Liu Ye.¡±


    ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Fourteen.¡±


    ¡°Three years younger than me.¡±


    Looking at her clothes, although they had patches, they were clean. The same went for her sister-inw. With a nce, Qiao Mai could tell their character.


    They were honest and straightforward, unlike Qiao Shicheng, whose name was honest but was anything but.


    Farmhouse meals were prepared quickly. They lit a big fire, added water to a pot, and put in some sweet potatoes. Then they added half a bowl of cornmeal and simmered it. It would be ready in no time.


    ¡°Cousin, aren¡¯t you working in town?¡±


    ¡°The weather got cold and snowed again, so his employer let hime home.


    It¡¯s hard to find work in the winter.¡¯


    They took turns eating in the kitchen and then returned to the room. They were still strangers, so there wasn¡¯t much to talk about.


    After exchanging a few simple words, Qiao Mai stood up to leave.


    ¡°In a couple of days, send Liu Ye to my house. I¡¯ll find her some work. She can start by learning some skills at the Embroidery Workshop. There won¡¯t be any pay initially, but once she learns, she¡¯ll have a monthly ie. The amount depends on how well she learns.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao was delighted to hear this. ¡°Mai, thank you!¡± Liu Ye wiped away a tear as well.. ¡°Thank you, Cousin!¡±

 Chapter 116 - 116: It’s Easy to Invite a Guest, But Hard to Send Him Away

    Chapter 116: It¡¯s Easy to Invite a Guest, But Hard to Send Him Away


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you all a chance. Make good use of it. As for Liu Hai, he cane along when the time is right. In the next few days, I¡¯ll see if I can find him some work in our town. But if you dare to have close dealings with Qiao Shicheng, don¡¯t me me for cutting ties with you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, we won¡¯t.¡±


    The family listened to her words, their eyes welling up with tears. They escorted her to the carriage and then wiped away their tears and turned back.


    Once in the carriage, Qiao Mai¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t much better either.


    She was willing to do all of this for the host of her body. After all, they were family, and even if Qiao Cuihua could offer her only a bit of warmth, she wanted to repay that kindness.


    The carriage entered the town, and she asked the coachman to go straight to Jingtai Restaurant.


    Shopkeeper Tong was busy tallying ounts behind the counter. She walked directly to him and knocked on it. The shopkeeper looked up and smiled immediately upon seeing her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re a rare guest.¡±


    ¡°Can you arrange a position for someone in your shop?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s their rtionship with you?¡± ¡°My cousin!¡± ¡°Well, I can, but I have a request.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Can you sell me a few recipes? I¡¯ll pay a high price.¡± Qiao Mai squinted. ¡°Sure, how much are you willing to pay?¡± ¡°It depends on the recipes.¡±


    ¡°Alright, fine. I haven¡¯t had lunch yet. Is the kitchen still open?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai took off her cloak and hung it on the back of a chair, then went straight to the kitchen with Shopkeeper Tong following closely behind.


    She nced at the ingredients and had an idea.


    She decided to exclude the recipes she had sold to the Wang family. In a small town, there wasn¡¯t much demand for extravagant dishes. Simple stir-fries were more suitable.


    She quickly started to prepare the ingredients. Her exceptional knife skills left the shopkeeper dumbfounded.


    With the ingredients ready, she heated the oil in a pan, and every step she took was skillful. It seemed Qiao Mai had a lot of experience in cooking, probably from doing it frequently at home.


    In no time, she had prepared a te of shredded pork in garlic sauce, mapo tofu, braised chicken pieces, and saut¨¦ed fish segments.


    ¡°Do you have rice?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong personally served her a bowl of rice, and she set the chopsticks on the kitchen table.


    ¡°Come on, try it. I need to eat. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong, his mouth-watering, picked up the chopsticks. Although the dishes looked like ordinary home-style stir-fry, they tasted incredibly delicious.


    He watched Madam Qiao enjoy her meal so much that he served himself a bowl of rice. In no time, the two had polished off all four dishes.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°Delicious. ¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s it worth? Give me a number.¡± ¡°Fifty taels for each dish. How about that?¡± ¡°What about my cousin?¡±


    ¡°He cane whenever he wants. My shop has been short of a helper for a while now. Once these four dishes are added to the menu, the business will definitely pick up.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a shrewd one. Get some paper and a pen.¡±


    She wrote down the recipes for the four dishes, and the shopkeeper gave her two hundred taels of silver.


    ¡°You really know how to make money. You came here to have a free meal and ended up making a profit.¡±


    ¡°I brought you a diligent helper and sold you four recipes. You¡¯re the one who benefited the most. Remember, if any of the ingredients mentioned in the recipes are unavable, you can buy them from the apothecary.¡± ¡°Alright. I heard you¡¯re growing greenhouse vegetables?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯ll be ready by the end of the month. But the variety is limited. If I want to grow more types, I¡¯ll have to wait until the middle of the twelfth month.¡±


    ¡°Is it a fixed quantity every day?¡±


    ¡°Yes, mynd is limited to a few acres, so I can¡¯t produce a variable amount daily.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send my helper early to grab some.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Deal. If you ever need anything, talk to Shopkeeper Niu first.


    If he can¡¯t handle it, then talk to me.¡¯


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    After Qiao Mai left, Shopkeeper Tong sighed in self-pity as he watched her retreating figure.


    The chef behind him poked him and said, ¡°Bring the recipe. I¡¯ll hurry to try making it, and we can add it to the menu tomorrow.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not as good as Madam Qiao. Look at her. She arrived in town a little over a year ago and had built such arge mansion. She even befriended the mayor, and I heard she knows important people who are living in her house.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not just a regr person.¡±


    ¡°Then what is she?¡±


    ¡°A goddess.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s an interesting way to put it. She¡¯s be a legend in our small town.¡±


    Qiao Mai returned home and took off her outer clothes. Yuan Jiaqi came over shortly after.


    ¡°How is your aunt¡¯s family doing?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re fine, just dealing with a shortage of food and clothing. But I¡¯ve sent them supplies.¡±


    ¡°If it gets tough, why don¡¯t you bring them here to live?¡±


    ¡°No. We don¡¯t know each other well enough. What if they turn out to be like the Qiao and Tian family or your parents? You should know that inviting a guest is easy, but sending them away is difficult.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s been so many years; you don¡¯t really know them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for my cousin to learn embroidery at Sister Lu¡¯s ce. It¡¯s a useful skill. As for my male cousin, I¡¯ve arranged for him to work as an assistant at Jingtai Restaurant. Let¡¯s start with this, and I¡¯ll observe their characters as we go.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er looked at her. ¡°Mom, you look so tired with all this going on.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, bent down, and hugged him, kissing his little cheek.


    Chuan¡¯er¡¯s face turned red.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m almost six years old after the New Year. You can¡¯t kiss me anymore.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only for strangers. You can still get kisses from your family, especially your parents.¡±


    ¡°But other people don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Alright, from now on, I won¡¯t kiss you anymore. Have you and your siblings been practicing martial arts diligently?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve been practicing every day.¡±


    ¡°Good. After the New Year, you can pair up and spar. Just practicing punches won¡¯t cut it. You need to learn how to dodge and strike your opponent¡¯s weak points. I¡¯ll teach you when the New Yeares.¡±


    ¡°Great! Nobody dares to bully us now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t yed with other kids yet.¡±


    ¡°But Mom, we did y with other kids. We yed with the kids from Aunt Lu¡¯s family.¡±


    Qiao Mai was surprised. ¡°How did you y with them?¡±


    ¡°We yed in the backyard yground. When they wanted to y, we let them have a turn, and when they wanted to y something else, we let them. But they always grabbed whatever we were ying with. Even the snacks on the table, they wouldn¡¯t let us have any. So we fought.¡±


    ¡°This happened?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we beat them.¡±


    ¡°You must have felt wronged.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. In our house, they were guests, and we were the hosts. We should have been amodating. But if they didn¡¯t act like guests, we couldn¡¯t give them face either.¡¯


    ¡°You did the right thing.¡±


    She praised the children and also gave each of them a silver ingot.


    ¡°Go and y now. Mom is tired. I won¡¯t be joining you for dinner tonight.¡±


    After seeing off Yuan Jiaqi and her three children, shey on the heated bed and closed her eyes. It didn¡¯t take long for her to fall asleep.


    Two dayster, her maid reported that someone from the Liu family had arrived.


    Setting aside her work, Qiao Mai went to the courtyard. It had been agreed upon with Shopkeeper Lu yesterday that she would take in Liu Ye, provide her with food and shelter, and have her learn from Xiu Hong. There would be no wages for now.


    Shopkeeper Lu agreed. In in terms, she was responsible for providing food and shelter.


    Liu Ye was dressed in old clothes without any patches and was brought into the shop by Lu Sanniang.


    Liu Hai followed Qiao Mai to Jingtai Restaurant. She ced him there and left after a few words with Shopkeeper Tong.


    Both Liu Ye and Liu Hai had free food and shelter, which saved the Liu family two mouths to feed. One will be learning a craft, and the other can bring back some money for household expenses each month. This year should be more manageable for them.


    In the evening, Shopkeeper Lu came to visit.


    Instead of discussing Liu Ye, she brought up another matter.


    ¡°Sister, there are rumors in town that this house belongs to you, not me. What should we do if the secret is revealed?¡±


    ¡°Let it be. I haven¡¯t nned to hide it for long anyway. Just ignore the rumors.¡± ¡°Did I identally reveal it?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to me yourself. This matter will surelye to light sooner orter. Whether we admit it or not, let them specte. Do you think I should produce property deeds to prove this house is mine?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m just concerned that those two families might cause trouble for you..¡±

 Chapter 117 - 117: Black-Hearted

    Chapter 117: ck-Hearted


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What can theyin about? When we severed ties back then, neither Jiaqi nor I had anything. I earned this house over the past year. Even if they take this to court, I have a strong case.¡± ¡°Sigh, they are as annoying as flies.¡±


    ¡°How is Xin¡¯er doing?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s doing well. Her father-inw and mother-inw treat her kindly, and they haven¡¯t probed about her dowry. It¡¯s mainly the nanny by her side who takes care of things. As for the shop, it¡¯s just been renovated, and a few cooks are practicing recipes. It will officially open in a few days.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. After the New Year, are you nning to arrange the wedding for Ruyi?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯lle of age in September. There¡¯s no rush; we can discuss itter.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes flickered, wanting to bring up the topic of the education of the children from the Lu family, but she thought better of it.


    Shopkeeper Lu had no temper about her family, let alone from an outsider like her. If she said something that didn¡¯t sit well, it might lead to resentment. ¡°How is Liu Ye doing with Xiu Hong and the others?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Xiu Hong. She won¡¯t treat her differently. You can rest assured.¡±


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s your worker, not a guest of my Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    During this time, the talk of the town was all about Madam Qiao¡¯s ownership of Lucky Garden.


    Unconsciously, it spread to the Qiao, the Tian, and the Yuan family.


    Qiao Shicheng¡¯s family felt like their hearts were scratched by a cat. ¡°That girl, how could she keep this big matter a secret from us? She¡¯s afraid we¡¯ll share in her glory?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a heartless person. None of them deserve a good ending.¡±


    ¡°I heard your sister went to the town after you drove her away, and Qiao Mai arranged for her daughter to work at the Embroidery Workshop?¡±


    Qiao Shicheng gritted his teeth. ¡°More than that. Cuihua¡¯s son also started working at Jingtai Restaurant.¡±


    The family seethed, almost wishing they could swallow Qiao Mai alive. ¡°She¡¯s messing with us. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, let¡¯s go to the town separately. One will look for Cuihua¡¯s daughter, and the other will look for her son.¡±


    ¡°Is that a good idea? You¡¯ve severed ties with her, and besides, if we cause trouble in the town and affect her business, she won¡¯t take kindly to it. If we stir things up like this, that girl will resent us even more. How can we mend our rtionship?¡±


    ¡°Humph, that girl is obstinate. I don¡¯t expect anything from her.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we report her to the authorities?¡±


    ¡°When we severed ties, she had nothing. Reporting her won¡¯t do much. At most, we canin about the insufficient retirement funds she provides.


    We can request the magistrate to reconsider, but it¡¯s best if we can invalidate the severed ties.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we might end up in jail.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about. I¡¯ve been dying it so long; let¡¯s wait until after the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Are we still going to the town then?¡±


    ¡°I just mentioned it casually. There¡¯s no need to go.¡±


    Old Tian¡¯s anger was so intense he nearly smashed his bowl. He had a dark and furious expression.


    ¡°That wretched woman. She can do double-sided embroidery, relying on her small business to buy such a big house.¡±


    ¡°Old man, don¡¯t get angry. It might not be hers, after all. Why doesn¡¯t she put the Qiao family name on her signboard? It¡¯s merely rumors among themon folk.¡±


    ¡°Where there¡¯s smoke, there¡¯s fire. You don¡¯t understand anything.¡±


    ¡°Just let it go. What can you do even if it¡¯s hers? Anger only harms your health.


    How about we have our meal?¡± ¡°Ah, if only my third son were here.¡±


    ¡°What use would he be?


    ¡°She was deeply in love with him back then. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have allowed you to torment her for so long.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s already with another man, and he¡¯s handsome and educated. Let¡¯s forget about it. We should focus on providing a good education for Yaohui.¡±


    Madam Tian Li was genuinely afraid. She feared provoking Qiao Mai again, which could lead to more misfortune for their family. Although there was no evidence, Qiao Mai was the most likely to target the Tian family.


    She dared not send her family members to provoke her again. If Yaohui got into trouble again, the Tian family would have no way out.


    This prompted her to advise Old Tian to give up his greed. Nheless, he had lost a lucrative source of ie and couldn¡¯t simply let it go.


    The Yuan family was in an even worse situation than the Tian family.


    Their son was married into another family, and upon learning that the house belonged to Madam Qiao, they were eager to move in.


    They fantasized about choosing the best rooms and having all the servants obey theirmands.


    They regretted their decision and couldn¡¯t help but bash their heads against the wall.


    If only they had let their fifth son do as he pleased. Instead, they caused a rift between them by pushing him too hard. If they had left things be, they could have benefited from the situation.


    The two of them didn¡¯t sleep a wink all night. The next day, they visited their sons and discussed the matter with them.


    The tour brothers sat down together to discuss their next steps.


    ¡°Jiaqi is not a heartless person. If it weren¡¯t for our parents¡¯ unreasonable actions, he wouldn¡¯t have be so estranged. After all, we are brothers. Even after splitting up, we could still get by. Why don¡¯t we pool some money, buy decent gifts, and visit him? Let¡¯s not mention helping him financially for now. Let¡¯s take this step first and see how he reacts. What do you think?¡±


    The other three nodded simultaneously. ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea. As long as we sincerely show our goodwill to Jiaqi, he won¡¯t reject us.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s not tell our parents. They can¡¯t control their insatiable greed and might ruin the bond between us siblings.¡±


    ¡°Agreed, that¡¯s the n.¡±


    Regardless of the rumors circting in the town, the Qiao family continued to live their lives as they saw fit.


    One day, Mayor Qian sent guards to invite Qiao Mai.


    Upon arrival, she learned that the beggars in the town couldn¡¯t find a ce to stay. Mayor Qian wanted to inquire if she could spare one of her unused shops temporarily, allowing them to sleep inside. The mayor would provide clothing and two meals a day.


    ¡°Okay, as long as they keep the ce clean and tidy. I¡¯m a clean person.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to convey your instructions.¡±


    Therefore, the Qiao family¡¯s southernmost shop was cleaned out, and two rooms in the rear courtyard were prepared. The mayor¡¯s men purchased mats for the beggars and provided them with nkets and two meals a day.


    The mayor¡¯s hospitality made them evenzier, as they had grown ustomed to idleness.


    Qiao Mai agreed with the arrangement but nned to find some work for these beggars after the New Year, helping them earn a living. It was better than them living off charity.


    This unintentional action once again stirred up a controversy among those families.


    They all felt that Qiao Mai was provoking them, as she was more willing to let beggars stay in her house than offer help to her own family members.


    It must be said that these people were constantly trying to make their lives worse.


    This unintentional action garnered even more attention and praise for Qiao Mai.


    She was seen as a person who umted great virtue by assisting the mayor in doing good deeds. Business in her shop continued to thrive, and her family¡¯s fortune grew.


    Qiao Mai paid no mind to the empty praises. These days, she was busy in the kitchen, dealing with two pigs.


    She separated the pork into pieces, processed the soy sauce, and soaked the meat, ensuring it absorbed the vors.


    Afterward, she ced the meat in arge jar and soaked it in soy sauce, removing it every few days to let it air dry naturally under the eaves.


    The meat prepared this way was much better than regr cured meat.


    She used the four front legs for pickling, while the hind legs were separated into meat and bones. She stewed arge pot of it and fed her two dogs.


    The rest went into the ice cer to be used in cooking.


    As for the two pig heads, she inspected them and found that the butcher had done a clean job. She felt at ease.


    She divided the work between two stoves, stewing them for two hours. After they cooled down, she separated the meat from the bones and taught the kitchen maids how to prepare pig¡¯s ears and mix the head meat. That evening, every one tasted it, and they all agreed it was delicious.


    The butcher had already delivered several batches of pig¡¯s feet and small intestines to her shop.


    Qiao Mai considered them insufficient and dyed her preparations for the cured meat. She instructed everyone not to touch the small intestines, as she nned to use them to make sausages before the New Year, which she would keep for personal consumption.


    Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was the twelfth lunar month. The vegetables in the five-acre backyard were growing exceptionally well..

 Chapter 118 - 118: What Is This Shop For?

    Chapter 118: What Is This Shop For?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The chives had been harvested once, and as the weather grew colder, entering December, the price had gone up from one hundred coins per gram to one hundred fifty. As the New Year approached, it was expected to be even more expensive.


    People who came to buy vegetables keptining, and Shopkeeper Niu exined patiently.


    ¡°Scarcity drives up prices. Consider yourself lucky to get these at the current rate. By the end of this month, it¡¯ll be one or two taels of silver per gram, and you¡¯ll have to fight for them. If you don¡¯t hurry, you won¡¯t get to taste it during the New Year.¡±


    Despite theints, those craving these vegetables were willing to pay any price.


    Mainly, it was because they had money; without money, the desire to eat didn¡¯t matter.


    Qiao Mai rewarded the five maids managing the five acres ofnd with two taels of silver each.


    This made the others work even more enthusiastically. It was almost the New Year, and they knew if they did their work well, the Mistress would reward them even more.


    Though they were boundborers, nobody wouldin about having more money. If the Mistress decided to release them, they wouldn¡¯t refuse either.


    The Liu siblings behaved well here. Liu Ye did well in the embroidery workshop and helped out with various tasks. The women there were kind to her and taught her whenever she needed guidance.


    In just over a month, she learned to stitch simple patterns and make handkerchiefs.


    Liu Hai worked diligently at Jingtai Restaurant. Having worked in town before, he didn¡¯t need much instruction and handled his tasks well.


    Shopkeeper Tong was pleased with his performance and paid him two hundred coins per month, considering he was Madam Qiao¡¯s rtive.


    What made him even happier was the four recipes he bought for two hundred taels. They were popr among customers, improving business significantly.


    Liu Ye lived with Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu in Lucky Garden, although it was said she lived with Shopkeeper Lu.


    She enjoyed excellent meals three times a day. She rarely left the house except when Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu took her to see the greenhouse vegetables and poultry.


    She was now aware of how hardworking her cousin was and decided to learn some skills from Qiao Mai to make more money.


    Having money was better than not having it.


    In his free time, Mayor Qian often visited Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery to enjoy good food.


    Because here, he always got to eat good food.


    For example, he loved the sour cabbage dumplings they served.


    He frequently ordered his chef to buy some and bring them home to enjoy. The same went for pickled vegetables and spicy cabbage, which he often purchased and consumed with rice porridge.


    Now, with the fresh produce from the greenhouse, he couldn¡¯t resisting to the snack shop frequently to taste the dishes.


    He was lucky to catch the first batch of fresh vegetables and promptly paid for them. He grabbed half a basket and had the guards swiftly deliver them to his home.


    Eating cucumbers, eggnts, and other fresh vegetables in the dead of winter was an exhrating experience, like soaring in the sky!


    The news of the new dishes at the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery in Tianshui Town spread like wildfire to the neighboring towns and counties.


    To ensure they could enjoy fresh vegetables in the winter, the stewards of wealthy households received orders from their masters and hurriedly came to buy them in horse-drawn carriages.


    Those who managed to purchase the vegetables left with joyful expressions, while those who couldn¡¯t left their money as an advance order. However, there was a limit to how much they could order, as each household had restrictions.


    Shopkeeper Niu grinned as he looked at the orders. ¡°Our Mistress is absolutely right. These fresh vegetables have boosted the sales of all our other goods.


    When these customerse, some purchase extra to please their masters.¡±


    One of the attendants chimed in, ¡°Indeed! These days, I¡¯m making a lot of spiced eggs. They sell out every day. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll make more.¡±


    Another attendant added, ¡°Fried snacks are selling out quickly too. We used to fry them every three days, but now it¡¯s almost daily. I¡¯ve noticed that if we don¡¯t keep up, everyone wille to buy them by the end of the year, and we won¡¯t be able to supply enough. We should stock up.¡±


    The third attendant remarked, ¡°This month has been bountiful.¡¯


    Shopkeeper Niu gave them a stern look. ¡°Work hard. Our Mistress treats us well. Don¡¯t keep talking about useless things all day.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    In any case, when the New Year came, everything would sell well. Those engaged in business were counting on making extra money for the New Year, ensuring a prosperous start to the year.


    In mid-December, Qiao Mai wrapped Dong Zao in clothes and went to the


    Capital for some ¡°shopping.¡±


    Since the New Year was approaching, she wanted to bring back some fruits to sell in her shop. She also nned to visit Xin¡¯er¡¯s shop.


    In the city, she didn¡¯t go directly to see Xin¡¯er but wandered around the streets first.


    The snack recipes she had given Xin¡¯er were highly sought after in modern times, and it was the same here.


    If a snack shop in the city offered these dishes, it would surely attract a crowd.


    As expected, while wandering around, Qiao Mai saw a crowded shop with people outside.


    She parked her horse cart nearby and asked a woman waiting in line, ¡°What kind of shop is this? Why are there so many people here?¡± The woman replied warmly, ¡°Are you not from this county?¡±


    ¡°No, I came for errands.


    ¡°This newly opened snack shop sells just one type of snack, but it¡¯s incredibly delicious. Once you taste it, you¡¯ll want more. Ie here daily to have a bowl, whether it¡¯s cold or hot.¡±


    Qiao Mai realized this shop was undoubtedly the one she was looking for. Standing at the entrance and inhaling the aroma wafting from inside, she became certain.


    Qiao Mai joined the queue and waited almost half an hour before entering the shop with the woman.


    ¡°Tworge bowls of cold noodles, extra chili oil.¡±


    ¡°Sure, that¡¯s twenty coins for one bowl, so it¡¯s forty coins total. Who¡¯s going to pay? We collect payment upfront here.¡±


    The woman didn¡¯t mind and readily paid for her share. Qiao Mai smiled and paid.


    After the waiter left, the womanmented, ¡°Twenty coins for one bowl is quite expensive.¡±


    Qiao Mai responded, ¡°It¡¯s not too bad. They rent the shop, employ waiters, and use high-quality ingredients. Considering the oil they use, they probably don¡¯t make much profit. Taste matters most.¡±


    ¡°True. Let me tell you, this shop belongs to the Feng family. I don¡¯t know where they got the recipe from, but this business, though small, is thriving. There are always so many people here from morning till night. I calcted it for their family. They must sell over a thousand bowls a day.¡±


    ¡°So many?¡±


    ¡°Yes, one bowl costs twenty coins, and ten bowls are two hundred coins. Many wealthy families send people to buy, and they don¡¯t even eat here. I heard they n to raise the prices.¡±


    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s the Feng family¡¯s shop?¡±


    ¡°Madam Fenges here frequently. Not only does she check on things, but she also asionally eats a bowl herself. That means the food is clean; she wouldn¡¯t eat it if it weren¡¯t. Besides, didn¡¯t you see the sign? It says, ¡®Feng Family Snack Shop.¡±¡®


    As Qiao Mai listened, her face turned increasingly unpleasant. When she handed over the recipe to Shopkeeper Lu, she specifically told her it was for Xin¡¯er and not the Feng family. Yet, in such a short time, it had be the Feng family¡¯s business.


    The cold noodles were served, and the woman couldn¡¯t wait to start eating.


    Qiao Mai stirred her bowl of cold noodles and dug in, taking one mouthful after another.


    They had ordered cold noodles since the shop was warm, and cold noodles were more refreshing.


    As Qiao Mai enjoyed the familiar taste, memories of Earth filled her mind, making her feel nostalgic.


    Just then,ughter echoed from outside. When Qiao Mai nced over, she saw Madam Feng and her maid had arrived.


    As soon as they entered, the waiter led them to their seats and served them cold noodles..

 Chapter 119 - 119: Who Would Dare to Provoke Such a Woman?

    Chapter 119: Who Would Dare to Provoke Such a Woman?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t proactively greet anyone and quietly enjoyed her cold noodles.


    Madam Feng looked around the shop. Perhaps because it was crowded, she didn¡¯t recognize Qiao Mai. But when she saw how good the business was, her smile never wavered.


    After finishing her meal, Qiao Mai wiped her mouth with her hand, exchanged greetings with thedy, and then left.


    She didn¡¯t go to the Feng family. Instead, she filled the carriage with fruits from her space and hurried back home, unloading the goods at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery before nightfall.


    Without a word, she brought Dong Zao to the stable and returned to her room. She undressed and silently climbed onto the heated brick bed.


    Yue Hong brought Ling Er over. But seeing Qiao Mai¡¯s unpleasant expression, she decided to take the child to another room to y.


    Yue Xia brought her a pot of tea. ¡°Mistress, you don¡¯t look well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just leave it here.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai poured herself a cup of tea to warm herself up.


    It had been two months since Ruxin¡¯s marriage. Before she left, Qiao Mai would receive two sets of clothing from her every season, hand-delivered to her.


    However, after leaving her family, Ruxin did not say anything.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t really care about not receiving things from her family anymore. It was more about the feeling that her disciple had changed since she was married.


    She had taught her the art of double-sided embroidery. If Ruxin had free time, she could earn a hundred or so taels a month. With the snack shop, she could make several hundred taels.


    Ruxin only had two snack shops. If she handed this one over to her mother-inw, she should have plenty of free time.


    But why had she epted the recipes and the business was thriving, yet she didn¡¯t even hum?


    The county wasn¡¯t far from Tianshui Town. Could it be that she was pregnant?


    Well, forget it. It¡¯s better not to overthink it. It can lead to misunderstandings.


    After clearing her mind, Qiao Mai¡¯s mood improved somewhat. She went to y with Ling¡¯er for a while.


    December 20th was the big market day in Tianshui Town. Since there was no steward at home, Qiao Mai had to make all the decisions.


    She took a few maids and drove a carriage to the market to buy New Year supplies.


    There were many people in her family, and with the New Year approaching, it wasn¡¯t just about the masters eating well. Therefore, they needed to stock up on New Year supplies. Fortunately, it was cold in winter, so meat could be stored for a month without spoiling, like a natural refrigerator.


    The Qiao family was a big customer, and everyone in Tianshui Town who did business knew them.


    They bought inrge quantities of everything.


    There wasn¡¯t anything rare in a small town like this during the New Year, just some dried goods.


    The livestock market was crowded, and many people wanted to buy livestock for pulling carts or farming.


    Qiao Mai took three maids with her. One to drive the carriage, and the other two followed behind her.


    They respected Qiao Mai very much, not only because she treated them well but also because she was genuinely talented.


    As a woman, she knew how to make money and possessed martial skills.


    Who would dare to provoke such a woman? Even the servants wouldn¡¯t dare to act recklessly.


    The vendors on both sides of the street and the passersby looked at her with awe. Her attire marked her as someone with servants and maids. She was not someone themon folk would dare to offend.


    Even the vigers from the Peach Blossom Vige, where Qiao Mai used to live, lowered their heads when they saw her.


    They no longer looked at her with pity but with envy.


    They never thought Qiao Mai, who had left the Tian family and was expected to die, would now thrive. She even had a well-educated husband, three sons, and


    a daughter. Their married life was harmonious and prosperous.


    Not only did she make friends with the town¡¯s mayor, but she also got to know the powerful families in the Capital. She had a strong backing and was no longer the subject of idle talk and ridicule.


    Qiao Mai was the center of attention in the market.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Nowadays, the Apricot Blossom Vige, Lihua Vige, and Peach Blossom Vige are all very concerned about Qiao


    Mai¡¯s activities.


    Any slight change in her life was widely known.


    After buying New Year supplies, Qiao Mai sent the goods back home with her maids. She went to the butcher¡¯s shop and ordered a freshly ughtered pig, arranging for it to be delivered to her home.


    The pig was immediately brought into her yard as soon as it arrived at the house.


    She was going to make sausages. Although she had the space, it was the New


    Year, and she needed to send New Year gifts to the mayor and the Wang family. She needed something special, as her space¡¯s inventory was running low.


    Qiao Mai had long wanted to try making sausages. She had found the recipes online and had them memorized.


    She carried the pig into the small kitchen, and her maids wanted to help, but she refused and asked them to take care of Ling¡¯er instead.


    She worked alone in the kitchen, trimming the fat from the meat, removing the skin, and using her space¡¯s meat grinder to turn half of the fatty meat into meat paste. She cut the rest of the pork into thin slices and made severalrge bowls.


    She mixed the seasonings ording to the recipe and marinated it for a while.


    While waiting, she took the sausage casings from her space and cleaned them thoroughly. Then, she took the funnels prepared in advance and stuffed the casings with meat.


    No matter what kind of sausage she made, it needed to be dried for a while. Chinese-style sausages need about half a month of air-drying, red sausages need a day of air-drying before steaming and smoking, and garlic sausages also need some air-drying before being steamed directly over the fire. There were many ways to make sausages. But, for now, she started with these few kinds.


    Seeing that there were still some casings left, she also made some fish sausages.


    She hung the sausages on ropes around the verandas in her yard, one section after another.


    When Ling¡¯er saw this, she pointed at those things and smiled, revealing her cute little teeth.


    ¡°Eat! Eat!¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia coaxed her, ¡°Mother is making meat for the littledy.


    Don¡¯t worry, you can eat when it¡¯s ready.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, meat! Eat!¡±


    Despite their young age, the two maids had taken care of Ling¡¯er since she was a child, treating her like their own. Jo Mai would share anything delicious with them when Ling Er had some.


    These two people were grateful, and they were even more dedicated to taking care of Ling¡¯er.


    Seeing this scene, Qiao Mai pulled down a half-hour air-dried fish sausage and steamed a few for her.


    She put them on a te and then carried it over.


    ¡°Here, you¡¯re lucky. This is my first time making sausages. Try them.¡±


    She handed a small one to Ling¡¯er, who held it towards her.


    ¡°Mom, eat!¡±


    Qiao Mai kissed her forehead and took a bite from her small hand.


    ¡°Mmm, it¡¯s delicious.¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia, who had been drooling, each took one and started eating.


    ¡°Mistress, this sausage is incredibly delicious.¡±


    ¡°This one is for the children. Adults eat pork sausages, which are even more delicious. ¡±


    ¡°This is already salivating. If it¡¯s pork sausage, it will be even better?¡±


    ¡°You can have some during the New Year. At least ten days of air-drying is required for it. After the others are dried, they need further processing. You¡¯ll be able to eat them in a few days.¡±


    After taking a bite, Qiao Mai let the two maids watch the child and returned to the small kitchen. She started a fire and rendered all the fat.


    The bones and pig¡¯s head were cleaned. Everything was stewed in a big pot. She then cleaned the kitchen. Qiao Mai was a person who liked to keep things neat when she worked.


    Old Mister Wang had told her they would return to the Capital on the 28th of December. Therefore, before their departure, she needed to have everything prepared.


    If it weren¡¯t for Wang Zongsheng sending someone, the elderly couple wouldn¡¯t want to return.


    The Qiao family was so much better. It was warmer than the Capital, the food and the living conditions were better, and they were happier.. Why would they want to return and deal with all those annoying people?

 Chapter 120 - 120: I Just Wanted to See You

    Chapter 120: I Just Wanted to See You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai knew the elderly couple didn¡¯t want to return home, but she couldn¡¯t persuade them. They only spent two months a year in their hometown.


    They also had children and grandchildren, and it was important to gather during festivals and special asions.


    On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, she steamed some red and garlic sausages and brought them to the old couple while they were about to have lunch.


    When they saw her, they made space on the heated brick bed.


    ¡°Dear, join us for lunch?¡±


    ¡°I brought some delicious food for you. Try it, and if you like it, you can take some with you when you leave. I¡¯ve prepared extra for you. If it¡¯s not good, I won¡¯t bring it for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely delicious.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled as she took the sausages out of the food container. They were neatly cut and arranged on a te.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°These are sausages I made. Try them out; if I tell you what they are, you might lose your appetite.¡±


    The two used their chopsticks to pick up a piece and taste it. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s a bit like the luncheon meat you make.¡± ¡°It¡¯s finer in texture and has more seasonings.¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s another type of sausage, but it hasn¡¯t been sun-dried long enough to taste. I¡¯ve already steamed both types. When you want to eat them, heat them in a pot. The other one needs to be steamed for about two-quarters of an hour after sun-drying.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying we can¡¯t have this at your home?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pack some for you to enjoy at home.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else you want to bring for us?¡±


    As they enjoyed the sausages, the old couple asked about the New Year gifts she prepared for them.


    ¡°There are also twenty pieces of preserved meat, a more vorful type of cured meatpared to regr pork.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Fruits, stewed pig trotters, pickled vegetables, and more. There¡¯s a whole cartload of goods. I¡¯ll hire a horse-drawn carriage to deliver everything to the Wang Residence.¡±


    ¡°We really like you, dear. You¡¯re so considerate.¡± ¡°Alright then, enjoy your meal. I¡¯ll be going.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang reached into a cab and took out an exquisite gift box.


    She ced it on the table and gestured for Qiao Mai to take it.


    ¡°Here, this is for you to wear during the New Year. You¡¯re already the mistress of a wealthy household. You can¡¯t dress casually anymore. You need to adorn yourself beautifully, understand?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at Old Mistress Wang, noticing her attention was focused on the sausages. The same goes for Old Mister Wang.


    Qiao Mai reached out and opened the gift box on the table. To her surprise, it contained a set of ruby jewelry.


    ¡°Oh my, I don¡¯t even pay you tuition, yet you¡¯ve given me such exquisite jewelry. Is there such good fortune in the world?¡±


    The old couple couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.


    ¡°Stop acting humble. Don¡¯t be shy and ept it. You should wear it during the


    New Year.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a gift from you, then I will dly ept it. I¡¯ve earned a set of fine jewelry by making some sausages. I¡¯ve truly struck gold.¡±


    ¡°Look at you, so obsessed with money.¡±


    ¡°To umte wealth, one has to be obsessed with it. Those who aren¡¯t obsessed with wealth are monks or Bodhisattvas who give away their fortunes.¡¯


    ¡°Hurry up and take it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving. We¡¯re family, so I won¡¯t be courteous.¡±


    Qiao Mai closed the box and carried it with her as she left, humming happily. The old couple exchanged smiles. ¡°It¡¯s alwaysfortable to be around her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a valuable item from your secret stash.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t take it with me when I die, so I¡¯d rather give it to someone who appreciates it. Do you believe she won¡¯tin about anything if we spend our retirement years in her home? What a good woman.¡±


    ¡°Have you noticed? Jiaqi doesn¡¯t live with her. He said Chuan¡¯er is still young and will be scared. He can¡¯t sleep alone at night and needs Jiaqi to apany him.¡±


    ¡°I noticed it a long time ago. Let¡¯s not meddle in their affairs. Anyway, they seem to get along well, whether they are biological or adopted children.


    Whether they sleep together or not doesn¡¯t matter. Perhaps Jiaqi can¡¯t stand it? Or there might be other reasons. We¡¯re at such an old age. No need to worry about their matters.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, as long as they¡¯re doing well.¡±


    On the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, the four brothers from the Yuan family came to visit. They carried gifts and waited at the door for the maidservant to announce their arrival.


    Yuan Jiaqi was surprised when he heard about their visit. He had the maidservant invite them into the living room and put down his books to join them.


    When he saw his four elder brothers, he was not surprised. Instead, he appeared calm.


    ¡°Little brother, even though our parents were wrong, we¡¯re still siblings. It¡¯s been a year since we separated our family, and we all wanted toe and see you.¡±


    They ced the gifts they brought on the table and then sat in the guest chairs.


    ¡°Thank you, but we have everything we need at home. You should take these gifts back to your children.¡±


    ¡°After we divided the family, we¡¯ve all been livingfortably in our respective households. These gifts are for you and your son.¡±


    ¡°Do you need any help from me?¡±


    ¡°No, we only wanted to visit you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you brought gifts, but I can¡¯t offer anything in return. As the son-inw who married into the family, I can¡¯t keep taking from them.¡±


    The four brothers quickly waved their hands. ¡°We didn¡¯te for gifts from you. We regret not helping you when you were mistreated by our parents. Now that we think about it, we feel guilty. However, brothers are still brothers. We are your elder brothers. If you ever need anything in the future, call us. Even if we don¡¯t have money, we¡¯ll help in any way we can.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi felt a bit moved, but he maintained hisposure.


    ¡°I appreciate it, then.¡±


    After saying what needed to be said, the four brothers bid their farewells and left. Yuan Jiaqi apanied them to the door, watching them before returning inside.


    He carried the gifts back to his courtyard. When Chuan¡¯er saw the gifts, he put down his books and asked, ¡°Father, what¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Your uncles came to visit.¡±


    Although Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t have a smile on his face, the tone of his voice indicated he was in a good mood.


    ¡°Father, do you want to reconcile with them?¡±


    ¡°It depends on their behavior. Reconciliation with your grandparents is impossible, but the four of them aren¡¯t bad. They merely didn¡¯t dare to help me back when our parents mistreated me.¡±


    ¡°If you have ns to reconcile, it¡¯s best to discuss it with Mother and see if she¡¯s willing to ept these rtives.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi paused and then replied, ¡°That¡¯s certain. I can¡¯t upset your mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t pay much attention to this matter butmended Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s character.


    After bing the student of a high-ranking official, he remained humble and dedicated to his studies. Despite gaining wealth and status, he didn¡¯t be arrogant. He continued to treat people as he did before, staying true to his principles. It was admirable.


    However, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he would remain asposed when he became an official, surrounded by beautiful and talented women.


    On this day, Wang Jiaru sent a New Year¡¯s gift, a whole cartload of goods, from the city.


    Qiao Mai sighed as she epted it. It seemed that she couldn¡¯t skimp on the return gift this time. Perhaps she¡¯d have to bring another two cartloads of the free fruits from her space.


    Since they sent a cart, she had to send two in return.


    Soon, the people from the Wang family came to pick the old couple up. The old couple didn¡¯t really want to leave yet.


    The maidservant who hade to fetch them had to assist them onto the carriage. Several goods carriages followed behind, packed tightly with items and covered with quilts, as they were afraid they might get cold during the journey.


    In the afternoon, Liu Hai and Liu Ye visited Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Hello, cousin.¡±


    ¡°Yes, are you on your break?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is. We came to tell you that Mother said you coulde to the Liushu Vige for your maternal home visit. Although our family doesn¡¯t have much to offer, our mother makes delicious corn pancakes, and her sweet potato porridge is especially tasty.¡±


    As they spoke, they felt a bit embarrassed to continue.


    ¡°Please thank Auntie for me. I won¡¯t being on the second day of the Lunar


    New Year. How will you be returning to the vigeter?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already arranged with someone to use their ox cart.¡±


    ¡°Alright, please sit for a moment.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the servant outside and instructed, ¡°Go to my courtyard and find Yue Hong. Have her bring the things I¡¯ve prepared and deliver them here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Qiao Mai gestured toward the chairs, ¡°Please have a seat, both of you.¡±


    ¡°Okay..¡±

 Chapter 121 - 121: I’ll Support You For A Lifetime

    Chapter 121 - 121: I¡¯ll Support You For A Lifetime


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Work hard in Jingtai, learn how to handle yourself, and understand how to run a business. If you do well, I¡¯ll give you an opportunity in the future.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out for business.¡¯


    ¡°If you don¡¯t even believe in yourself and don¡¯t want to prosper, who will respect you? Are you willing to live a tough life forever?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I will do my best.¡±


    Liu Hai clenched his teeth. He knew this was a rare opportunity. His cousin was willing to help the Liu family, and he couldn¡¯t afford to give up, no matter how challenging it might be.


    Qiao Mai nced at Liu Ye and asked, ¡°What did Shopkeeper Lu say to you?¡±


    ¡°She said she¡¯d pay me a wage after the New Year, 100 coins per month. If I can handle bigger tasks, she¡¯ll increase my pay.¡±


    ¡°Good, work hard. Even though you¡¯re not young, don¡¯t rush into marriage.


    Learn a trade first. Many women get married early, but it¡¯s better not to marry if you end up worse off in your inws¡¯ house. In the Ming Dynasty, there was no concept of forced marriages. Cherish this opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Cousin!¡±


    Soon, the servant arrived with arge package and ced it inside the room, then waited outside.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Lunar New Year, and I don¡¯t have much to give you. These are some clothes that have been worn once or twice, still in good condition. Take whatever fits.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Cousin!¡± ¡°Thank you, Sister!¡±


    ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±


    The two carried arge cloth bag and left. When they reached the Qiao family¡¯s doorstep, two maidservants pushed threerge cloth sacks over to them.


    ¡°Our mistress said that for the Lunar New Year, she¡¯s giving the Liu family fifty catties of white rice, white flour, and some meat for you. ce the bags on top, and we¡¯ll take you to the ox cart.¡±


    Liu Hai and Liu Ye¡¯s eyes turned red, and they ced the cloth bags on top. Silently, they led the way to the front.


    When they arrived at the ox cart, they unloaded the goods, and the maidservants instructed the cart driver.


    ¡°These are rtives of our Mistress Qiao. Don¡¯t charge them for the carriage.


    You can settle the payment at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. You won¡¯t be mistreated.¡±


    With a single sentence, the cart driver understood. He nodded enthusiastically.


    Liu Hai and Liu Ye sat on the ox cart, tears welling in their eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by Cousin¡¯s tough words; she¡¯s warm-hearted.¡±


    ¡°No, she sees that we are different from Uncle¡¯s family. That¡¯s why she treats us like this. If we were like those animals, she would have watched us die without lifting a finger.¡±


    ¡°In any case, Cousin Qiao is a good person. Shopkeeper Lu saved her back then. Cousin Qiao was so grateful that she let them stay at her house, providing everything for them.¡±


    Liu Hai patted her on the head. ¡°That¡¯s because Shopkeeper Lu is a good person.¡±


    ¡°The Yuan, the Tian, and even the Qiao family in Pear Blossom Vige are all fools.¡¯


    ¡°Focus on learning there. Even though I¡¯m the only man in the family, you don¡¯t need to worry. If you get married and are mistreated, I¡¯ll fight for you with my life. We don¡¯t have to endure suffering in our inws¡¯ houses. Learn from Cousin Qiao and return to your maiden home if needed. I¡¯ll take care of you for the rest of your life.¡±


    Liu Ye burst into tears when she heard this. ¡°My sister got married, but she¡¯s not living well.¡±


    ¡°But her husband and inws are good people. It¡¯s just that life is a bit tough.


    Your sister-inw married them because she saw that they were good people.¡± ¡°I want to marry into a kind family too.¡±


    ¡°Listen to your cousin. Learn a trade first. Even if you get married, you won¡¯tck food and clothing with a skill, and we won¡¯t be afraid of them mistreating us.¡±


    When the siblings returned home, the Liu family members were overjoyed to see so many goods.


    Liu Hai handed the wage to his mother. ¡°Mother, these three bags of food and clothes are gifts from Cousin Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Your cousin is truly wonderful!¡±


    Liu Qiao ced the wage into a cab and opened the cloth bags to inspect them.


    ¡°Rice, flour, preserved meat¡­ Now our family can have a good New Year.¡±


    As they talked, someone outside the courtyard shouted, ¡°Is Brother Liu at home?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao quickly had Liu Hai hide the food and meat. She looked at her husband.


    ¡°We can lend some food, but not money. Reject them if they want a favor from


    Qiao Mai. You know my niece¡¯s temperament.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Liu Dashan went to open the door. Several men stood outside.


    He blocked the door and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°We heard that your son came back?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s on a break from work.¡±


    ¡°Did he buy anything? Can we borrow some food from your family?¡± ¡°Some cornmeal and old clothes my niece doesn¡¯t wear. Nothing else.¡±


    ¡°But you brought several bags of stuff. Is this all?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the men were skeptical and wanted to enter the house, but Liu Dashan¡¯s expression turned cold.


    ¡°Sorry, but when my family was starving to death, I didn¡¯t go to your house to borrow food. Finally, we have a bit to eat. Forget it, and don¡¯t even think about


    it.¡±


    The men snorted as they left, ¡°Humph, who cares! You just got lucky with a rich niece!¡±


    Once they were gone, Liu Dashan quickly closed and locked the door.


    ¡°It¡¯s cold. Try to stay indoors as much as possible.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao took the clothes from the bag and distributed them to her daughter-inw and daughter. She left two pieces for Liu Mei.


    She also set aside two pieces of preserved meat, ten catties of white rice, and white flour.


    How the Liu family would distribute these items was none of Qiao Mai¡¯s concern. The New Year goods were well-prepared, and the kitchen staff were busy cooking every day.


    Whether it was frying, boiling, or making dumplings, the chefs were always upied.


    In this cold weather, aside from the rooms with charcoal braziers, the rest of the house served as natural refrigerators.


    The maidservants took advantage of this and made a lot of dumplings, including ones with chive fillings, cabbage and shiitake mushroom fillings, fennel sprout fillings, radish fillings, scallion fillings, and shepherd¡¯s purse fillings.


    Oneyer after another, the dumplings filled the shelves. This was done ording to Qiao Mai¡¯s instructions, as she wanted them prepared in advance.


    After all, there were many people in the house, and everyone could use a break.


    Of course, Qiao Mai provided the ingredients, which were unavable in the market and could only be enjoyed by the Qiao family.


    They made dumplings and various types of paos, steamed buns, and stuffed rolls, filling an entire room with these delicacies.


    Bread, pastries, and assorted snacks also upied another room.


    However, under Qiao Mai¡¯s influence, everyone in Lucky Garden had be a food lover. It was essential to have plenty of food.


    The gift for Mayor Qian arrived on the morning of the 29th.


    Qiao Mai personally delivered it. Seeing the sausages and cured meat, Mayor Qian couldn¡¯t help but think of something else.


    ¡°Girl, these sausages¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not for sale.¡±


    ¡°Rejecting money makes you a fool,¡± Mayor Qian muttered in frustration.


    ¡°After swearing at me, you won¡¯t get to taste my sausages again.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was wrong. I¡¯m sorry. It just slipped out.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    After delivering the New Year¡¯s gift, Qiao Mai was about to leave, but Mayor Qian quickly had someone bring out the New Year goods he had prepared.


    ¡°These are for you. Sanniang and their family staying at your ce have caused you some trouble.¡±


    Qiao Mai was curious. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with her?¡±


    Somewhat embarrassed, Mayor Qian said, ¡°We met when we were young and fell in love at first sight, but my parents disagreed. Later, she married, but I¡¯ve been waiting for her ever since.¡±


    Qiao Mai scrutinized him. ¡°Oh my, I never would have guessed. You¡¯re quite the romantic.¡±


    ¡°Who says that being romantic has to be exclusive to women?¡±


    ¡°If Ruyi gets married and she¡¯s alone, do you want me to arrange a marriage for you two?¡±


    Mayor Qian blushed. ¡°I want her to marry me willingly. Otherwise, I¡¯ll keep waiting until I die.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve epted your New Year gift. Thank you!¡±


    Mayor Qian instructed his servants to deliver the New Year goods to Lucky Garden, Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard.


    After Mayor Qian left, Qiao Mai examined the gifts.


    There were many items, including ornaments, jewelry, fabrics, and clothes.


    She selected a few of the better pieces and brought them to Shopkeeper Lu.


    Shopkeeper Lu and Ruyi were sewing clothes when Qiao Mai arrived. Seeing her, they quickly made space for her by clearing a spot at the table.


    ¡°Have a seat.¡±


    ¡°Are you sewing clothes?¡±

 Chapter 122 - 122: Yuan Jiaqi, You ‘re Inhumane

    Chapter 122 - 122: Yuan Jiaqi, You ¡®re Inhumane


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Ah, these are the new clothes Ruyi made for you as a gift. They should fit perfectly. Why don¡¯t you try them on?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m usually so busy with the shop. I don¡¯t need new clothes.¡±


    ¡°Why did youe here then?¡±


    Qiao Mai opened a wooden box, ¡°Your former lover sent me a New Year¡¯s gift, and I picked some nice items to send you. You can save them as part of Ruyi¡¯s dowry.¡±


    Saying this, she handed the box to her. Shopkeeper Lu stole a nce at Ruyi, her face turning red.


    ¡°He also sent me a New Year¡¯s gift. I¡¯ve saved it for Ruyi.¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s indirectly contributing to Ruyi¡¯s dowry.¡±


    Ruyi lifted her head and said, ¡°Mother, Sister and I think Mayor Qian is good for you. When we get married, you should marry him, okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to marry him, but his old geezer looks down on me. Even now, he hasn¡¯t agreed. They don¡¯t like me, and there¡¯s nothing I can do. I can¡¯t possibly beg. Although my background isn¡¯t high, I¡¯m not so lowly.¡± ¡°I heard from Old Mister Wang that Mayor Qian¡¯s father doesn¡¯t seem well?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m waiting for him to die. Back then, he insulted me a lot and even sent people to bother me. It wasn¡¯t until I agreed not to have any contact with


    Mayor Qian that he stopped.¡±


    ¡°If he dies, Mayor Qian has to observe a three-year mourning period. Can you two get married then?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s lived for so long; there¡¯s no need to observe a three-year mourning period.¡±


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s this saying?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    Qiao Mai shook her head and asked, ¡°Is Xin¡¯er pregnant?¡±


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t made a sound, and she hasn¡¯t sent a New Year¡¯s gift. It¡¯s thiste; maybe the road isn¡¯t good due to all the snow. That¡¯s probably why she hasn¡¯te.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes flickered, but she didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Alright, you stay warm inside. I¡¯ll keep Ling¡¯erpany.¡±


    She returned to the courtyard and saw Chuan¡¯er, Feng¡¯er, and Yun¡¯er ying hide and seek with Ling¡¯er.


    Yuan Jiaqi was sitting on the side, watching them y. When he saw her, he quickly got up and poured her a cup of hot tea.


    ¡°The teacher has left, so you can rest well now.¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t give me much trouble here, and Old Mistress Wang often helps me. I don¡¯t have to worry much about them here.¡± ¡°After the New Year, I¡¯ll take the county exam.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll do well!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at Qiao Mai and suddenly blushed, turning his head away.


    ¡°Old Mister Wang said he¡¯ll send me to Windforest Academy in the Capital after the county exam. By then, you¡¯ll have to spend money for me again.¡±


    ¡°When you be an official, you can repay me. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of Chuan¡¯er. Once you leave, I¡¯ll move him to my courtyard.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    For some reason, Yuan Jiaqi felt ufortable hearing these words.


    He didn¡¯t want Qiao Mai to say such things to him. It made him feel like an outsider as if their rtionship was purely transactional.


    But when he thought about it carefully, it was true. After all, he was the one who hade to her in the first ce.


    But after all this time, did she really have no feelings for him at all?


    He sneaked a look at her and saw her watching the children y with a happy smile. When she smiled, his heart would also follow suit, warming up.


    When he first saw Qiao Mai, he thought she was an ordinary woman, in-looking, with nothing special about her.


    But now, as he looked at her more closely, sitting there, her figure and aura seemed so noble. And her snow-white skin¡­


    She was so elegant, noble, and dignified.


    If he could be her real husband, he would dly agree. However, Yuan Jiaqi suddenly thought of the contract and felt like a deted balloon.


    What if Qiao Mai thought he had ulterior motives? What if she thought he had other ns?


    They had agreed to a fake marriage, but if he had other intentions, would she hate him for it?


    At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s heart was like a deer jumping around wildly. He quickly went outside, and the cold wind helped clear his mind.


    ¡°Yuan Jiaqi, you¡¯re inhumane. You¡¯re benefiting from the Qiao family, eating their food, drinking their drinks, spending their money, and yet you¡¯re thinking about Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°You have nothing, but you keep thinking about Madam Qiao. You¡¯re despicable.¡±


    He scolded himself, punching himself in frustration. Then he took a deep breath and returned to the room, feeling much calmer now.


    The earlier impulse had subsided, and Yuan Jiaqi resolved to focus on his studies. He would work hard to be an official and ensure Qiao Mai would be an official¡¯s wife, a respecteddy.


    She wouldn¡¯t have to toil for their livelihood anymore.


    However, Yuan Jiaqi was overthinking things. With the power of the space at her disposal, Qiao Mai had no concern for social status.


    She had no desire to be an official¡¯s wife or deal with the associated social obligations. In fact, she found such matters to be a waste of time.


    On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery finally closed its doors. Shopkeeper Niu held the ount book in the Qiao family¡¯s living room and reported the earnings to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam, this month we made 7,851 taels of silver. Considering the cost of the goods you provided, we earned 5,000 taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Well, not bad. You¡¯ve all been working hard. Let¡¯s give everyone a red envelope. You, as the shopkeeper, will receive ten taels of silver. The five assistants will each receive five taels, and the maids in the house will receive three taels each. Prepare red envelopes for everyone for the New Year, including two taels of lucky money inside. Everyone should have their share.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Our shop mainly sells fresh snacks. We¡¯ll take a day off on the first day of the Lunar New Year and open for business on the second day. Last year, everyone found something good for their families, so let¡¯s make some more candied haws this time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. During the New Year, your wages will double. When you have free time, eat in the kitchen, and when it¡¯s busy, let the kitchendies bring you food.


    Shopkeeper Niu was touched. Such a considerate employer was hard to find. She cared for her employees so well.


    On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, everyone received their red envelopes, and they were all overjoyed. Usually, they received only a couple of hundred coins of monthly wages, but they never expected their employer to give them several taels of silver at once.


    They realized how tough it was for Qiao Mai, a woman, to manage the shop, support arge family, and take care of her employees during the New Year. Some even shed tears in private, saying they had found a good family and a kind employer.


    Life in the Qiao family was good. Starting from the thirtieth day, the masters and the servants enjoyed dumplings for dinner, filled with meat and incredibly delicious.


    Not only did they have dumplings, but there were also several side dishes avable. Those who wanted alcohol could do so but were warned not to overindulge.


    The servants felt like they were living the life of immortals.


    Being able to eat the same food as their masters, they felt they must have umted great virtue in their past lives.


    After dinner, Qiao Mai distributed new clothes to Yuan Jiaqi and the children. These clothes were ready-made and purchased from the Capital.


    From head to toe, inside and out, everything was new.


    Due to their responsibility for watching over Ling¡¯er, Yue Hong and Yue Xia received new clothes. Of course, everyone in the Qiao family¡¯s residence had their share.


    Throughout the seasons, no one in the Qiao family was ever mistreated.


    In thetter half of the night, the snow started falling again. It was said that a snowstorm heralded a prosperous year, so it seemed the following year would be of good weather and abundant harvests.


    With everyone in the household asleep, Qiao Mai found herself tossing and turning around. She got up and checked the warm greenhouse at the back, went to the poultry shed, and finally arrived at the martial arts training ground.


    Looking at the t square and the dancing snowkes, she felt her spirits lift. She summoned a sword into her hand with a wave and then charged towards the center of the training ground. With a sword in her hand, snow in the air, and martial arts in her heart, she felt like she was dancing as a celestial being.


    It was an exhrating and fulfilling experience.


    The sword she wielded and the martial arts technique she practiced had been purchased from the tform. It was meant for mortals, as she couldn¡¯t afford anything from the cultivation world.


    Ensuring a steady supply of spirit stones was already a challenge. Starting from the eighth stage of the Qi Refinement Realm, it required at least a thousand spirit stones for each level up.


    Fortunately, the space had reached the fourth level when it expanded to ten thousand acres ofnd. The concentration in her space was thirty percent, and the territorial expansion was twenty thousand acres. There was still another ten thousand acres of emptynd, and Qiao Mai nned to start farming in the space from tonight onwards.

 Chapter 123 - 123: Fairness Covers a Hundred Flaws

    Chapter 123: Fairness Covers a Hundred ws


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the maids in the Qiao family set off firecrackers at the entrance of Lucky Garden.


    In previous years, Qiao Mai had refrained from setting off firecrackers to avoid scaring the horses in the house. However, with their mansion now bigger, it wouldn¡¯t disturb the animals.


    To celebrate the festive asion, she had instructed Shopkeeper Niu to arrange the purchase of a cart full of firecrackers. The red firecrackers continued to burst for a whole hour before stopping.


    The one-acre snow-covered area in front of Lucky Garden was adorned with red firecracker wrappers, resembling a bright red carpet, instantly uplifting the spirits of those who saw it.


    The children were dressed in new clothes and eagerly waited in the courtyard to pay their respects.


    Qiao Mai had stayed upte the previous night, so she mustered the strength to get up and smiled as she saw several sets of new clothes by her bed.


    Some of these clothes had been made by Ruyi, some by Yue Hong and Yue Xia, and others she had bought herself. She chose one of the sets she had purchased, put it on, sat in front of the mirror, styled her hair beautifully, and then adorned herself with the headpiece Old Mistress Wang had given her.


    Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she noticed that she had grown significantly taller. She must have reached about 1.65 meters now.


    She had gained some weight due to their improved lifestyle.


    Her facial features had be more pleasing to the eye since she arrived; they say that a fairplexion could hide a multitude of ws, and it was indeed true. Her fair and snow-like skin made her features appear more attractive.


    Qiao Mai picked up a jade bracelet from her dressing table, put it on her wrist, and felt satisfied with her appearance. She then walked out of her room.


    Yuan Jiaqi and the children¡¯s eyes lit up when they saw her. ¡°Mother, you look so beautiful!¡± ¡°You all look handsome too!¡±


    ¡°Hehe!¡±


    ¡°Come into the living room. Don¡¯t stand outside in the snow. It¡¯s cold, and I¡¯d worry about you catching a cold.¡±


    In the living room, she and Yuan Jiaqi took their seats at the head of the room. When Ling¡¯er arrived, the children approached and knelt to offer their New Year¡¯s greetings.


    Yuan Jiaqi gave each child a red envelope, and Qiao Mai prepared little golden animal figurines.


    The children were thrilled and couldn¡¯t stop ying with them.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia were also dressed in new clothes and came to pay their respects to the couple. They received a generous red envelope each.


    The household staff came in groups to offer their New Year¡¯s greetings and received red envelopes before leaving.


    Before they departed, Qiao Mai reminded them to pay a visit to Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s ce.


    After everyone had paid their respects, Qiao Mai turned to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Shall we go to Sister Lu¡¯s ce? She¡¯s the eldest, and it¡¯s only right that we visit her.¡±


    They brought their children and arrived at Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s ce. She and Ruyi had just finished receiving New Year¡¯s greetings from the staff. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here! I was just thinking about taking Ruyi over for a visit.¡±


    ¡°How could I let youe to me? Happy New Year, sister!¡±


    ¡°Happy New Year, Auntie!¡±


    The children immediately knelt, and Shopkeeper Lu was so delighted she couldn¡¯t stop smiling. She quickly helped the children stand up.


    She gave each of them a red envelope before letting them all take a seat.


    ¡°With the snowy weather, there¡¯s nowhere else to go. I was thinking of going to the county town to visit my sisters. My little shop has relied on their help all these years.¡±


    ¡°They will understand. The roads are not in good condition.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s either too busy or too quiet for me. I was born with a workaholic nature. ¡±


    ¡°Should we go to Mayor Qian¡¯s house to pay our New Year¡¯s respects?¡± Shopkeeper Lu seemed a bit ufortable when Mavor Qian¡¯s name was mentioned. ¡°You can go, I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Setting aside other matters, considering that he¡¯s done a lot for us in the town over the years, we should pay our respects.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go, but only because we have nowhere else. We¡¯ll pay our respects to him. He¡¯ll be overjoyed.¡±


    ¡°Still reluctant, I see. Let¡¯s go then.¡±


    Qiao Mai took Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s hand, and they all left for Mayor Qian¡¯s house.


    At the entrance of Mayor Qian¡¯srge courtyard, many townspeople wereing and going. Mayor Qian sat in the living room, receiving them, with guards stationed on both sides of the entrance.


    The townspeople offered their New Year¡¯s greetings and then left. Mayor Qian had to do this every year, and while he found it tiresome, he didn¡¯t mind. It was an annual event, and he had been a good mayor, loved and respected by the townspeople.


    When Mayor Qian saw Shopkeeper Lu and her group, his eyes lit up.


    ¡°Oh my, rare guests! Please, have a seat. Don¡¯t leave. Let¡¯s have lunch at my ce this year.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s going to your ce? We haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet!¡±


    Madam Lu¡¯s response caught Mayor Qian off guard. They bantered like this every time they met as if they were close friends who loved to tease each other.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯vee to pay your respects to me. I¡¯m going to your house for lunch. Your food is delicious.


    ¡°Humph, visiting someone else¡¯s home on New Year¡¯s Day, how shameless!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to feel ashamed about? It just so happens that Brother Jiaqi is alone at home. It¡¯s boring with a bunch of women around. The two of us can have a drink.¡±


    Qiao Mai yfully poked Shopkeeper Lu, ¡°Come on, dear sister, let¡¯s not bicker on New Year¡¯s. Let¡¯s go home, have an early lunch, and wait for Mayor Qian to join us.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good! By the way, don¡¯t call me ¡®Mayor Qian.¡¯ You¡¯re too formal. Just call me Brother Qian, okay?¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°How old are you?¡±


    Mayor Qian yfully rolled his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by my appearance. I haven¡¯t even reached fifty yet. I just turned forty-six after the New Year.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Oh, you do look quite mature. Without knowing, someone might think you¡¯re sixty.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? I¡¯m only ten years older than Sanniang.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get going then.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡±


    Mayor Qian¡¯s guards distributed red envelopes to the children. When they returned home, Mr. Qin from the town¡¯s carpenter shop and Shopkeeper Tong waited in the living room.


    They hade to offer their New Year¡¯s greetings. ¡°Goodness, it¡¯s New Year¡¯s! Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Happy New Year! We just visited Mayor Qian¡¯s house!¡±


    ¡°Haha, we left his ce not long ago. Come, these are red envelopes for the children. ¡±


    ¡°Want to have lunch at my ce?¡±


    ¡°Sure, that sounds great. We couldn¡¯t ask for more.¡±


    It seemed like these two felt there was nowhere to go in the snow, so they came to the Qiao family to freeload for food and drinks.


    Just as they were about to have breakfast, the bosses of the butcher shop, the clothing store, the cksmith shop ¡ª Any boss in town who benefited from Qiao Mai¡¯s patronage ¡ª came to pay their New Year¡¯s greetings. Anyone who saw the kids would give them a red envelope.


    ¡°How about staying for lunch? All of you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, that sounds great. We can¡¯t easily get a taste of your home-cooked meals.¡±


    ¡°Who said that? Didn¡¯t youe to my house for my daughter¡¯s wedding before?¡±


    ¡°Haha, we¡¯re just here for your delicious food.¡±


    Qiao Mai asked them to sit down for the time being while she and her family quickly had a bowl of dumplings. She asked Yuan Jiaqi to keep thempany and went to the kitchen.


    The kitchen staff knew that guests had arrived and were busy preparing food.


    ¡°Prepare two tables of dishes, and you should also set up a few more. Today is New Year¡¯s Day, so everyone should eat and drink well.¡±


    ¡°Madam, we usually eat well, whether it¡¯s New Year¡¯s or not. It won¡¯t make much of a difference.


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Steam some sausages, prepare pork dishes, and we¡¯ll have dumplings for lunch too. Let them taste the vor of our dumplings. And make some snacks.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t enjoy socializing much, so she returned to the backyard.


    Thinking about the candied hawthorn she madest year, Qiao Mai wondered what surprise she could prepare for the children.


    Qiao Mai thought about various snacks from Earth, and one that came to mind was popcorn.


    Popcorn was simple to make, requiring just a few ingredients, and easy to prepare.


    Corn, butter, cream, sugar, chocte, rice, malt sugar, molds¡ª she prepared everything and started working in the kitchen.


    First, she made two pots of butter-vored popcorn, then two pots of chocte-vored popcorn. Finally, she made a pot of rice popcorn, mixed it with malt sugar, poured it into molds, and cut it into rectangr bars.


    Qiao Mai ced the three snacks into clean cloth bags and carried them to the living room..

 Chapter 124 - 124: My Wife’s Words Are The Law

    Chapter 124: My Wife¡¯s Words Are The Law


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi watched her carrying threerge cloth bags and stepped forward to take them, concerned that she might strain herself. To his surprise, the bags were much lighter than he expected.


    ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡±


    ¡°These are snacks I made for the kids, but you can have some too. Come on, give them a try.¡±


    She had Yuan Jiaqi ce the bags on the table and open the bag¡¯s mouth to reveal its contents.


    No one had seen popcorn before, and they all gathered around. Just then, Mayor Qian arrived.


    Everyone was too busy looking at the three bags to greet him. They stared intently at what was inside.


    Qiao Mai had the children grab a big bowl and give them several handfuls of popcorn, telling them to eat on the side.


    As the adults watched the children enjoying the popcorn, their mouths watered, and they couldn¡¯t help but make sounds of amazement. They wanted to reach out and grab some, but they were afraid of being teased.


    Qiao Mai smiled and said, ¡°Go ahead. If your hands are clean, grab and eat. After you finish, I¡¯ll tell you what it¡¯s made of.¡±


    Mayor Qian didn¡¯t waste any time; he reached out and grabbed a handful, enjoying the creamy sweetness.


    Although he does not have a sweet tooth, he couldn¡¯t stop stuffing more into his mouth.


    After finishing what was in his hands, he went for the rice cakes. No one touched the dark chocte-vored ones.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, realizing they didn¡¯t appreciate the choctes.


    So, she grabbed a handful of choctes and started eating.


    Others saw her eating and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this dark stuff?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s made from a type of fruit, much better than the yellow one you¡¯re eating.¡±


    The adults began grabbing and eating the choctes, and they found the taste rich and unique.


    Mayor Qian saw an opportunity and tried to strike a deal with her.


    Qiao Mai red at him. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. After the New Year, my shop will start selling these. If you take the recipe, what will I have left to sell?¡± ¡°Your shop is turning into a grocery store.¡±


    ¡°Humph, they¡¯re just small snacks, various delicious tidbits. What do you understand?¡±


    Everyone couldn¡¯t help butugh at this exchange, looking at the three bags of snacks. Qiao Mai made sure to leave some for the children and instructed her staff to distribute them so that everyone in the family could taste them, especially Shopkeeper Niu and his associates.


    After trying these delicious snacks, Shopkeeper Niu and his five attendants immediately came over.


    With a smile, he asked, ¡°Mistress, can we sell these snacks in our shop?¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s what they were prepared for in the first ce.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! I believe with these, our business will only get better.¡±


    ¡°After the second day of the New Year, I¡¯ll teach you how to make them. But for now, take a good two-day break.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mistress. We¡¯ll take our leave then.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu and his team left, while Mayor Qian decided to try again. ¡°Madam Qiao, if you¡¯re not selling this, how about giving me another recipe?¡± Qiao Mai considered, ¡°Does your Qian family¡¯s pastry shop sell biscuits?¡±


    Mayor Qian shook his head. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°How about egg cakes?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have those and puff pastry, cake, and simr items. Plus the mooncakes and cream cakes we bought from you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, after the New Year, I¡¯ll prepare some biscuits for you to sell. This stuffsts for half a year and is especially delicious. Get your money ready.¡±


    ¡°How about let me try it this afternoon?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite eager.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the New Year; you have nothing to do. Besides, you didn¡¯t visit rtives this year, right? You¡¯ve sold goods during the New Year before, haven¡¯t you?


    Who wouldin about having more money?¡±


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s have lunch first. We can discuss itter.¡¯


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait here at your ce. We can do it likest time with the cream cakes¡ªprepare and taste and make the deal on the spot?¡± ¡°You¡¯d better go back. I¡¯ll have someone deliver them to you.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to watch you make them.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi cleared his throat softly, and Mayor Qian exined, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I¡¯m worried that your wife might change her mind. If someone else gets hold of the recipe, you know what the consequences could be.¡±


    ¡°My wife is decisive. She has never lied to anyone, and you¡¯re the only one who doubts her.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you two are a couple. You will side with her.¡±


    Mayor Qian wasn¡¯t doubting Madam Qiao; he simply wanted to stay longer at the Qiao household, his eyes lingering on Lu Sanniang.


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed, and Qiao Mai gave Mayor Qian a stern look. Seeing that it was gettingte, she instructed her servants to prepare dinner.


    Shopkeeper Tong spent five hundred taels on five recipes.


    Mr. Qin spent five hundred taels to buy five designs for household furniture.


    The others were envious but knew that Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help them with their businesses. They watched as those two left with full bags of valuable recipes, feeling disappointed.


    What luck! Visiting the Qiao family for New Year¡¯s greetings had turned into a lucrative deal for Mayor Qian and the others. Only Qiao Mai could have such good fortune.


    With everyone gone, Mayor Qian urged her, ¡°Quick, the biscuits!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my backyard. I have tea there, and you can chat while I work. I can¡¯t let you watch me make it; it¡¯s too intriguing. I can¡¯t even celebrate the New


    Year properly. Sigh-


    Although she seemed helpless, there was a hint of pride in her words.


    Yuan Jiaqi and the others chuckled while looking at each other. Mayor Qian, who was cornered, had nothing to say.


    They followed Qiao Mai to her courtyard, where they settled in the living room. Yue Hong served them tea, and Qiao Mai brought out some snacks and fruits for them to nibble on while she went to check the recipe in her space.


    She gathered all the necessary ingredients in her space and returned to the real world. Once in the kitchen, she started making the biscuits.


    Outside, the snow was falling gently, creating a serene atmosphere. Egg yolk biscuits were easy to make. Even without butter, substituting with cow¡¯s fat was a viable option.


    She mixed flour with egg yolks and milk to form a dough, allowing it to rise. During this process, Qiao Mai quickly fashioned a simple mold to give the biscuits an attractive floral pattern on top.


    After working tirelessly until dusk, the first batch of egg yolk biscuits was ready. Qiao Mai brought the biscuits to the living room.


    ¡°Here you go. I¡¯ve baked only one batch for now. Everyone, please try them. If you want more, talk to Mayor Qian.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    Mayor Qian wasted no time, grabbed a piece, and savored it. ¡°The vor is rich with the taste of egg yolk, not the least bit fishy. It even has a hint of milk fragrance. It¡¯s crispy and gets even tastier as you chew. This is perfect for children and the elderly, but anyone can enjoy it. Delicious! I¡¯ll buy the recipe.


    Name your price.¡±


    ¡°These are easy to make. I¡¯ll sell you the recipe for one thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Deal! Write down the recipe quickly!¡±


    Qiao Mai, somewhat resigned, wrote down the recipe. Mayor Qian had silver notes on him and immediately handed over a thousand-tael silver note.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you are truly a money-making tree. They say you are a gold mine, and it¡¯s not an exaggeration. You could earn two thousand taels of silver in a New Year.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it all because you pushed me?¡±


    ¡°Look at you! Is making money also something you¡¯re forced into?¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    It was quitete, but Mayor Qian didn¡¯t leave. Instead, they all had a casual dinner in Qiao Mai¡¯s backyard.


    When Mayor Qian finally departed, he said, ¡°Tomorrow, when Xin¡¯er returns home, I¡¯lle over too.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu widened her eyes and puffed her cheeks. ¡°You want toe when my daughter is back home?¡±


    ¡°Just to keep youpany. Is there a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°Humph, I think you¡¯re eyeing the good things in my sister¡¯s home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    After Mayor Qian left, Shopkeeper Lu and Ruyi also left to rest. Yuan Jiaqi and the children helped Qiao Mai clean up the living room.


    She allowed them to stay for a while but then headed to the kitchen, where she baked two more batches of biscuits.


    She packed arge box for each of them. ¡°Take these with you in case you get hungry tonight. ¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother! These egg yolk biscuits are delicious.¡±


    ¡°Remember not to eat them in bed, or the crumbs will keep you awake.¡±


    ¡°We understand, Mother. Thank you, Mother. You¡¯re the best mother in the world.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tter me. Now, go back and rest!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±

 Chapter 125 - 125: Do You Still Have Any Recipes?

    Chapter 125: Do You Still Have Any Recipes?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi nced deeply at Qiao Mai, then left with the children. Yue Hong held Ling¡¯er in her arms, and the little one waved goodbye to her father and brothers.


    ¡°Dad, brothers, goodnight!¡±


    Qiao Mai pinched her little cheek. ¡°Go to sleep. We¡¯ll y again tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Mom, goodnight!¡±


    This day had been exhausting for her. The two thousand taels of silver meant nothing to herpared to the money she spent on spirit stones.


    It was like a drop in the bucket.


    Thinking about the ten thousand acres ofnd in her space, Qiao Mai immediately returned to her room, entered the space, and shut the door behind her.


    The previous twenty thousand acres ofnd were nted with various vegetables, fruits, trees, and medicinal herbs. Now, she nned to cultivate the additional ten thousand acres.


    She had all the seeds prepared ¨C tworge bags of grass seeds. Standing at the edge of the vast ck soil, she felt her mood soar.


    Qiao Mai wanted to create a vast grasnd and raise some horses. She dreamed of riding freely across thisnd, a ce that belonged to her alone, where she could do as she pleased.


    Whether good or bad, it was a ce where she could be free and do whatever she wanted.


    With a single thought, grass seeds flew out of her bag, falling like snow evenly onto the ten thousand acres of ck soil.


    Qiao Mai had intended to leave as soon as she had sown the seeds. However, to her surprise, she noticed that the freshly nted grass seeds were already sprouting as she was about to turn away.


    The touch of green caught her sharp eyes immediately.


    She crouched down, and with the naked eye, she saw the grass seeds growing rapidly, like a fast-forwarded video of flowers blooming.


    She had nted grass seeds before, specifically for Dong Zao, which took several days to grow.


    Qiao Mai remained motionless, measuring the time it took for the pasture to grow.


    After an hour, she stood up, her stiff body loosening. A smile appeared on her face.


    In such a short time, the pasture had grown from a single seed to maturity. Seeing the grass fully seeded, Qiao Mai had another thought and harvested another batch of grass seeds with a single intention.


    Upon closer sensing, she realized an additional ten thousand acres. Whenever something she nted matured, the space would duplicate an identical piece ofnd.


    After harvesting all the pasture from the initial twenty thousand acres, Qiao Mai continued to nt and harvest, repeating the process throughout the night. By dawn, her space had expanded to over two hundred thousand acres.


    However, the space had not leveled up yet. Qiao Mai guessed it would require one million acres to reach level five. Perhaps level six would need ten million acres?


    Thinking about that made her head spin.


    Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t difficult for her at this point.


    All Qiao Mai needed to do was nt more grass seeds, and by multiplying thend like this, it should take only a few days.


    Although it was a bit troublesome to nt in increments of ten thousand acres due to her current cultivation, she was more than satisfiedpared to the painstaking nting she had done in the past.


    Gazing at the vast grasnd of over two hundred thousand acres, her mood was excellent. She really wanted to bring Dong Zao into the space right now and let him run around freely and enjoy himself.


    After a short nap, Ling¡¯er came knocking on her door.


    ¡°Mom, Mom, Ling¡¯er misses you. It¡¯s time to wake up.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes, got up, opened the door, and returned to bed.


    Ling¡¯er entered the room, climbed onto the bed with the help of Yuehong, and sat beside Qiao Mai¡¯s head.


    ¡°Mom, couldn¡¯t you sleep well?¡±


    ¡°I had trouble falling asleepst night, so I slept in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Brothers are waiting for you in the living room.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and have your breakfast. You don¡¯t need to wait for Mom. I¡¯m exhausted and would like to rest a bit longer. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Sure, Mom. Sleep.¡±


    Ling¡¯er obediently climbed down from the bed and then hurried to the living room. Yue Hong and Yue Xia followed her.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia closed the door and followed behind her. ¡°Miss, take it slow, take it slow.¡±


    Qiao Mai closed her eyes, listening to their voices as they followed Ling¡¯er. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, feeling content.


    Today was supposed to be the day Xin¡¯er returned. Qiao Mai remembered it, but she wasn¡¯t in a hurry nor particrly excited.


    An hourter, she opened her eyes with a sigh and got up. She dressed in the same attire she had worn yesterday.


    She strolled leisurely to the living room where Yuan Jiaqi and the children were ying.


    ¡°You¡¯re up?¡±


    ¡°Yes, have all of you had breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yue Xia hurried to the small kitchen to bring her a hot meal.


    ¡°Mistress, please have your breakfast.¡±


    Lu Sanniang hade with Ruxin and Feng Yinshi. They were chatting andughing as they walked and had quite loud voices.


    Qiao Mai lost her appetite and put the bun she held back down, gesturing for Yue Xia to take it away. Then she got up to greet them.


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°I brought Ruxin to see you!¡±


    ¡°Ruxin pays her respects to Master and Master-inw. I wish Master and Master-inw a prosperous and fortunate new year.¡±


    ¡°Son-inw pays his respects to Master and Master-inw. I wish Master and


    Master-inw a prosperous and fortunate new year.¡±


    ¡°Good, have a seat.¡±


    Everyone took their seats, and the children paid their respects before Ruxin handed out red envelopes.


    After a while, Mayor Qian also arrived, making the living room even livelier.


    Qiao Mai nced at Ruxin¡¯s belly. ¡°We haven¡¯t heard anything from you. Could it be that Ruxin is pregnant?¡±


    Ruxin blushed. ¡°It seems that it¡¯s not the time yet; there have been no signs.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I thought you might be inconvenienced due to pregnancy. Since it¡¯s been so long without any news, your mother has been worried.¡±


    Feng Yinshi and Ruxin lowered their heads simultaneously. ¡°We thought it¡¯s too cold these days and inconvenient when it¡¯s snowing.¡±


    ¡°I see. You only thought about your mother. What about Master¡¯s gift?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s in the front yard¡¯s living room.¡±


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d forgotten your Master. By the way, have you opened your shop using the recipe I gave you?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s open, and business is good.¡±


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s great!¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes sparkled, and it seemed Mayor Qian sensed something from her words. He nced at Ruxin and Feng Yinshi with a scrutinizing look.


    When it was getting close to mealtime, Qiao Mai asked Yue Xia to serve the table.


    Xin¡¯er looked at Qiaomai and asked, ¡°Master, do you still have any recipes?¡±


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°My parents-inw want to buy a few recipes from you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t sell my recipes to outsiders.¡±


    ¡°But why did you sell them to Mayor Qian?¡± ¡°Because Mayor Qian has been kind to me. What has the Feng family done for


    ¡°But, Master, I¡¯m part of the Feng family.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t mistreated the Feng family. I provided you with valuable dowry and a recipe that brought you mountains of money. Isn¡¯t that enough for the Feng family to handle? They¡¯ve never done anything to help me. I¡¯ve done more than they deserve.¡±


    Xin¡¯er couldn¡¯t find any words to respond. She listened as Qiao Mai calcted the ounts for her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this shop. Despite its modest appearance, it can bring in five hundred taels of silver a month, not to mention an annual ie of around five thousand taels.


    ¡°Over ten years, that¡¯s fifty thousand taels. And that¡¯s just in this small county. If you expand to surrounding counties or even prefecture cities, the yearly earnings could be in the tens of thousands. So, do you think I owe you or the Feng family?¡±


    ¡°Go back and tell your parents-inw to manage this little shop properly. It¡¯s enough to secure a foothold for the Feng family in the county. Stop thinking about getting anything from me. I don¡¯t owe you, Xin¡¯er, and I certainly don¡¯t owe anything to the Feng family.¡±


    Qiaomai delivered this message with a smile, but to Xin¡¯er and Feng Yanshi, it sounded quite sarcastic.


    In the end, Qiaomai smiled and added, ¡°Xin¡¯er, do you remember what your mother said when she took the recipe?¡±


    With a sudden jolt, Xin¡¯er raised her head. She saw her smiling master, but her eyes held an icy edge. She realized Qiao Mai was genuinely angry.


    Feng Yanshi coughed lightly, and Xin¡¯er nced at him, lowering her head. She remained silent.


    Qiao Mai looked towards Feng Yanshi, a man who appeared honest but had hidden motives. Since he liked to y tricks behind the scenes, she decided to bring everything out into the open.


    ¡°Yinshi.¡±


    ¡°Here..¡±

 Chapter 126 - 126: Why Can’t I Go?

    Chapter 126: Why Can¡¯t I Go?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Go back and tell your parents to manage that shop properly. Don¡¯t aim too high butck substance. The recipes and menu I have are for the Wang family. The Feng family could not afford to offend them, and neither do I.¡±


    ¡°The biscuits are for the Qian family. The Qian family is simr to the Wang family, which you can¡¯t provoke. As for the remaining snacks, I must use them to support my own family.¡±


    ¡°If the recipe for the snack I gave to Xin¡¯er is operated well, it will get better like I said. Because it¡¯s small and unremarkable, it¡¯s less likely to be coveted.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master. Yinshi will go home and talk to my parents.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    After saying these, the meal was almost ready. Everyone sat down to eat.


    During the meal, Qiao Mai talked to others but didn¡¯t say a word to Xin¡¯er.


    This conversation made her decide that she would treat Xin¡¯er as if she were an ordinary person.


    No matter how hard she tried to teach her, Xin¡¯er wouldn¡¯t even side with her family after she left. She feared that Xin¡¯er had told the Feng family everything about her past.


    Shopkeeper Lu had guessed something. She had remained silent and didn¡¯t make a sound. Everyone finished their meal and dispersed.


    Shopkeeper Lu held Xin¡¯er¡¯s hand and said, ¡°My girl, you really did wrong this time.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t think I did anything wrong. Master allowed you to use the recipe and gave it to me, so it¡¯s mine. Besides, I married into the Feng family, so I¡¯m part of the Feng family. We¡¯re all one family. You and Master are overthinking it. ¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at her daughter, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar.


    ¡°Where is the pce fan and screen that your master gave you?¡±


    Xin¡¯er¡¯s face reddened. ¡°I gave them away.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how to cherish what our family elders gave you. Those items added up to five or six thousand taels of silver, and you gave them away like that? The Feng family¡¯s betrothal gift to you was only a thousand taels. Are you a fool?¡±


    ¡°Mother, it¡¯s just an object. I can embroider more double-sided screens myself.


    They¡¯re my family. If they want them, I can¡¯t be stingy, can I?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu felt somewhat disappointed, but after all, Xin¡¯er was her daughter. She couldn¡¯t continue this conversation, or she might want to hit someone.


    ¡°Alright, you two wait in the front hall. I¡¯ll prepare some return gifts for you.¡± ¡°Mother, we want to go to the front shop.¡±


    ¡°What do you want to see? It¡¯s fine if you want to buy something, but you can¡¯t go to the kitchen to see how they make things.¡±


    ¡°Why not? I¡¯m her disciple. Why can¡¯t I go?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu gritted her teeth, thinking the Feng family had corrupted her daughter¡¯s mind.


    She red at Xin¡¯er. ¡°Disciple? Even her children can¡¯t go. Who do you think you are? Hurry back to the Feng family, and don¡¯te here again unless you have to.¡±


    ¡°Mother, what¡¯s wrong with you and Master? Why are you so guarded against


    ¡°A daughter married is like spilled water. Since you im to be a part of the


    Feng family, how would I dare to treat you as part of our Lu family?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu wasn¡¯t afraid to offend the Feng family. She had said this in front of Feng Yinshi. Although her son-inw¡¯s face didn¡¯t look good, he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Xin¡¯er was a bit angry. ¡°Mother, you don¡¯t need to prepare return gifts. We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    Saying so, she pulled Feng Yinshi into the carriage and left with the maidservant.


    Shopkeeper Lu was left open-mouthed, pointing at the carriage for a long time. Then she suddenly turned and hurried to find Qiao Mai.


    She knew her sister must be furious today.


    Her daughter seemed like a different person after getting married, almost unrecognizable. Not only was she ungrateful, but she also became audacious. To put it inly, shameless.


    When she saw Qiao Mai, she was about to lie down for a nap.


    ¡°Sister, is something wrong?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu sat on the edge of her bed, and tears flowed down her cheeks.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sister. Xin¡¯er has disappointed you.¡±


    ¡°From now on, she¡¯s just your daughter. I¡¯ve done what I should do, and I don¡¯t owe her anything. Besides, she¡¯s your daughter. You should take care of her.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want her as your disciple anymore?¡±


    ¡°Taking in a disciple was just a fleeting thought to repay your kindness. Since there¡¯s no master-disciple rtionship, it¡¯s better to end it early.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This ungrateful girl changed after getting married.¡±


    ¡°I can understand. A woman going to a stranger¡¯s home, trying to please them in every way, fearing that they won¡¯t be satisfied with her, but never seeing her own strengths, making herself so low that others can step on her. If it weren¡¯t for your support, she would have a difficult life.¡±


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m busy at the year¡¯s end, so I haven¡¯t paid much attention to her. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry. You don¡¯t need tofort me. I didn¡¯t sleep muchst night. I want to sleep now, so you should go back.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu left in disappointment, and Qiao Mai sighed and closed her eyes.


    In the Wang family¡¯s mansion in the Capital, the old couple sat together on a warm bed, drinking tea.


    ¡°Old man, I misjudged someone.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°That girl, Ruxin, I taught her so much in vain. She came to our house confidently on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The Feng family must want to climb the socialdder.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not the first time she¡¯s crossed the line with Madam Qiao. It¡¯s getting excessive.¡±


    ¡°Lu Sanniang raised her to be too naive. After marrying into the Feng family, she¡¯s been influenced by them. Sigh¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible that the Feng family nned this marriage.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Qiao Mai went to the front shop. She taught the employees how to make popcorn and even had them stick paper bags during their free time. A small bag of popcorn costs ten coins.


    It didn¡¯t sound expensive, but a catty of corn was only five coins, and making a catty of popcorn, which could fill twenty paper bags, would cost two hundred coins. Excluding costs, she could earn one hundred and fifty coins or more. It was a huge profit.


    Yesterday, when Qiao Mai was hosting guests at home, she didn¡¯te to check. But business was booming. After teaching the employees, she sat in the shop and watched. There were indeed many customers.


    Many people came to try them after introducing new products, and whenever they heard about snacks avable, they would buy some to taste.


    Popcorn was a delicacy in the snack world. There was no one who didn¡¯t like it.


    The slightly burnt popcorn was most loved by children and young girls. Word of mouth spread quickly, and the shop was almost squeezed to the brink.


    The employees were busy, and Shopkeeper Niu quietly spoke to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Miss Ruxin and her husband came to the shop. Not only did they want to take things, but they also wanted to go to the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°You allowed it?¡± Qiao Mai frowned.


    ¡°Without your orders, she didn¡¯t take anything, and I didn¡¯t allow them to go to the back.¡±


    ¡°Good job. Remember that she¡¯s no longer my disciple. No matter whoes, without my consent, they have to pay.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu could tell that something unpleasant must have happened that day by her expression.


    However, he was not one to gossip. He followed his employee¡¯s orders. Shopkeeper Niu was a man of few words and tight-lipped.


    Qiao Mai had nothing to do, so she found another snack online ¨C rice crackers.


    After making it and getting good feedback from everyone, she put it on the shelves of the snack shop on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.


    All the other shops in town were still closed, and only Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery was open. Business was booming, and the employees couldn¡¯t keep up with demand.


    It wasn¡¯t until the sixteenth day of the Lunar New Year that business gradually slowed down.


    The siblings from the Liu family also returned. After meeting with Qiao Mai, they went back to their work.


    Everything returned to normal. Although Shopkeeper Lu felt guilty, she wasn¡¯t the type toin andment. If her daughter did something wrong, there was no need to spoil her.


    Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t pamper her daughter either. Since she was now part of the Feng family, let her face the consequences. She would have to regret it one day.

 Chapter 127 - 127: What Happened?

    Chapter 127: What Happened?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She used this incident as a negative example for Ruyi. ¡°You must never follow your sister¡¯s example. It¡¯s truly disappointing your master.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Mother. If it doesn¡¯t work out, you can find me a husband in Tianshui Town. It¡¯s conveniently close to you and Master. My sister is naive, but I¡¯m not. It¡¯s clear that the Feng family is trying to take advantage of us.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°This is just my spection, but I think they must have inquired about our family before and learned about the Wang family¡¯s situation, which is why they tried to establish a connection with us. My sister is foolish because she can¡¯t figure out her position in her inws¡¯ house. She¡¯s the Feng family¡¯s prized possession, but she gave away her dowry and tried to please her inws at every turn, as if our family couldn¡¯t find her a husband and had to push her into the Feng family.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu patted Ruyi¡¯s head and said, ¡°You see through things better than your sister. She is indeed naive.¡±


    ¡°Mother, my sister wasn¡¯t always like this. She¡¯s too honest and sincere, but the Feng family has enchanted her.¡±


    ¡°Although it¡¯s true, she wouldn¡¯t fall for their tricks if she were clear-headed.¡±


    ¡°Perfect! From now on, Master will be mine alone. Hehe. She got married and forgot her roots, but I won¡¯t. I wish Mother and Master were mine alone.¡± ¡°You little schemer!¡±


    On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Old Mister and Mistress Wang returned to the Qiao family as expected.


    When Qiao Mai went to wee them, Old Mistress Wang held her hand and talked for a while.


    ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s finally good to be back. I feel ufortable everywhere in the Capital.


    ¡°How about you stay here in the countryside from now on? You¡¯re getting old, so you should stay where you feelfortable. I¡¯ll take care of both of you. If they miss you, they cane to my ce.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Inside the house, the heated bed was already prepared. The old couple sat on it while Qiao Mai sat beside them. The maidservants were busy serving tea, fetching snacks, and arranging fruit tters.


    Even Old Mistress Wang¡¯s maidservants enjoyed staying with the Qiao family.


    ¡°Dear, I must tell you, everybody loved those snacks you brought for us during the New Year. They behaved like country bumpkins who had never seen the world, eating so ungracefully.¡±


    She made a disdainful expression while saying this.


    ¡°It means they liked the snacks I made. When the two of you return next year, I¡¯ll make more preserved meat and sausages. These things can only be made in winter; they¡¯ll spoil in the summer.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I should thank you in advance. You work the hardest in the family, taking care of the shop and thinking about us. You¡¯ve really done well.¡±


    ¡°As long as you enjoy the food I prepare, it doesn¡¯t matter how hard the work is.


    We all share in the glory.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang held her hand, her eyes welling up.


    ¡°You¡¯re the most adorable, considerate, and kind-hearted girl I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°Oh, am I that great in your eyes? I¡¯ll have to make something delicious for youter.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Old Mister Wang sat on the side, sipping his hot tea and watching them. It seemed so much like a mother-daughter rtionship.


    As their conversation continued, Old Mistress Wang turned the topic towards Ruxin.


    ¡°Your eldest disciple went to the Wang family to pay her respects on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Did you know about it?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know. The Feng family is trying to ingratiate themselves with you.¡±


    ¡°Out of respect for you, I met with her and invited them for lunch.¡±


    Qiao Mai remained silent for a moment. ¡°She is no longer my disciple, and you don¡¯t need to show any courtesy for my sake.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was surprised. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Qiao Mai then exined the incident of Ruxin visiting her family on the second day of the Lunar New Year and the situation where they demanded the recipe from her.


    Old Mistress Wang became quite angry upon hearing this. ¡°The Feng family is insatiable. They had such a good girl from our family, but they¡¯ve influenced her to this extent. It¡¯s like dealing with wolves in sheep¡¯s clothing. They have their own brains; why don¡¯t they use them?¡±


    ¡°If she manages the recipe well, she could make a lot of money. She could easily earn tens of thousands of taels annually, even if it¡¯s just in the nearby cities and counties. They¡¯re leaving this great business opportunity behind, insisting on obtaining more recipes. They¡¯re really foolish.¡±


    ¡°A small snack recipe can earn so much?¡±


    ¡°Yes, don¡¯t underestimate these small snacks. They taste exceptionally good regardless of the season. I¡¯ve visited her shop; she makes a profit of at least twenty taels daily.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s six hundred taels a month. After deducting the costs, assuming it¡¯s five hundred taels a month. That¡¯s six thousand taels a year. Even if we reduce it to five thousand, imagine the ie in ten or twenty counties.


    ¡°With a shop like this, all it takes is some renovation, and they can open for business. The Feng family only cares about my recipe; they never think beyond that. They have shallow knowledge and only focus on the present, unable to see the bigger picture.¡±


    ¡°People like the Feng family can only stay in small towns, looking at the world from a well. They will never achieve great wealth.¡±


    As they continued their conversation, the old couple¡¯s mouths watered at the thought of these snacks.


    Seeing their reactions, Qiao Mai chuckled and said, ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll prepare some of these snacks for us to enjoy?¡±


    Old Mister Wang eagerly agreed. ¡°Sure, I¡¯d love to taste these snacks that are so profitable.¡±


    ¡°Great, I¡¯ll go make them. But lunch might be a bitte.¡±


    ¡°No problem. We¡¯ll wait!¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and went to the kitchen. She saw the kitchen maids busy at work.


    ¡°Let¡¯s postpone lunch until dinner. I¡¯ll prepare something else. You can help me with the preparations. It¡¯ll be faster this way. Also, let¡¯s make some nourishing soup. After lunch, we can all have a bowl.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her sleeves, put on an apron, and started working.


    Making cold noodles was a straightforward process. After preparing the batter and steaming it, she let the kitchen maids take care of that and started preparing the sauce.


    The first step was to prepare the chili paste. Since they had both elderly and young family members, she didn¡¯t want it to be too spicy but still wanted it to be vorful. The ratios were crucial.


    The kitchen maids watched in awe as Qiao Mai added various ingredients to the oil. They didn¡¯t dare to ask unless Qiao Mai taught them. That was the rule in the Qiao family.


    Qiao Mai noticed their curious eyes and exined while working.


    ¡°By frying these ingredients in oil until they¡¯re almost burnt, the oil will absorb their fragrance. When you pour this oil into the chili paste, it bes more aromatic.¡±


    ¡°There seem to be many ingredients in this.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, this is the key to deliciousness. You¡¯ll get to taste itter. I¡¯ll prepare some for all of you to try.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mistress. We¡¯re in for a treat today.¡±


    ¡°These small snacks are very delicious. After I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll send some to Old Mistress Wang first. Others should also being to her ce, so let¡¯s send them all there.¡±


    Once the chili oil was ready, the room was filled with fragrance, making it irresistibly aromatic.


    Qiao Mai decided not to include gluten in the dish. She believed that whether with or without gluten, the cold noodles would be equally delicious.


    Once steamed, she cut it into strips, ced cucumber shreds on the bottom, added the noodles on top, and drizzled it with the red chili oil.


    She prepared a tray with two bowls and covered it with a gauze. The kitchen maids started taking the food to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s ce.


    Within moments, the servants from the Wang family arrived to assist. Qiao Mai entrusted the rest of the work to the kitchen staff and returned to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s side.


    Yuan Jiaqi was indeed present, and even Ling¡¯er was there. Qiao Mai watched as each of them held a bowl, eating heartily and not sparing a moment for conversation.


    Qiao Mai opened a small jar she had brought along. It contained the sesame sauce she had prepared.


    ¡°Is it delicious?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s so refreshing. After eating heavy meals during the New Year, this is just perfect.¡±


    Qiao Mai held her jar out to Old Mister Wang, saying, ¡°Should I add some of this?¡±


    Without hesitation, he extended the bowl towards her. ¡°Add some, let this old man have a taste.¡±


    Qiao Mai scooped two spoonfuls of sesame sauce into his bowl. He sniffed it and confirmed, ¡°Is this sesame sauce?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s produced by your Wang family workshop. It¡¯s already avable in the county during the New Year and quite expensive.¡±


    Old Mister Wang mixed it into his bowl and tasted it. ¡°I think it¡¯s better without this. These kinds of snacks should be light and refreshing..¡±

 Chapter 128 - 128: This Cold Noodles Is Really Delicious

    Chapter 128: This Cold Noodles Is Really Delicious


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Old Mistress Wang extended her bowl and said, ¡°Give me some. I want to try.¡±


    Qiao Mai added a little for her. The olddy tasted it and nodded, ¡°Everyone has their taste. It¡¯s quite good.¡±


    The children slurped their noodles and struggled.


    ¡°Mother, this food is so delicious. It¡¯s a bit spicy, but we can handle this level of spiciness.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy it! I¡¯ll have the kitchen make it for you. In the summer, I¡¯ll teach them to make sour and sweet cold noodles, hot dry noodles, and sticky rice cakes.¡±


    When Qiao Mai mentioned this, everyone¡¯s mouths started watering again.


    While they talked, Shopkeeper Lu arrived. There were plenty of cold noodles, and Shopkeeper Lu knew what she meant with a gesture.


    ¡°Eat up. This is the recipe I gave to your daughter. As her mother, you haven¡¯t tried it yet, right?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu paused while eating. ¡°This is the recipe you gave her?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°This snack is unexpectedly delicious. No wonder you said it¡¯s profitable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been to her shop. In one day, bowls like these can sell over a thousand. It was twenty coins per bowl. Can you imagine the profits?¡±


    ¡°The cost of this stuff isn¡¯t high, is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s made with white flour paste. Do you think it¡¯s expensive?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu looked at the cold noodles and took a bite with frustration. ¡°The Feng family is so greedy. They have such a lucrative business, but they still want more recipes. Ugh!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I gave your daughter a recipe like this. If she manages it well, she can make over a hundred thousand taels of silver a year. But she doesn¡¯t want to work hard for it and only thinks about getting more recipes from me.¡±


    ¡°She can do as she pleases. Don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯m even angrier. When she left that day, she said she wanted to look around in the kitchen. I was fuming at the time.¡±


    ¡°Even if you were mad, she still went. It¡¯s just that Shopkeeper Niu didn¡¯t let the two of them in.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu took a deep breath. ¡°Sister, you did the right thing. Don¡¯t recognize her as your disciple anymore. As her mother, I¡¯ve done my duty. If she wants to do whatever she wants, let her. We¡¯ll live our own lives.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang added, ¡°She even took some people from the Feng family and went to my ce on the first day of the New Year. It¡¯s the second time she disrespected Madam Qiao.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu instantly felt that the cold noodles weren¡¯t tasty anymore. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Old Mistress Wang. It¡¯s my fault for not teaching her properly.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s eat first. It¡¯s not that she¡¯s bad; you¡¯re blind. You picked such an inw. She was a good child, but they¡¯ve turned her into this.¡±


    These cold noodles were delicious. Except for Shopkeeper Lu, everyone had two bowls. The room was warm. Otherwise, the cold noodles would have been a bit too chilly.


    They sat in the room, sipping hot soup. Shopkeeper Lu felt uneasy and excused herself to leave.


    This was another blow for her.


    If the Feng family knew how to handle things, they wouldn¡¯t have asked for the recipe, let alone instigate her daughter to go to the Wang family.


    Even if she wanted to go, she should have informed Qiao Mai beforehand.


    This was frustrating for her. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that things had already been set in motion, she wanted to rush to the Feng family and have a big fight with them.


    She felt so wronged.


    After Old Mister Wang returned, he immediately started giving extra lessons to Yuan Jiaqi. The children had ss in the morning and the afternoon.


    As for why he wanted to send him to the Windforest Academy, Old Mister Wang exined it this way.


    If Yuan Jiaqi only studied under him, he would only listen to his interpretation.


    The Windforest Academy was a gathering ce for talents, and there, he could hear different people¡¯s opinions on various aspects, which would broaden his horizons.


    Qiao Mai agreed without hesitation. ¡°Send him! ¡±


    Seeing her enthusiastic agreement, Old Mister Wang said casually, ¡°My dear, it costs a lot to send him there.¡±


    ¡°With the ie from my Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery before the New Year, I make seven thousand taels monthly. After deducting costs, I still earn five thousand. Is that enough?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s enough. I forgot you also sell quite a few recipes every year.¡± ¡°I have many ways to make money; selling recipes is just one of them.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you make more money?¡±


    ¡°Money is good and bad. Having too much attracts unwanted attention, and having too little isn¡¯t enough to spend. But money is endless. I havend, property, and a shop. It¡¯s enough for my family¡¯s expenses. There¡¯s no need to exhaust myself. Let me put it this way. I like a peaceful andfortable life.¡± ¡°I understand! Everyone has their aspirations; there¡¯s no need to force it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll entrust my husband to you, Old Mister Wang.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m even more concerned than you are. If he can¡¯t even pass the entry exam, I¡¯d give him a good scolding.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I think that will work!¡±


    Starting from the 20th day of the first lunar month, the Qiao family was quiet. Yuan Jiaqi concentrated on his studies, and the children, except for studying in the morning, practiced martial arts with Qiao Mai. They took a nap at noon, helped with cleaning the house, fed the poultry, and sometimes went to the fields to help with harvesting. Finally, they yed with Ling¡¯er in the amusement park in the evening.


    Everyone knew that Yuan Jiaqi was taking the exam, so they kept quiet when they came home, and no one spoke loudly.


    Meals were delivered directly to his courtyard, and no one disturbed him.


    In Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes, being an exam candidate was like the transition from elementary to middle school, the Elementary Schrs exam was like the transition from middle school to high school, the Imperial Exam exam was like going from high school to college, the Tribute Schr exam was like going from college to university, and the Advanced Schr was like a postdoc.


    Such a small exam was too easy for twenty-three-year-old Yuan Jiaqi. She didn¡¯t need to worry about it.


    She only needed to do her job well and work on nting in the evening.


    Dong Zao was put into her space. It saw an endless grasnd inside and was so happy that it jumped up and roared to the sky.


    Then, it yed wildly on the grasnd for an hour before gradually calming down.


    Qiao Mai patted its head. ¡°Do you like it here? I¡¯ll bring you here to y often in the future. By the way, I¡¯ll find you a wife, and you can have lots of little foals. Wait, marrying close rtives isn¡¯t good. I¡¯ll get more male and female horses and a few deer and musk deer to bring in. Then, this grasnd will be your territory. At that time, I¡¯ll have endless deer musk and good horses. Can you imagine?¡±


    Thinking about how a single horse could sell for tens of thousands or even a hundred thousand taels of silver, what if the whole grasnd was filled with them?


    Oh, it wouldn¡¯t be valuable anymore. Rarity makes things valuable. Good things shouldn¡¯t be given away.


    For this piece of grasnd, Qiao Mai rode to the Capital and bought several young horses that had juste of age.


    She also bought a few deer and a few musk deer. When she sawrge parrots in the pet store, she also got several. They were vegetarian and could find food on their own.


    After buying them, she found an empty spot and tossed them all into the space.


    Just like Dong Zao, they went crazy when they saw the great environment and fresh air, fluttering about as if they had gone mad.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes and didn¡¯t care about them. She let them do as they pleased.


    During her trip to the Capital, apart from buying these small animals, she also wanted to see Miss Wang. It had been a long time since she saw her. Wang Jiaru either had something to do or was busy all the time.


    Arriving at the Wang Residence, she looked at the guards at the gate.


    ¡°Guard, please tell Miss Wang that Madam Qiao is here to see her.¡±


    The guard, recognizing her, immediately cupped his fists.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, Miss Wang is traveling far away and may not return for about a month.¡±


    ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Isn¡¯t Old Mistress Wang staying at your ce? You can ask her.¡±


    Since Wang Jiaru is not here, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t buy anything else and went home quickly.


    As soon as she returned home, she put Dong Zai in the space and went to Old Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Old Mistress Wang, what is Jiaru doing?¡±


    ¡°Did you go to the Capital to see her?¡± The olddy smiled and poured her a cup of tea.


    Qiao Mai took a sip while sitting down. ¡°I just returned from the Capital.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s busy with her wedding.¡±


    ¡°Oh? She¡¯s getting married? That¡¯s great news.¡±


    The olddy rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s because of her own doing. Otherwise, she could have married nearby and stayed with her family and you for afortable life.¡±

 Chapter 129 - 129: Keep It A Secret

    Chapter 129: Keep It A Secret


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Ah? What¡¯s going on? Is there a story here?¡±


    The olddy smiled and said, ¡°Oh, she has a sweet tooth like Zihan. While in the Capital managing the family¡¯s business, she got bored at night and sneaked into Prince Shunqin¡¯s residence by climbing over the wall to steal food from the kitchen. The young prince saw her, and since then, he couldn¡¯t forget her. He vowed to marry her, and that¡¯s how their love story began.¡±


    Qiao Mai widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Wow, did I identally be involved with a future princess?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re quite witty. You don¡¯t care, but you act like you do.¡±


    ¡°I do care. Who said I don¡¯t care? Having a powerful ally cane in handy, and you never know when I might need it. So, is Jiaru in the Capital now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, her father couldn¡¯t go, so her mother took her there, and they¡¯ve arranged the wedding date with the groom¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean I won¡¯t get to see her anymore?¡±


    ¡°The Capital isn¡¯t too far from here. It¡¯s a ten-day journey by carriage. If you ride a horse yourself, it¡¯ll only take four or five days. By the time you reach, her dowry will have already been transported to the Capital. She told me that once the date is confirmed, she¡¯ll inform you about it. At that time, you can go to the Capital with me and attend her wedding.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bring my family along when the timees. We¡¯ll go to the


    Capital, broaden our horizons, stay there for a few days, and taste the local


    cuisine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Don¡¯t stay cooped up at home all the time. I also have a house over there. You won¡¯t need to stay in an inn or the main residence of the Wang family. It¡¯ll be morefortable.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Will she be restricted from going out in the future?¡±


    ¡°Not really. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t agree to the marriage. She¡¯s used to wandering around outside.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then I should prepare some special gifts for her.¡±


    ¡°If my guess is correct, the wedding should be in September this year. What will you give her? Fruits? Vegetables? Snacks?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I won¡¯t tell you right now. Anyway, I¡¯m using connections to find a way, but I want to give her something nice.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thoughtful, but don¡¯t overexert yourself.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t. Keep it a secret.¡±


    At night, when everyone in the Qiao family had gone to sleep, Qiao Mai entered her space.


    After several nights of hard work, her space now had nearly a million acres ofnd, and she wanted to witness the space¡¯s upgrade with her own eyes.


    With over nine hundred thousand acres of grasnd, it was enough for animals to roam freely.


    Now, she wanted to nt bamboo. Her goal was to create a bamboo forest and harvest fresh bamboo shoots.


    She had piled up many newly sprouted bamboo shoots by the side, which she had nted a few nights ago. She had saved up ten thousand acres of bamboo shoots.


    Bamboo didn¡¯t need to be densely nted. It would grow by spreading underground. nting them sparsely, she would soon have a dense bamboo forest.


    After clearing ten thousand acres ofnd, she nted a bamboo shoot every ten meters. That meant sixty nts per acre, which totaled six hundred thousand bamboo shoots for ten thousand acres ofnd.


    The bamboo shoots were stacked like small mountains. With a thought, Qiao Mai nted them into the soil, leaving half of them exposed.


    Looking at the fewrge buckets of purified water nearby, she used her telekinesis to sprinkle the water onto the soil. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated because the water source was insufficient.


    She hoped that after this space upgrade, it would provide enough water. She also wished for an increase in the concentration of spiritual energy in the air. Recently, she has been selling products online and umted a considerable amount of gold. She hadn¡¯t dared to use the exchanged spirit stones yet, as they weren¡¯t enough to advance to the next level. She was waiting to obtain a Level Five space before ascending to the next stage.


    Otherwise, the spiritual energy wouldn¡¯t be sufficient.


    Lately, she had gained some understanding of cultivation. To break free from her predicament, she had to choose a profession in the cultivation world.


    She would produce items used in that profession and exchange them for spirit stones.


    Fortunately, her spiritual energy had attributes of gold, wood, and fire. ording to the books, she could cultivate alchemy and artifact forging. Of course, she could also dabble in other areas like talismans and formations.


    The more attributes, the better, but she thought it would be exhausting to master too many. Mastering one or two would be enough.


    Since her major in college was mechanical engineering, alchemy and artifact forging were the most suitable for her.


    However, there was a prerequisite. She needed materials for artifact forging, which were even more expensive than spirit stones. She couldn¡¯t afford them.


    But what suited her best was alchemy.


    She had a heaven-defying space. With the spiritual energy, she could cultivate spiritual herbs. She could replicate a spiritual herb field, and with the unlimited harvesting function, she wouldn¡¯t run out of medicinal herbs for alchemy.


    She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use herbs for her practice, and she could also sell them. Once she mastered these skills, she wouldn¡¯t need to sell fruits and vegetables.


    As she nted bamboo shoots, Qiao Mai indulged in these thoughts, practicing a dual focus.


    After watering ten thousand acres ofnd, she looked back at the bamboo shoots. There weren¡¯t many left.


    With a thought, she stripped the outeryers of the bamboo shoots and piled them in a corner, watching as they slowly disappeared.


    Qiao Mai looked at the sky, surveyed her surroundings, and was confident that the space had its own consciousness.


    It knew what could be purified and what couldn¡¯t. Qiao Mai thought about it; maybe she would see a Space Spirit evolve in the end.


    Without doing anything, Qiao Mai sat down at the edge of thend and observed the bamboo shoots.


    They said that bamboo shoots grew taller after the rain, and that was indeed the case. After watering, the bamboo shoots grew rapidly, sprouting a section now and then, apanied by a popping sound.


    It was the sound of them growing and sprouting. Qiao Mai watched it attentively and was fascinated.


    This was the growth of all things. Nature was filled with endless wonders.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t satisfied with just watching. With a single thought, she appeared in the sky.


    This was her space, her territory, and she could do as she pleased. She could view it from any angle she desired.


    Qiao Mai felt that life was truly magnificent, not just for animals but also for nts. They all strived to survive, to reproduce, and to thrive.


    As she watched the bamboo grow to six meters, their growth rate gradually slowed, and thend beside them began to expand slowly. She saw how the space was replicating itself.


    It was amazing, like an illusion at first, gradually bing more lifelike and eventually bing an identical bamboo forest. Ten thousand acres had turned into twenty thousand, which was truly unbelievable.


    At this point, the bamboo forest had slowed its growth but was still expanding slowly.


    It was as if this replicatednd was redistributing its nutrients and repairing itself.


    Qiao Mai clicked her tongue twice and then descended from the sky. As soon as shended on the ground, she felt the earth shake beneath her feet.


    She had never experienced an earthquake, but she had seen it on TV, and what she felt now was no different from an earthquake.


    The shaking continued for about an hour before finally stopping. Qiao Mai could feel a slight mist in the air. She quickly closed her eyes to check.


    Space Level Five has an additional two million acres ofnd, a spiritual river, and a fifty percent concentration of spiritual energy.


    Oh my, it finally has water! It¡¯s been really tough. Damn it.


    With a single thought, Qiao Mai appeared next to the spiritual river. She had imagined it to be as turbulent as the Yellow River, but when she saw it, it was just a tiny stream, about two meters wide.


    This was probably the early stage of the spiritual river. As the space continued to upgrade, it might be wider.


    Looking left and right, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t see the end of the spiritual river in either direction.


    When she looked down, the spiritual river was crystal clear, about one meter deep, with pebbles at the bottom arranged beautifully.


    She squatted down, reached out, and touched the water. It was neither cold nor hot, about the same temperature as the air here.


    Perfect. She coulde here for a bath in the future..

 Chapter 130 - 130: She Can Finally Shop

    Chapter 130: She Can Finally Shop


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    As long as there was water, Qiao Mai was satisfied. Suddenly, she wanted to taste the water inside the space, especially the water known as the spiritual river.


    So, she cupped her hands and took a sip.


    ¡°Hmm? It¡¯s so sweet.¡¯


    She continued to drink several more sips, immediately feeling a refreshing sensation throughout her body, like eating hotpot in the summer.


    Her body warmed up, and she began to sweat profusely, especially in her Dantian, which felt like it was on fire. Based on her cultivation experience, it seemed like her Dantian was filled with spiritual energy.


    She quickly sat down cross-legged, activated her cultivation technique, and allowed the spiritual energy to circte through her meridians once, twice, letting it warm and nurture her meridians, bones, and internal organs. Finally, it returned to her Dantian. Afterpressing for a while, a loud sound erupted. She had advanced from the 8th stage of Qi Refinement Realm to the 9th stage.


    But it didn¡¯t stop there; the spiritual energy continued to fill her Dantian until her cultivation reached the peak of the Qi Refinement Realm.


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and let out a long breath.


    She burst intoughter. She had advanced almost two stages by drinking a few sips from the spiritual river. It was truly amazing. It seemed that all her hard work in farming had finally paid off.


    A few sips of water had brought her up by nearly two stages. This spiritual river was miraculous, just as described in the novels.


    Aside from being rich in spiritual energy, it probably also contained abundant vitality, which could elerate the growth of nts and strengthen the bodies of animals.


    As for the novels iming that it could detoxify all poisons? That was ridiculous. Could spiritual energy alone detoxify all poisons? What a fantasy.


    Qiao Mai thought about how the novels exaggerated the spiritual energy¡¯s abilities and couldn¡¯t help but shake her head.


    If this spiritual energy was more effective than spirit stones, could she sell it?


    Thinking about selling, Qiao Mai suddenly remembered what the customer service had said. She had reached level five, which meant she should be able to buy physical items now. She hurriedly decided to give it a try.


    But first, she needed to transport a few bottles of spiritual river water and ask how much it was worth in spirit stones.


    Qiao Mai found a few small empty ceramic jars on the space¡¯s shelf, which looked like they could hold about a pound of liquid.


    She filled five of these jars with the river water, sealed them with lids, and carried them back to her room.


    She was so excited that her legs trembled as she sat before herputer. She opened the online shopping tform and clicked on an item she had previously saved¡ª a piece of clothing. She ced the money she had prepared next to theputer.


    She clicked ¡°buy,¡± and instantly, theputer shed brightly. Her money disappeared, and a beautiful gift box appeared in its ce.


    When she opened it, she found the clothing she had chosen for Linger.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t contain her joy. She could finally shop! She tried selecting another item ¨C an oil press, and clicked ¡°buy.¡± However, the oue surprised her.


    It didn¡¯t work. Why could she buy clothes but not an oil press? She opened the customer service page and asked, ¡°Is anyone there?¡± ¡°Yes, esteemed customer. How may I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Why was I able to buy clothes but not an oil press? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°The object is toorge. Your space level is not high enough.¡±


    ¡°Howrge of an item can I purchase then?¡±


    ¡°One cubic meter.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand. Thank you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Additionally, I must inform you that no matter what you buy or sell on the tform, you must not disrupt the bnce of your current dimension.¡±


    ¡°Is there such a rule?¡±


    ¡°Yes. For example, if you use the currency you earn outside to trade too much, causing a significant loss in your dimension and disrupting your bnce, the tform will impose penalties. In simple terms, try to use as few items from your space to earn currency outside, and avoid using the currency you earn outside on the tform. This way, there won¡¯t be any loss, or you can use the currency from your space to earn currency outside, which is also eptable.¡±


    Qiao Mai furrowed her brows. She seemed to understand what the customer service was implying¡ªBasically, take from the people and use it for their benefit.


    ¡°I will keep that in mind. I am using items from my space to trade in my dimension for the resources I need.


    ¡°That is eptable.¡±


    ¡°Okay, my space leveled up today, and I have spiritual river water. Can I sell it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I need to check the quality of the water.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s right here. You can check it now.¡±


    A bright light shed, and the customer service responded, ¡°Spiritual energy concentration is fifty percent. Can I offer you ten mid-grade spirit stones for a one-pound bottle?¡±


    ¡°Ten mid-grade spirit stones for one bottle?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai suddenly felt like crying. If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have sold or exchanged anything. She would have focused on farming and then sold this¡ªIt would have been so much better. It felt like her previous hard work had been in vain as selling one bottle of spiritual river water could earn her more spirit stones.


    After waiting a while, the customer service tentatively asked, ¡°Are you selling them?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll sell all five bottles, but I don¡¯t want spirit stones.¡±


    ¡°What do you want then?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we do.¡±


    ¡°How many seeds can I get for fifty mid-grade spirit stones?¡±


    ¡°One to fifth-tier seeds are sold individually by quantity. There are no seeds avable beyond the fifth tier. You can purchase fully grown nts instead.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°The higher-tier spiritual herbs are more likely to be harvested prematurely by others and rarer.¡±


    ¡°I see. Let¡¯s discuss the seeds from the first to fifth tiers now.¡±


    ¡°For first-tier seeds, there are 680 varieties, and each seed costs one mid-grade Spirit Stone. For second-tier seeds, there are 590 varieties, and each seed costs five mid-grade Spirit Stones.¡±


    ¡°For third-tier seeds, there are 418 varieties, and each seed costs ten mid-grade Spirit Stones. For fourth-tier seeds, there are 360 varieties, and each seed costs fifteen mid-grade Spirit Stones.¡±


    ¡°For fifth-tier seeds, there are 250 varieties, and each seed costs one high-grade Spirit Stone. Since you¡¯re selling us spiritual river water and buying seeds directly, we¡¯ll give you a discount. With your fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones, you can purchase all the seeds from the first to fifth tiers. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to know?¡±


    ¡°Can I get aprehensive spiritual herb cultivation manual?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s possible.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s make the trade.¡±


    The five bottles of spiritual river water disappeared, and in their ce were five jade boxes and an instruction manual.


    Qiao Mai nced at the items and was about to bid farewell, but the customer service spoke again.


    ¡°Esteemed customer, it seems you want to cultivate spiritual herbs and learn alchemy, am I correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I want to earn resources for my future cultivation.¡±


    ¡°In that case, could you sell us ten more jars of spiritual river water? We can offer you a Spiritual Herb Encyclopedia, an alchemy manual, and an intermediate-level alchemy furnace.¡±


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Qiao Mai agreed. She had plenty of river water and figured the offer was fair.


    ¡°Sure, but I don¡¯t have any jars. Could you send me a few one-pound jars, and


    I¡¯ll fill them up before the trade?¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, ten jade jars appeared on the table. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but scoff; using jade jars to store water seemed extravagant, making her own y jars pale inparison.


    With a mere thought, spiritual river water poured into the ten jars from the sky, instantly filling them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the trade.¡±


    ¡°Should I ce the items in your house or the central courtyard?¡±


    ¡°The alchemy furnace can go in the central courtyard. The rest can stay on the table.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    In a sh of bright light, a tall and reddish-bronze alchemy furnace appeared in the courtyard, looking impressive.


    Two thick books materialized on the table¡ªone Spiritual Herb Encyclopedia and the other an alchemy manual.


    ¡°Esteemed customer, the transaction isplete. We offer various alchemical recipes here. If you need any, please contact our customer service.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Wishing you a pleasant experience!¡±


    For now, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t need any recipes. It wasn¡¯t her style to try to learn everything at once. With the items on the table, she had plenty to digest for a while..

 Chapter 131 - 131: Mild Cleanliness Obsession

    Chapter 131 - 131: Mild Cleanliness Obsession


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai extended her consciousness outside. The sky was beginning to lighten. She felt a sense of unfinished business but stretchedzily. On the trading tform, she selected some hair essories and a pair of boots for Ling¡¯er before reluctantlying out.


    Without a rest, she headed straight to the martial arts training ground, where her three sons were waiting for her.


    At this time every day, she would spar with them, practicing offensive and defensive techniques, as well as enhancing their physical agility and reaction times.


    Chuan¡¯er, like his father, wasn¡¯t cut out for martial arts. For him, it was a way to stay in shape.


    The Feng brothers, on the other hand, showed promise. When they were a bit older, she nned to teach them inner cultivation techniques.<div>


    As the day grew brighter, Yue Hong arrived with Ling¡¯er.


    Ling¡¯er wriggled out of her embrace and ran toward her mother and brothers. She stood by, watching her family spar. Ling¡¯er imitated their movements, making Qiao Mai smile at her daughter¡¯s cuteness.


    Just as she was about to approach and pick her up, Ling¡¯er suddenly turned and ran towards Yue Hong, giggling as if teasing her mother.


    ¡°You little rascal!¡±


    Qiao Mai shook her head helplessly. The family of four sparred for half an hour before calling it a day.


    ¡°Alright, everyone, go wash up. After lunch, you still have lessons.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    The three children left, and Qiao Mai went over to Ling¡¯er, bending down to lift her.


    ¡°Mommy bought you a beautiful outfit. Let¡¯s put it on and see how it looks.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, pretty clothes. Ling¡¯er likes.¡±


    Qiao Mai gently kissed Ling¡¯er¡¯s cheek. ¡°Sweetie, happy birthday!¡±


    Today was the second day of the second lunar month, Ling¡¯er¡¯s birthday. Qiao Mai had nned to have her wear the beautiful outfit on this special day. Her wish had finallye true.


    In Qiao Mai¡¯s house, Yue Hong and Yue Xia followed behind while waiting for her instructions.


    She changed Ling¡¯er into a lovely dress, styled her hair nicely, adorned it with cute essories, and put on the little boots. Qiao Mai was satisfied with the result.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia eximed, ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er looks like a little fairy, so beautiful!¡±


    ¡°No need to say it. My daughter has to be beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Beautiful, flowers, pretty!¡±


    Ling¡¯er grinned, revealing her tiny teeth. She was especially fond of the clothes her mother had bought for her.


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Darling, what would you like to have for lunch? Mommy will make it for you.¡±


    ¡°Cake with cream!¡±


    ¡°Mommy will make you an extrarge cake that¡¯s delicious. But remember, you should eat noodles or rice for breakfast.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    In Qiao Mai¡¯s family, when an adult celebrated their birthday, it meant having a bowl of longevity noodles for breakfast. Qiao Mai had exined to her children that there were elders in the family who didn¡¯t celebrate their birthdays because, on that day, their mother was passing through the gates of theherworld.


    What were they celebrating? Were they celebrating their mother¡¯s journey through theherworld?


    So, as long as there were elders present, birthdays were not to be celebrated.


    Of course, every family has its customs. This was the rule Qiao Mai had set for her family.


    After breakfast, Old Mistress Wang brought a pair of gold bracelets for Ling¡¯er. It might not be extravagant, but a gift couldn¡¯t be missing.


    Yuan Jiaqi also bought Ling¡¯er a pair of pearl earrings, while the Feng brothers gave her small toys, which gradually made their way into Ling¡¯er¡¯s hands. Qiao Mai was preparing a cake, and Old Mistress Wang stayed in her courtyard.


    She was restless, watching Qiao Mai work in the small kitchen.


    ¡°Your hands are skillful!¡±


    ¡°If you want to try, you can do it well too. I heard from Jiaru that you used to be quite talented.¡±


    ¡°What talent? I was merely a woman who did not make a fortune.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought her culinary skills were sufficient for people from ancient times. Once they witnessed the craftsmanship of a modern person, they would realize how skillful she was.


    She had considered ordering a cake online, but thinking about her daughter¡¯s birthday, she needed to make an effort as a mother. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t trust cakes made by others due to her mild cleanliness obsession.


    She first baked the cake and then prepared various colors of icing.


    The cake had threeyers with a white base decorated with houses, flowers, grass, and small deer. She designed the cake beautifully. The olddy was impressed, praising Qiao Mai non-stop.


    ¡°Your artistic skills are too good! You¡¯re like a painter. Which pastry chef can make food look this good?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like embroidery. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just a cake; it¡¯s an embroidered cake.¡±


    Upon seeing the cake, everyone praised it enthusiastically with sweet words.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s cut the cake and enjoy it. Afterward, we¡¯ll each return to our courtyards. I¡¯ll take my daughter out for a walkter.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we eating together?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of a big meal for a child¡¯s birthday? Eating a bowl of noodles is enough.¡±


    ¡°Mother, can we also have such a beautiful cake on our birthdays?¡±


    The brothers made a request. ¡°Sure, on your birthdays, just tell me what you want. I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! This cake is too beautiful. It¡¯s almost a shame to eat it.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t eat it, it will go bad.¡±


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s eat!¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Laughter filled the small courtyard. Just then, a servant appeared at the entrance of the living room.


    ¡°Master, the Feng family hase and wishes to see you.¡±


    ¡°Is Sister Lu there?¡±


    ¡°If not, let them wait. Ask Sister Lu toe back from the Embroidery


    Workshop.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Old Mister and Mistress Wang saw Qiao Mai¡¯s troubled expression and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Qiao Mai saw Yuan Jiaqi standing up and said, ¡°You stay here with the children. Let them enjoy the cake. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Upon entering the living room, the Feng family noticed that Old Mister and Mistress Wang were also present, so they quickly stood up and greeted them respectfully.


    ¡°Greetings, Old Mister and Mistress Wang.¡±


    ¡°Ah, please have a seat.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the main seat, with the old couple sitting below her.


    The Feng family in attendance included the elderly couple, as well as the younger couple, Feng Yinshi and his wife.


    ¡°Have youe with something important?¡± Qiao Mai asked.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re a bit embarrassed to say this, but ever since Xin¡¯er¡¯s cold noodle shop opened, the business has been booming. Unexpectedly, another cold noodle shop opened across from her after the new year. Not only is the price lower, but the taste is simr to what we offer. We came to inquire¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately understood their concern. ¡°The recipe was given to Xin¡¯er, and it¡¯s not something she bought from me. We didn¡¯t sign any contract, and I believe it¡¯s my right to do whatever I please with it.¡±


    Xin¡¯er¡¯s face darkened as she interjected, ¡°Master, how could you say that? If you sold it to someone else, what would I do?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m stating a fact. The noodle shop in the county is not mine, and I haven¡¯t sold the recipe to anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Why would I need to assure you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m your disciple, aren¡¯t I? You can¡¯t harm me like this.¡±


    ¡°Humph, you haven¡¯t been my disciple since you left that day.¡±


    Lu Ruxin¡¯s body swayed, and she eximed, ¡°What? Master, you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a disciple like you. From now on, you¡¯re just Sister Lu¡¯s daughter. I don¡¯t owe you anything, and there¡¯s no need for your whole family toe here to question me.¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent for my sister. You are her guests, not mine. Excuse me.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked away, and the old couple stood up.


    ¡°From now on, don¡¯te to the Wang Residence anymore. Xin¡¯er, you¡¯ve crossed the river twice. You didn¡¯t change after the first lesson, and I let you in out of respect for your Master. Now, you dare to question Madam Qiao. She¡¯s not any less thick-skinned than you, is she? Hmph, shameless!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang also left, and Old Mister Wang looked at the Feng family..

 Chapter 132 - 132: I, Lu Sanniang, Am Not Scared

    Chapter 132 - 132: I, Lu Sanniang, Am Not Scared


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°You should be content. You spent a thousand taels to marry a bride worth tenfold, and you acquired a profitable recipe. Instead of making the most of these advantages, you tried to take shortcuts, were insatiable, and even wanted to demand another recipe. You haven¡¯t helped Madam Qiao at all, nor have you provided any benefits. Now, when things go wrong, you dare toe and question her. No wonder the Feng family is just an ordinary family in the county. With your behavior, you¡¯ll remain that way for the rest of your lives!¡±


    Old Mister Wang threw his sleeves and left, leaving the Feng family members bewildered in the living room.


    ¡°What is going on? We only came to inquire. Why is she angry? Qiao Mai can just deny it if it¡¯s not her.¡± The Feng family members wore unpleasant expressions.


    Xin¡¯er¡¯s eyes were red as she slumped into a chair, covering her face and crying. ¡°What did I do wrong? Why is Master treating me like this?¡±


    Madam Feng hurried over tofort her. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. You are such a good girl. They don¡¯t understand you, but we do. Everything you¡¯ve done is for the good of the Feng family and the sake of your husband.¡±<div>


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m so unfairly treated.¡±


    Just as she cried, Lu Sanniang rushed into the living room, and upon seeing the Feng family, she stood still, catching her breath.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°What can I say? We only came to ask Madam Qiao a question, and she turned against us. Even the Wang family didn¡¯t show us any good manners. Is it necessary? It¡¯s not a big deal at all.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu asked coldly, ¡°Is it necessary? Ruxin, do you think it¡¯s necessary? What kind of character is your Master? Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°Mother, there¡¯s a new shop that just opened across my shop. Who else but Master has the prescription?¡±


    ¡°Do you guarantee your employees won¡¯t leak it out? Can you guarantee that others won¡¯te to your shop to check it out secretly?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I guarantee.¡±


    ¡°What can you guarantee? When things get busy, who has the time to pay attention? Besides, does the taste of the shop across the street resemble yours?¡±


    ¡°Not the same, but it¡¯s close.¡±


    ¡°So you came to use us without any evidence?!¡±


    The Feng family members hung their heads low.


    Shopkeeper Lu said with clenched teeth, ¡°Lu Ruxin, let me tell you, your master doesn¡¯t owe you anything. Giving you the recipe is a matter of friendship. Not giving it is her prerogative. You haven¡¯t paid a single penny, nor have you given her any profits.¡±


    ¡°When trouble arises, youe to our house to hold her ountable. Lu Ruxin, you have really thickened your skin since you married.¡±


    ¡°Qiao Mai can give her recipe to whomever she wants. Are you still shameless enough toe here? Let me ask you, who invited you to the Wang family for the New Year?¡±


    ¡°Mother, what¡¯s wrong with going to the Wang family?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with going to the Wang family? Bah! You think you¡¯re worthy. What kind of family are they, and what are we? My sister asked you to get close to Old Mistress Wang because you could seek help from her in desperation.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any major issues? The first time you didn¡¯t understand, that¡¯s fine.


    ¡°I taught you again, but you still don¡¯t understand. These are your Master¡¯s connections, which she worked hard to establish. They only recognize my sister, do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Even if you want to tter them, you must go through your Master. Do you know that when you visit a prominent family, you need to send a written request?¡±


    ¡°How can you be so clueless and not pay attention to anything? Think twice before you act. How did I teach you? Huh?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu scolded Lu Ruxin, but she was also indirectly insulting the Feng family.


    Mr. Feng, Madam Feng, and Feng Yinshi all hung their heads, not daring to say a word.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone as foolish as you. We had a good rtionship, but you stirred things up. You don¡¯t even know where you went wrong, yet you act self-righteous. Get out of my house immediately, and don¡¯t evere back through my door.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, we won¡¯te back. Who cares? Just remember, your daughter is earning her livelihood in my house.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. Your family relies on my daughter¡¯s dowry to survive. You shameless people, what are you putting on airs for?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ You shrew!¡±


    ¡°Shrew? I¡¯m not as shameless as you are. You thought of corrupting my daughter¡¯s thoughts. What kind of person are you? Back then, you deliberately tried to establish a rtionship with my family, but now you act like we owe you something. Do you dare to try and torment my daughter now? I¡¯ll let you disappear in the county.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°How dare you try to scheme against me, Lu Sanniang? You better open your eyes wide. The Feng family is just an insignificant household in this county. Don¡¯t think living in the county makes you superior. If I make a move, expect to be ruined. Shameless! Do you dare to threaten me? I can crush all of you!¡± ¡°Are you not afraid I¡¯ll harm your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Humph, I am not someone to be frightened easily. If you darey a finger on my daughter, I¡¯ll have no qualms about taking action against your family. I¡¯d trade her life for the lives of you all. You think it¡¯s worth it?¡±


    ¡°Fine, you win! We¡¯re leaving!¡±


    Mr. Feng was so frightened by Lu Sanniang¡¯s intimidating presence that he hastily pulled Madam Feng and left.


    Lu Sanniang pointed at Ruxin. ¡°Xin¡¯er, you married into the Feng family, and they sought you out. You don¡¯t need to please them. If you stubbornly act the same, don¡¯t me me for disowning you.¡±


    As Ruxin was pulled away by Feng Yinshi, she walked while crying and looking back.


    This scene was heartbreaking for those who witnessed it. Lu Sanniang, overwhelmed with anger, sat down and cried.


    Her daughter let her down, causing trouble with the Feng family like this. Ruyi ran into the living room. ¡°Mother, what happened to you?¡±


    Lu Sanniang cried as she hugged Ruyi. ¡°Your useless sister brought people to our home and interrogated your Master about whether she gave the recipe to someone else. Qiao Mai hasn¡¯t left the house since New Year¡¯s. It¡¯s driving me crazy!¡±


    ¡°Come to her senses? We¡¯ll see.¡¯


    With Ruyi helping her, Lu Sanniang got up and returned to their courtyard. She didn¡¯t go to the shop today, feeling too upset about her older daughter¡¯s behavior.


    Qiaomai had nned to take Ling¡¯er for a horseback ride, but the situation had left her in a sour mood.


    Upon hearing about the heated argument between Lu Sanniang and the Feng family, Qiaomai sighed. She had always known Lu Sanniang to be strong-willed, but she never expected her eldest daughter to be the cause of such turmoil.


    Qiaomai found Lu Sanniang and grabbed her hand.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯ve given birth to such a difficult child, making you suffer. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve exined to her today that there will be no more master-disciple rtionship between us. You don¡¯t need to be sad. Whatever you decide to do with them is up to you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Even if it weren¡¯t for you, I couldn¡¯t tolerate this. If Ruxin changes for the better, she¡¯s still my daughter. If she remains the same, I¡¯ll consider her non-existent.¡±


    ¡°Whether she changes or not, she¡¯s still your daughter. That¡¯s a fact.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been such a disappointment to me. I nearly depleted my family¡¯s resources to make sure she had a grand wedding, but she degraded herself to please the Feng family.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, she hasn¡¯t suffered yet. When she sees the true colors of the Feng family, she¡¯lle to her senses.¡±


    ¡°Ruyi also said the same.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ruyi¡¯s marriage must be handled carefully. If she chooses someone, let Mayor Qian help investigate. He has many connections and can inquire thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t quarrel with him anymore. He¡¯s a good person and capable. It¡¯s nice to have someone to talk to when you get older. You can keep each otherpany as you age. He treats you well and is devoted.¡±


    ¡°I understand, sister. You must not be angry anymore.¡±

 Chapter 133 - 133: It’s Time to Move, Right?

    Chapter 133 - 133: It¡¯s Time to Move, Right?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry. I just wanted to rify things. After this incident, your rtionship with the Feng family might be ruined.¡±


    ¡°With the way they are, I never intended to get along with them. If they dare to harm Ruxin, I¡¯ll make their family suffer.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk, you denied your daughter, but now you¡¯re saying this. You are sharp-tongued but kind-hearted.¡±


    ¡°I can scold her and punish her, but they can¡¯t. They didn¡¯t raise my daughter, yet they spent her dowry. They have no right to touch even a strand of hair on her.¡±


    Qiao Maiforted her for a while and then went back. She hadn¡¯t slept well the night before and instructed Yue Hong and the others before heading to her room to rest.<div>


    Time flew by, and a month had passed since the incident with Lu Ruxin. The Qiao family remained peaceful.


    With only twenty days left until the exam, Yuan Jiaqi seemed confident. It appeared he was well-prepared for the uing test.


    Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t ventured outside during this time. During the day, she stayed in her shop or tended to her vegetable garden. She also checked on the musk deer, plum-blossom deer, and the progress of the musk secretion and antler growth.


    Musk deer were best harvested for their scent in August and September, as that was when they secreted the most intense musk. The quality of musk harvested during this time was also the highest.


    The Qiao family¡¯s plum-blossom deer had juste of age. They wouldn¡¯t produce their first set of antlers until the following spring.


    The first antlers typically stopped growing after about a year, and theter sets grewrger. They could be harvested before the antlers hardened.


    Seeing them grazing peacefully. Qiao Mai sighed. It seemed like she wouldn¡¯t make any money from them this year and have to continue feeding them for another year.


    ¡°Just eat. Enjoy your grass.¡±


    During her free time, she would lock herself in her room and enter her space as soon as she closed the door.


    In the past month, she had nted all of the one million acres ofnd with spiritual herbs.


    Although the seeds were the same type, she still had to put in much effort. She quickly harvested the herbs once they matured and stored them in containers in her space, eachbeled to avoid confusion.


    She was exhausted from nting and harvesting, especially since using her mental power to farm was mentally taxing.


    After working in the fields at night, she felt like sleeping during the day.


    Now, there were over 2,500 varieties of spiritual herbs in her space, each upying one hundred acres ofnd. After nting these, she hadn¡¯t touched the medicinal fields again.


    As she continued nting, thend continued to expand. With over one million acres of remainingnd, she decided to nt trees on all of it.


    Qiao Mai knew the saying, ¡°If you want to get rich, nt trees.¡± After a few nights of hard work, she managed to get it done.


    Now, thend area in her space was approximately five million acres.


    How big was Earth? It had an area of over five hundred million square kilometers. One square kilometer equaled about one and a half acres ofnd.


    Her five million acres was just one ten-thousandth of Earth¡¯s totalnd area. Thinking about the limitless expansion of her space, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    If she could expand her space to the surface area of Earth within her lifetime, she would be content.


    In two years, she had barely rested at night. Qiao Mai decided it was time to take a short vacation and rx.


    During the day, she stayed in her room and read through the Spiritual Herb Encyclopedia and the Alchemy Manual.


    At night, she would surf the inte, read novels, and browse shopping websites. She added things she liked to her shopping cart.


    She didn¡¯t engage in buying or selling, nor did she continue nting crops. She just wanted to take a fewzy days for herself.


    With idle time, Qiao Mai started to think about the Feng family. They used her recipe to make money and had the audacity to question her at home. She couldn¡¯t tolerate this any longer. It was not her style to let this go.


    She realized they would continue to take advantage of her if she didn¡¯t take action. It had been over a month; it was time to act.


    Late at night, a shadow quietly emerged from Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    She looked up at the starry sky. Although it wasn¡¯t the best time for her mission, she couldn¡¯t wait any longer.


    Qiao Mai took a step and pushed off with her energy, transforming into a shadow that shot into the distance.


    Standing below the city wall outside the county town, Qiao Mai nced around. Many people had failed at this hurdle, but for her now, it was just a small obstacle.


    There was no military activity on the city wall at this hour, as the soldiers had gone to sleep. She leaped over the wall and moved stealthily among the buildings.


    She quickly found the Feng family¡¯s residence, though she couldn¡¯t help feeling disdainful about visiting.


    However, she couldn¡¯t stand the Feng family¡¯s hypocrisy.


    From the rooftop of the Feng residence, she surveyed the area below. There was no one moving around at this hour. The Feng family had few servants, and with the masters resting, the servants had naturally gone to sleep.


    Currently, she is only at the Ninth Level of the Qi Refinement Realm and can¡¯t use her mental power outside yet. However, with her skills and experience, searching for the Feng family¡¯s wealth was like child¡¯s y.


    Despite the Feng family¡¯s ostentation, their possessions were disappointing.


    Their decorations were not even as good as the ones Wang Jiaru had given her.


    The only way to deal with such people was to make them run out of money.


    Qiao Mai first targeted the Feng family¡¯s treasury, followed by their personal treasury, and then the hidden wealth. Finally, she stole Ruxin¡¯s dowry.


    She didn¡¯t want to take Ruxin¡¯s dowry, but if she only stole from others and left Ruxin¡¯s possessions behind, it would arouse suspicion.


    Moreover, she had another motive: to teach Ruxin a lesson. So, she kept Ruxin¡¯s dowry in a separate corner of her space, intending to return it to herter.


    Thinking of the double-sided embroidery Ruxin had given away, Qiao Mai felt disgusted. She wouldn¡¯t allow her possessions to be used by someone she disliked.


    After searching around, she found the folding screen in Madam Feng¡¯s room and two pce fans in Mr. Feng¡¯s concubines¡¯ rooms.


    It made Qiao Mai sick. Ruxin can please her mother-inw, but using her embroidery to please two concubines?


    What does she take her for? Qiao Mai¡¯s embroidery items are hard to obtain, and Lu Ruxin dared to use them to please two concubines.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Qiao Mai saw a dim candle nearby, and with a thought, she knocked it over onto the table. Soon, a fire broke out in Madam Feng and the two concubines¡¯ rooms. The fire spread quickly.


    Everyone inside managed to escape unharmed, and the people rushed to put out the fire. With a quick nce at the scene below, Qiao Mai turned and disappeared into the night.


    After extinguishing the fire, the Feng family realized all their wealth was missing.


    Mr. Feng and Madam Feng fainted on the spot. When Ruxin learned that her dowry was gone, she copsed to the ground, crying hysterically.


    Feng Yanshi wasn¡¯t present; he was studying at the Windforest Academy in the Capital.


    When Madam Feng regained consciousness, she rushed to Ruxin¡¯s room to create a scene. Her usual gentle and dignified demeanor was nowhere to be found. She was like a shrew, not only scolding Ruxin but also physically attacking her.


    ¡°You wretched girl! All this trouble is because of you! After living in my family for so long, you haven¡¯t even borne a child! You¡¯re a disaster, a jinx! It¡¯s you who brought cmity to my family! Give me back my assets!¡±


    Ruxin felt miserable. When she first entered the family, her mother-inw had been so kind to her, pampering and ttering her.


    Until now, everything was fine. Madam Feng took her here and there, showing off andplimenting her whenever she met someone.


    Now, all the me was pinned on her. At this moment, Ruxin finally regretted not heeding her mother¡¯s words. She was filled with remorse.


    Her maid and two maidservants protected her and pulled Madam Feng away. Ruxin, who had developed resentment toward the Feng family, stopped crying and stood up, ready to confront her mother-inw.


    Unlike a proper youngdy, she had grown up in a family of merchants and had a strong personality.


    The two women fought fiercely, and in the end, Ruxin prevailed..

 Chapter 134 - 134: She Must Bear This Pain

    Chapter 134 - 134: She Must Bear This Pain


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Feeling tired, they sat on the ground, panting heavily, with disheveled hair and bruised faces.


    ¡°You little vixen, you dared to hit your mother-inw.¡±


    ¡°Old hag, if you dare to touch me again, I swear I¡¯ll immediately return to my parent¡¯s home and never care about you all again. Now, your family¡¯s finances depend on my shop.¡±


    ¡°Your shop? Hmph, that¡¯s my shop.¡±


    Lu Ruxin gave her a cold look and sneered.<div>


    ¡°Don¡¯t think the shop deed has be yours just because you managed to coax it away from me. My mother made sure it was properly registered under my name with official documentation. Without me going to the government toplete the procedures, that shop will forever belong to me.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ You¡­


    Lu Ruxin stood up and sat in front of her dressing table, letting her maid fix her hair and change into different clothes.


    ¡°Pack your things; we¡¯re going back to Tianshui Town.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Madam Feng panicked and crawled up to Lu Ruxin, hugging her legs.


    ¡°Daughter-inw, please don¡¯t go. It¡¯s my fault. I must have gone mad. We can¡¯t live without you!¡±


    ¡°My mother and my Master were right. Your family, the Fu family, isn¡¯t a good one. I was blinded by your lies and separated from my family. There¡¯s no remedy for regret, is there?¡±


    Lu Ruxin chuckled at herself. She wasn¡¯t foolish, and she was quite intelligent. It¡¯s just that she had let the Feng family fool her.


    She had been fooled into this situation because she wanted to be good to her inws.


    A theft had now made her see the true colors of the Feng family. They were good to her when she had something they needed, but they trampled on her when she didn¡¯t. She was unlike her mother, who had always been good to her, or her Master, who treated her with utmost sincerity.


    But what had she done? She wiped away a tear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m not leaving. But you must return the property deed to me.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t it stay in my son¡¯s possession?¡±


    Madam Feng naturally didn¡¯t want to, especially considering the prosperous business the shop brought. It was even more crucial now, given the current state of the Feng family.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to the county government and get a new one because of the fire incident.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it!


    ¡°I want it now.¡±


    ¡°Just don¡¯t leave, alright? I¡¯ll get it for you right away.¡±


    Madam Feng hurriedly left, and Lu Ruxin coldly snorted. Her maid spoke up.


    ¡°Miss, you should have done this earlier.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nannay Yuan. It¡¯s all my fault. I should have listened to you from the beginning.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s never toote to mend your ways. Our dowry isn¡¯t entirely lost. You still have the silver notes you kept with you. You mustn¡¯t give them to the Feng family easily, even the ie from the shop. We have to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be foolish anymore.¡±


    When morning came, Mr. Feng went to the county government to report the theft and arson. The Feng family had suffered significant losses.


    The county magistrate led his officials to inspect the scene but found no clues. It was strange for such a substantial loss to ur without witnesses or evidence. They filed the case for investigation, but it seemed challenging to solve.


    They couldn¡¯t find any clues, and despite opening a case, they couldn¡¯t make any progress. They could only continue their investigation for the time being.


    The news of the Feng family¡¯s incident quickly spread throughout the county, with various rumors circting. Some said that the Feng family¡¯s high profile had attracted envy, while others criticized theirck of integrity and behavior.


    Anyway, there were all kinds of rumors. The county town was less than a hundred miles from Tianshui Town, and the news reached there in the afternoon.


    The first person to hear the news was Mayor Qian. Upon hearing about it, he hurriedly went to the Embroidery Workshop.


    ¡°Sanniang, do you know that your daughter¡¯s inws¡¯ house was robbed and set on fire?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Lu Sanniang immediately stood up and was about to find a carriage to the county town.


    ¡°Xin¡¯er is fine. There were no casualties at home, just some property loss. The authorities have already filed a case.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu was worried. ¡°Did she lose the dowry I gave her?¡±


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be much left.¡¯


    She sat down absentmindedly and said while gritting her teeth, ¡°It¡¯s better this way. Without it, the Feng family won¡¯t keep bothering us and won¡¯t need to corrupt my daughter anymore. She shoulde to her senses now.¡± ¡°Do you want to go to the county town? I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    ¡°No. When a woman gets married, she relies on her husband¡¯s family. Xin¡¯er hasn¡¯t suffered much since she was young, but now she must endure this hardship. If she can get through it, her future days will be better. If she can¡¯t, I¡¯ll support her.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve told you anyway. Just keep it in mind.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    Mayor Qian was surprised, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re being polite to me now?¡±


    Lu Sanniang blushed. ¡°Get going!¡±


    Qiao Mai was reading a book when her servant reported, ¡°Shopkeeper Niu wants to see you.¡±


    ¡°Let him in!¡±


    After the servant left, Shopkeeper Niu hurried to the backyard. He didn¡¯t enter the house but spoke at the door.


    ¡°Master, I heard in the store that Miss Ruxin¡¯s inws¡¯ house was robbed, and two houses were set on fire. It¡¯s a heavy loss!¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I know. You can go about your business.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu turned and left. Did Qiao Mai really not care about that disciple?


    Thinking about what Miss Ruxin did was excessive, it was reasonable for Qiao Mai to be angry and ignore her. Anyway, she still had her family; what did it have to do with his boss?


    However, if there were any developments, he would have to report them.


    After all, Shopkeeper Lu lived in their house, and if her daughter didn¡¯t fare well, it would definitely affect Qiao Mai.


    This was Qiao Mai¡¯s doing, and she couldn¡¯t im ignorance. She made the Feng family suffer a bit, and Ruxin too.


    A child who had never suffered wouldn¡¯t know how to be grateful.


    She had already finished reading the Spiritual Herb Encyclopedia. The trading tform didn¡¯t have all the medicinal herbs; there were nearly ten thousand varieties, but customer service only traded two thousand.


    There was still a long way to go.


    Qiao Mai closed the book, rubbed her temples, and picked up the manual on cultivating spiritual herbs.


    She had to understand these few books before she could start alchemy.


    Days passed, and Lu Ruxin didn¡¯te to Lu Sanniang¡¯s house to seek help, which surprised Qiao Mai.


    The day of the examinations was getting closer. Yuan Jiaqi was going to take the exam in County Yi, while Lu Ruxin¡¯s husband, Feng Yinshi, would take the exam in the Capital. They were both preparing for the exams.


    One had an easygoing preparation, while the other was exhausting.


    After learning about their family being robbed, he felt more restless. But when he found out Ruxin still had a silver lining, he finally calmed down. He was afraid he wouldn¡¯t be able to go to the Windforest Academy in the future.


    Old Mister Wang wasn¡¯t worried. He knew Yuan Jiaqi would pass the exam. Passing was one thing, but he still hoped Yuan Jiaqi would achieve good results. After all, he was Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s teacher. If he performed poorly, he would lose face, and it wouldn¡¯t look good for Madam Qiao.


    She provided everything for them in the best quality and neverined. If Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t even do well in the easiest exam, he wouldn¡¯t have any face left to stay in the Qiao family.


    Old Mister Wang was nervous about this, always looking at Yuan Jiaqi with a certain expression, wanting to give him advice but unable to.


    Qiao Mai was also annoyed. Why did the candidates need to take a three-day exam? What could possibly be examined for three days?


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t let anyone send him off. He prepared everything himself and went to the county town the afternoon before. He found an inn to stay in.


    Lu Sanniang knew about it and looked at Qiao Mai disapprovingly. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least escort him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a father now. What can I escort him for? If he can¡¯t even do this, what else can he do?¡±


    ¡°I heard some candidates are so exhausted after the exams that they faint.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because their bodies are weak. Useless schrs don¡¯t even exercise.


    How can they not faint when theye out? Brother Yuan practices martial arts with the children daily; he¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fearless!¡±


    ¡°Why should I be afraid? I believe in him!¡±


    ¡°Is it because your rtionship is fake?¡±


    ¡°No. I have confidence in him!¡±


    ¡°Well, maybe I overthought it.¡±


    ¡°You should worry about your son-inw; he¡¯s sitting for the Rmended Schr exams..¡±

 Chapter 135 - 135: I Will Kill You

    Chapter 135 - 135: I Will Kill You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of passing the exam? It would be better if he didn¡¯t. If he passes, he¡¯ll be even more arrogant.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want your son-inw to be a Rmended Schr?¡±


    ¡°I used to, but not anymore. With his family¡¯s behavior, my daughter¡¯s life might be even more difficult if he bes a schr.¡±


    Qiao Mai blinked. ¡°How is she doing now?¡±


    ¡°She lost her dowry, but she¡¯s started managing the shop. She doesn¡¯t let her mother-inw touch the shop now and is earning money. She¡¯s learned to be thrifty.¡±<div>


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s progress.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, she won¡¯t grow up without going through hardships.¡±


    ¡°How is Ruyi¡¯s marriage going?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still discussing it. After people finish their exams, we¡¯ll take a closer look. Anyway, I won¡¯t let her marry just anyone. She should marry someone who¡¯s well-educated and has good manners.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your daughter¡¯s marriage; you handle it. I won¡¯t interfere.¡±


    ¡°As her master, you won¡¯t offer any advice?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had my share of mistakes in the past. Would you want my advice? What if things don¡¯t go well, and Ruyi ends up hating me?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, this time, I¡¯m finding someone nearby, a young man from our town who¡¯s also taking the schr exam.¡±


    ¡°Whose family?¡±


    ¡°The carpenter¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Shopkeeper Qin¡¯s family? He¡¯s a good person, and I¡¯ve heard that their family has a great reputation and a strong family background.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. If this marriage happens, you¡¯ll have to take care of their family more.¡±


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s settled yet, and you¡¯re already speaking for them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will happen, but I¡¯ve set my eyes on their youngest son.¡± ¡°Did their family propose, or did you?¡±


    ¡°A matchmaker came to us, suggesting this match. They think our children are suitable for each other.¡±


    ¡°That sounds about right. Even if their family is good, don¡¯t let them know we¡¯re eager. You shouldn¡¯t appear too satisfied, got it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll follow your advice.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Three dayster, Yuan Jiaqi returned home, and the family gathered in his yard.


    ¡°Dad, how did it go?¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, how was it?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi smiled. ¡°It went pretty well. I should pass for sure.¡±


    Old Mister Wang seemed casual, but he was also quite nervous. He looked at everyone and immediately urged them away.


    ¡°Let him rest properly. After an exam, he must be tired. The results will be


    posted in five days. If he passes, someone wille to our house with good


    news. Everyone should go about their business.¡±


    After sending everyone away, Old Mister Wang red at Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Freshen up, have lunch and rest. If you don¡¯t achieve good results this time, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°It should be fine, I guess. Hehe, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Everyone acted as if nothing happened, but they were all hopeful. After all, having a schr in the family made a big difference.


    For farmers, having a schr in the family improved their reputation and might even allow them to marry better.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s family was abination of agriculture andmerce. In terms of social status, they were better than mere merchants. However, they could still be looked down upon by the high-ranking families.


    If Yuan Jiaqi achieved sess, things would change. This was why the Feng family went to great lengths, even scheming against the Lu family.


    First, the Lu family had connections with the Qian and Wang families. Second, their business in the county town was well-known. Third, Lu Sanniang had money. Since she had no sons, the money would go to her two daughters.


    One thing the Feng family miscalcted was that even though the Feng family wasrge, and Lu Sanniang was a widow with no support, she had connections and couldn¡¯t be easily bullied.


    But they stubbornly thought this way, believing Lu Sanniang was just a woman and her household was an easy target without a man.


    Not to mention anything else, Mayor Qian wouldn¡¯t stand by and watch Lu Sanniang be mistreated. The Feng family couldn¡¯t even bypass Qiao Mai, who maintained a good rtionship with Lu Sanniang. Isn¡¯t this a form of retribution?


    Even though Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care about the Feng family¡¯s possessions, she felt it was disgusting to have their assets cluttering her space.


    But let¡¯s not digress. After a good rest, Yuan Jiaqi resumed his studies with Old Mister Wang the next day.


    Seeing his condition, Old Mister Wang was satisfied.


    Five dayster, Qiao Mai had already prepared red envelopes early in the morning, wrapped in red cloth, indicating the amount of money inside was substantial.


    Early in the morning, the servants cleaned the front gate and put tworge pots of winter jasmine flowers outside.


    As expected, fast horses arrived at the gate of Lucky Garden shortly after breakfast.


    The official on horseback smiled. Seeing the scene, they probably knew their family had passed.


    He loudly shouted, ¡°Yuan Jiaqi from the Qiao family has scored first in the exams. Please have Young Master Yuane out to receive the good news!¡±


    As soon as his voice fell, the maids began setting off firecrackers.


    ¡°Great, our Master has passed the examination. He¡¯s the top scorer in the county!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi, dressed and ready early in the morning, heard the firecrackers and knew that the messengers of good news had arrived. He hurriedly ran to the front gate. At this time, Old Mister and Mistress Wang, Qiao Mai, several children, and Shopkeeper Lu were all present.


    Yuan Jiaqi received the good news from the official, and Qiao Mai immediately handed over a red envelope.


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Master Yuan, your future is boundless. Congrattions!¡±


    On the other side, Shopkeeper Lu had also prepared a red envelope to give to the official, saying, ¡°Take this. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    Even Old Mistress Wang sent a servant to hand over a red envelope. The official received several red envelopes andughed heartily.


    ¡°You folks are interesting. This is the first time I have received so many red envelopes from a single household. Thank you!¡±


    The official bowed to them, then rode away to his next destination.


    Yuan Jiaqi came to Old Mister Wang. ¡°Is my performance satisfactory, Teacher?¡±


    ¡°Haha, keep working hard and aim for three or four consecutive titles.¡± ¡°I will work hard!¡±


    ¡°Haha, good. Madam Qiao, let¡¯s prepare some extra dishes for lunch to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll bring a bottle of fine wine for you to taste.¡±


    ¡°Girl, don¡¯t y favorites, and bring me a bottle of wine too. I¡¯m also happy and want to drink,¡± Old Mistress Wang teased.


    ¡°Of course. The men can have white wine, and the women can have fruit wine.


    I¡¯ll prepare a bottle of fine wine for you.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu quickly sent Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu to the Qin family¡¯s house. She also hoped her second son-inw would pass the examination for the


    Elementary Schr so she could proceed with marriage arrangements for Ruyi.


    As for her eldest son-inw, Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t know how he had performed. Even though she said she wasn¡¯t worried, it was a facade. She also hoped her daughter would continue to improve, and she wished for both her sons-inw to have a bright future.


    In no time, Xiu Yu and Xiu Hong returned, whispering to Shopkeeper Lu.


    Shopkeeper Lu nodded repeatedly with joy. ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great!¡±


    Qiao Mai watched and understood. The Qin family¡¯s younger son had indeed passed the examination, so she hurriedly found a fifty-year-old ginseng root from the storeroom, packed it in a box, and had it sent over.


    Shopkeeper Lu was no less generous; she sent a set of high-quality calligraphy and painting supplies.


    Upon receiving these gifts, the Qin family quickly sent their return gifts. The Qiao family didn¡¯t invite outsiders, so only family members celebrated at noon.


    Mayor Qian brought gifts to their house, and so did Shopkeeper Tong, so there were two additional guests for lunch.


    The Qin family didn¡¯te because they also had guests to entertain, so it bnced out.


    Tianshui Town was bustling with excitement. The Feng family was celebrating because Feng Yinshi had surprisingly passed the Rmended Schr exam.


    However, he was the lowest-ranked sessful candidate. While Elementary Schrs weren¡¯t highly regarded, there were few Rmended Schrs, making them highly valued.


    The Feng family had a constant flow of visitors, all there to celebrate. The once-controversial Feng family was now getting attention because of Feng Yinshi¡¯s sess.


    They also made a considerable amount of money from the celebration, but the money spent on the banquet was provided by Lu Ruxin.


    While the Feng family received the gifts, the money came from Ruxin.


    Ruxin knew she had to spend this money on her husband, and she epted it as her responsibility as his wife. However, she refused to spend a single coin on the Feng family, especially after they had treated her poorly.


    Considering the way her mother-inw had scolded and hit herst time, she wouldn¡¯t spend a penny more on the Feng family..

 Chapter 136 - 136: This Kid Hids It Well

    Chapter 136 - 136: This Kid Hids It Well


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Madam Feng had felt guilty about her daughter-inw. However, since her son passed the Rmended Schr exams, she has be more arrogant.


    Furthermore, since Ruxin had not be pregnant, this woman started causing trouble.


    With Feng Yinshi¡¯s sess in the imperial examination, there were naturally people trying to curry favor with him.


    Despite their wealth butck of social status, many wealthy merchants had many concubines and had given birth to a few daughters. They wanted to use their daughters to form alliances and achieve their goals.


    As a result, several families set their sights on Feng Yinshi and nned to offer their daughters as concubines for him.<div>


    They persuaded Madam Feng, saying that as long as their daughters could enter the Feng family, they would provide substantial dowries. This statement made her eyes light up, and shepletely forgot the vows made to Ruxin.


    However, bringing in concubines required the consent of the legal wife.


    Madam Feng discussed this matter with Lu RUxin, which led to an immediate argument.


    ¡°Your family is truly shameless. You are still using my money to support his education, yet you treat me like this. Didn¡¯t your son say he wouldn¡¯t take concubines?¡±


    Madam Feng stiffened her neck. ¡°That¡¯s under the condition that you can bear him children. It¡¯s been over half a year since you entered our family, and there¡¯s still no news of a pregnancy. Naturally, he has to take concubines. The Feng family only has two legitimate sons. You can¡¯t let our family line be cut off.¡¯


    ¡°Cut off? Does Big Brother¡¯s children not carry the Feng surname? Besides, it¡¯s only been half a year without any news. Why are you so anxious?¡± ¡°You definitely have a problem. I can¡¯t let our son, Yinshi, end up childless.¡± ¡°Fine, if you want to do this, I won¡¯t pay his fees starting this month.¡± ¡°What gives you the right? He is your husband!¡±


    ¡°But he is still your son. When it¡¯s time to provide money, you want me to manage it, but when it¡¯s time to take concubines, you want to manage it? Why?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Coincidentally, Feng Yinshi walked in at this moment. ¡°Mother, please stop. I don¡¯t want concubines. My main focus now is on my studies, and I have no intention of taking concubines.¡±


    ¡°You two make me so angry.¡±


    Seeing that she couldn¡¯t persuade them, Madam Feng threw her sleeves and left.


    Lu Ruxin felt somewhatforted, and her resentment towards the Feng family diminished.


    Under Feng Yinshi¡¯s sweet words, Lu Ruxin finally softened and agreed to continue supporting his education.


    However, where she couldn¡¯t see, Feng Yinshi¡¯s eyes were filled with cruelty, even a hint of murderous intent.


    It must be said that this young man hid his true self very well. Perhaps even his parents didn¡¯t understand him.


    Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t forget her concerns about Ruxin just because her son had be a Rmended Schr. In fact, she was even more worried about her because of his sess.


    Therefore, she put aside all her affairs and took Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu to the


    Feng family. When they met, she didn¡¯t offer congrattions. Instead, she took Ruxin out and found a teahouse. She reserved a private room and had the maids stand guard at the door.


    She held Ruxin¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Tell me, how has the Feng family treated you?¡±


    Ruxin¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°Mother, it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯ve let you and Master down. The Feng family has been unfair to me. After the robbery happened, my mother-inw took her anger out on me. Fortunately, I had my own money; otherwise¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t continue, but Lu Sanniang understood. ¡°Tell me, have you and Yinshi consummated your marriage?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Did you bleed on your wedding night? Did it hurt?¡±


    Ruxin blushed. ¡°Mother, how could it not hurt? It hurt a lot, and there was still blood on the white cloth.¡±


    Lu Sanniang finally breathed a sigh of relief and continued to ask, ¡°How often do you two share a bed?¡±


    ¡°During the honeymoon, it was every three to five days, andter, it became every half month. After he went to the Capital to study, it was once a month.¡±


    ¡°You silly girl, you¡¯ve gone so long without getting pregnant, and you¡¯re not worried?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t rush these things, Mother.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being naive. Why don¡¯t you find out whether it¡¯s your problem or his?¡±


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the doctor.¡±


    Lu Sanniang took Ruxin to the doctor¡¯s clinic. The quality of the doctors varied, with regr doctors charging twenty coins for a consultation, and the better ones fifty coins.


    Lu Sanniang took her daughter to a well-qualified doctor.


    ¡°My daughter has been married for over half a year and wants to check her fertility.¡±


    The experienced doctor nodded. ¡°Extend your right hand.¡±


    Ruxin nced at Lu Sanniang and gently ced her hand on the table. The doctor put his fingers on her pulse and closed his eyes.


    After a quarter of an hour, he said, ¡°Left hand.¡± He then gave a meaningful look at the mother and daughter.


    At that moment, there were no others around.


    The doctor carefully asked, ¡°Miss, are you really married?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the wife of the Feng family¡¯s second son.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    The doctor took a deep breath. ¡°Miss, you are still a virgin. How could you be pregnant?¡±


    This news was like a thunderbolt out of the blue, leaving Ruxin dumbfounded.


    Lu Sanniang widened her eyes and couldn¡¯t believe it. She almost shouted but quickly looked around and asked in a low voice, ¡°Is she really still a virgin?¡±


    ¡°Yes, based on my many years of pulse diagnosis experience, she is indeed a virgin.¡±


    Lu Sanniang gritted her teeth. ¡°Is there anything wrong with her physically?¡±


    ¡°No, as long as she consummated the marriage, she will naturally conceive and bear children.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, doctor. Here¡¯s the consultation fee. Please keep this a secret.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I never gossip.¡±


    Lu Sanniang ced the consultation fee on the table and pulled Ruxin, who had not yet recovered from the shock, out of the clinic.


    Lu Sanniang couldn¡¯t believe it, and Ruxin was equally in shock. They immediately went to another clinic, but the result was the same.


    They went to several more clinics in the county, but the results were consistent.


    Ruxin sat in the carriage, lost in her thoughts, her heart aching as if it had been cut by a knife.


    She hugged her mother and said, ¡°Mother, why are they treating me like this? Why is Yinshi treating me like this? I¡¯ve been generous to them all. But why? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Lu Sanniang was also close to tears. Although she wanted to tear down the Feng family, she understood now was not the time.


    ¡°Daughter, tell me about your wedding night and the details of your intimate life. I¡¯m experienced, and while anyone else might harm you, I won¡¯t. You must trust me.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I regret it already. I knew that you and Master were the people I should trust the most, but I was stubborn and created the situation we¡¯re in now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Tell me about your intimate life.¡±


    The mother and daughter whispered to each other. Meanwhile, Xiu Hong and


    Xiu Yu sat outside the carriage, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.


    After a long while, Lu Sanniang was so angry that she wanted to p her daughter.


    ¡°You silly girl, this isn¡¯t considered consummation. That scoundrel dared to treat my daughter like this!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this consummation?¡±


    ¡°Let me ask you, have you seen¡­ that thing of his rise?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s quite big!¡±


    ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go back to the Feng residence and pack your things. We¡¯re going back home.¡±


    ¡°But what about the shop?¡±


    ¡°You have their contracts. Just tell the shopkeeper that you¡¯lle to collect the money every five days. Don¡¯t give anyone else the money.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Pack everything valuable and have the maids and servantse back with you.¡±


    ¡°Mother, if I live at Lucky Garden, will Master be angry?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go back there. Our old house hasn¡¯t been rented out yet. Until we investigate this matter, you shouldn¡¯t return to the Feng family. Once we get to the bottom of this, you can make a decision.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you from now on.¡±


    Lu Sanniang took Ruxin back to the Feng residence, packed up all their belongings, and didn¡¯t even say goodbye to the Feng family. They moved out and returned to their old house.


    Upon hearing the news, Madam Feng was delighted. She hoped that Ruxin would divorce her son, as this would bring more concubines with substantial dowries into the family.


    Lu Sanniang brought Ruxin back home and settled her in their old residence. Although Qiao Mai was annoyed with Ruxin, Shopkeeper Lu still looked for her.


    ¡°Sister, please help me think of a solution.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.. What¡¯s going on?¡±

 Chapter 137 - 137: Break His Legs

    Chapter 137 - 137: Break His Legs


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She recounted Ruxin¡¯s situation to Qiao Mai, and Qiao Mai furrowed her brow upon hearing it.


    ¡°That scoundrel is treating Ruxin like this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I never expected it. Tell me, what have we done wrong? How can he treat Ruxin like this?¡±


    Qiao Mai tapped the table with her fingers, deep in thought. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go find Mayor Qian.¡±


    Lu Sanniang felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°How can I face him with such a shameful matter?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Like your daughter, you are as stubborn as a wooden block. In the future, you belong to him. If you don¡¯t turn to him for support, who else will you turn to? Besides, Mayor Qian has the resources. His people can investigate this matter and will probably uncover the truth much faster than if you do it yourself.¡±


    Qiao Mai held her hand and took her to Mayor Qian¡¯s house. After hearing Qiao Mai¡¯s words, Mayor Qian¡¯s face turned red with anger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sanniang. It¡¯s gettingte today. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll send my men to investigate this matter thoroughly. In households like the Fengs, there are many simr cases. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that scoundrel has had his heart set on someone else for a long time. However, that woman¡¯s family isn¡¯t wealthy, and his parents disapprove, so he¡¯s probably keeping a mistress outside and not touching Ruxin. He might have made a promise to that woman and married Ruxin for money and power.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s true, what should my daughter do?¡±


    ¡°A family like this can¡¯t be tolerated any longer. Such men will only be devoted to their mistresses. He won¡¯t touch Ruxin, and if he develops murderous intent, he might even harm your daughter.¡±


    ¡°What- What should I do?¡±


    ¡°We can ruin the Feng family¡¯s reputation and then divorce them. Since the dowry has already been stolen, there¡¯s nothing worth fighting for. People like them can be charged with fraud; we can ruin his career.¡±


    Qiao Mai added, ¡°If that¡¯s too troublesome, we could break his legs and let him lie in bed for the rest of his life.¡±


    Mayor Qian and Shopkeeper Lu both stared at her, swallowing hard. ¡°If people find out, we¡¯ll have to face awsuit. ¡°Then make sure nobody finds out.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s investigate first.¡±


    The three made a decision, and Shopkeeper Lu felt somewhat relieved. She returned home and started crying.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault for choosing such a family for her. I¡¯ve caused harm to my daughter.¡±


    Qiao Maiforted her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Ruxin made her own choice. She insisted on marrying into the Feng family even after I warned her about the Fengs¡¯ reputation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for her to live in our old house. I want to go back and be with her.¡±


    ¡°If you want to go back, then go. I won¡¯t stop you. If you want to return, there will always be a ce for you in our home.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister!¡±


    On that day, Shopkeeper Lu moved their belongings back home, with Qiao Mai assisting. She also helped clean the old house.


    Seeing that Lu Sanniang had returned, Ruxin forgot her sadness.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯re back too. Did Master chase you out?¡±


    Lu Sanniang gently tapped her arm, ¡°You always think the worst of people. I thought it would be too lonely for you to live here alone, so I brought your sister back to keep youpany.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I was wrong!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re aware of your Master¡¯s character, aren¡¯t you? Just now, she dragged me to find the mayor, asking him to send people to investigate.¡± ¡°Mother , I¡­ I truly don¡¯t know what to do. I¡¯m afraid to think about divorce.¡± ¡°Even when he treats you like this, you still can¡¯t let go of him?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯m afraid of what others will say about me. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t know what to do after the divorce.¡¯


    ¡°Stay home and take good care of the shop. You have the skill of double-sided embroidery; you won¡¯t go hungry wherever you are. When the time is right, we can talk about getting married again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t dare to marry again. After what happened, it¡¯s too shameful.¡¯


    ¡°Silly child, even if othersugh, they¡¯reughing at the Feng family, not you. Live your life peacefully. When you go to collect payments from now on, I¡¯ll be there with you.¡±


    Ruxin was now at a loss, experiencing something she had little experience with. Such a bizarre situation happened to her, and she couldn¡¯t adjust immediately.


    The next day, Mayor Qian sent two teams of people to investigate the Capital and the county, gathering detailed information about Feng Yinshi.


    Meanwhile, several guests arrived at the Qiao family. These guests were none other than the four older brothers of Yuan Jiaqi, along with the n leader.


    Yuan Jiaqi sat at the head of the room while the n leader and his four brothers sat below.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, we heard that you passed the provincial examination, so we came to congratte you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    There was a silence, and Yuan Jiaqi finally spoke up.


    ¡°If you have no other matters, I must attend my sses. I won¡¯t be able to entertain you.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, why don¡¯t you consider returning to the Yuan family? As your uncle, I can decide to establish a branch for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I voluntarily severed ties with the Yuan family. I have never thought about going back. I am where I am today thanks to my wife¡¯s blessings. In the future, if I achieve sess and wealth, it will be my wife and my family who deserve to enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°But you are still our flesh and blood.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but when I was suffering, why didn¡¯t anyone mention that I was your flesh and blood? Why do you bring it up now?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all in the past.¡±


    ¡°The past may be gone, but the wounds are forever etched in my heart. n leader, please leave. The Yuan family is a ce I will never return to. In the future, if I bring honor, only my wife and family deserve to share in it. Please leave!¡±


    The Yuan Family Head pointed at him angrily. ¡°You should know that even if you be an official, without the support of your n, people will criticize you.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, without you guys, I¡¯ll only get better. From the moment I left the Yuan family until now, haven¡¯t you witnessed it all?¡¯


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Without n members, I, Yuan Jiaqi, will create my own. When I am in decline, you stood by and watched with cold eyes. When I turn the table, you know how to pick up the pieces. What kind of dreams are you having?¡±


    ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll see how it goes. Do you really think you¡¯re something special?¡±


    ¡°Escort them out!¡±


    Several maids came in from outside, and the family head gave Yuan Jiaqi a stern re before leaving.


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s four brothers looked at him. ¡°Little Five, can¡¯t you let go of this grudge?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t! My bloodthirsty parents, indifferent family members ¨C You tell me to let it go? What about the sacrifices my wife made for me? Who will repay her? She has spent thousands of taels of silver on me. Will you cover that?¡± ¡°She¡¯s your wife. Of course, she should cover it.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, there¡¯s no such thing as a free meal in this world. It¡¯s the same for couples. She wasn¡¯t sold to me. I married her as my wife, and she gave me and Chuan¡¯er a home. Can you give me that?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what to say. People make mistakes. Can¡¯t you forgive them when they correct their mistakes?¡¯


    ¡°No, I, Yuan Jiaqi, swear to God that I won¡¯t be in the Yuan family¡¯s genealogy, let alone enter the Yuan family¡¯s door.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so stubborn?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t persuade someone to do good without experiencing their hardship. One day, when your wife and child are tortured to death, you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Chuan¡¯er doing well now?¡¯


    ¡°Did you save him, or did your parents save him? It was because I knelt in front of the doctor¡¯s clinic, and they took pity on me and let me run a tab. Those bloodsucking scoundrels have so much money, but they wouldn¡¯t help. My hard-earned money is also there, but they didn¡¯t give a single cent when my son got sick. They just watched him die. Why should I go back? Can you tell me why I should?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­


    ¡°Get out of my house!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s anger red up as he recalled Chuan¡¯er¡¯s illness, and he wished he could devour these people.


    ¡°Little Five, don¡¯t be angry. We¡¯ll leave now. We¡¯lle to see you in a while.¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡±</font>

 Chapter 138 - 138: No One Will Laugh At You

    Chapter 138 - 138: No One Will Laugh At You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    When Qiao Mai arrived, she saw Yuan Jiaqi crying alone in the living room. She walked over to him and gently touched his head.


    ¡°Revenge is enough; there¡¯s no need to be a ve to hatred. It will only make your future days unhappy.¡±


    ¡°Wife, they are shameless, and I couldn¡¯t help but get mad.¡±


    Suddenly, Yuan Jiaqi hugged her and cried. ¡°At that time, no one helped me. I was a new father and didn¡¯t know how to raise a child. I yed both the role of father and mother.


    ¡°I barely made it through the days. My parents were like vampires, my brothers were indifferent, and the n members wouldn¡¯t support me. I don¡¯t me them for not helping me when I was in trouble. They allughed at me during my hard times.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°But when I started doing well, they came wanting a piece of the pie. Why? Everything in this world is reciprocal. They never contributed to me, so why should they share my sess?¡±


    ¡°Then study well, use your sess to punish them, and make them regret to the point of losing sleep every day. Can¡¯t you do that?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, thank you. My son and I are fortunate to have met you in this lifetime.¡¯


    ¡°Alright, stop crying. I¡¯m counting on you to honor our family¡¯s name through your studies.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t let you down!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi wiped his tears and awkwardly said, ¡°Well, I should go to ss now. I¡¯ve embarrassed myself enough today.¡±


    ¡°Family members can talk about anything. Men can cry too. No one willugh at you!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly left the living room as if fleeing. Qiao Mai giggled as she watched him go.


    Upon learning that Yuan Jiaqi had topped the county¡¯s schr list, the Tian family was seething with jealousy. They turned their attention to Tian Yaohui.


    ¡°You must do well. We should also aim for the schr¡¯s title.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, my teacher said I¡¯ll have my turn in two more years. He says I¡¯m a promising student.¡±


    Tian Yaozu, on the other hand, gave them a cold and resentful look. He wanted to throw a brick at those three but didn¡¯t dare.


    Now, his family despised him, seeing him as a freeloader.


    In Lihua Vige, the Qiao family was more upset. They watched as their daughter¡¯s life improved. She not only had money but also a son-inw who was the county¡¯s top schr.


    He was the top scorer, and there was no doubt he would be an Elementary Schr. Yet, all of this was slipping through their hands.


    They couldn¡¯t figure out a way to change their situation. The idea of going through official channels didn¡¯t seem viable, and they were losing sleep over it.


    Two dayster, Mayor Qian rushed to Shopkeeper Lu¡¯s ce with the news. ¡°Sanniang, we¡¯ve found out. That guy, Feng Yinshi, really has a concubine outside and a one-year-old son.¡±


    Lu Sanniang nearly jumped up. ¡°That scoundrel!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s no concrete evidence. The woman with the child has rented a house in the county, iming her man is dead. None of the neighbors have seen Feng Yinshi visiting her.¡±


    ¡°How did you find out then?¡±


    ¡°That woman often carries the child outside the Feng residence. My people noticed it. When they saw the child, though still young, they found that he looked remarkably like Feng Yinshi.¡±


    ¡°So, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t dare to visit her during the day; it must be at night. He¡¯ll be back at the end of this month. After a month of abstinence, he must be desperate, so we can try catching him in the act. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Lu Ruxin, who was nearby, burst into tears when she heard the news. It was too much to bear. Feng Yinshi had married her for her family¡¯s money and power and refused to touch her. It was disgusting. ¡°Sanniang, you don¡¯t have to do anything. I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Brother Qian. I leave everything in your hands!¡±


    ¡°Rest assured. We can¡¯t let our daughter be taken advantage of. Once we catch him, we¡¯ll report him to the officials.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t let that scoundrel off!¡±


    After Mayor Qian left, Lu Ruxin cried in Lu Sanniang¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mother, why is my life so miserable? I¡¯ve been kind to them, but I¡¯ve been taken advantage of. I¡­ I really want to confront him.¡±


    ¡°Silly girl, he¡¯s not even worth confronting. Don¡¯t give him too much importance. Learn from this experience. When dealing with people and matters, always keep a margin for yourself. Retreat a step, and you won¡¯t fall off the cliff.¡¯


    Lu Ruxin wasforted by Lu Sanniang for a while. She thought it was necessary to inform Qiao Mai of this matter.


    Even though they were no longer master and disciple, Lu Sanniang was still her close friend.


    So, she went to the Qiao family. At that moment, Qiao Mai was in the backyard, tending to the vegetable garden. The weather was getting warmer, and it was time to harvest thest batch of vegetables before taking down the greenhouse to nt something else.


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have something to discuss with you.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to my courtyard.¡±


    The two went to the main courtyard, where the children were not there.


    ¡°Sister, it seems Ruxin¡¯s situation is as Brother Qian suspected. That scoundrel Feng Yinshi indeed has a concubine and a one-year-old son.¡±


    ¡°The Feng family has been scheming against you. Even if they didn¡¯t know about this concubine, they had ulterior motives when they agreed to the marriage.¡±


    ¡°At this point, I¡¯m nning to catch them in the act with Brother Qian.¡± ¡°Do you want me toe along?¡±


    ¡°Sister, Brother Qian and I think it would be better if you came. I¡¯ll feel more secure with you there.¡±


    ¡°Alright, just let me know when.¡±


    Since Lu Ruxin had returned to Tianshui Town, the Feng family had not bothered her much. Perhaps they felt she had little to offer.


    This period has been rtively peaceful. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t have any particr reaction to her return, and Lu Ruxin didn¡¯t have the courage to approach her.


    A few dayster, Wang Jiaru came to the Qiao family. She immediately hugged Qiao Mai andughed.


    ¡°Long time no see. I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡±


    ¡°Are you here to see your grandparents, or are you missing my cooking again?¡±


    ¡°I came to see you specifically. Of course, I¡¯ll see my grandparents too. I¡¯ve missed your food!¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Qiao Mai held her hand and led her toward her grandparents¡¯ courtyard.


    ¡°If my grandparents find out you¡¯re here as a side trip to see them, they¡¯ll be heartbroken.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t. They always say I¡¯m a nuisance.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Zihan?¡±


    ¡°He and my mother stayed in the Capital. I came back to handle some affairs here and reconcile the ounts.¡±


    ¡°Are you getting married?¡±


    Wang Jiaruughed openly, nodding. ¡°Remember toe to my wedding, okay?¡± ¡°I want to go, but at the same time, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re marrying a prince. If I go, what am I with my current status?¡±


    ¡°You are my friend. Whoever dares to look down on you is looking down on me.


    If I see it happen, I won¡¯t acknowledge them anymore.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you have no idea. Marrying into such a wealthy familyes with its challenges. Learning etiquette and rules alone will exhaust you.¡±


    At this, Wang Jiaru pouted.


    ¡°You think I want to marry? It¡¯s just that the little prince is blind and besotted.


    He insists on marrying only me as if I¡¯m so willing.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent. Many women dream of marrying into such a family.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I want to live freely, like you.¡±


    ¡°I heard from Old Mistress Wang that this matter isn¡¯t entirely the prince¡¯s fault. After all, you couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and sneaked into his kitchen to steal food, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, their cooks are too good. I could smell the delicious food from outside the walls. But after tasting your cooking, I don¡¯t care about their food anymore.¡±


    As they continued chatting, they reached the courtyard where Old Mistress Wang was sitting alone, enjoying the warmth of the sun.


    Upon seeing her granddaughter, she quickly stood up and approached her. ¡°Ruler, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯ve returned. Where¡¯s Grandfather?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s teaching his sses at the moment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be staying here for a few days before returning to take care of some matters. After that, I¡¯ll be heading back to the Capital.¡±


    ¡°Have you set a date yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes, on the 16th of September. Just make it before that day.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good day.. Is it chosen by the royal family?¡±</font>

 Chapter 139 - 139: Is This A Good Idea?

    Chapter 139 - 139: Is This A Good Idea?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Who cares? If they want me to marry, I¡¯ll marry. If they mistreat me, I¡¯ll run away and stay with you at Sister Qiao¡¯s ce.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk like a child.¡±


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai quickly set up some snacks. Wang Jiaru didn¡¯t hesitate to pick her favorite and start eating.


    ¡°Sister Qiao, I¡¯m getting married. Have you prepared a gift for me?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m just waiting for you toe and take it.¡± ¡°Can I see it?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll get it. Old Mistress Wang also has a share.¡± ¡°What kind of gift is it?¡± Wang Jiaru asked curiously.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out when I bring it.¡±


    Qiao Mai left with a smile, went into her room, and picked up a rectangr wooden box from the corner. She tucked it under her arm and picked up two small wooden boxes from the floor. In no time, she returned to the courtyard.


    She gently ced the boxes on the table and looked at the two women with a smile.


    ¡°Old Mistress Wang, you have a share too.¡±


    As soon as Old Mistress Wang heard this, she immediately stood up from her chair.


    The two looked curiously as Qiao Mai slowly opened the boxes. The boxes were exquisite, lined with red silk.


    Qiao Mai gently lifted the silk, and Old Mistress Wang and Jiaru widened their eyes, unable to believe what they saw.


    ¡°Is this¡­ a mirror?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the copper mirrors here in our ce don¡¯t reflect well; you can¡¯t see anything clearly on your face. See how crystal clear this one is?¡±


    They lowered their heads to look at their reflection in the mirror, nodding in excitement.


    ¡°Where did you get this from?¡±


    ¡°A friend of mine likes to travel around the world. He brought this back from overseas. It¡¯s called a full-length mirror and could reflect your whole body.¡± Qiao Mai opened the other two boxes. ¡°This is a dressing mirror, which only reflects the face.¡¯


    The women swallowed hard. ¡°Your gift is truly precious. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s the only one in the entire Capital. People will envy us.¡±


    ¡°This mirror is fragile, so you must handle it carefully like porcin.¡±


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s indeed rare. Sister Qiao, I love this gift so much. What should I do? I might not want to get married anymore. Keeping you here makes me happier.¡± ¡°Come on, I still need you to support me when I get married.¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course. That¡¯s a must. In the future, whoever dares to bully you, I won¡¯t spare them!¡±


    Qiao Mai gently touched her head. ¡°When you have children, I¡¯ll give your child a precious gift.¡±


    Jiaru jumped into her arms. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re so kind. Compared to those sisters with blood ties, you¡¯re more like my real sister.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you two be sworn sisters?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang suggested, leaving Qiao Mai in disbelief, hearing those words from her mouth.


    ¡°Oh my, Old Mistress Wang, don¡¯t talk in your sleep. I can¡¯t possibly be sworn sisters with the future princess. People will spit on me!¡±


    ¡°Who would dare?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Who would dare? Come, let¡¯s be sworn sisters now!¡±


    Wang Jiaru took her hand and looked up at the sky.


    ¡°In the presence of heaven above and earth below, I, Wang Jiaru, sincerely and wholeheartedly be sworn sisters with Sister Qiao. We will share happiness and hardships!¡±


    With a thud, she knelt. Qiao Mai looked at her.


    ¡°Is this really a good idea?¡±


    Wang Jiaru tugged at her. ¡°Yes. Come on, kneel. I like you as my sister; other sisters are useless to me.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    Qiao Mai also knelt, and the two kowtowed three times. Then Wang Jiaru got up and was about to cut her finger.


    Startled, Old Mistress Wang hurriedly said, ¡°You can¡¯t do that. Sworn sisterhood is about sincerity and goodwill, not about drinking blood.¡± Qiao Maiughed. This young girl really had a spirited character.


    ¡°Okay, no need to drink blood. Pointing won¡¯t work, drinking blood won¡¯t work either, let alone bloodwater.¡±


    ¡°Sister, now you have no excuse not to go to the Capital. You¡¯re Wang Jiaru¡¯s sworn sister. Who would dare to look down on you?¡±


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll go with Old Mistress Wang and the others. Let¡¯s make it clear.


    My whole family will go, and you shouldn¡¯t find it troublesome.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m so happy that I can¡¯t wait.¡±


    While chatting, Qiao Mai took out the full-length mirror. The frame was golden, fitting for the status of a royal bride.


    The grandmother and granddaughter pair looked so beautiful in front of the mirror, admiring themselves.


    Old Mistress Wang was envious. ¡°Child, have your friend get me one like this?¡± ¡°Sure, but it might take some time. Hees and goes for about a year.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait! ¡±


    Old Mistress Wang happily held her mirror, sitting in her chair and admiring herself. She couldn¡¯t help but admit that this gift touched her heart.


    They were too engrossed in admiring themselves in the mirror, checking for any ws on their faces, making sure their hair was in ce, and ensuring their outfits looked perfect.


    Oh my, they were so absorbed in their vanity!


    At dinner, Qiao Mai prepared all the dishes Wang Jiaru liked. Shopkeeper Lu was pleased to know Wang Jiaru was getting married. She searched through her collection and found a ruby hairpin to give to her.


    Although Wang Jiaru found it quite ordinary, she still epted it happily. Shopkeeper Lu finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s studies were settled, and he would enroll at Windforest Academy on the first day of May.


    Qiao Mai nned to escort him since she would head to the county town at the end of the month.


    Knowing that Qiao Mai would apany him, Yuan Jiaqi was so excited that he couldn¡¯t sleep. His dark circles were visible the next day.


    Mayor Qian arranged a carriage to pick up the Shopkeeper Lu and Lu Ruxin. To avoid suspicion, he drove a separate carriage himself. Qiao Mai drove another carriage with Yuan Jiaqi inside.


    They entered the county town quietly and then discreetly checked into Mayor Qian¡¯s private residence.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t know what was happening and asked in a low voice, ¡°What are we doing here?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re catching them in the act!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Ruxin¡¯s husband deceived her into marriage. He has a mistress and a child outside. Today is a day of rest, and Ruxin went back to her mother¡¯s house. He will definitelye here to visit his mistress tonight, understand?¡±


    ¡°I understand!¡±


    Time was difficult to bear, and they finally waited until the evening. Everyone was too anxious to eat.


    As the night grew darker, they received a message from the guard. ¡°Feng Yinshi has gone to that ce. They should be asleep by now.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and catch them in bed!¡±


    In a small courtyard in the county town, it was quiet inside. A guard waved to them from the rooftop while another guard climbed down the wall and quietly opened the courtyard gate. Everyone walked in.


    The inside of the courtyard was silent. One of the guards pointed down, then made a gesture imitating a couple¡¯s activity.


    The guards below nodded, and Mayor Qian gestured to them. They used all their strength to kick the door open and rushed inside.


    Someone screamed, and a man¡¯s voice shouted, ¡°Who are you people? How dare you barge into someone else¡¯s private residence? Where¡¯s thew?¡±


    At this moment, torches were lit. Lu Ruxin slowly walked towards Feng Yinshi from behind. She looked at him expressionlessly.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s me. If I didn¡¯te in, how would I know you¡¯re still keeping a mistress and a child here? The child is already over a year old.¡±


    Seeing Lu Ruxin, Feng Yinshi knew it was all over. After all, he had inherited the thick-skinned gene of the Feng family.


    He was naked, covering his lower body, crawling towards Ruxin.


    ¡°Wife, I was wrong. It was all her fault. She seduced me before our marriage, and I couldn¡¯t control myself, so I¡­¡±


    ¡°So, you didn¡¯t touch me, but you used those means to make me think I belonged to you, right?¡±


    Feng Yinshi heard this and suddenly raised his head.


    ¡°You went to the medical clinic?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Where else should I go? Foolishly be deceived by you again?¡± ¡°How could you go to the medical clinic? Those clinics are all frauds.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Your family are the only good people? Is that it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my family is all good people. Please forgive me this time.. I will definitely cut off contact with her, okay?¡±</font>

 Chapter 140 - 140: Beat Up A Woman Too?

    Chapter 140 - 140: Beat Up A Woman Too?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°No, you disgust me.¡±


    Seeing that his words had no effect on Lu Ruxin, Feng Yinshi immediately turned into a malicious expression.


    ¡°Lu Ruxin, don¡¯t think leaving you means I can¡¯t continue my studies. I¡¯m an aplished schr now. I won¡¯t worry about womening to me. What are youpared to me?¡±


    As soon as he uttered these words, he was sent flying by Qiao Mai. Afterward, she wiped her hands with a handkerchief and threw it on the ground.


    Lu Ruxin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she nced at her Master. She knew that there was still some affection in Qiao Mai¡¯s p. However, at this moment, she couldn¡¯t say anything.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai said, ¡°Let¡¯s beat these two scoundrels first.¡±


    ¡°Even the woman?¡±


    ¡°She knew about this from the beginning and was involved all along. Advising Feng Yinshi to deceive for marriage was her idea. She couldn¡¯t afford to support him, so she let Ruxin take care of him. Shouldn¡¯t they be punished?¡±


    Mayor Qian gritted his teeth. Lu Sanniang¡¯s two children were like his own daughters.


    He waved his hand, and four guards rushed forward ¨C Three to beat the man and one for the woman.


    It was easier with the man; they could hit him anywhere. But as for the woman, there was no choice but to p her face, as she had no shame left.


    Lu Sanniang gritted her teeth and watched this scene with hatred. Yuan Jiaqi felt embarrassed and pulled Qiao Mai¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°He¡¯s naked. You shouldn¡¯t look. Let¡¯s go?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not looking at the man. I¡¯m watching the woman, especially her face. It¡¯s swollen like a pig¡¯s. It¡¯s quite amusing.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡­ It¡¯s inappropriate to look at the woman either, but Qiao Mai won¡¯t leave, so he has no choice but to follow Qiao Mai¡¯s lead and look at the man.


    They both had no shame. Why should others be afraid of looking?


    Themotion in the main house woke up the maidservants in the side room. Seeing so many people outside, they were scared and hugged their children, cowering inside, afraid to move.


    At this point, the neighbors had also been alerted and came running over.


    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t this youngdy say her husband was dead? Howe there¡¯s a man here again?¡±


    ¡°Hey, why does this man look so familiar?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he the second young master of the Feng family?¡±


    ¡°Oh, he just became a Rmended Schr and came to seduce a widow. Look, Madam Feng is here too. Oh, I get it now. They¡¯vee to catch the adulterers.¡±


    People watched as nned, and it was all set to tarnish the reputation of the Feng family.


    When Mayor Qian saw they had been beaten enough, he ordered, ¡°Stop! Bind them and take them to the court.¡±


    Normally, Mayor Qian wouldn¡¯te to the county. If he did, even the county magistrate had to wee him. But for Lu Sanniang¡¯s sake, he made an exception.


    The shameless couple were bound and ready to be taken away when Mayor Qian nced at the side room.


    ¡°Come out holding the child. If we go in, we¡¯ll have to bind all of you.¡¯


    Hearing this, the two maidservants came out, holding a sleeping child of about one year old.


    With the adulterers in tow, along with their children, they were taken to the court.


    Drums were beaten, and even though the county magistrate was in a bad mood from just waking up, he immediately sobered up when he saw Mayor Qian. ¡°Oh, Mayor Qian, why did youe in person?¡±


    ¡°I had to. My daughter was deceived by someone. How could I note?¡± ¡°Your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the Feng family¡¯s second son, Feng Yinshi. He deceived my daughter.


    Before he married, he vowed that my daughter would be the only woman in his life. But as early as two years ago, he had a lover and even had a child with her. What do you call that if not deceiving for marriage?¡±


    ¡°This really happened?¡±


    The county magistrate¡¯s gaze shifted elsewhere, and it was painful to look at. He was in trouble.


    ¡°You brought them here naked?¡±


    ¡°How else? They were having a good time in bed, but my daughter was heartbroken. After their marriage, he never touched my daughter, but his family said my daughter couldn¡¯t get pregnant. What do you think we should do about this?¡±


    ¡°Truly a disgrace to the world of schrs. How can someone like you, a schr, behave like this? Guards, go to the Feng family and summon Mr. and Madam Feng. Let¡¯s see what they¡¯ve been raising.¡±


    On the ground, Feng Yinshi came to his senses after being beaten. The Lu family wasn¡¯t anything special, but their connections were impressive. Just looking at Mayor Qian before him, Feng Yinshi realized he was someone he couldn¡¯t provoke. Now, he regretted it, shivering all over.


    On the other hand, the woman remained curled up throughout and didn¡¯t dare to say a word. She was caught red-handed, and nothing she said would work.


    But when she heard this man pushing all the me on her, she inexplicably felt a chill.


    It was a public courtroom, and the county magistrate found their appearance inappropriate. He had someone bring two nkets for them to cover themselves.


    Not long after, Mr. Feng and Madam Feng hurried over. Seeing the woman and her second son on the ground, they immediately understood what was going on.


    ¡°You brat, how could you do such a thing? Why were you in such a hurry?


    You¡¯re a Rmended Schr now; you could have any woman you wanted.¡±


    Mr. Feng also came over and kicked Feng Yinshi a few times, with the strength more like scratching an itch.


    The county magistrate sneered and continued to watch the show.


    When Madam Feng saw Shopkeeper Lu, she smiled awkwardly. ¡°Oh, dear inw, which man doesn¡¯t cheat? Your father-inw also has several concubines. Just let Yinshi off this once, and my husband and I will be forever grateful. We¡¯ll treat you well from now on.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. I don¡¯t need your gratitude. Do you know why I¡¯ve never been pregnant all this while?¡±


    ¡°W-why?¡±


    ¡°Because of your good son here. He kept himself pure for this woman and has never touched me.¡±


    Madam Feng took a step back. ¡°How could it be?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Ask him.


    Madam Feng squatted down and shook her son¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Is this true?¡± Feng Yinshi didn¡¯t say anything, but his silence was an admission.


    Madam Feng angrily eximed, ¡°Why do I have such a foolish son? You¡¯re already married, but you haven¡¯t touched your wife for the sake of a concubine. Are you a woman? What man doesn¡¯t have two or three women? It¡¯s for the sake of carrying on the family line! You!¡±


    Seeing Madam Feng¡¯s behavior, Shopkeeper Lu couldn¡¯t help but want to p herself. She had praised her for teaching her son well back then. Was this what she called a good education?


    Blind. She was blind!


    Shopkeeper Lu couldn¡¯t help it anymore and rushed over to grab Madam Feng by the hair and started pulling.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing? Let go of me! It hurts!¡±


    ¡°Two old animals raising a little animal. None of you are human! What kind of words are you spitting? Huh?¡±


    While pulling her hair, Shopkeeper Lu began hitting her face.


    Mr. Feng wanted to help but was blocked by Mayor Qian¡¯s tour guards. The county magistrate merely sat there, watching.


    He knew that if he didn¡¯t let Mayor Qian vent his anger today, this matter wouldn¡¯t be resolved easily.


    Feng Yinshi, for all his faults, was still a filial son. Despite being naked, he wanted toe to his mother¡¯s aid, but Qiao Mai kicked him aside, leaving him immobilized.


    After Shopkeeper Lu had had enough and was catching her breath, she looked up at the county magistrate.


    ¡°Sir, what is the punishment for deceiving for marriage?¡±


    ¡°His official title will be stripped away, and he¡¯ll be publicly flogged and exiled.¡±


    The members of the Feng family were stunned when they heard this severe punishment. None of them had expected it to be so harsh.


    Feng Yinshi, who had been beaten enough,y on the ground and began kowtowing to the county magistrate. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was wrong. I won¡¯t dare to do it again. I¡¯ve studied for many years, and it took me so long to be a Rmended Schr. Please, Sir, have mercy.¡±


    At this point, there was no trace left of his dashing young gentleman image; he looked nothing more than a wretched soul.


    He had forgotten that a Rmended Schr didn¡¯t have to kneel in court.


    The county magistrate tapped his desk and said, ¡°You need to discuss this matter with the Lu family. If the victim forgives you, I can be lenient.¡±</font>

 Chapter 141 - 141: You Bullies

    Chapter 141 - 141: You Bullies


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Feng Yinshi quickly turned around and kowtowed to Shopkeeper Lu.


    ¡°Dear mother-inw, I beg you to spare me. I¡¯ve realized my mistakes and promise to mend my ways in the future.¡±


    ¡°Mother-inw? I can¡¯t ept that title. If it weren¡¯t for your deceitful marriage, my dowry of ten thousand taels of silver wouldn¡¯t have been lost. My daughter could have found a loving husband.¡±


    Madam Feng couldn¡¯t tolerate it anymore. ¡°We became inws by marriage. That was your daughter¡¯s decision.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your sweet talk that convinced us your son would be devoted to my daughter? Is this what you call devotion?¡± ¡°What do you want? We don¡¯t have money.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll go with the punishment!¡±


    ¡°That threat hit them where it hurts the most, right in their weak spot.¡±


    Deted by the threat, the Feng family had nothing to say. At this moment, the child¡¯s crying filled the room, and two maids rushed to console him.


    The toddler, who had learned to walk, struggled to get down and ran over to the woman. ¡°Mother.¡±


    He then turned to say, ¡°Father,¡± towards Feng Yanshi.


    Upon hearing this, Madam Feng¡¯s joy was uncontainable. ¡°This is Yinshi¡¯s son? Oh my, I have a grandson again. How wonderful!¡±


    ¡°Yes, soon he won¡¯t have a father anymore, sent off to thebor camps.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu interjected coldly, causing Madam Feng¡¯s face to darken with bitterness.


    ¡°What do you want to do then?¡±


    ¡°Five thousand taels inpensation and a divorce! Those are our terms. If not, we¡¯ll proceed with legal action.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re pushing your luck too far.¡±


    Unable to endure it longer, Qiao Mai pped Madam Feng across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground. Fortunately, the child was unharmed.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the one bullying here, huh? Demandingpensation is bullying, but deceiving someone into a false marriage isn¡¯t? You¡¯ve ruined a girl¡¯s life! You shameless woman with a thick skin as imprable as a city wall, how can you even say such things?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re all bullies! Relying on your power and influence!¡±


    Seeing that dawn was approaching, Mayor Qian urged, ¡°Stop dawdling. Once it¡¯s daylight, the whole county will know about this. I¡¯ll add one more condition: After the divorce, you are not allowed to attend Windforest Academy anymore. Otherwise, we will report this matter to them. I¡¯d like to see if such a prestigious institution would ept someone like you.¡±


    ¡°Why do you have the right to deny me an education?¡±


    ¡°Because Windforest Academy is under the influence of my Lu family. You could only go there because of our connections. Without us, you¡¯re nothing.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t go. I don¡¯t care. Without you, I can still be a schr and an official.


    ¡°With your character, your aspirations will be limited to being a Rmended Schr. Do you want to be an official? Dream on.¡±


    The county magistrate intervened, ¡°Enough of this argument. I need to verify the facts. Please excuse me for a moment.


    He instructed the government officials to go to various clinics and bring the senior doctors to him.


    They confirmed her to be a virgin. This alone proved the deception by the Feng family, not to mention the evidence of adultery.


    After finalizing the case, the county magistrate arrested the deceitful man from the Feng family. He would only be released once they provided the silver and the divorce agreement.


    Early morning, the county magistrate had to handle this case and arrange for the meals of these individuals.


    In the back room, they had breakfast together.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the Feng family just get robbed? Do they have five thousand taels of silver?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they hosted a banquet to celebrate Feng Yinshi¡¯s status and received numerous gifts. Many wealthy families¡¯ daughters even wanted to be his concubines. Now that I¡¯m divorcing him, many will be willing to spend money to secure their position as the legitimate wife.¡±


    ¡°Even in this situation, there are still people willing to support him?¡±


    Mayor Qian snorted. ¡°As long as he maintains his schrly reputation, people will eventually forget about this incident. He¡¯s still a Rmended Schr and has the potential to be a Tribute Schr in the future.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed with the divorce first and settle thepensation.¡±


    The county magistrate said, ¡°In fact, this situation is quitemon in wealthy families. While there arews, it¡¯s often resolved through negotiation, even for second or third-ranked officials. So, you don¡¯t need to make this situation too contentious. I¡¯ve heard that this young man has made quite a few friends at the Windforest Academy?¡±


    Mayor Qian sneered. ¡°Do you think the Qian family would want to make an enemy out of him and watch him grow stronger?¡±


    ¡°With your assurance, this young man won¡¯t be able to cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything else, but regarding the Feng Family¡¯s matter, you must not let it slide.¡±


    ¡°I will follow your instructions.¡± ¡°Good. After you¡¯vepleted your term, I¡¯ll secure you a better position.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mayor Qian, thank you!¡±


    Seeing the county magistrate¡¯s smile, Qiao Mai realized this official was likely corrupt and had engaged in bribery and embezzlement.


    The Feng family returned home and, after venting their frustrations, immediately began raising the necessary funds. Without this money, their son and grandchild would still be in jail. That ce was not for humans. After searching their house for valuables and borrowing money from friends and rtives, they even had to pawn their jewelry at the pawnshop.


    Finally, they managed to scrape together the required amount.


    With this, the chapter on the marriage of Lu Ruxin and Feng Yinshi ended. In six months, a youngdy went from a bride to a divorced woman.


    It goes to show that appearances can be deceiving. One should gather information, observe, and not jump to conclusions.


    It must also be said that due to Lu Ruxin¡¯s ungrateful nature, it was a punishment from the heavens that she encountered a man who appeared to be straightforward but cunning and ruthless.


    She was lucky that Lu Sanniang discovered the truth early on. Otherwise, her fate might have been far worse, and she could have died mysteriously in the Feng family¡¯s household.


    Once the matter was resolved, Mayor Qian brought everyone and returned to Tianshui Town.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai apanied Yuan Jiaqi to the Capital. Yuan Jiaqi was set to begin his formal studies at the academy the next day.


    Fortunately, they reached the Capital just before nightfall. Qiao Mai parked her carriage near the entrance of Windforest Academy.


    Yuan Jiaqi got out of the carriage and unloaded his belongings.


    Qiao Mai took a purse from her pocket. ¡°Take this. You¡¯ll need money for various expenses while studying. It¡¯s always good to be prepared.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi epted it without hesitation. After all, he had been devoted to studying without working. All the money he had came from Qiao Mai. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark now. How are you going to get back?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m an adult with money. If necessary, I¡¯ll stay at an inn. You focus on your studies, and I¡¯ll watch over Chuan¡¯er. He¡¯s obedient and won¡¯t leave the house.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I am always assured with you.¡±


    ¡°Go inside. I¡¯ll wait out here for a while. If everything¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll leave, and if there¡¯s any trouble, I¡¯ll bring you back home.¡±


    ¡°I have a rmendation letter and the admission notice, so I should be okay. You can go now. Besides, I have some money with me, and if there¡¯s any problem, I can stay at an inn.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him, turned the horse carriage around, and hurried away. Yuan Jiaqi watched the carriage until it disappeared and knocked on the academy gate.


    He handed the admission notice to the gatekeeper, who opened the gate and let him in.


    When Qiao Mai reached the city gate, it was already closed. She stored the carriage in her space and gracefully leaped over the city gate, heading north at high speed.


    As she crossed a courtyard, she heard pleading and sobbing from inside a house. She halted her steps, her curiosity piqued.


    Inside a courtyard, a dim light emanated from a room. She leaped down and quietly approached the door.


    A young girl, around eleven or twelve, knelt on the ground, shivering in a thin undergarment. A man reeked of alcohol stood before her. Though Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t see his face, his voice revealed him to be far from a good person.


    ¡°Dad, please spare me. I¡¯m still young, and you only have one daughter. I¡¯ll support you when I get married.. Please, spare me!¡±</font>

 Chapter 142 - 142: This Man Doesn ‘t Deserve to Live

    Chapter 142 - 142: This Man Doesn ¡®t Deserve to Live


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Bah, spare you? What about your father? Your mother has been dead for a long time, and I am alone with no woman around. Going to the brothel costs money, but raising you also costs money. How do you expect your father to manage, huh?¡±


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m your biological daughter!¡±


    ¡°Hah, right now, I just want to enjoy myself. What daughter? As long as it makes me happy, I¡¯ll even do my own mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s hands trembled at the door in fury. She swiftly entered her space, changed into night clothes, and covered her face before returning. She witnessed the man tearing the girl¡¯s clothes.


    Feeling furious, she pulled out a thick wooden stick and delivered a few fierce blows to his head.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    The man copsed onto the girl and stopped moving. Qiao Mai had been careful not to draw blood but still took his life.


    She stood in the room, kicked the man with her foot, and saw the frightened look on the young girl¡¯s face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. This man is already dead.¡±


    ¡°Dead?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he won¡¯t bother you anymore. Is this your home or a rented ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my home.¡±


    ¡°Find your property deed and keep it safe. Don¡¯t let anyone take it from you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m all alone at home, and if he doesn¡¯t harass me, others wille.¡±


    ¡°Do people oftene to your house to harass you?¡±


    The young girl nodded, tears streaming down her eyes.


    ¡°Since my mother passed away, my father has looked at me strangely. He¡¯s often not at home, and someone always knocks on our door at night. Whenever I shout, they run away.¡±


    ¡°Is tonight the first time your father did this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there have been incidents, but I always locked the door so he couldn¡¯t get in. Tonight, he used tools to remove the door.¡±


    It was a difficult situation. A young girl of eleven or twelve was alone at home, and those lecherous men were sure to have evil intentions.


    ¡°Do you have any rtives or friends?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my mother had a sister who was kind to me. She came to help with my mother¡¯s funeral when she passed away.¡± ¡°Rent out the house and go stay with your aunt.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ ¡±


    ¡°Search his body and see if he has any money. Then, search the room he was staying in. Go quickly!¡±


    The young girl cast a timid nce at Qiao Mai but obediently searched the man¡¯s body. She found some silver pieces.


    She also found keys on him and searched the room he upied. When she returned, she held a cloth bag.


    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of silver!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, he had silver but chose to target you instead of finding other women. It seems like your father had these intentions for a while.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for saving me. I also wanted to kill him. I couldn¡¯t because he¡¯s my father!¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s acting like a beast and wants to harm you, a father like that should also be killed! Even if it means using poison or any other means. If you don¡¯t kill him, he¡¯ll bring you a lifetime of shame, and your life will be at risk. To survive, you must fear nothing and no one. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Thank you, benefactor.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of him in a moment. When the sky brightens, go to the pawnshop, rent out your house, and use the money to join your aunt.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment and handed her a paper package.


    ¡°Here¡¯s some sleeping powder. If anyone dares to harm you, cover your nose with the cloth, sprinkle it on those people, and then report it to the authorities.


    Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Feeling that there was nothing more to exin, Qiao Mai grabbed the man¡¯s cor and left the room, disappearing into the night sky.


    Qiao Mai threw the body to a deste area twenty miles from the county town. Then, she cleaned up and returned home.


    Inside her house, she lit a candle, brewed a pot of tea, and sat at the table, contemting the night events.


    Her anger red up unexpectedly. She couldn¡¯t believe that in a small county like County Yi, there would be such inhumane individuals.


    Even their own daughters were not spared. Perhaps that girl¡¯s mother had been killed by this man. She couldn¡¯t fathom why.


    Even a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs. As a rational human, he had such despicable intentions toward his children and put them into action. He didn¡¯t deserve to live, let alone live peacefully.


    She wanted to go back and tear him to pieces. Such a man didn¡¯t deserve to live, and he certainly didn¡¯t deserve to live well.


    At this point, it was already past midnight, and Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t sleep. She took out her Alchemy Manual and began reading.


    As morning approached, Old Mistress Wang and Wang Jiaru came to visit.


    ¡°Girl, how did it go?¡±


    ¡°We caught them in the act, got the divorce papers, and they paid five thousand taels inpensation.¡±


    ¡°That young man from the Feng family is despicable. The Feng family isn¡¯t any better; thepensation for the divorce is too light. If it were me, I¡¯d break that young man¡¯s legs and end his prospects.¡±


    At this crucial moment, if she were to take action, she would be suspected. It was better to let him enjoy a few days of happiness first.


    ¡°This is a disaster caused by Ruxin¡¯sck of wisdom. Heaven treats everyone fairly. If it weren¡¯t for her being foolish and easily manipted, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation. She has grown up without any understanding! ¡±


    ¡°Yes, she brought this upon herself. However, the main culprit is still the Feng family, as they deceived the Lu family.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss this matter anymore. Jiaqi went to the Windforest Academy, and we needed to dismantle the greenhouse in the backyard. Our family is going to be busy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re here to help. There are enough of us to handle the big tasks and menial tasks.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you, Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    ¡°Call me Grandmother. You and Rul er are now sisters.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Grandmother.¡±


    Just after entering May, the weather in the north turned hot. Some wheat had already turned yellow and would be ready for harvest in less than half a month.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai¡¯s five acres ofnd needed to have the greenhouse removed quickly to prepare for farming. She needed to n what crops to nt.


    Removing the greenhouse was easy as all ten maids in her house pitched in. In one day, they had dismantled everything. Qiao Mai had the transparent stic sheets folded neatly and stored in the warehouse so they could be used in the next winter.


    The tree stumps and grass curtains were piled up in a corner neatly.


    After removing the greenhouse, the backyard became spacious. All the vegetables had been transnted, and the ground was dry. They cleared the area around it, spread dung, and then lit dry straw on fire to burn it.


    Outsiders might think the Qiao family was on fire, but they were actually using the fire to fertilize thend.


    It took three days to prepare all five acres ofnd. After watering and letting it sit for ten days, they could start nting.


    During this break, Qiao Mai went to her store and adjusted the prices of some products.


    She stopped making a few items, like candied hawthorns.


    Without vegetables, various types of fruits began appearing in the store. This time, she hadn¡¯t returned empty-handed from the Capital.


    Wang Jiaru followed her around. ¡°More strawberries?¡±


    ¡°Yes, feel free to eat them. You don¡¯t have to pay.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, if you dare ask for money from me, I¡¯ll pester you for the rest of your life.


    ¡°Tsk, just talk.¡±


    Qiao Mai had people bring out many types of fruit. Wang Jiaru carried a basket and picked what she liked. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Pineapple. It¡¯s very sweet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so big!¡±


    ¡°Yes, leave one. I¡¯ll peel some for everyone to tasteter. This is a southern fruit, and it¡¯s easy to transport. My supplier only brought a few, but I bought them all.¡±


    ¡°You really are capable!¡±


    ¡°When are you going back to the Capital?¡±


    ¡°No rush. My wedding is on the sixteenth of September. I can reach a month earlier. I n to leave in August. It¡¯s only May now, so I¡¯ll stay at your ce until June.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a foodie.¡¯


    ¡°My brother isn¡¯t here. There¡¯s no one topete with me.¡±


    ¡°As a future princess, shouldn¡¯t you be focusing on taking care of your health now? You shouldn¡¯t eat indiscriminately.¡±


    ¡°I can focus on that when I get to the Capital. My health is fine; I could easily have ten or eight children.¡±


    Qiao Maiughed. Wang Jiaru spoke straightforwardly, but she liked it..</font>

 Chapter 143 - 143: Could It Be Master?

    Chapter 143 - 143: Could It Be Master?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    As the weather gets hotter, the family spends more time together in the evenings.


    Arge table is set up in the courtyard, and everyone gathers to eat snacks, chat, and talk about their day. The absence of Shopkeeper Lu and her family has taken away some of the liveliness.


    At this moment, she is busy with the marriage arrangements for Ruyi. The Qin family has agreed, and both families have discussed and set a date for the wedding on the 26th of this month.


    This time, Shopkeeper Lu did not act recklessly but discussed it with Mayor Qian.


    He has a good impression of the Qin family since they are both from the same town and know each other well. Mayor Qian is also pleased. Lu Sanniang hase to discuss Ruyi¡¯s marriage with him. It seems he could marry her home soon.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    The Qian family has long divided their household. He is the fourth branch. He¡¯s the only one who hasn¡¯t married or had children, while the others have many offspring.


    He doesn¡¯t want to argue with that stubborn old man of his anymore. In this era, living past seventy is considered lucky. A few months after the old geezer passes away, he will propose to Lu Sanniang.


    Someone asked him why he didn¡¯t care for his father, who was dying of illness.


    Why bother? If he goes, the old geezer¡¯s remaining time will be shorter, so he doesn¡¯t want to add to his troubles.


    Because of Lu Sanniang, the father and son had long lost their affection for each other.


    It¡¯s not that Shopkeeper Lu is not good, but Mayor Qian¡¯s father looks down on her for being poor. Just because of this, he wouldn¡¯t let him marry her.


    Mayor Qian is also stubborn. He wouldn¡¯t marry anyone else but her, staying single all this while.


    That old geezer was even more stubborn than him. He wouldn¡¯t let Mayor Qian marry Lu Sanniang although he stayed single. So these two men continued in this deadlock, dragging the matter out.


    Qiao Mai knew what Shopkeeper Lu was doing and didn¡¯t want to interfere. If Lu Sanniang needs her, she will help. But if not, she will focus on managing household affairs.


    As for Ruyi¡¯s dowry, she will provide the same amount as she did for Ruxin. As for the recipe, she doesn¡¯t want to get involved in it too much to avoid future troubles she can¡¯t exin.


    Thinking about Ruxin¡¯s dowry in her space, Qiao Mai threw it into the courtyard where Ruxin lives on a dark night.


    With a loud thud, everyone in the courtyard woke up. Ruxin¡¯s maidservant came out and was almost ecstatic upon seeing the dowry.


    ¡°Miss, miss, it¡¯s your dowry!¡±


    Ruxin couldn¡¯t believe it. She came out and checked carefully. It was indeed her dowry. Tears welled up in her eyes like a dam breaking.


    ¡°Could it be Master?¡±


    By now, she seems to understand what she has lost.


    Qiao Mai once said that she would stand up for her. That scoundrel betrayed her. Her master would seek justice for her.


    Qiao Mai has martial arts skills, and she has done it. She helped protect her dowry from falling into the wrong hands.


    ¡°Master, Xin¡¯er is sorry.¡±


    Hidden in the shadows, Qiao Mai watched coldly. She has a principle of seeing things through, and now, she has closed a chapter of her master-disciple rtionship.


    In mid-May, the weather became scorching hot, especially in the southern regions, where fires are more likely to break out.


    People fleeing disasters often appeared on the roads, guided by government officials to settle in various viges. Qiao Mai had her people set up porridge stalls along the road. Her kitchen staff kept steaming buns tirelessly.


    The porridge stalls opened once a day, serving tworge pots of porridge and several hundred buns. Once they ran out, they closed for the day.


    Mayor Qian didn¡¯t want to be left behind either. He set up a porridge stall at his doorstep. Some well-off families followed suit.


    These porridge stalls provided a meal for the fleeing peasants, allowing them to catch their breath. Once they had settled in nearby viges, Qiao Mai promised that anyone who came with their household registration could receive fifty catties of cornmeal from her.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s name quickly spread throughout the surrounding area.


    Many struggling families also wanted toe and im their share. After a thorough check by Mayor Qian, they didn¡¯t leave empty-handed either.


    This made the Qiao, the Tian, and the Yuan family harbor deep resentment towards Qiao Mai.


    She would rather assist strangers than let them benefit in any way.


    She was adamant about not giving anything to them. She ensured that nobody from the Lihua Vige, Apricot Blossom Vige, and Peach Blossom Vige would receive assistance.


    No prior goodwill was established, so why should they reap the rewards?


    The three families attempted to send family members with household registrations to collect, but as soon as Qiao Mai¡¯s maids saw where they came from, she immediately turned them away.


    ¡°Mistress said we won¡¯t give anything to our enemies.¡±


    These three families could afford to feed themselves. It was understandable that the Tian family was tight on money to support someone¡¯s education, but the Qiao family did nothing, relying on their few acres ofnd. Even taking up asional odd jobs made them lose face. As for the Yuan family, those two old folks were always looking for a bargain.


    They would constantly incite people against the Qiao family to cause trouble for them. But who could be as foolish as these two?


    How could they stand up to the Qiao family? Not even her parents could do anything, so how could they deal with Qiao Mai?


    Many people avoided them as soon as they saw them. Nobody was willing to engage with them.


    They seemed to have too much free time on their hands.


    During their free time, they woulde to Tianshui Town to wander around. Even the two troublemakers from the Qiao family did the same. Once they knew they could be inws, they started engaging in conversation.


    It was rare for the old Yuan couple, known for being stingy, to spend money. They set up a stall near the entrance of the Qiao family¡¯s shop, right under Qiao Mai¡¯s nose.


    They ordered a few cups of milk tea and offered them to the elderly couple from the Qiao family. It seemed like they wanted to provoke a reaction from Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi.


    When the news reached Shopkeeper Niu, he mentioned it to Qiao Mai, whoughed it off.


    ¡°Let them be. It¡¯s fine as long as they pay for the milk tea and don¡¯t cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress. With the weather getting hotter, what should we do about our milk tea?¡±


    ¡°It can be served as a cold drink. Put in a few ice cubes. It¡¯ll be quite refreshing.


    Also, have the staff switch to using green tea for the base.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu left. Qiao Mai had an idea for a delicious cold drink. She entered her space and picked up half a basket of lemons, small green oranges, passion fruits, and a jar of honey.


    She went to the kitchen and started working on a jar of passion fruit lemonade with honey. She nned to test it out in her shop.


    Once it was ready, Qiao Mai carried it to the store, passing by the two troublemakers outside.


    Her staff were busy cutting ice, so she ced the jar inside the counter. She grabbed a bowl and a spoon, scooped a spoonful of the passion fruit mixture, added some ice cubes, and poured cold water.


    ¡°I¡¯m really annoyed that we don¡¯t have any straws. What can I use as a substitute?¡± Qiao Mai thought.


    Suddenly, an idea struck her. Reeds had hollow centers, making them perfect as makeshift straws. They were long and could serve the purpose well.


    However, the reeds in the nearby wastnd wouldn¡¯t be suitable. They were unclean and short, not meeting the required standards.


    She decided she would need to grow her own reeds. With one acre ofnd avable, it would be sufficient.


    For now, she had to make do with a spoon and tried a sip.


    ¡°The taste is decent. It¡¯s especially refreshing.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu and the five staff members couldn¡¯t help but gulp as they watched. Qiao Mai quickly instructed them.


    ¡°Everyone, get a bowl and try it like I did. Besides those troublemakers outside, everyone else gets a serving.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    After enjoying the refreshing passion fruit lemonade with honey, many couldn¡¯t resist wanting more.


    Qiao Mai instructed Shopkeeper Niu, ¡°Starting tomorrow, anyone who buys items in our store will get aplimentary bowl of this cold drink. It will be priced at fifty coins per bowl.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    The five staff members at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery each held several recipes. Now, these recipes have be the backbone of the store.


    Shopkeeper Niu contemted hiring two more staff specifically for selling at the front and having the existing five focus on production behind the scenes.


    Their boss kept introducing new and unique items too frequently.


    It was a bit risky to have all the knowledge in the hands of one staff member. He wasn¡¯t afraid they would leak it, but because they could be poached by someone else.


    This wasn¡¯t about buying or digging; it was a tant theft.


    Currently, the row of shops hasn¡¯t been rented out yet. Even the one at the southern end had been vacated to amodate beggars. Shopkeeper Niu nned to expand the shop.


    Qiao Mai agreed as long as the business continued to thrive. She allowed Shopkeeper Niu to make the decisions as he saw fit..</font>

 Chapter 144 - 144: You ‘re Very Thoughtful

    Chapter 144 - 144: You ¡®re Very Thoughtful


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It was almost the end of the month, and Shopkeeper Niu merged the two adjacent shops. The left side became part of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, doubling the space. They even arranged tables and chairs inside, giving it an elegant look.


    Outside, they expanded to the north, amodating even more customers.


    The four shops to the south had attracted some inquiries, but no deals were made as the rental price was slightly higher.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Each shop rented for five taels of silver per month, which meant only sixty taels a year for four shops. She wasn¡¯t short on money.


    She had no interest in being andy for people with such narrow sight who could only see money.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    She had other ns in mind.


    On May 26th, the Lu and Qin families arranged a marriage, and Qiao Mai was invited as a witness.


    She needed to attend Miss Wang¡¯s wedding in September, so Ruyi¡¯s wedding was scheduled for the following spring.


    The day after the engagement, Qiao Mai sent her dowry to the Lu family. When Shopkeeper Lu saw the valuable gift Qiao Mai sent again, she felt awkward and hesitated to continue.


    ¡°Sister, I think I¡¯ll move back to my house from now on. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. What¡¯s the problem? I can¡¯t stop you from returning home. Is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°Ruyi is also going to marry from my house. We know each other well, so there¡¯s no need to make a grand show.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s your daughter¡¯s wedding; you can make the decision.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?


    ¡°Oh,e on. Why would I be angry? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m trying to control you. Besides, there¡¯s so much to do at home. We¡¯re still sowing seeds in the fields.¡±


    ¡°Alright, as long as you¡¯re not upset.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t be happier for your family.¡±


    Qiao Mai left, and Shopkeeper Lu wiped away a few tears. She felt guilty for not appreciating her kindness enough


    At the Qiao residence, Shopkeeper Lu found life morefortable than her own home. Although she wanted to stay, she had to apany Ruxin.


    Since she was alone now, her mood wasn¡¯t great.


    Lu Ruxin had shifted her focus to managing the snack shop. She was often out, buying shops, hiring workers, and teaching them the recipes.


    After sessfully setting up a branch, she would move on to the next.


    She had to follow the clear path her master had pointed out; otherwise, she would waste Qiao Mai¡¯s efforts.


    When Shopkeeper Lu moved back, Liu Ye naturally went along. She had learned embroidery work by now and had a monthly wage of two hundred coins.


    Qiao Mai had inquired from Shopkeeper Tong that Liu Hai was doing well there, handling the workload of two to three people. He was nning to increase his sry soon.


    She smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. Qiao Mai arranged those jobs to watch over them closely to assess their character. Next, she would help them be prosperous.


    The Lu family¡¯s few acres of barrennd wouldn¡¯t be able to prosper just by farming. They needed to engage in trade.


    Ruxin¡¯s business was limited to the county and prefectural cities. Qiao Mai decided to let the Lu family run the cold noodle shop in Tianshui Town. Along with the oil-fried pastries, they would make a decent living, if not wealthy.


    With her shop nearby, many passing traders would rmend after visiting hers. Business would improve in just a few days.


    As for the rent, she would let them make money first and then collect itter.


    Don¡¯t even think about not paying the rent because Qiao Mai owned the property. That was out of the question!


    If they dared to do that, she would send them back to Liushu Town.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned home every month. As soon as he got time off, he packed his belongings and took a horse-drawn carriage from the city gates. Upon arriving home, he went to pay his respects to Old Mister Wang.


    ¡°Respected teacher.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, what have you learned this past month at the academy?¡±


    ¡°Each teacher has their unique insights. Although there have been some mistakes in the answers due to therge number of students, the responses have been quite innovative and beneficial.¡±


    ¡°After all, I am not a traditional teacher. Those teachers have more experience in teaching and know the strengths and weaknesses of each student. You¡¯re learning more there than you would with me.¡±


    ¡°Your teachings are unique in their own way.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Your wife is busy nting seeds in the backyard. Go help out. She¡¯s been working hard.¡± ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi put his belongings aside and changed into work clothes before heading to the backyard.


    Seeing Qiao Mai nting seeds with the maids, the children holding tools and watering, Yuan Jiaqi quickly walked over and took over the task.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take over.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What would you like for lunch? Should I ask the kitchen to prepare?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so hot. Cold noodles sound perfect.¡±


    A maid immediately put down what she was doing and went to the kitchen.


    Qiao Mai sat down on a chair nearby to rest. Yuan Jiaqi carefully ced the sesame-sized seeds into the dug holes and covered them with soil.


    ¡°What are you nning to nt on this five-acre plot?¡±


    ¡°Growing grains or vegetables doesn¡¯t make much profit. I¡¯d rather save the trouble and nt five acres of strawberries.¡±


    ¡°But strawberries are quite delicate, and we often have summer rains.¡±


    ¡°Strawberries are not easy to transport. In the past, they were usually sold by hawkers. This time, we¡¯ll grow them ourselves. By next winter, we¡¯ll also nt an acre of strawberries. By the end of the year, we should be able to sell them for ten taels of silver per pound. As for the rain, I¡¯ll set up some shelters when they grow. If it rains, we can cover them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve nned it all out.¡±


    ¡°Studying isn¡¯t my strong suit, but I¡¯m better at making money.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at the elegant Qiao Mai, her hair neatly tied and adorned with a beautiful essory and white pearl earrings. Her fair skin exuded an aura of vitality. She looked radiant and full of spirit.


    His heart started to beat rapidly again, his face blushing. Yuan Jiaqi lowered his head and continued his work, unable to meet her gaze directly.


    After drinking a few sips of water, Qiao Mai rested for a while. Then, she took some seeds and began nting them side by side with him.


    Strawberry seeds needed to be cultivated first, which took some time before they sprouted. However, she had the spiritual river water, so there was no need for such trouble. Qiao Mai ced sesame-sized seeds in a basin and poured diluted spiritual river water over them. They would sprout in less than two days, and the germination rate would reach ny-nine percent.


    This was the true use of spiritual energy¡ªto stimte growth!


    In one day, they nted the entire five acres and watered it. Many hands made light work.


    During dinner, Mayor Qian and Shopkeeper Lu both came by.


    ¡°Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Mayor, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°There are more and more refugeesing from the south. I don¡¯t have much grain left, so I wanted to ask if you have any surplus grain to spare.¡±


    ¡°Those who fled brought their belongings with them. They can¡¯t keep relying on others for assistance, can they?¡±


    ¡°The imperial court is only sending relief grain to the south. We don¡¯t have any up north.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the government doing anything?¡±


    ¡°Unless the imperial court orders grain distribution, no one dares to open their granaries. That¡¯s a crime punishable by death.¡±


    ¡°How much do you need?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about other towns, but in our town and the sixteen surrounding viges, we¡¯ve arranged for 121 households. Each household needs at least a hundred catties of grain.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s over ten thousand catties.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°All right, I just received the grain from our tenant farmers. After deducting the tax, we still have over ten thousand catties of new grain left fromst year. We can use that. I¡¯ll add more from my house and another five thousand catties.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, there¡¯s no need for so much. Just give me the aged grain fromst year. My family can add more. We can also gather contributions from the wealthy folks in town.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, just say the word. The Qiao family will give you our full support. ¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu chimed in, ¡°I don¡¯t have any farnd, but I¡¯ll donate one hundred taels of silver. You can use it to buy grain.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I¡¯ll cover that.¡±


    ¡°No, I want to donate. It¡¯s my heartfelt contribution. It has nothing to do with you.¡±


    The two started arguing as soon as they saw each other. Qiao Mai shook her head. ¡°Sister Lu, is there something you need?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t received any embroidery from you for a while. I came to ask about it.¡± ¡°You already have five embroiderers, and you¡¯re still thinking about mine?¡±


    ¡°Your work is just that good..¡±</font>

 Chapter 145 - 145: Good Things Can ‘t Be Cheap

    Chapter 145: Good Things Can ¡®t Be Cheap


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai suddenly thought of something and said to her, ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll get you some good stuff. You¡¯ll probably like them.¡±


    Seeing they had something to discuss, Mayor Qian went to see Old Mister Wang.


    It had been long since he had eaten at her house, and he missed it.


    Qiao Mai returned to her room, locked the door, and went into her space.


    She bought ten sets of Horse-face skirts in one go on the online shopping tform. They were all thin and suitable for the current weather.


    Each one was packed in an exquisite box. She carried a stack of boxes back to the front hall.


    Shopkeeper Lu quickly took them and asked, ¡°What are these?¡±


    ¡°Horse-face skirts. We don¡¯t have them here.¡¯


    Shopkeeper Lu opened a box, and Qiao Mai took one out, trying it on the spot. When she saw how exquisite the skirt was, Shopkeeper Lu was overjoyed.


    She carefully touched the skirt with her hand. ¡°The craftsmanship, the stitching, the embroidery¡­ My goodness! How much should I sell these for?¡±


    Coincidentally, Wang Jiaru came over from Old Mistress Wang¡¯s courtyard and was surprised when she saw the Horse-face skirts. ¡°Sister, where did you get these?¡±


    ¡°Never mind where I got them. Do you like them?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re amazing, not to mention the embroidery and stitching. Just finding this fabric is difficult.


    Shopkeeper Lu asked Wang Jiaru, ¡°Sister Ru, how much do you think we can sell them for?¡±


    ¡°At least two thousand taels for one.¡¯


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that too expensive?¡±


    ¡°Scarce items are valuable. Who in the world can make such skirts? Embroider such patterns? Find such fabric?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll sell them for three thousand taels and see if anyone buys them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Good things should not be sold too cheaply.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take them for now. I¡¯ll give you the silverter when I sell them.¡± ¡°Stay for dinner?¡±


    ¡°No, I just had a bowl of dumplings at your ce earlier. I¡¯m full now, so I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu left. Mayor Qian was currently drinking with Old Mister Wang.


    When Qiao Mai arrived, they both had red faces from drinking.


    ¡°Sanniang has left?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s almost dark. Why are you staying here by yourself instead of leaving with her?¡±


    ¡°She might find me annoying. She has everything she needs, especially men who keep bothering her. So, over the years, I only helped her when she asked for it. I rarely took the initiative, fearing she¡¯d find me annoying.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite sentimental!¡±


    ¡°Haha, but I like her this way. Can¡¯t help it.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat down, and Yuan Jiaqi quickly brought a te of dumplings to her.


    ¡°Have some. They¡¯re still warm.¡±


    Wang Jiaru stared at her with shining eyes as she watched Qiao Mai eat dumplings. Afraid she might be thirsty, Wang Jiaru quickly poured a ss of fruit juice for her.


    ¡°Here, sister, have some of this.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Qiao Mai knew she wanted something from her.


    ¡°If you have something to say, spit it out.¡±


    ¡°Those skirts¡­ give me a few? Oh, can you sell me a few?¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°Sell?¡±


    ¡°Or do you want to give it for free?¡±


    They exchanged nces several times before bursting intoughter.


    ¡°After dinner, I¡¯ll see if there are any left. What color do you like?¡±


    ¡°I used to like lighter colors, but now that I¡¯m getting married, I should wear something more elegant.¡± ¡°How about purple?¡±


    ¡°Sure, whatever you think suits me.¡±


    Mayor Qian took a sip of his wine. ¡°This wine is really strong. Where did you get it? Can I buy two jars?¡±


    ¡°Two jars? In your dreams. Madam Qiao made this wine for me. It¡¯s unavable outside. It¡¯s great for me, so she gave me ten jars all at once, sealed and stored to enjoy slowly in the future.¡±


    ¡°Can I buy two jars?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t have enough for myself.¡±


    With a pitiful expression, Mayor Qian turned and said, ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡¯ll buy two jars of your wine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one thousand taels per jar, so two jars will be two thousand.¡±


    ¡°So expensive? Is your wine made of gold?¡±


    ¡°If you think it¡¯s too expensive, don¡¯t buy it!¡±


    One asked her for skirts, and the other asked her for wine. Skirts were easy to deal with since the embroidery was done by machines, and the cost was low. The skirt wasn¡¯t expensive. However, the wine was a different story. It was a globally renowned premium wine, and it took fifteen bottles to fill one jar. The price for a single bottle was equivalent to one hundred taels of silver, so fifteen bottles added up to one thousand five hundred taels. Selling it to him for one thousand taels meant she was still at a loss.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not expensive! I¡¯ll buy it, I¡¯ll buy it! Is that not enough?¡±


    ¡°My products are rare, and you still find them expensive? I almost don¡¯t want to sell them to you. I can¡¯t even cover the cost price.¡±


    Mayor Qian immediately took two silver tickets from his pocket. ¡°Here, will you please move them here for me when you¡¯re done?¡±


    Qiao Mai epted the silver tickets without hesitation. She ate several dumplings in one go, finished the bowl of fruit juice, and was about to leave. Yuan Jiaqi quickly got up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. You can¡¯t carry two jars by yourself.¡±


    The married couple rarely had the opportunity to walk together. Yuan Jiaqi tried to start a conversation with Qiao Mai to chat with her.


    But Qiao Mai was eager to get the items, so she walked fast. When they arrived in the main courtyard, Yuan Jiaqi stopped.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here?¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded and entered the room. She went into her space and bought a hundred bottles of wine on the tform.


    She found two clean jars, opened the bottle caps, and poured the liquor into them.


    One jar held fifteen bottles. She also bought two more Horse-face skirts and two white long-sleeved tops.


    Then she left the space and carried the jars outside. Yuan Jiaqi took one jar in his arms.


    ¡°Wife¡­


    He called her ¡°wife¡± in a voice so soft that he had no confidence. In the past, he had called her ¡°Madam Qiao.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t pay attention. She picked up the other jar with a few boxes underneath her arm.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was secretly pleased. She didn¡¯t refute him when he called her ¡°wife.¡± That was great! He will call her that from now on.


    He will take it slow. One day, she would ept him.


    Yuan Jiaqi hid his thoughts, and they returned to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s courtyard. Mayor Qian saw the liquor jar and immediately got up.


    He signaled to the two guards, ¡°Go and get it.¡±


    Once he got the good wine, he didn¡¯t continue drinking. ¡°Old Master Wang, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯ll drink with you another day?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡±


    Old Master Wang saw him act like he had never seen the world before, clutching the wine in his arms, afraid the guards would drop it.


    As soon as Mayor Qian left, he burst intoughter.


    Only now did he realize this jar of good wine cost more than a thousand taels. This girl was generous to him.


    ¡°Girl, thank you!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. When you¡¯re in my house, it¡¯s like being at your home. You will get anything good first. You¡¯re the hero of my house.¡±


    ¡°Look at you. You know how to talk!¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and handed several boxes to Wang Jiaru. ¡°Take these. They¡¯re different from those ten dresses. The fabric, patterns, and colors are all different.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister!¡±


    She took them and was nearly blinded.


    ¡°Oh my, these skirts are so beautiful! I can¡¯t bear to wear them now. I¡¯ll wear them when I go back to the Capital, okay?¡±


    ¡°These are summer skirts. When I go to the Capital for your wedding, I¡¯ll bring you two sets of winter clothes.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re the best. Come, let¡¯s return to my room and try them on?¡±


    The two held hands and entered the room. Qiao Mai taught her how to wear the skirts and pair them with the tops.


    Then she helped Wang Jiaru change and gave her a new hairstyle, adding the most fashionable hair essories and earrings on Earth.


    When they came out, Old Master and Mistress Wang almost couldn¡¯t recognize her.


    ¡°These clothes are beautiful. How should I put it? They make you look noble and elegant, greatly enhancing your temperament. It¡¯s just too good!¡±


    Wang Jiaru happily hugged Qiao Mai. ¡°Sister, thank you so much. The clothes are so beautiful. I love them!¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°Remember to treat me well when I go to the Capital.


    That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±

 Chapter 146 - 146: Old Mistress Wang, You ‘re Jealous

    Chapter 146: Old Mistress Wang, You ¡®re Jealous


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Old Mistress Wang¡¯s eyes revealed a look of envy; she couldn¡¯tpare to the younger generation.


    Qiao Mai noticed this and thought that when she had free time, she would select a gift for Old Mistress Wang online. This olddy really appealed to her.


    They had somemon ground in conversation and action, so she wanted to be nice to her.


    Looking at her grey hair, Qiao Mai suddenly had an idea. She would buy a natural nt-based hair dye on the tform to dye the olddy¡¯s hair ck. This would instantly make her look younger.


    She would also buy anti-wrinkle and anti-aging skincare products and mix spiritual river water to make her skin radiant and appear even younger.


    But that wasn¡¯t all. If Qiao Mai wanted the elderly couple to be healthier, she would need to add some river water to the water they drank daily.


    Long-term consumption could lead to a longer and healthier life, and their bodies would be stronger.


    She decided to start doing this from tomorrow. She would asionally pour some into the water in the big jar at home so everyone in the Qiao family could benefit.


    On the day Yuan Jiaqi returned to the academy, Qiao Mai prepared a gourd of purified water mixed with the spiritual river and told him to drink it every day, saying it was good for his health.


    Entering June, asional rains from the heavens woulde. Ever since she arrived here, the weather in the northern region had been favorable, with abundant rain.


    Mayor Qian arranged for the disaster-stricken refugees in his jurisdiction and added her deeds to his merit record. No one knew he had this ace up his sleeve. He kept track of who did good deeds and how much silver and grain they donated.


    Themoners all spoke highly of Mayor Qian.


    This year, the Wang family publicly purchasedrge quantities of sweet potatoes and sesame seeds from the farmers, which resulted in a significant increase in the number of households growing these two crops.


    Even the three tenant farmers of the Qiao family started cultivating these crops and signed agreements with the Wang family.


    In the past, sweet potatoes were priced at one tael for two catties. Now, it was sold for two taels per catty. One acre ofnd could yield two to three thousand catties of sweet potatoes, which meant an ie of more than fifty taels. With ten acres ofnd, one could earn over five hundred taels. After taxes, it was still around three hundred taels, enough for themoners to chew on for more than a year. Not growing them would be foolish.


    Then there were sesame seeds. The Wang family purchased them from the farmers for thirty coins per catty. Even if sesame seeds had lower yields, one acre could still produce two hundred catties, not inferior to sweet potatoes, and they were easy to manage.


    For the second season of grain crops, the farmers all switched to sweet potatoes or sesame seeds. The Wang family had brought good news to the people of the Great Ming Dynasty.


    In the south, sweet potatoes and sesame seeds were not suitable for cultivation due to abundant rain, which made these two crops unsuitable for growth.


    Therefore, the Wang family¡¯s workshops were all located in the north. However, the finished products were sold to various parts of the Great Ming Dynasty.


    Since the introduction of vermicelli, rice noodles, sesame paste, and sesame oil, the Wang family¡¯s business has been thriving. Although they were not as famous as the imperial merchants, they didn¡¯t earn any less. The Wang family, however, remained rtively low-profile and didn¡¯t boast about it.


    But observant individuals could still figure it out. They had never imagined that the sweet potatoes eaten bymoners could be turned into such delicious products.


    People were eager to try them and sent people to the Wang family to learn their secrets.


    The Wang family was strict about who they allowed in and closely guarded their production process. Not even a fly could enter.


    For those who wanted to learn their secrets, it was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.


    To put it simply, as long as the Emperor didn¡¯t have the intention, no one else could.


    Although the Wang family profited, one-third of their ie went to the main family in the Capital. With the main branch receiving so much money, how could they not protect them?


    Moreover, because of the Wang family¡¯s recipes and workshops, the ie of themoners had increased, and fewer people were starving. The Emperor couldn¡¯t resent them. He had to praise the Wang family¡¯s efforts.


    After all, the well-being of the people was crucial to the country¡¯s prosperity.


    The emperor wasn¡¯t foolish, and he understood this point. The head of the Wang family was promoted by one rank. The emperor hoped that he would not disappoint him and will continue to work for the welfare of themon folk.


    Wang Zongsheng never expected his unintentional actions would benefit the main branch. They sent five carts of generous gifts to Wang Zongsheng in joy.


    As they say, those who dig wells should not forget those who drink from them. Wang Zongsheng quickly prepared a cart of gifts and sent them to the Qiao family.


    After learning about this, Qiao Mai smiled. When someone is lucky, money flows in effortlessly. Even unintentional actions can lead to promotions.


    It was a stroke of luck.


    After hearing about this, Old Master and Mistress Wang treated Qiao Mai even better, like their own granddaughter.


    Old Mistress Wang even brought her treasured set of amethyst jewelry and delivered it to Qiao Mai.


    Wang Jiaru stayed with the Qiao family for over half a month before leaving.


    They had agreed to meet in the Capital.


    When she left, she hugged Qiao Mai and cried, reluctant to leave.


    After being scolded by Old Mistress Wang, she left crying!


    As soon as she left, Old Mistress Wang began cursing.


    ¡°What an ungrateful girl. I¡¯ve been so good to her, and she didn¡¯t even hug me and cry when she left. You two have only known each other shortly, yet she behaves like this. Heartless little thing!¡±


    ¡°Haha. Grandmother, you¡¯re jealous!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not jealous; I just wanted to scold her. I¡¯m not as skillful as you. She can make her happy and content. Her dependence on you is justified. Don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Ah, her wedding is on the sixteenth of September. Let¡¯s wait until after the fifteenth of August to leave. How about we spend that day at your ce?¡±


    ¡°Wee. We¡¯ll prepare some snacks for you from my house.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll count on you. I can¡¯t stand hardship.¡±


    The two walked hand in hand like good friends. They took the opportunity of sending Wang Jiaru off to go to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    Qiao Mai ordered a ss of passion fruit honey water for the olddy, who looked curiously at the straw.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a disposable straw. You can drink without using a spoon. It¡¯s very convenient. You should try it.¡±


    ¡°This cup is strange too, slim and tall.¡±


    ¡°I ordered it from a porcin workshop. Do you like it?¡±


    ¡°It just feels weird.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡±


    Qiao Mai had the waiter bring a fruit tter. Old Mistress Wang rarely had such a leisurely time, and the two chatted like they had known each other for years as they drank fruit juice, talking andughing.


    From June to August, it was the rainy season in the north. The heavens would asionally send rain, sometimes heavy, sometimes moderate, and sometimes light.


    Rain made people feel rxed. The Qiao family would sit quietly by the half-open windows, enjoying the chill and watching the rain outside.


    Qiao Mai would always take advantage of rainy days to nt her crops in the space.


    As long as the seeds were avable on the tform, she would buy them with money if she had them or sell things to make money.


    Qiao Mai would buy the seeds and nt them in the fields. Her current amount ofnd was about ten million acres.


    Her cultivation had remained at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Ninth Level without any progress. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to cultivate, but she wasn¡¯t sure yet.


    She had thoroughly understood the Alchemy Manual and sold a batch of spiritual herbs and dozens of spiritual river water jars. She umted a batch of spirit stones and bought all the alchemical recipes for the first, second, and third stages from Customer Service.


    She nned to use the rainy season when there was nothing else to do to refine pills. She will adjust to the best condition and prepare all the first-stage spiritual herbs.


    She memorized all the first-stage recipes and repeatedly simted the refining process in her mind, along with the operating procedures and techniques from the alchemy manual.


    After adequate preparation, Qiao Mai stood by the alchemical furnace, waved her hand, and released a red light, cing the alchemical fire under the furnace.


    She preheated the furnace, opened the lid, and added the spiritual herbs in the prescribed order, paying attention to the timing and the liquidation process.


    Then, she used her spiritual consciousness to filter out the residue from the liquid repeatedly.


    Finally, Qiao Mai used the alchemical fire to keep the spiritual liquid¡¯s temperature constant and evaporate the excess water from the liquid. Thest step was to condense the thick spiritual liquid into pills smaller than quail eggs and remove the moisture from each pill.


    To ensure that the pill¡¯s efficacy was good, filtration was the most critical step. The purer the spiritual liquid, the better the efficacy..

 Chapter 147 - 147: Dong Zao Is Exclusively For Her

    Chapter 147 - 147: Dong Zao Is Exclusively For Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It is a simple exnation of pharmacology and what Qiao Mai believes. She understands it well and thoroughly. Her first attempt at alchemy was sessful; she produced eight pills in one furnace.


    Holding the eight snow-white pills in her hand, she put one in her mouth to taste.


    The taste was weird ¨C It melted in her mouth with a medicinal fragrance, slightly sweet, and bitter upon further tasting.


    Next, she tried all the recipes for the first-stage pills.


    The more she practiced, the more skilled she became, and her pills improved. In thest furnace, there were even pill patterns, as described in the book. It was a sign of top-quality pills.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    This was beyond her expectations. Who would have thought a science student specializing in machinery could refine such good medicine?


    Qiao Maiughed heartily and started dancing on the spot.


    She loved DJ music. Even without music, she could dance decently.


    She didn¡¯t let the pills with patterns get to her head. To get a feel for it, she refined pills day and night, all first-stage. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the field had a replication function, her one hundred acres of first-stage spiritual herb field wouldn¡¯t be enough for her to practice.


    As a result, her room was filled with pill bottles.


    When Qiao Mai finally came to her senses, she realized she had been locked in her room for three days. She quickly freshened up,bed her hair, and checked herself in the mirror before leaving the space.


    Outside, she could hear someone calling, ¡°Mistress, are you okay? Make a sound, please! Oh, what should we do? The mistress hasn¡¯te out for three days. I hope nothing¡¯s wrong.¡±


    Qiao Mai responded embarrassedly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief while Ling¡¯er pouted.


    ¡°Mother, you haven¡¯t paid attention to Ling¡¯er for three days. Ling¡¯er missed you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ming!¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the door and saw Ling¡¯er running towards her. She quickly picked her up and held her in her arms.


    ¡°I was reading and lost track of time, and I ended up not sleeping for a day and night. I just woke up.¡±


    ¡°Master, you scared us just now!¡±


    ¡°If something like this happens again, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll be fine. Is everything okay at home these past three days?¡±


    ¡°Everything is fine. The three young masterse to see you every day, but they leave when they see the door is closed.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s my mistake. Let me make it up to them. I¡¯ll prepare some snacks. ¡±


    ¡°Mistress, do we get some too?¡±


    ¡°Of course. All of you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Mistress!¡±


    Qiao Mai had bezy recently. Since she could trade physical items on the tform, she bought most of the food from there.


    The snack she mentioned earlier was ice cream. She had never dared to take it out before.


    Now, she had the confidence to do so. Who would dare to question her?


    Besides, she wasn¡¯t selling it. Her family could enjoy it without any worries.


    After pretending for a while, she suddenly took thirty chocte-vored ice cream cones from the space.


    She unwrapped the packaging, revealing torch-shaped ice creams.


    She arranged them on a big tray and brought it out from the kitchen. ¡°Come on, each of you take one and inform everyone to gather at Old Mistress Wang¡¯s ce. I¡¯ll bring it over there. We should all enjoy these goodies together.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was sitting idle and anxious in her courtyard. She saw Qiao Mai arriving with an unknown item in her hands through the window. She called out to her, ¡°Hey, I was getting bored. You finally showed up.¡±


    Upon entering the room, Qiao Mai ced the tray on the table by the heated brick bed. ¡°Old Mistress Wang, try this. It¡¯s really delicious.¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called ice cream. It¡¯s cool. When you eat it, don¡¯t take big bites, and don¡¯t overeat.¡±


    The olddy had her servant clean her hands and picked up one. ¡°Sweet and cool?¡±


    ¡°The one you¡¯re holding is made with a waffle cone, and inside is fresh milk and special sugar.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled!¡±


    In no time, everyone arrived. The servants took one and left. Old Master Wang brought the three children, and each held one.


    He would try anything Qiao Mai made; they all tasted delicious.


    This chocte-vored ice cream is universally loved. Everyone who tries it enjoys it. It brings joy to all who taste it.


    Children especially loved it. After finishing one, they kept looking at the tray.


    ¡°Mother, can we have one more?¡± ¡°Sure, but no more than three each.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s have it another day; today¡¯s weather isn¡¯t great. We¡¯ll wait for a sunny day. It will be even more delightful to enjoy it then.¡±


    ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll wait for better weather to enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not good to eat such good things every day. Otherwise, they¡¯ll be ordinary.¡±


    While chatting, a servant holding half an ice cream cone stood at the door. ¡°Master, there¡¯s news from the Windforest Academy. They want you toe to the City Wei. Master Yuan has been injured and is currently at Mingren Medical


    Hall in East Second Street.¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately stood up. Chuan¡¯er called out to her.


    ¡°Mother, I want to go too!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s drizzling outside. If you go, Mom would have to prepare a carriage, which would waste time. Besides, they said it was just an injury, not a life-threatening situation. Mom can ride a horse and get there faster. You stay home and be good, okay? Listen to me.¡± ¡°Alright, Mom, please take care on your way!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your dad will be fine.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked to the door and reminded one more time, ¡°Don¡¯t leave the ice cream. It will melt.¡±


    Then she left the room, found an empty spot, and summoned Dong Zao from the space.


    The horse at home had been reced with another one. Dong Zao was for her exclusive use.


    As soon as it appeared, it neighed as if saluting its master. Qiao Mai mounted it, urged it on, and smacked its rear.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to Wei City. Hurry.¡±


    Dong Zao seemed to understand everything. Like a streak of lightning, it raced out of the Qiao residence and onto the official road toward the south.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing better now. Your speed has increased quite a bit since you¡¯ve been in the space.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, Dong Zao sneezed as if responding to its master.


    Half an hourter, Qiao Mai arrived at the city gate of Wei City.


    All the way, she kept thinking about why Yuan Jiaqi got injured. Most likely, it had something to do with that young man from the Feng family.


    During this time, she had been preupied with managing her space and refining pills,pletely forgetting about him. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s misfortune was her fault.


    Once she entered the city, she left her horse in her space and walked to the medical hall.


    Inside, she saw a man lying on a bed. Based on the clothing and figure, it was undoubtedly Yuan Jiaqi.


    She walked closer and sat down on a chair next to the bed.


    Yuan Jiaqi opened his eyes and saw her. ¡°Why did youe so quickly?¡± ¡°I can¡¯te quickly on horseback?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask the academy to notify you, but they did anyway. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve lost an arm or a leg; there are just a few injuries. They stitched me up and bandaged it. After a little rest, I can return to the academy.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. After ss, I was walking through the corridor, and someone grabbed me, saying I had stared at him. Then they started hitting me. I¡¯m usually not at a disadvantage in martial arts, but more and more people jumped me, and I ended up like this.¡±


    ¡°How did the academy handle it?¡±


    ¡°They suspended the troublemakers from sses, and I heard they called their parents. They said they wouldpensate me with some silver. It¡¯s currently being dealt with.¡±


    ¡°Let me ask you, did that kid from the Feng family attend sses at the academy?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen him twice, but he always avoided me, so I didn¡¯t pay much attention.¡±


    ¡°I see. That guy is a coward. Leave it to me. It¡¯s the end of the month now; you cane home to recover. I¡¯ll bring you back to the academy at the beginning of next month to see how they handle it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, the academy said the same thing just now.¡±


    Qiao Mai patted his arm and thought about the first-grade healing pills she had just refined.


    ¡°Open your mouth.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi obediently opened his mouth, and Qiao Mai fed him a pill. Then she stood up.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to hire a carriage. We¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±</font>

 Chapter 148 - 148: This Grudge Can ‘t Be Left Overnight

    Chapter 148 - 148: This Grudge Can ¡®t Be Left Overnight


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Not long after, the carriage arrived. It wasfortably furnished with severalyers of thick cushions.


    Qiao Mai lifted him with a princess carry. At that moment, Yuan Jiaqi blushed bright red, quickly closing his eyes, afraid someone might see this scene.


    Once they were on the carriage, she turned to the doctor from the medical hall and informed him that the academy had already paid the expenses. Then she settled in the carriage, sitting cross-legged beside him. After Yuan Jiaqi took the pill, he felt an itch in the injured area.


    ¡°What¡¯s this medicine?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for treating your wounds. I helped a monk on my way out, and this is his repayment.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°It seems to be working. The pain is not as bad.¡±


    ¡°Yes, as long as it¡¯s effective!¡±


    The carriage made its way slowly, and it was already dark when they reached Tianshui Town. Qiao Mai gave some silver to the coachman and told him to find an inn.


    At the entrance of Lucky Garden, Yuan Jiaqi wanted to walk in by himself, but


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t listen. She princess-carried him all the way into her courtyard.


    Chuan¡¯er had been waiting for him. When he saw his father in such a state, tears welled up in his eyes.


    ¡°Father, how are you?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face turned red. After Qiao Mai ced him on the heated brick bed, he reached out and wiped away a tear from Chuan¡¯er¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Why are you crying? Father just had a little fall and scraped some skin. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°But why did Mother carry you inside?¡±


    ¡°Well, your mother was worried I might start bleeding again.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er was still young, and seeing his father able to talk and move his limbs made him feel relieved.


    He finally rxed. ¡°Father, are you hungry? I¡¯ll go to the kitchen and get you something to eat.¡±


    ¡°Your mother hasn¡¯t eaten either.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll get a portion for two.¡±


    ¡°Just one portion is fine. Your father is fine. I need to check on Ling¡¯er. I¡¯ll eat in her room.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have the kitchen send it to Mother¡¯s courtyard.¡±


    Qiao Mai left, and it took Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face some time to return to its usual color.


    Thinking about how Qiao Mai, a petite woman, had lifted him like a box, he felt his face burning with embarrassment.


    s, he was utterly useless as a schr.


    After all these years of training with his son, he had no improvement. He was even weaker than a child.


    Even Chuan¡¯er didn¡¯t seem to have the potential for martial arts. In front of Qiao Mai and the twins, they appeared as fragile as leaves in the wind.


    Qiao Mai returned to her backyard, checked on Ling¡¯er, gave some instructions to Yue Hong and Yue Xia, then disappeared into the night.


    Feng Yinshi dared to touch someone she protected. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t let this grudge linger overnight. It had to be settled immediately.


    She ran at full speed. The trees around her blurred like in a fast-motion film. After an hour, she arrived breathless under City Wei¡¯s city walls.


    The city walls were higher and sturdier than those of the county. City guards were patrolling, and the discipline was stricter here.


    However, none of this would hinder her entry.


    After resting for a while, Qiao Mai crossed the city wall and arrived at the


    Windforest Academy.


    The day after tomorrow was supposed to be the academy¡¯s break. Students who lived close to home would leave in the afternoon, while those from far away would depart early the next morning.


    Qiao Mai searched through each courtyard. At this time, it wasn¡¯t yet bedtime, and many students were still studying by candlelight.


    It didn¡¯t take her long to find that scoundrel, Feng Yinshi, looking pleased with himself.


    With a flick of her wrist, several stones simultaneously hit the candles. The room plunged into darkness.


    She darted in during this momentary gap, wielding a thick stick to strike Feng Yinshi¡¯s leg.


    Feng Yinshi couldn¡¯t stop screaming. When the others relit the candle, they saw him clutching his leg and howling in pain. They hurriedly came over to inquire.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°My leg¡­ My leg!¡±


    Terrified, the other students rushed to find the teacher on duty. Qiao Mai stood on the roof, snorted coldly, and leaped away.


    Back home, she quietly checked on Yuan Jiaqi. Both father and son were asleep. The others in the Qiao family were also asleep.


    After entering her room, she brewed herself a pot of tea.


    With the force she used, it was no doubt that Feng Yinshi¡¯s leg was broken. Not only was the lower leg fractured, but a part of it was also shattered.


    Even if he recovered, walking would be difficult, and it would be unlikely to see him on any sessful career path.


    She had wanted to kill him, but Yuan Jiaqi was still studying there. If someone died, it would tarnish the academy¡¯s reputation.


    In a way, that scoundrel was lucky!


    After being rushed to the clinic, the doctor examined Feng Yinshi and made a diagnosis.


    The boy had aminuted fracture of his shinbone. Upon hearing this, Feng Yinshi¡¯s eyes went dark, and he fainted.


    Right after divorcing Lu Ruxin, he married a wealthy merchant¡¯s daughter. Then, he immediately brought his beloved woman into his home to be his concubine.


    He turned a deaf ear to the Lu family¡¯s words and left his home for the Windforest Academy as soon as the term began. He only stayed at home for three days after the wedding.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s guess was correct. It was Feng Yinshi who had done this. He conspired with several school bullies to beat Yuan Jiaqi.


    He didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble in Tianshui Town, but he felt that the academy was his domain and could do whatever he wanted there.


    When he found that he was crippled, he regretted it bitterly.


    The academy was known throughout Wei City and was one of the most prestigious in the country.


    They investigated the incident with Yuan Jiaqi thoroughly. Still, before they could find out what had happened, Feng Yinshi had been injured.


    However, this minor incident didn¡¯t pose a significant threat to the academy. Most of the school¡¯s teachers had a prominent background.


    They weren¡¯t afraid of offending anyone to investigate thoroughly. As for Feng Yinshi, he was temporarily housed in the clinic.


    Three dayster, Feng Yinshi¡¯s involvement in instigating the attack on Yuan Jiaqi was exposed, leading to his expulsion from the academy.


    However, the case of him getting beaten up remained unresolved.


    Feng Yinshi imed that the Qiao family had done it, but after an investigation by the local authorities, they ignored him.


    Yuan Jiaqi, who couldn¡¯t move, had already returned to Tianshui Town the same day. This information was confirmed at every city gate, and a coachman provided testimony.


    The Qiao family couldn¡¯t have flown to the academy tomit the crime. Feng Yinshi had brought his crippled leg upon himself.


    As his leg was ruined, the authorities didn¡¯t punish him heavily. They revoked his official prospects and had someone escort him back home.


    Regarding thex supervision at the academy and the consecutive injuries to students, there should have been some responsibility on the school¡¯s part. Thepensation money was given to Yuan Jiaqi.


    Feng Yinshi essentially dug his own grave.


    With his leg injured and his official prospects ruined, he had only himself to me.


    His title had been revoked as per Wang Zongsheng¡¯s orders. Every mention of the Qiao family made him particrly sensitive.


    Feeling that such a good family as the Qiaos was bullied, he felt deeply remorseful. That¡¯s why he had Feng Yinshi¡¯s title revoked. Now, Feng Yinshi was crying bitterly at home.


    After he exined the situation to Madam Feng, she was so angry that she wanted to beat him.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t focus on your studies and deliberately picked fights with others. Why would you do that? Revenge is best served after ten years, and you could have taken action once you became an official. Look at you now. You¡¯ve lost everything!¡±


    ¡°I was wrong!¡±


    The newlywed wife and the concubine, who had just been brought into the family, lowered their heads and wiped their tears quietly. They had just entered the family, and now their husband had lost his position and legs. How would they face the future?


    File aint? They wouldn¡¯t get past Wang Zongsheng¡¯s office. Where could they file aint?


    The investigation at the Windforest Academy made it clear that it was the Qiao family who had carried out the attack. So, what can they do when they start it first?


    They deserved it!


    As long as the Wang family remains in the prefectural city, this ce is under their control. The Feng family can¡¯t touch the Qiao family at all.


    Even in the county, they can¡¯t act as they please.


    They could only bear their mistakes patiently and hope for a better future..</font>

 Chapter 149 - 149: I Thought He Couldn’t Get It Up

    Chapter 149 - 149: I Thought He Couldn¡¯t Get It Up


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai also didn¡¯t expect the pill to work so well. In a day, Yuan Jiaqi could get out of bed on his own.


    On the second day, she gave him another pill, and his injuries werepletely healed.


    Yuan Jiaqi found it unbelievable that Qiao Mai had such excellent medicine in her possession.


    He couldn¡¯t mention it, fearing it might bring her trouble.


    During these days at home, Qiao Mai cooked for him, stocked up on nourishing foods, and took great care of his body.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    As soon as sses started, he left without letting Qiao Mai apany him. He didn¡¯t want to dy his studies for even a day; he was obsessed with learning.


    Once he left, the olddy pulled Qiao Mai aside.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on between you two?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I noticed you don¡¯t live together. This isn¡¯t how a married couple should behave.¡±


    Qiao Mai finally understood what Old Mistress Wang was asking.


    ¡°Jiaqi and I are a fake couple. When he and Chuan¡¯er were in dire straits, they sought refuge with me. I hadn¡¯t considered remarrying but agreed and took him in.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was wide-eyed and surprised. ¡°You two are quite something! I thought he couldn¡¯t get it up.¡±


    Qiao Mai blushed and scolded her, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a good person. Why not make the marriage real?¡± ¡°Now is not the time. Once he bes an official and still remains loyal, I¡¯ll consider it. I don¡¯t want unnecessaryplications.¡±


    ¡°He looks good and studies well. At the Capital, there¡¯s a high chance he¡¯ll be a son-inw of some prestigious family.¡±


    ¡°The Capital has many talented and beautiful women. I¡¯ll only be at ease if he can resist temptation and staymitted.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but what if he changes his mind?¡±


    ¡°He has never confessed to me. There¡¯s only friendship between us. So there¡¯s no question of changing his mind or not. If he ever falls for someone, pays back what he owes me all these years, and decides to leave, I won¡¯t make things difficult for him.


    ¡°You¡¯re magnanimous!¡±


    ¡°A good man is not in short supply. There¡¯s no need to fixate on one flower, is there?¡±


    ¡°But what if you develop feelings?¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s expression became stern, ¡°Then I¡¯ll cut the mess and let go. I¡¯d rather be happy and get rid of the pain.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at her and nodded with approval. ¡°You¡¯re doing great. There are too few women in this world like you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like being immersed in love stories all day long. Life has many precious things to cherish. If you meet something good, cherish it. If it¡¯s not meant to be, let go quickly. There¡¯s no need for excessive entanglement, which only brings trouble and sorrow.¡±


    ¡°Very well said. But regarding your parents, I also need to remind you.¡± ¡°Old Mistress Wang, please go on.¡±


    ¡°In our Great Ming Dynasty, filial piety and ethics are highly regarded. Your behavior, disowning them and denying them, is quite severe. It might be fine for you, but when Jiaqi bes an official, he might face criticism.¡±


    ¡°His family is also like that.¡±


    ¡°So, his future career may not be very smooth.¡±


    ¡°Then please ask the Emperor to modify thews, remove the disowning family use, and abolish the term ¡®human trafficking.¡¯ Otherwise, it¡¯s just nder.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the Emperor is far away and may not know the details. It¡¯s just someone else¡¯s words, and he may listen.¡±


    ¡°Take it step by step. If Yuan Jiaqi returns to his family due to this issue, we¡¯ll go our separate ways. I¡¯d rather be an inconspicuous vige woman than do something against my conscience.¡±


    ¡°Easy to say, hard to do.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised her chest proudly, ¡°Others may not, but I can do it! I¡¯d rather die than go against my heart. I won¡¯t force it if it¡¯s not what I want.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at Qiao Mai saying this. For some reason, her nose tingled. She felt moved and a bit envious.


    After Yuan Jiaqi left for the Windforest Academy, his teacher gave him five hundred taels ot silver torpensation.


    ¡°The academy ispensating you with one hundred taels. Those students who bullied you are each fined one hundred taels. In total, it¡¯s five hundred taels. Keep it well. They¡¯ve been suspended for half a year, and if they repeat their offenses, they won¡¯t be allowed back into the academy.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi bowed. ¡°Thank you, Teacher. Thank you, Academy!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I have high hopes for you. Are you nning to take the imperial examination next year?¡±


    ¡°I have that intention.¡±


    ¡°Then study diligently. Due to your situation, we have arranged for guards, and such bullying incidents won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    The teacherforted him and left. His dormitory mates gathered around him.


    ¡°Jiaqi, you¡¯ve turned misfortune into blessings.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, we¡¯re benefiting from you. Now there¡¯s a guard assigned to each dormitory, and there won¡¯t be any more bullying incidents in school.¡±


    ¡°What do we do? I have to go home during the break. With five hundred taels, I won¡¯t be able to treat you guys.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi had been here for two months now and had made friends. His dormitory mates were supportive.


    If it weren¡¯t for their timely intervention and discovery, Yuan Jiaqi might have ended up with broken bones. They also sent him to the medical hall.


    So, he was grateful to them.


    If it weren¡¯t for his status as a live-in husband, he would have invited them to his home.


    Not that he felt embarrassed about his status, but he didn¡¯t want to burden Qiao Mai.


    His status was known to his ssmates, so nobody teased him about inviting them to his home or expecting him to treat them.


    They all understood that life as a live-in husband was not easy. One could say that they sympathized with him!


    This year, the north also experienced abundant rainfall, possibly due to the floods in the south.


    asionally, there would be rain showers. They often urred at night, which made Qiao Mai feel uneasy. She searched online for information but didn¡¯t find any good or bad news.


    However, she came across a statement that caught her attention. If rain frequently urs, it¡¯s advisable to pay close attention to any unusual events.


    Typically, heavy rainfall can coincide with earthquakes and droughts during certain periods.


    This made her nervous. She quickly entered her space and exchanged all the herbs on the ground for spirit stones, specifically high-quality ones. Foundation Establishment Pills were second-tier Dills. and to DreDare for Foundation Establishment, she needed to have a good supply of them.


    Reaching the second tier was much more challenging than the first, and the number of herbs required was doubled.


    However, it wasn¡¯t difficult as long as she understood the principles. It was mostly about adjusting the dosage.


    As long as Qiao Mai¡¯s spiritual power could keep up, creating second-tier pills was not a problem.


    Indeed, it took a bit more effort this time, but eventually, she sessfully made the first batch of second-tier pills.


    Although they didn¡¯t have any patterns, the quality was excellent. She put the eight Foundation Establishment pills in a bottle.


    That wasn¡¯t her goal. She aimed to create pills with patterns. She continued her efforts, one batch after another, and finally seeded in producing high-quality Foundation Establishment pills with patterns.


    As she approached her seclusion, Qiao Mai had made all the necessary arrangements with the outside world, so she didn¡¯t need to rush.


    After cleaning herself up, she began her meditation to replenish her energy.


    Half a dayter, she opened her eyes, took a Foundation Establishment Pill from a jade bottle, and swallowed it. With a wave of her hand, she had all the middle-grade spirit stones surrounding her.


    She was ready to begin building her foundation. She activated her cultivation technique and saw spiritual energy spiraling from above, entering her body. She guided it to widen her meridians and purify her body.


    Although Qiao Maicked experience, she had read enough books on the subject to have a general idea of the process.


    Inspired by the image of Guanyin sitting on a lotus, she decided to shape her foundation like a lotus flower. When she reaches the Nascent Soul Realm, her spiritual energy will form a lotus tform, and her spiritual roots will transform into a Nascent Soul, which is a beneficialbination.


    Within her Dantian, three types of spiritual energy¡ªgold, red, and green¡ª flowed in without mixing, each creating its unique world.


    One day passed, then two, three, until finally, a beautiful tri-colored spiritual tform was sessfully constructed.


    Green represented the leaves, gold the petals, and red the stamen. The tform was exquisite.


    On top of it was a cloud-like substance Qiao Mai believed to be the manifestation of spiritual energy turning into mist. At this moment, she had just entered the Foundation Building Realm..</font>

 Chapter 150 - 150: Only a Ghost Would Believe You

    Chapter 150 - 150: Only a Ghost Would Believe You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    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.


    Stretchingzily, 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 ces without spiritual energy.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    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 nned 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, ¡°Inws, 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 schr 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 Vige.


    ¡°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 Vige.¡±


    The two practically ran to Peach Blossom Vige. They first asked the vigers, and everyone said that Qiao Mai had buried the child in the destend behind the vige and left alone.


    They then inquired with the vige chief, who confirmed the same story. Finally, they went to the Tian family, and even there, they received the same exnation.


    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 vige.¡±


    ¡°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 vige 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 resemnce 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 toe 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 ce.


    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 ying 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 olddy¡¯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 thepensation 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 ssmates 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 orter. She didn¡¯t want to act as a messenger..</font>

 Chapter 151 - 151: Save Some Energy by Lazing Around

    Chapter 151 - 151: Save Some Energy by Lazing Around


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Every time Yuan Jiaqi returns home, he spends two days with Old Master Wang discussing various topics.


    Thanks to Old Master and Mistress Wang¡¯s teachings, the children of the Qiao family are well-behaved and not inferior to the young masters of wealthy households.


    In fact, they are even better in many ways. At the very least, they exercise in the morning and can be considered well-rounded individuals.


    The three children of the Qiao family are exceptionally obedient and filial. Despite their young age, they are caring towards their family members, making them feel warm inside.


    The strawberries nted at the end of May yielded a good crop because of Qiao Mai¡¯s diligent watering.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    As a result, they attracted the attention of wealthy individuals as soon as they were put on sale at the Moon Festival.


    Fresh,rge, and tender red strawberries were incredibly appetizing. Shopkeeper Niu took the initiative to set the price at five taels of silver per 500 grams.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind and picked a basin of strawberries for Old Mistress Wang and another for the children, treating them like feeding piglets.


    ¡°Come, eat strawberries! They¡¯ve just been picked. They¡¯re delicious!¡±


    Ling¡¯er took one in each hand. Strawberries, being fruits, were considered royalty, and no one didn¡¯t love to eat them.


    The ones the Qiao family grew exuded a creamy fragrance and were truly delicious.


    Shopkeeper Niu put two baskets on disy, each ten kilograms. This amounted to a hundred taels of silver in revenue, which was pure profit.


    Everyone in the Qiao family, including Shopkeeper Niu and the assistants, had a taste, which was a testament to Qiao Mai¡¯s generosity. If they had nted grains, they would have earned a maximum of six taels per acre, only thirty taels for five acres. However, by nting strawberries, they had made several times more with just twenty pounds.


    They admired their household head, who had the ability and courage. Following such a boss allowed them to enjoy the fruits of theirbor.


    Old Mistress Wang loved the strawberries. She sat alone with arge basin of strawberries and ate almost half of it in one go.


    The rest was distributed to the maids and servants who attended to her. One good thing about the Qiao family was that the servants could enjoy whatever the masters ate.


    Qiao Mai was now feeling rxed. She had also reached the Foundation Establishment Realm and could refine second-tier pills. She had over ten million acres ofnd in her space,ing close to twenty million.


    She was preparing for the festival, and luckily, she had a preservation space. She could make things in advance, and when the time came, they would still be as fresh as if they had juste out of the oven. Otherwise, she would have been exhausted.


    As she had more rtives and friends each year, she had to prepare more New Year¡¯s gifts.


    So this year, she decided to make mooncakes and buy some from the tform to save effort.


    On July 31st, Yuan Jiaqi left. On August 5th, Qiao Mai began making mooncakes.


    She made at least three pots of mooncakes every day, let them cool down, and then stored them in the wooden boxes she had ordered in the space.


    She also bought snow-skinned mooncakes, crystal mooncakes, and ky pastry mooncakes from the tform. She purchased several servings of each


    variety she found delicious and visually appealing.


    She then picked a lot of fruits from her space. There were five types of fruits, each in a basket containing ten pounds, three boxes of homemade mooncakes, and three boxes of purchased mooncakes. One set went to the Lu family, one to the Wang family in the Capital, one to the carpenter Qin¡¯s family, and one to Yuan Jiaqi for his friends and teachers.


    Qiao Mai also prepared a few more sets just in case someone visited during the festival and she needed to reciprocate.


    Thest pile was for their consumption. It was better than what she had prepared for any other family, with eight or nine types of fruit alone, not to mention the mooncakes.


    She kept busy until the tenth day of the month. By this time, she had started receiving festival gifts.


    The carpenter¡¯s family sent two boxes of mooncakes and a basket of eggs. The Lu family also sent many gifts, and even Mayor Qian sent some. They probably wanted to send gifts early to avoid being outshined, which would be embarrassing.


    The next day, she sent the festival gifts to various families.


    Qiao Mai prepared two sets for the Wang family, one for the old couple and one for Wang Zongsheng. Even though Wang Jiaru wasn¡¯t present, she had to send him a gift.


    The olddy was delighted to receive these gifts. She had a sweet tooth and couldn¡¯t stop indulging in all kinds of mooncakes.


    The fruits were even more to her liking, bringing her more happiness than gold, silver, or jewelry.


    On August 13th, Qiao Mai drove a cart filled with gifts to the Capital.


    When she arrived to deliver the gifts to Wang Zongsheng, he came out to receive her without any pretense. This gave Qiao Mai respect.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, it¡¯s the Moon Festival. I won¡¯t be going to the Qiao family. Could you take care of my parents?¡±


    ¡°Will you be attending Miss Wang¡¯s wedding?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I won¡¯t be going with all of you. I can ride a horse quickly, or it would dy a month of official business.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go ahead of you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll trouble Madam Qiao along the way.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re too polite.¡±


    Qiao Mai watched as the items were unloaded from the cart. After giving a polite bow to Wang Zongsheng, she got back into her carriage and left.


    Wang Zongsheng sighed. If he had let Madam Qiao manage the workshop, it would have benefited the nation and the people. The Wang family wouldn¡¯t have had any issues. This time, they owed Madam Qiao a significant favor.


    At the entrance of the Windforest Academy, Qiao Mai got off the carriage and knocked on the gate.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m a family member of your academy¡¯s student, Yuan Jiaqi. I¡¯vee to deliver something to him.¡±


    The gatekeeper was aware of this arrangement. Yuan Jiaqi had informed them in advance.


    ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll call him.¡±


    After closing the side gate, it didn¡¯t take long for Yuan Jiaqi to arrive, apanied by several younger students.


    ¡°How are you all?¡±


    ¡°Oh, is this Sister-inw? Hello, Sister-inw!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s dormitory friends stared at Qiao Mai, and Yuan Jiaqi gave each of them a knock on the head.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move the stuff. First, take these back to the dormitory, and I¡¯ll distribute themter.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Sister-inw, can we visit your home?¡±


    ¡°Of course. My husband¡¯s friends are my friends. You¡¯re all wee to visit our home.¡±


    ¡°In that case, we¡¯lle over during the New Year. You won¡¯t mind ourmotion, will you?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. When youe, I¡¯ll prepare delicious food for you.¡¯ ¡°Sister-inw, you¡¯re amazing. We¡¯ll thank you in advance.¡±


    Seeing them, Yuan Jiaqi raised his foot to give them a little nudge.


    ¡°Hurry up and move. My wife is an excellent cook. If you don¡¯t work, you won¡¯t get to eat.¡±


    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll move it.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi watched as they begrudgingly moved the items. One of the boxes was still in Qiao Mai¡¯s hands.


    She handed it to the gatekeeper and said, ¡°These are mooncakes I made. I hope you like them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, do I get some too?¡± The gatekeeper was delighted.


    ¡°Of course.¡¯


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The gatekeeper epted the mooncakes. Yuan Jiaqi watched as Qiao Mai attended to every detail. He couldn¡¯t find any faults, and whenever he saw her, he felt a profound sense of happiness.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve worked hard, making this trip from afar just to deliver these gifts. ¡±


    ¡°It was convenient to deliver them while visiting Wang Zongsheng. Do you know about our trip to the Capital?¡±


    ¡°Old Master Wang told me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of the children and make sure they get to see the world while we¡¯re there. Everything will be fine, so focus on your studies here.¡±


    ¡°I trust you to handle things. When do you n to leave?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave on the 18th, arrive in the Capital at the beginning of the month, stay for over half a month, and probably return home by the end of September.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I leave the children in your care.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already made arrangements at home. You can withdraw the money from


    Shopkeeper Niu when needed.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sucked in a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t see you off.¡±


    The two exchanged a few more words before Qiao Mai left. After she was gone, the gatekeeper looked at Yuan Jiaqi with a smile.


    ¡°You are such a loving couple, talking for so long.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. He did want to be affectionate, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t give him the opportunity, and he wasn¡¯t skilled in sweet talk.


    When they met and talked, they always discussed business matters. After they finished discussing, Yuan Jiaqi watched as Qiao Mai left.


    He was also worried.. Who would teach him how to be more affectionate?</font>

 Chapter 152 - 152: Give Before You Can Receive

    Chapter 152 - 152: Give Before You Can Receive


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the Moon Goddess Festival, the Qiao family was packed with people. When Qiao Mai returned from the Capital, she brought back a whole cartload of fruits, which sold out quickly.


    Strawberries were ten taels per pound. The wealthy didn¡¯t even blink before buying them. Watermelons were eight hundred coins each, and nobody haggled. The fruits were not cheap, but the shelves were empty by nightfall.


    Even the bowls used to serve small snacks were cleaned out.


    Shopkeeper Niu calcted the earnings for the day. They had made eight hundred taels of silver, mostlying from the strawberries.


    Good things sell well. The money from the wealthy flowed like a strong wind. They bought whatever they fancied, truly enviable.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    In the evening, the Qiao family set up several tables ¨C one for the family and three for the servants. The dishes on each table were identical, and everyone celebrated together with great joy.


    On the other side, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s celebration was lively. Students couldn¡¯t go home during the Moon Goddess Festival, so many families sent them various goodies.


    Among them, Yuan Jiaqi had the best treats in his dormitory.


    That day, he gave some of the treats to his teacher and kept some for himself.


    His teacher was delighted with the mooncakes and fruits he received. After tasting them, he felt this student¡¯s gift was the most heartfelt.


    On the Moon Goddess Festival night, a few close friends in his dormitory set up a big table. Each ordered two different dishes from the kitchen, making it ten dishes.


    Following Qiao Mai¡¯s example, Yuan Jiaqi squeezed fruit juice and arranged Qiao Mai¡¯s mooncakes on a small te, turning the fruits into a fruit tter.


    One mischievous friend secretly took a bite of a mooncake.


    ¡°Hmm, these mooncakes are so delicious.¡±


    ¡°Of course, my wife makes the best ones.¡±


    ¡°Even the famous restaurant from the Qian family doesn¡¯t make mooncakes as delicious as these. I feel like this te won¡¯t be enough for me.¡±


    ¡°Just taste it. Are you treating it like a full meal? Are you not going to eat anything elseter?¡±


    ¡°If I can have my fill with these mooncakes, why eat anything else?¡±


    As he reached out to take another one, everyone grabbed him and pulled him away.


    These mooncakes are naturally delicious. Qiao Mai¡¯s mooncakes were made with water from the spiritual river, and the ones she bought from the tform were high-tech. While they didn¡¯t have the same texture as those made with spiritual river water, they were still incredibly delicious.


    Dinner at Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s ce was more of a yful struggle involving wrestling and bickering.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t actual fighting.


    The next day, Qiao Mai packed their luggage, starting with the children. She kept it simple, taking only a change of clothes.


    She had one small box for herself, and her clothes were packed into a small box. When traveling, it was best to bring just money and nothing else. The more they carried, the heavier the burden.


    However, Old Mistress Wang was different. She was older and needed clothes, gifts, andmon medicines for the journey. It was troublesome. There were also many servants and guards who each had to bring something.


    The carriages were filled to the brim. It was no wonder they would take ten days on the road. With such arge group, they couldn¡¯t travel quickly.


    This time, Qiao Mai brought four children with her, along with Yuan Hong and Yuan Xia. She left everyone else behind.


    As for snacks, she had herself and her shopping tform. What couldn¡¯t she get?


    So, she didn¡¯t bring anything, just seven people and seven boxes.


    She had prepared two dresses for Miss Wang in her space.


    The gifts were given to her, so there was no need to prepare them again.


    When the children learned they were going on a long journey, they were so excited that they couldn¡¯t sleep at night. They followed Qiao Mai, asking questions every day.


    Qiao Mai had bought seven sling bags online and handed them to the children.


    ¡°Here, one for each of you. You can put snacks and other things in them; they are convenient.¡±


    The three brothers had medium-sized sling bags, while Ling¡¯er had a small one. Yue Hong, Yue Xia, and she hadrge ones.


    Ling¡¯er stared at her bag, her brothers¡¯ bags, and then back at her own. ¡°Mother, I want to carry one like my brothers.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still too young. When you grow bigger, I¡¯ll make you a bigger one.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you have a big appetite. With your small stature, carrying such a big bag looks odd.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll eat more and grow faster.¡±


    Before leaving, Qiao Mai stocked up the store and stored everything in the warehouse. Shopkeeper Niu had the keys and could help himself.


    There wasn¡¯t much else to instruct, so she visited the olddy. The preparations were almostplete as well.


    The family had three carriages, which were not enough. Qiao Mai had arranged to hire two more carriages at a high price.


    One carriage was for their family, one for the Wang family, and one for the Wang family¡¯s servants. Guards rode horses, and two carriages were loaded with goods trailing behind them.


    The next morning, when the hired carriages arrived, they ate with everyone before loading the stuff.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s maids helped, and soon, the carriages were packed.


    The olddy looked at her husband with a disapproving look.


    The olddy changed her mind at thest minute and kicked Old Master Wang out of the carriage.


    Helpless, Qiao Mai gave some instructions to her three children. With Ling¡¯er, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia, she got on Old Mistress Wang¡¯s carriage.


    The stores along the official road were not open yet, but the Qiao family¡¯s carriages were already on the road, slowly heading south.


    At this pace, traveling two hundred miles daily was considered good.


    Old Mistress Wang opened the curtains and looked at the scenery outside, feeling aplex mix of happiness and mncholy. ¡°Girl, I haven¡¯t been back to the Capital in decades.¡±


    ¡°Your family is from the Capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes. At my age, my parents are no longer alive. I have three elder brothers and one elder sister. I¡¯m the youngest, and they all loved and spoiled me. Since I¡¯m going to the Capital this time, I want to visit them.¡±


    ¡°Old Mistress Wang, let¡¯s make it clear in advance; I¡¯m just a countrywoman who doesn¡¯t know anything. I won¡¯t be apanying you.¡± ¡°countrywoman(e on, don¡¯t be modest. A countrywoman wno can read and write? Who can practice martial arts? Who can cook various delicacies?


    What else don¡¯t you know?¡±


    ¡°There are plenty of things I don¡¯t know. I learned martial arts so I wouldn¡¯t be bullied, I learned to read and write so I wouldn¡¯t be deceived, and I learned to cook because I have a big appetite.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Ling¡¯er took a paper bag from her bag and handed it to the olddy. From inside, she pinched a piece of dried meat.


    ¡°Great-grandmother, have some. It¡¯s fragrant and delicious.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang opened her mouth and epted her great-granddaughter¡¯s offering, her eyes narrowing with delight.


    ¡°Children are so fortunate with you.¡±


    ¡°I treat them well, so they¡¯ll treat me well in the future. You have to give before you can receive.¡±


    ¡°But even if you treat them well, you never know if they¡¯ll repay it. Some people might feel it¡¯s only natural and won¡¯t appreciate it. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect them to be particrly filial in the future. I¡¯ll consider myself lucky if they don¡¯t throw me against the wall and kill me when I¡¯m helpless.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you speak nicely?¡±


    Qiao Mai took Ling¡¯er back from Yue Hong and Yue Xia, then took a paper bag and pulled out two roasted sweet potatoes.


    She handed one to the olddy and peeled one for herself.


    It¡¯s so sweet.¡±


    ¡°Can your things be anything less?¡±


    ¡°In the future, I won¡¯t rely on anyone. When I can move, I¡¯ll move by myself. When I can¡¯t, I¡¯ll keep an ace up my sleeve. Instead of lying in bed, dependent on others, I¡¯d rather take matters into my own hands and start anew in the next life. It¡¯s better than enduring that suffering.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang red at her. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to say that. Raise children to care for you in your old age. You have three children, and you¡¯re still young. When you and your husband be a real couple, you might even have ten or eight more. What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m nning for the worst.¡±


    ¡°People should think positively.¡±


    ¡°Well, if something bad happens, I¡¯ll be unable to cope with the shock. I¡¯m being fully prepared.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang casually ate her sweet potato and looked out the window at the scenery.


    ¡°Why are there so many refugees this year? Even now, there are moreing from the north..</font>

 Chapter 153 - 153: You’ve Spent Much Money Today

    Chapter 153 - 153: You¡¯ve Spent Much Money Today


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°There was a major flood, and they had nowhere to go. The officials did nothing. It¡¯s natural to escape elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°The court provides relief every year, but it¡¯s all deductedyer byyer, and very little reaches the hands of themoners.¡±


    As they talked, the carriage arrived at a small town. They could get out and stretch their legs.


    Old Master Wang had the coachman stop in front of a restaurant, and everyone got out of the carriage.


    After stretching and moving around, they went inside to have a meal.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    At this moment, a group of ragged refugees approached them.


    ¡°Madam, Miss, young master, please, we haven¡¯t eaten for three days.¡±


    With a kind heart, Old Mistress Wang asked, ¡°Are you all refugees from the south?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there was a major flood. We lost our homes, and our loved ones are all missing.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang pitied them.


    Qiao Mai saw this and quickly said, ¡°Old Mistress Wang, I¡¯m here. You go inside and sit down. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you. I¡¯m not in good shape anymore.¡±


    Qiao Mai gestured to them, ¡°Come with me.¡±


    She led them to a steamed bun shop. ¡°Boss, give each of them ten steamed buns. I¡¯ll payter.¡±


    The shopkeeper looked her up and down, then nodded.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    At this point, the refugees in the small town immediately gathered around.


    Qiao Mai shouted at them, ¡°If you want steamed buns, you need to line up properly. Everyone gets a share. Don¡¯t rush.¡±


    Some people wanted to take advantage and grab more, but after Qiao Mai kicked one of them to the ground, they dared not cause any more trouble.


    Qiao Mai watched over the steamer, giving each person ten steamed buns and a silver coin. She hoped they would cherish this opportunity and find a suitable ce to settle down rather than continue to wander.


    The small town had dozens of refugees, and the steamed bun shop had never done such good business.


    They sold thousands of steamed buns, and Qiao Mai paid over a hundred taels of silver, but it was still a drop in the bucket.


    After finishing this, she finally returned to the restaurant.


    Old Mistress Wang had already finished her meal and was waiting for her.


    ¡°Have they all had their meal?¡± ¡°Each person got ten steamed buns and a silver coin. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve spent much money today.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯ve also avoided a disaster.¡±


    After finishing their meal, everyone got back into the carriage. Old Mistress Wang was still leaning out, looking outside, but she finally rxed when she saw that each refugee had a snow-white steamed bun in their hands.


    Such incidents happened along the way, with the olddy showing herpassionate heart and Qiao Mai providing money and assistance.


    Finally, the olddy ceased herpassion. If she continued in her stubborn ways, they wouldn¡¯t arrive in the Capital without spending thousands of taels.


    Not to mention Qiao Mai, even she couldn¡¯t bear it.


    She sat in the carriage and stopped leaning out. Qiao Mai tried to keep her from getting bored by asionally conjuring up some snacks.


    If they stayed in an inn at night, she would also prepare some soup to help them rx.


    Thirteen dayster, they finally arrived in the Capital on the first day of September.


    The children were amazed by the grand city gates. When they entered the city, they all leaned out of the carriage windows, staring in awe at the towering walls and the soldiers standing straight.


    Even Ling¡¯er, usually focused on eating, forgot about her food and stared outside with wide eyes.


    Once they entered the city, the children¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t take in everything fast enough. There were so many people, so many carriages, so many vendors This was what a bustling city looked like.


    After about a quarter of an hour¡¯s drive through the Capital, they stopped in front of a mansion.


    ¡°Bichun Garden?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is my dowry and personal property.¡±


    The carriage entered through a side gate. As Old Mistress Wang had sent someone ahead to instruct the maids, the mansion was clean and tidy.


    All the necessities were in ce. As soon as they entered, they could have a hot meal.


    Qiao Mai finally got to experience the ssical architectural style of ancient times. She had enjoyed the scenery here, even studying the clothes and essories they wore carefully.


    It wasn¡¯t that she envied or was jealous, but she liked this ssical style. After everyone had a meal, looking exhausted, Qiao Mai led her group to stay in the elegant Haitang Courtyard.


    After freshening up, she instructed them all to rest promptly. The long and arduous journey had taken its toll on their bodies and minds, even if they didn¡¯t do any work.


    She looked up at the moon in the sky. After being here for so long, her heart still didn¡¯t warm up. She didn¡¯t feel a strong sense of belonging.


    She felt like a drifting duckweed, going wherever the current took her, able to make a home anywhere, unlike some people who had a strong attachment to their homes.


    She sighed. With a thought, a tea set appeared on the table. Qiao Mai filled the teapot with water with a touch of her hand, brought it to a boil, added tea leaves, covered it, and poured herself a cup of tea.


    She took a sip. The tea leaves were from the bushes she had purchased on the tform and grown herself.


    There were many good things in her space that she hadn¡¯t taken out. Fruits, vegetables, and other foods she consumed daily were only a few.


    She had never taken out things that were too special.


    When others were resting, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She wanted to see Jiaru but didn¡¯t know where the Wang family lived.


    The children were new here, and she didn¡¯t want them to roam around aimlessly.


    After drinking her tea, she waved her hand, and the tea set disappeared.


    Qiao Mai returned to her room and began to meditate.


    Since this wasn¡¯t her home, she couldn¡¯t sleep well. During the time from arriving in the Capital to returning home, she must protect the children well and not make any mistakes.


    The next morning, she opened her eyes and got out of bed as soon as the sun rose.


    The children were still sleeping, but Yue Hong and Yue Xia heard her and immediately got up.


    ¡°You two get ready and watch them. I don¡¯t need your help here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Fortunately, there was a small kitchen in the courtyard. She went to the kitchen, pulled a yam from her space, and picked two tomatoes and three eggs from the refrigerator, a small bag of flour, two heads of lettuce, a box of sweet bean paste, and fresh spring onions.


    She nned to make a yam, tomato, and egg drop soup for the children for breakfast and then fry some pancakes to roll up.


    She wasn¡¯t good at making pancakes, so Qiao Mai threw the flour into her space after thinking for a moment and directly traded fifty spring pancakes on the tform.


    This was perfect for making rolled pancakes. After making the soup, she rolled some green onions into each pancake and arranged them neatly on a te.


    She then asked Yue Hong to wake the others up. At this point, Old Master and Mistress Wang came over. They had wanted to invite them to have breakfast in the main hall.


    But when they saw the meal, they immediately changed their mind.


    It was neither hot nor cold that day, so the dining table was set up in the courtyard. Qiao Mai had made plenty of pancakes, enough for everyone to eat.


    ¡°Shall we visit Ruler today?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going. I don¡¯t want to see the Wang family¡¯s faces. We¡¯ve already split up, and my granddaughter is getting married. Why should I go to their house and give their family face?¡±


    Old Master Wang red at her but didn¡¯t say anything. In fact, ording tomon folk customs, what the olddy said was not wrong.


    ¡°But after all, that¡¯s the main branch. After you and Old Master Wang return to the Capital, you should visit them as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go. If Ruler doesn¡¯te today, I¡¯ll return to my mother¡¯s house and see my brothers. I¡¯m telling you, old man, you muste too.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t go to my house, I won¡¯t go to yours.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Seeing the old couple squabbling like children, Qiao Mai said, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten, so I¡¯m taking the children out for a walk.¡±


    ¡°Stay in the carriage and look around. If you like something, you can buy itter. There are many pickpockets in the Capital.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Not long after, Wang Jiaru sent a message saying she would visit them tomorrow.


    So, Qiao Mai took the children and left in a carriage. Old Mistress Wang prepared gifts and took the old man back to her mother¡¯s house..</font>

 Chapter 154 - 154: Report It To The Authorities

    Chapter 154 - 154: Report It To The Authorities


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The children stayed inside the carriage. Two little heads leaned out of the windows, Yue Hong and Yue Xia, each responsible for one of the younger ones. The twins were ten years old, so there was no need to pay them much attention.


    ¡°Mom, what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a sugar sculpture. It¡¯s not tasty, and it¡¯s not very clean. They make it by blowing with their mouths, so their saliva sticks to it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I won¡¯t eat that, then. What about this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s sticky rice cake. Mom knows how to make it, and it¡¯s even more delicious than what they make. Look at their hands, all dirty. Can you eat something like that?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°I won¡¯t eat it.¡±


    Unintentionally, Qiao Mai seemed to be cultivating four little neat freaks. However, she was right. Food had to be clean, or they might get stomachaches.


    ¡°Mom, can¡¯t we get out and walk?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t. There are too many people, and there are kidnappers around.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Qiao Mai decided to stop the carriage.


    ¡°Go back to the mansion first. We¡¯ll have fun ande back on our own.¡±


    As the carriage departed, Yue Hong held Ling¡¯er, Yue Xia held Chuan¡¯er, and Qiao Mai held Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er.


    ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we won¡¯t wander off. We¡¯ll always follow Mom.¡±


    With her children in tow, Qiao Mai strolled down the street. They watched street performers, giving them some money afterward.


    They also watched martial arts performances and generously rewarded the performers.


    It wasn¡¯t easy for these entertainers to rely on their skills to make a living. Sometimes, even if they performed all day, they might not earn much.


    When they came across something delicious, Qiao Mai allowed her children to buy it themselves. As long as it was clean, she didn¡¯t mind.


    As they were having fun in the street, a carriage passed by, and a hand reached out toward Ling¡¯er¡¯s head.


    Qiao Mai reacted quickly, pping the hand away.


    The carriage immediately pulled over, and a young woman and two maids stepped out.


    They walked directly toward Qiao Mai and her group. Qiao Mai shielded the children and Yue Hong behind her while the young woman approaching them had an icy expression.


    ¡°Bold thieves, you dare steal from my young mistress?¡±


    Qiao Mai was taken aback but quickly realized the situation. The woman, who appeared elegant and noble, seemed to have her eye on the essory on her daughter¡¯s head. She intended to falsely use and intimidate them to obtain the item without effort.


    ¡°Steal? How could we steal from you when you were in the carriage and we were on the roadside?¡± ¡°Who said you stole it now?¡±


    ¡°When did it happen then?¡±


    ¡°My young mistress lost this ornament a while ago. We¡¯re certain you took it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite unfortunate. We only arrived in the Capital yesterday afternoon and haven¡¯t had the opportunity tomit any crimes. We couldn¡¯t have stolen it.¡± ¡°In that case, you must have picked it up. Please return it to us.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such shameless people. My daughter has been wearing this essory on her head from the moment we left home until now. It hasn¡¯t changed for ten days. How could it suddenly be yours?¡±


    ¡°You dare to argue?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked coldly at the woman and her two maids. The mistress acted aloof and silent, supporting her servant¡¯s shameless behavior.


    This kind of y was not umon in the Capital. The family must be influential to engage in such tactics. Qiao Mai nced at the woman, who was beautiful and richly dressed but had ventured out without any bodyguards. She was indeed audacious.


    ¡°Since you insist on using us, shall we report this to the authorities?¡±


    Upon hearing the word ¡°authorities,¡± the two maids exchanged nces and then turned to their young mistress.


    The woman gazed at Ling¡¯er¡¯s head with greedy eyes, but aware of the onlookers and the threat of getting the authorities involved, she hesitated. ¡°Perhaps my maids have made a mistake. I apologize.¡±


    The woman pretended to be high-minded, which annoyed Qiao Mai. She restrained her anger and said nothing.


    She thought the matter was settled after the apology, but the woman added, ¡°Do you sell the essory?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not for sale.¡¯


    The young woman¡¯s face contorted with anger, and she turned around and walked away. Her two maidservants hurriedly followed her.


    Qiao Mai stared at the carriage, reluctant to cause trouble for the Wang family, especially since she was apanied by her children and had just arrived in the city.


    She felt the urge to give that girl a good beating. It was her first day out with her children, and encountering such a situation was unfortunate.


    Once the woman and her maids left, the bystanders approached.


    ¡°Madam, you should return home quickly. Thatdy is the only daughter of the Fu family. Whenever she takes a liking to something, she¡¯ll do anything to get it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, her father is the Minister of Revenue in the imperial court, and her grandfather is the Grand Tutor. She¡¯s their only precious daughter.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why she wanted to snatch things in public?¡±


    ¡°Because you were just an ordinarymoner.¡±


    ¡°So, she only dares to bullymoners? Does she not dare to mess with officials and nobles?¡±


    ¡°She dares to do it to anyone with lower official status than her family. When she sees something nice, she¡¯ll try any means to get it.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t take it too seriously. ¡°I see. Thank you, everyone!¡±


    In the past, she might have avoided such confrontations, but now, she had the necessary skills and resources. She wasn¡¯t afraid of dealing with petty people like this.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xxia looked pale. ¡°Mistress, should we return to Bichun Garden?¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s keep going. We haven¡¯t explored much yet.¡±


    Feng¡¯er furrowed his little brows. ¡°Mom, we will learn martial arts to protect you.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±


    Chuan¡¯er added, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll help you defeat the bad guys.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and continued to walk with them. ¡°Have fun. With Mom around, no one will dare to bully us.¡±


    They arrived at a restaurant called Jufu Tavern. Qiao Mai recalled it seemed to belong to the Wang family.


    She took the children inside, requested a private room, and ordered all the signature dishes.


    The children were a bit reserved in such an elegant ce.


    ¡°Rx, everyone. This is just a restaurant.¡±


    ¡°Mom, the restaurants in the Capital are so grand. Even the private rooms are better than where we live.¡±


    ¡°These are to attract customers. Better decor and food means they can charge more. This private room alone would cost us ten taels of silver even if we didn¡¯t order anything.¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness, ten taels of silver couldst amoner a year.¡±


    ¡°Remember, don¡¯t be attached to material things. No matter how good something is, having skills and knowledge is better. Once you acquire skills, you be a treasure that can¡¯t be exhausted or taken away.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom.¡±


    When the dishes she ordered arrived at the table, the childrenughed. ¡°Mother, these are all dishes you used to make.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy them. Some of these are local specialties we don¡¯t have.¡±


    Just as they were enjoying their meal, the door of the private room rang, and Yue Hong went out to open it. They saw the shopkeeper walk in.


    He greeted them and apologized, ¡°My apologies, but you¡¯ve offended Miss Fu. She sent someone to inquire, and when they found out you were dining here, she asked us not to serve you. If we disobeyed her, our restaurant might¡­¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. The meal is on the house.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say anything and left with her children. She could sense that someone was following them.


    After they returned to Bichun Garden, the person trailing them reported to the Fu family.


    ¡°Miss, that woman went to Bichun Garden.¡±


    ¡°What is that ce?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the private residence of thete Grand Perceptor Pang¡¯s daughter and the current Grand Perceptor¡¯s sister.¡±


    ¡°Which one holds a higher official position, Grand Perceptor or Grand Tutor?¡± ¡°The Grand Perceptor holds a slightly higher rank.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, how can I allow something I¡¯ve set my sights on to slip away? Prepare a greeting card. I want to meet the owner of Bichun Garden.¡±


    ¡°Miss, the granddaughter of Old Madam Pang is going to marry Prince Shungin in a few days.¡±


    ¡°What? She¡¯s going to marry Brother Long Ji?¡±</font>

 Chapter 155 - 155: Sealing The City for Three Days

    Chapter 155 - 155: Sealing The City for Three Days


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Miss Fu gritted her teeth, her eyes shing with malice.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The servants dared not look at her, fearing the angry woman wouldsh out. Their legs shook.


    ¡°So, does that mean Old Madam Pang returned to the Capital for her granddaughter¡¯s wedding?¡±


    ¡°It seems so.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    The servants left. Miss Fu picked up a nearby teacup and threw it.


    ¡°Wang Jiaru, how dare you steal my Brother Long Ji? I won¡¯t let your Wang and


    Pang family off the honk¡±¡®


    Back in the Haitang Courtyard, Qiao Mai instructed the children to freshen up and rest. She then went to find the olddy.


    However, Old Mistress Wang had not returned. Upon inquiring, Qiao Mai learned that she had gone to visit her elder brothers at her maiden home.


    She had no choice but to return to her courtyard, freshen up, change her clothes, and brew some tea.


    A person like Miss Fu was bound to seek revenge. Not getting what she wanted, she would continue causing trouble.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want any trouble. She hade to enjoy herself and broaden her children¡¯s horizons. She wanted to live a peaceful life.


    But today, she was angry. She was furious!


    First, her daughter¡¯s hairpin was snatched, and then they were chased out of the restaurant. The Fu family was something else!


    There was no need to inform the olddy about this; she could handle it herself.


    The Fu family¡¯s discipline wascking, leading to the upbringing of such a shameless woman. Qiao Mai decided to teach both the woman and the family a lesson.


    Old Mistress Wang and her husband returnedte, likely having enjoyed some drinks at the Pang family. They slept immediately upon returning.


    The kitchen sent six dishes and a soup with steamed buns as the main course for dinner. After the children had eaten their fill and slept, Yue Hong and Yue Xia wanted to clear the table, but Qiao Mai insisted they rest.


    Qiao Mai sat alone in the courtyard. Although it was September in the southern part of the Capital, the evening felt cool.


    The night breeze rustled, and the bright moon in the sky quickly disappeared behind ayer of dark clouds.


    Qiao Mai gave the children¡¯s room a light sedative to ensure they slept soundly. Once they were deeply asleep, she moved them all into her space.


    Wearing her night clothes, she ventured out into the Capital at thiste hour.


    She didn¡¯t know the Fu family¡¯s location, but she knew that anyone with status and wealth in the Capital lived in prosperous areas withrge mansions and grand entrances.


    With her cultivation, searching household by household wasn¡¯t tough.


    Qiao Mai was diligent and thorough in her search. Eventually, she found it in the middle of the night.


    She first confirmed the rear courtyard and then stood by Miss Fu¡¯s bed, sneering.


    She was quite beautiful, but her heart was like a venomous scorpion. Her conduct was even worse than mountain bandits, yet her family indulged her.


    Qiao Mai extended her hand to choke her neck but decided against it. Instead, she bought a special pen from the trading tform. The ink it wrote could never be erased, no matter how hard she tried to rub it off.


    The more she tried to erase it, the deeper and clearer the color was. It was perfect for a woman like her.


    Qiao Mai uncapped the pen and wrote the words ¡°Bitch¡±, ¡°Cheap¡± and ¡°Spoilt.¡±


    She threw the pen cap into her space, swept through her room for any valuable items, and then left.


    After checking the time, she conducted a thorough sweep of the Fu family¡¯s residence before departing with a sense of satisfaction.


    Although Qiao Mai had gathered quite a haul during this sweep, it was nowhere near enough to shake the deep-rooted foundations of the Fu family. It was merely a lesson for them.


    Before departing, she left a note on the pir in front of the Fu family¡¯s living room.


    ¡°Evildoers will meet their doom. This is a warning. If you don¡¯t mend your ways, it will cost a life next.¡±


    The next day, the Capital was in chaos. The Fu family reported a theft, and all the officials from the court and the guards on patrol were dispatched.


    Miss Fu liked to sleep in, but due to the turmoil in her household, she got out of bed in a huff.


    ¡°Chun Feng, Dong Xue, why are you two making such a fuss?


    The two maids were waiting outside and rushed in upon hearing her voice.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s bad!¡±


    Before they could finish their sentence, they saw the writing on her face and screamed in shock.


    ¡°Miss, your face, your face!¡±


    Miss Fu rolled her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my face?¡±


    Chun Feng quickly brought a mirror from the dressing table and handed it to her tremblingly.


    Miss Fu saw the writing on her face and screamed in horror. She immediately threw the mirror on the ground.


    ¡°Who did this? Whose doing is this?¡±


    One maid helped her put on her clothes, and the other prepared water to wash her face.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡±


    Miss Fu, irritated and anxious, washed her face. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, the writing¡¯s color deepened and became more distinct.


    Panicking, Miss Fu started to cry. ¡°What should I do? What should I do? Which b*stard did this to me?!¡±


    ¡°Miss, the situation outside is chaotic right now. Why don¡¯t you wrap your head in a veil? We need to meet your mother soon.¡±


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do that.¡±


    The two maids quickly wrapped her face in a veil, and the three were about to leave when Madam Fu arrived and was shocked by her daughter¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°Daughter, what happened to you?¡±


    Miss Fu immediately threw herself into her mother¡¯s arms, sobbing, ¡°Mother, my face!¡±


    ¡°What happened to your face?¡±


    Madam Fu lifted her daughter¡¯s veil and saw the words on her face. She angrily asked, ¡°Who did this? I¡¯ll skin them alive. Quick, wash it off!¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯te off no matter how much I wash it, Mother.¡±


    Thinking back tost night¡¯s theft, Madam Fu immediately connected it to her daughter¡¯s face.


    ¡°Has anything been stolen from your room?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mother. I just woke up and was busy with my face.¡±


    ¡°Quick, let¡¯s check.¡±


    They entered the room and were all dumbfounded. All their gold and silver jewelry had disappeared.


    Madam Fu sat on the floor andmented, ¡°It¡¯s over. Our family is ruined.¡± ¡°Mother, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Our family¡¯s gold and silver treasures¡­ They¡¯re all gone.¡±


    ¡°Did they steal your dowry too?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all gone. Overnight, it¡¯s all gone. Your face¡­ It might have been done by that thief.¡±


    ¡°If they hated our family so much, why didn¡¯t they harm my innocence? Why only write on my face?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s precisely to humiliate you further.¡±


    Madam Fu¡¯s eyes were red. Losing so many things, she couldn¡¯t care less about her daughter¡¯s face.


    Still sitting in shock, Miss Fu suddenly burst into tears. ¡°All the precious things I collected are gone. Several items were rare. Even the pce¡¯s concubines might not have had them. My treasures, my treasures!¡±


    The mother and daughter cried together in the room. After crying for a while, Minister Fu came over.


    ¡°Why are you crying? Hurry up and make a list of the missing items. This way, the court can investigate. The sooner they find the stolen goods, the better. The city gates have been closed by imperial decree, and the emperor has ordered the city to be sealed for three days for us.¡±


    ¡°Father, is the message in the living room true?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense. If the thief dares toe again, watch me peel their skin off. It was our family¡¯s negligence. We thought no one would dare touch us under the emperor¡¯s nose, but we didn¡¯t expect someone would dare to provoke us.¡±


    Hearing that the stolen items might be recovered, they stopped crying and quickly came to the writing desk to write down a list.


    Minister Fu looked at his daughter¡¯s strange appearance and asked, ¡°Rong¡¯er, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Father, the thief wrote something on my face.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you washed it off?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t wash it off. The more I try, the clearer the words be.¡±


    Minister Fu gritted his teeth. ¡°Perhaps they used some substance. Don¡¯t worry, daughter. I¡¯ll arrange for a royal physician toe and take a look.¡±


    ¡°Dad, please do it quickly. I can¡¯t leave the house like this.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    After venting her anger with a trip outside, Qiao Mai returned to her room and enjoyed a leisurely nap. It was only when the sun had risen that she woke up.


    Just as she opened her eyes, someone knocked on her door.


    ¡°Sister, sister, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Come in..¡±</font>

 Chapter 156 - 156: This Is Called Hair Dye

    Chapter 156 - 156: This Is Called Hair Dye


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Miss Wang rushed in like a gust of wind and burst into tears upon seeing Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Sister, I regret it. I don¡¯t want to be a Princess.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a remedy for regret.¡±


    ¡°Ever since I came to the Capital, I haven¡¯t had a good day. I have to learn etiquette with all those rules and restrictions. I don¡¯t want to live like this. How can I be a caged canary?


    ¡°It won¡¯t be long now. After the wedding, you¡¯ll be the young mistress of Prince<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Shunqin¡¯s residence. Who would dare make you follow all those rules then?¡±


    Wang Jiaru nestled in Qiao Mai¡¯s arms. ¡°With the Queen and princess consort above, what am I?!¡±


    ¡°Then, take good care of your health and live well. Once you oust them, you¡¯ll be the true mistress of Prince Shunqin¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°You make it sound easy, but how many years will it take?¡±


    ¡°Did youe here on your own?¡±


    ¡°No. Mother and Zihao are with Grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s visit Auntie and bring something nice for Zihao.¡±


    ¡°What is it? Can I eat it?¡±


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. ¡°Yes.¡±


    She took a jade bottle from her sleeve, and Wang Jiaru held it in her hand. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s medicine. It¡¯s called the Reviving Spirit Pill. It¡¯s good for your little brother¡¯s brain. I got it from a knowledgeable person.¡±


    ¡°Can I try it first?¡±


    ¡°No problem. You can help your brother test the medicine.¡±


    Wang Jiaru didn¡¯t blink as she took a pill and ced it in her mouth.


    ¡°Wow, it tastes good.¡±


    After she finished it, she closed her eyes for a while.


    ¡°The name matches the effect perfectly. I¡¯ve never felt so clear-headed.¡±


    ¡°Normal people can use it to refresh their minds. But for those who are unwell, it can clear any impurities from the brain, which the doctors call blood clots.¡± Wang Jiaru¡¯s eyes teared up. ¡°You¡¯re so considerate of my little brother.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my family. Besides, you¡¯re my sister. Naturally, I have to take care of you. Whoever you care about, I¡¯ll care for them too. If Zihan recovers, you won¡¯t have to worry about your family anymore.¡±


    Jiaru wiped away her tears. ¡°Thank you, Sister!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, you¡¯ve learned to be polite now. I¡¯ve given you many good things.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, today I can only enjoy a half-day of freedom. I won¡¯t be able toe out until the wedding.¡±


    ¡°Oh, your dress!¡±


    Qiao Mai handed her two exquisite boxes, and Wang Jiaru opened them, smiling foolishly for a long time. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Xiangyun Courtyard.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Wang Jiaru walked out of the room. ¡°Yue Hong, Yue Xia?¡±


    ¡°I sent them ahead of us.¡±


    Qiao Mai remembered something and returned to the room to fetch arge box.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s for Grandmother. I¡¯ll show all of you my giftster.¡±


    When they arrived at Xiangyun Courtyard, the children yed in the yard while the olddy and the others sat in the living room.


    ¡°Qiao Mai pays her respects to Auntie!¡±


    ¡°Alright, have a seat.¡±


    Zihan said amicably, ¡°I heard from Sister that if you be her sister, then you¡¯ll be my sister too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can call me sister.¡±


    ¡°Sister, I want to eat delicious food.¡±


    Pffft!


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh. It seemed that Wang Zihan had no reservations at all. She nced at Jiaru, who quickly took a pill from the jade bottle.


    ¡°Here, these sugar pills are delicious, but you can only have one at a time, or you¡¯ll get a stomachache.¡±


    Jiaru ced a candy in his mouth, and Zihan smacked his lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s so delicious. My mouth still tastes sweet.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°If you behave, I¡¯ll give you more delicious things when we leave.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Then go outside and y with your little brothers and sisters. Don¡¯t bully them.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zihan responded and ran out. Madam Wang didn¡¯t ask what the candy was. With their rtionship, she was sure Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t harm her son.


    Wang Jiaru showed off. ¡°Look, Sister gave me this Horse-faced skirt. It¡¯s so beautiful.¡±


    Madam Wang looked apologetically at Qiao Mai. ¡°This girl has benefited from your kindness. You can indulge her.¡±


    ¡°We get along well.¡±


    Sitting at the head, Old Mistress Wang asked with envy, ¡°Girl, I remember you said you¡¯d give me a gift too?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, go ahead and have the maids boil some water. I¡¯ll give you your gift now. But it¡¯s not a physical item, so you¡¯ll need to cooperate with me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with whatever you say.¡±


    They cleared a space in the living room, and the maids brought over a soft couch. Since there were no outsiders present, she asked the olddy to remove her outer clothes and lie on the couch.


    Qiao Mai removed the hair essories from the olddy¡¯s head, letting her hair fall. She then used ab to brush it out.


    She prepared the hair dye, which didn¡¯t require washing. Instead, she evenly applied it to the hair.


    The olddy was somewhat worried. ¡°Youngdy, what are you doing to my hair?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m dying your grey hair ck.¡±


    ¡°What? Can grey hair be turned ck?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Let me assure you that you¡¯ll look ten years younger.¡±


    Old Mistress Wangughed happily. ¡°Where did you get this strange stuff from?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called hair dye and is very popr in the country across the sea. My friend got some for me. One box costs a hundred silver.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s so expensive?¡±


    ¡°Yes, for someone with as much grey hair as you, it only needs to be dyed three times a year.¡±


    ¡°My hair is really precious. Dyeing it for a year would cost three hundred taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Each hairpin you wear is worth over a thousand taels. Don¡¯t be concerned about this small amount of money. But don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll take care of your hair.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re not staying at my ce, I will still prepare this for you so your attendants can apply it on time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so considerate!¡±


    ¡°I mean it. You¡¯re my grandmother, and I should take care of you.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s casual words always touched the olddy¡¯s heart. Even Madam Wang, who had been in the Wang family for many years, had never been this close to Old Mistress Wang.


    Could it be that they had a special bond across generations?


    Dyeing the hair was quite simple. After applying the dye, it needed to sit for about two-quarters of an hour before rinsing.


    During this time, Qiao Mai performed a facial treatment for the olddy. She used a cleanser to cleanse her face and then applied a facial mask.


    ¡°Girl, what are you doing this time?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s skincare. I can¡¯t just make your hair look good; your skin also needs some improvement. ¡±


    ¡°You are always bothering me.¡±


    Old Master Wang looked enviously from the side. ¡°Girl, if you¡¯re going to dye my wife¡¯s hair, I can¡¯t be left out. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be worthy of her. No, you have to dye my hair as well.¡±


    ¡°Sure, as long as you don¡¯t find it troublesome.¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    As the time seemed right, Qiao Mai had the maids bring in basins of hot water.


    She used shampoo to wash the olddy¡¯s hair thoroughly. In the middle, she applied a massage technique, making the Old Mistress Wang incrediblyfortable.


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯ve made me toofortable. Who will I find to give me such a head massage in the future?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach the maids around you. You¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯ll work.¡±


    After washing her hair, Qiao Mai dried it for the olddy. She removed the facial mask and applied an anti-aging skincare product.


    At this point, Old Mistress Wang sat up, turned around, and even Old Master Wang was stunned.


    ¡°Shufang, after your treatment, you look not just ten years younger but even twenty.¡±


    ¡°Really? Quickly, get my precious mirror. I want to see for myself.¡±


    Even Madam Wang couldn¡¯t sit still and hurriedly assisted the olddy. She ced the mirror in her hands.


    ¡°Mother, you really look several decades younger. It¡¯s amazing.¡±


    Madam Wang styled the olddy¡¯s hair into the most fashionable hairstyle in the Capital and adorned it with hair essories. Looking at herself in the mirror, Old Mistress Wang couldn¡¯t help but shed tears..</font>

 Chapter 157 - 157: No One Cares?

    Chapter 157: No One Cares?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I never expected this. I didn¡¯t think that at my age, I could look young again.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by looking young again? In the future, you¡¯ll look young every day.¡±


    ¡°Yes, every day!¡±


    Wang Jiaru stood in front of her. ¡°Grandmother, if you attend my grand wedding like this, won¡¯t it infuriate those old women from the Wang family?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, let them be infuriated. Back when I entered the Wang family, they didn¡¯t treat me well.¡±


    Old Master Wang cleared his throat. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not bring up the past.¡±


    ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t we? They still want to control us. Why should my granddaughter¡¯s wedding be held at their house?¡±


    ¡°They want to give respect to our granddaughter. The newlyweds won¡¯t be kowtowing to them on that day; it will be Zongsheng and his wife.¡±


    ¡°If they dare to make trouble, don¡¯t me me for confronting them. They¡¯ll enjoy all the benefits while we¡¯re the ones spending money and effort, and in the end, we get nothing.¡±


    ¡°Well, didn¡¯t they send five carts of valuables?¡±


    ¡°They bought those gifts with our money. You¡¯re too naive!¡±


    Qiao Mai quickly said, ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t be angry. Getting angry not only makes you look old, but it also affects your longevity.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry. We¡¯ll handle it as ites.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Old Master Wang knew he was wrong, so he didn¡¯t argue with her andy down.


    ¡°Come, girl, do my hair. When we return to the Wang family tomorrow, I want to show off to them.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t reveal me. I¡¯ll only dye yours and Old Mistress Wang¡¯s hair. I don¡¯t want to bother with others.¡±


    Madam Wang touched her hair. ¡°Girl, if I have grey hair, will you dye mine?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    She smiled contentedly while Wang Jiaru attended to the olddy.


    ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t worry. After I settle down at the Prince¡¯s residence, I¡¯ll ask Long Ji to help us move Father¡¯s official position up.¡±


    Madam Wang hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t act recklessly. Your father said he likes being the magistrate of City Wei. He¡¯s free to do as he pleases there. Besides, all our workshops are over there.¡±


    ¡°Oh, when does Father n to be an official in the Capital? I¡¯ll talk to my husband to persuade the Emperor when the timees.¡±


    Not long after, Old Master Wang¡¯s hair was also done. After drying his hair, he looked in the mirror and was satisfied.


    ¡°Girl, the shampoo you used smells so good.¡±


    ¡°If you like it, you can keep it for you and Grandmother. I have another bottle.¡± ¡°Can you give it to me?¡±


    Madam Wang knew that if she didn¡¯t speak up, she wouldn¡¯t get anything.


    ¡°Sure. Do you want this skincare product?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Can you give me some of that mask as well?¡±


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s called a facial mask. You can use it every five or six days for about fifteen minutes each time.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang lightly touched her face with her hand. ¡°This face mask and skincare cream are amazing. My face feels so smooth and tender.¡±


    ¡°If you use it regrly, your face will stay this tender daily.¡±


    ¡°It seems like the wrinkles at the corners of my eyes have also lightened quite a bit.¡±


    ¡°If you use it for a while, you might look like a young girl.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Everyone in the roomughed. Wang Jiaru couldn¡¯t help but feel envious, thinking that the dress Qiao Mai had given her didn¡¯t seem so special anymore.


    They didn¡¯t have lunch at home that day. When they left, Qiao Mai gave some snacks she had prepared for the children to Zihan to take with him.


    Zihan cried again when she left, as he always did. Every time he saw Qiao Mai, he didn¡¯t want to leave, as if Qiao Mai were his real sister.


    After seeing them off, the olddy pulled Qiao Mai aside. ¡°Let me tell you, don¡¯t take the children out recently.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°The Fu family in the Capital was robbed.¡±


    Qiao Mai smirked subtly. ¡°Their family being robbed has nothing to do with us.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the robber left a threatening note at their home. The Fu family wields great influence in the Capital, second only to the imperial family.¡± ¡°What about your maternal family?¡±


    ¡°Although we¡¯re not afraid of them, it¡¯s better to avoid trouble. We are the righteous party, but they are cunning and use dirty tricks. We may not be able to handle them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the Wang family is prominent, but they are still a bit below the others. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll cause trouble, but I¡¯m concerned they might provoke you. You don¡¯t know that girl from the Fu family. She¡¯s stubborn, unreasonable, and greedy. If she fancies something nice, she¡¯ll do whatever it takes to get her hands on it, regardless of who it belongs to.¡± Qiao Mai recalled her previous interaction with that girl.


    ¡°And no one stops her?¡±


    ¡°Who would dare? She¡¯s not foolish. She doesn¡¯t dare to mess with the royal family, but she bullies those who are less fortunate. Her father and grandfather are close to the Emperor. They only have this one daughter and spoil her rotten. They give her the stars and the moon. She¡¯s already eighteen and still unmarried.¡±


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she married?¡±


    Speaking of this, the olddy¡¯s face turned dark.


    ¡°She fancies Ru¡¯er¡¯s husband, but he doesn¡¯t like her. He swears he¡¯ll never marry her. Even the Emperor¡¯s decree can¡¯t force this marriage, as the Prince is the Emperor¡¯s brother. The Emperor can¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°Where is the main branch of the Wang family?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit coincidental. It¡¯s right next to the Fu family.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s mind raced. ¡°So, if Miss Fu refuses to marry anyone except for Prince Shunqin, could this potentially disrupt Jiaru¡¯s marriage?¡±


    ¡°Humph, that¡¯s not my main concern.¡±


    ¡°Who else is there?¡±


    ¡°There are those girls from the Wang family. Their hearts are impure. They¡¯re probably going crazy thinking about marrying the Prince. This is what worries me the most. The Wang family is good, but they fall shortpared to the people in the Capital. It is hard to guard against cunning people.¡±


    Qiao Mai squeezed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had it tough. Take care of your children. You¡¯re not in a strong position, but once Jiaqi and the children be officials, you¡¯ll have more power.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled meaningfully, ¡°You have to believe me. There¡¯s nothing in this world that can defeat me.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was inexplicably drawn in by her words. ¡°I only hope Jiaru will marry smoothly into the royal family.¡±


    ¡°She definitely will.¡±


    The old couple seemed to have taken a calming pill, both involuntarily trusting Qiao Mai.


    The next day, Old Master and Mistress Wang went to the main branch. Qiao Mai was obedient, letting the children y at home. They were allowed to go anywhere in the house except outside the front gate.


    Of course, that¡¯s only for the kids.


    As for herself, Qiao Mai transformed into an inconspicuous man.


    She strolled casually on the streets, looking for species unavable in her space and checking the prices in the Capital.


    The streets were empty at this time as if they had been ransacked by invaders, with debris scattered everywhere.


    The presence of soldiers was felt everywhere, conducting searches. Qiao Mai sneered. Even if they searched to the ends of the earth, they wouldn¡¯t find anything. It was a waste of effort.


    Some small shops had closed, and the ones that remained open usually had strong backing.


    For the soldiers, it was just a routine and a show of force. They checked and then moved on; nobody dared to offend powerful figures.


    The soldiers didn¡¯t bother to check ordinary people walking along the road like her. They cast a casual nce and then went elsewhere.


    Qiao Mai smiled, took a handful of melon seeds from her shoulder bag, and cracked them open while walking.


    With so few people around, there was no fun in wandering.


    She took a basket from her space and filled it with some dendrobium orchids, a few ginseng roots, and reishi, all fresh and unprocessed.


    She arrived at a medical hall. It was particrly quiet today. Even the chief physician was leisurely sipping tea.


    This clinic was called Ming Ren, and the owner behind it must be powerful, with branches in various ces.


    As soon as she entered, the head physician nced at her and ignored her.


    He thought, ¡°Goodplexion, not looking like a patient at all, and dressed quite well. Clearly not here for a medical checkup.¡±


    A shop assistant came over. ¡°Are you here to buy medicine or see a doctor?¡±


    ¡°To sell medicine. Do you take it?¡± ¡°We do, as long as the medicine is effective.¡±


    ¡°Can you make the decision?¡±

 Chapter 158 - 158: I Can’t Get Used to Their Bad Habits

    Chapter 158: I Can¡¯t Get Used to Their Bad Habits


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s not something like ginseng or reishi, I can decide on the smaller items.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s these very items.¡±


    ¡°Alright, please wait a moment.¡±


    The shop assistant immediately went to the back and called someone. The shopkeeper smiled at her.


    ¡°Young man, can I take a look at your goods?¡±


    Qiao Mai returned a smile and ced the items from the basket behind her on the counter, one by one.


    ¡°These are all freshly picked and reasonably priced. I also have somerger items.¡±


    The shopkeepers in the capital were experienced and worldly-wise. He opened each package and examined the contents.


    ¡°These medicinal herbs are excellent, all top-quality. I¡¯ll pay ten taels of silver for a cattie of Dendrobium. This ginseng is thirty years old and in good condition. I¡¯ll offer thirty taels of silver for one root. Reishi is of a simr age, so twenty taels of silver for one piece. As for the Dioscorea opposita, I¡¯ll pay two taels of silver for a cattie. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s weigh them.¡±


    The shop assistant stood by while they weighed each item, and the shopkeeper ced the silver notes into a money pouch and handed it to her. ¡°If you find our shop¡¯s prices fair, what about therger item?¡±


    Qiao Mai took a cloth bag from her pocket. ¡°Look at this.¡±


    It contained the same items she had on disy, except she had already sold two and had four left.


    The shopkeeper opened the cloth bag and smiled. He nodded.


    ¡°A six hundred-year-old ginseng, not bad at all. While it may not be exceptionally rare, its medicinal properties are still decent.¡±


    ¡°Name your price.¡±


    ¡°Thirteen thousand taels, no more.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. She had sold two of these for twenty thousand taels, so making a profit of three thousand taels each was quite a deal in the capital.


    ¡°Okay. ¡±


    As they were about toplete the deal, a group of officials entered the shop.


    The leader recognized the shopkeeper and quickly saluted him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we have been ordered to search for the missing property of the Fu family. Please cooperate.¡±


    ¡°Please go ahead!¡±


    The leader looked at the shopkeeper and then at the items in their hands.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The shopkeeper pointed to the pile of medicinal herbs on the counter, indicating these were freshly harvested and unrted to the Fu family.


    ¡°What about her?¡±


    Qiao Mai remained calm. ¡°I live in Bichun Garden and am a friend of the Wang family¡¯s old mistress. I am here to attend the wedding of Prince Shunqin.¡± ¡°Why are you selling herbs then?¡±


    ¡°When I left home, I picked these from the mountains behind my house to prevent them from spoiling.¡±


    The officials examined the freshly harvested herbs, confirming they were unrted to the Fu family, and then went to the back.


    The shopkeeper handed her the silver notes. ¡°Hurry back. Don¡¯t wander around outside these days. The Fu family reported double of everything they lost. If they see anything that looks like their own, your house might get searched. Be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the reminder!¡±


    Qiao Mai took the silver notes and left the clinic. To her surprise, she saw the officials entering the estate as soon as she arrived home.


    She remained calm, returned to her courtyard, and found her servants, Yue Hong and Yue Xia, guarding the children while a few officials searched her house.


    Qiao Mai walked over, her face cold, and stood in front of the maids.


    After a while, the officials came out and nced at them. Then, they left Bichun Garden.


    Once they were gone, she turned to Yue Hong and Yue Xia. ¡°Check our belongings to see if anything is missing. Write it down on a piece of paper.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    The children were a little nervous, but the officials didn¡¯t mistreat them, so their fear gradually dissipated.


    They looked at Qiao Mai and asked, ¡°Mother, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°A wealthy family in the capital was robbed. The officials are searching for stolen goods house by house. This is the second day.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t steal anything, so we don¡¯t have to be afraid, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t need to be afraid.¡±


    The children felt relieved. Not long after, Yue Hong and Yue Xia returned.


    ¡°Mistress, the children¡¯s purses are missing, and Miss Ling¡¯er¡¯s hair ornaments are gone, along with one of your hairpins. They were the shiny and new ones.¡± Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°Keep an eye on the children.¡±


    She stood at the gate and dered, ¡°Who took my children¡¯s hair ornaments and my hairpin? Step forward now, or I¡¯ll report you at the court.¡±


    The leader of the search team turned and looked at her.


    ¡°What did you lose?¡±


    ¡°Three hair ornaments and four purses, all shiny. They are not from our country. My friend brought them from overseas. Also, my children¡¯s pocket money was in those purses.¡±


    The team leader blew a whistle, and all the officials gathered.


    ¡°Who searched thisdy¡¯s courtyard, took these items, and is willing to return them now? Otherwise, when I find out who did it, you¡¯ll face military punishment.¡±


    The team leader turned to Qiao Mai and asked, ¡°Are you sure these items were stolen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. I know who searched my courtyard.¡±


    He turned back to his subordinates. ¡°Who searched thisdy¡¯s courtyard and took the items? Please step forward now. If you don¡¯t, you will face grave consequences.¡±


    After an internal struggle, one of the soldiers stepped forward and handed the items to the team leader.


    Indeed, there were three pieces of jewelry and four exquisite purses.


    The leader of the soldiers turned and extended his hands toward Qiao Mai. ¡°I apologize. I didn¡¯t supervise my men properly. They will face military discipline when we return.¡±


    Qiao Mai epted the items and took a silver ingot from her sleeve, handing it to the soldier.


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. You can go have some tea with this.¡±


    ¡°Thank you! ¡±


    The team leader waved to his soldiers, and the group left through the side gate.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s sharp ears overheard the soldierining to the team leader, ¡°Why did you make me return those ornaments? They look valuable. We could have kept them.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, you took things without considering the ce. The more valuable, the higher her status. Do you know whose residence this is?¡±


    ¡°This is the private residence of Grand Perceptor Pang¡¯s sister. A woman like her can stop us from taking back her belongings. She¡¯s not someone to mess with. You understand nothing.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes and walked back to the Haitang Courtyard, asking Yue Hong and Yue Xia to keep the jewelry.


    In reality, she hadn¡¯t lost much money since most of it was stored in her space.


    These soldiers wouldn¡¯t have been able to benefit much, but she didn¡¯t want to let these people take advantage of her belongings.


    They were soldiers, not bandits, and she didn¡¯t tolerate such behavior.


    Before noon, Old Master and Mistress Wang returned. They returned earlier because of the search.


    Once they arrived, they immediately beganining to Qiao Mai. ¡°They searched for three days straight, and even the city gates were closed. Ah, what kind of person dares to steal from the Fu family? The robber must be capable enough to prevent being found. Why are they still searching? What nonsense.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°The Wang family is adjacent to the Fu family, so they should have been searched yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Families like the Wangs can¡¯t be searched without an imperial order. There are always people present during the search. Those soldiers won¡¯t dare to act recklessly.¡±


    ¡°Bichun Garden was searched too.¡±


    ¡°I heard from the servants that they took a few good things from you?¡± ¡°Yes, but I got them back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask my eldest brother to find trouble for the Fu family. Apart from Grand Tutor Fu having some knowledge, the younger generation of their family is weak. That Minister is doing his job poorly. If it weren¡¯t for his father, he couldn¡¯t have gotten this position.¡±


    ¡°Is there a feud between your family and theirs?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that old guy. He always feels that the Grand Perceptor¡¯s position is slightly higher than his, so he¡¯s always dissatisfied. He kept looking for trouble with my mother¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°Your mother¡¯s family is?¡±


    ¡°The only Grand Perceptor in the capital. Thete Grand Perceptor was my father, and my eldest brother is the current Grand Perceptor.¡± ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve connected with someone incredible. How lucky!¡±


    ¡°Get lost. You¡¯re always teasing me!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Qiao Mai smugly smiled..

 Chapter 159 - 159: More Beautiful Than Silver

    Chapter 159 - 159: More Beautiful Than Silver


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Really. See, I unintentionally became friends with Ruler and caught Old Mistress Wang¡¯s eye. How lucky I am! One is a princess, and the other is the daughter of the Grand Perceptor. Oh my, I¡¯m worry-free for the rest of my life.¡±


    The olddy chuckled and then sighed deeply.


    ¡°The poor envy those with money, and those with money envy those with power. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Look at those high-ranking officials in the capital. They all form cliques and alliances. One misstep and they could lose their lives. I still think it¡¯s good to stay in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°Wealth and privilegee with their dangers. Those who pursue them willingly ept the risks.¡±


    ¡°Ru¡¯er doesn¡¯t want to climb high, but the high branches just happen to notice her. Fools indeed have their luck.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Ru¡¯er is innocent and lively, but she¡¯s not foolish. She understands many things very well. ¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her. How was your visit to the Wang family today?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be? It was a formality. It¡¯s been so many years, and there¡¯s nothing close between us. I get along better with you.¡±


    ¡°Neighbors are better than distant rtives, especially since we live so close.¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you, as soon as they saw my appearance and my hair today, they were all stunned. You have no idea¡­¡±


    Their rtionship was a mix of grandmother and granddaughter, as well as mother and daughter, with a closeness that transcended distance.


    At night, while everyone in the Bichun Garden was sleeping, Qiao Mai continued to ce her children in the space.


    Under the moonlight, she went to the Wang family. The Wang family was no less affluent than the Fu family. She evaded all the hidden guards and spies.


    It gave her a sense of reassurance. She wondered if it was Wang Zongsheng¡¯s doing as Jiaru¡¯s residence was surrounded by hidden guards.


    Each one was concealed in the shadows. Seeing this level of protection, she could let her guard down.


    She had considered staying for a few nights to ensure Jiaru¡¯s safety before leaving once the marriage was sessful. However, it seemed she had been overly cautious. Only someone of her caliber could prate this level of protection. Otherwise, they would have been detected long ago.


    Experience truly mattered. Wang Zongsheng, despite not being physically present, regarded his daughter¡¯s marriage as of paramount importance and arranged for such extensive security.


    Indeed, with wealth, one could afford to maintain so many security personnel.


    Relieved, she returned to Haitang Courtyard, took her children out of the


    space, and let them continue sleeping.


    Being away from home, she had to be extremely cautious, especially about her children. She couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes.


    Therefore, she didn¡¯t return to her room but sat cross-legged in the courtyard, cultivating.


    Three dayster, the capital returned to normal. The matter with the Fu family seemed forgotten, although the authorities might still be investigating secretly.


    However, no traces were left, and there was nowhere to investigate.


    Miss Fu¡¯s face remained the same even after consulting the pce physicians. She spent her days locked in her room, constantly distressed and trying various methods to no avail. Some suggested the drastic measure of cutting off her face, but would she have skin left?


    Of course, Miss Fu could not bring herself to allow such a procedure. At this point, she paid little attention to her Brother Long Ji.


    Miss Fu¡¯s disfigured face had be known, and many were secretly d.


    Some evenughed, ¡°Who did it? Amazing! This is a great deed. She¡¯s a woman of low character and a cheap person. Haha, well written. It suits her personality.¡±


    Others deliberately set off firecrackers on the street, showing that Miss Fu was truly unpopr with the people.


    Qiao Mai and her children couldn¡¯t stay in Bichun Garden all the time. They hade out to have fun, so she drove a horse carriage and took her children out to y.


    At the very least, whening to the capital city, they had to catch a glimpse of the Imperial Pce. They couldn¡¯t enter, but she wanted the children to see it from the outside.


    Qiao Mai drove the horse carriage straight to the imperial pce. There was a moat outside, and no Imperial Guards were guarding around. Carriages and pedestrians could travel along the outermost road to admire its beauty.


    Inside the moat were rows of soldiers, standing straight and rigid.


    The children sat in the carriage, leaning against the windows and looking towards the imperial pce.


    ¡°Mother, are the houses here the best?¡±


    ¡°Of course. This is where the Emperor lives.¡±


    ¡°The Emperor is the highest ruler you mentioned, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he rules over all the territories of the Great Ming Dynasty with the power of life and death. One wrong move can lead to execution.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so scary. Why do people still want to serve as officials in the court?¡±


    ¡°Because they seek wealth and power. The more dangerous the ce, the more wealth and power can be obtained.¡±


    Whether they fully understood or not, they were schrs and the ones who would seek official positions in the future. She wanted to impart these lessons to her children.


    ¡°But themoners often get bullied.¡±


    ¡°It depends on how you choose.¡±


    Feng¡¯er said, ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t know if I can pass the exams. I¡¯ll have to try. If I can be an official, I will. If I can¡¯t, I¡¯lle home and farm.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m the same, Mother!¡±


    ¡°Me too!¡±


    Ling¡¯er raised her hand and said, ¡°Ling¡¯er too.¡±


    The three older brothersughed at her, ¡°You¡¯re a girl. You should learn cooking and housekeeping from Mother. When we achieve something, we will take good care of you.¡±


    Theirughter attracted the attention of some people nearby. The city had been sealed for several days, and many people were eager toe out. They all came out to enjoy themselves.


    Undoubtedly, the scenery on the moat was excellent, attracting many people.


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s head was adorned with shiny hair ornaments that dazzled the eyes, especially the eyes of the youngdies.


    ¡°What is she wearing on her head? It¡¯s so pretty.¡±


    ¡°Look at that woman driving the carriage. Her clothes and hair essories match so well. She¡¯s so beautiful.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen hair ornaments like this at the jewelry store?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Where did she buy that hairpin?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s ask her.¡±


    As a result, Qiao Mai was stopped by a group of youngdies. However, they were much more pleasant than Miss Fu.


    ¡°Excuse me, sister, where did you buy the hair ornaments for you and the children?¡±


    Qiao Mai touched the hairpin and thought that this was a hairpin custom-made by a high-end brand from Earth, studded with diamonds. There was definitely nothing like it here.


    It was all because of this hairpin. It seemed that women could go to great lengths for beauty. ¡°Oh, you mean these hairpins?¡±


    ¡°This is a hairpin?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a friend of mine brought them from abroad. They are studded with small diamonds.¡±


    ¡°How much does one of these hairpins cost?¡± ¡°About ten thousand taels of silver.¡¯


    ¡°Oh my, such a small hairpin is so expensive?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the gemstones on it are crystallized volcanicva and emit their own light when there¡¯s no sunlight. When the sun shines on them, the brilliance bes even more intense.¡±


    ¡°Right? How can something be more beautiful than silver? We can¡¯t afford it.


    Can we take a look and touch it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but a few days ago, a youngdy came up and tried to snatch them. I don¡¯t want that to happen again.¡±


    ¡°A youngdy? Snatched? Are you talking about Miss Fu?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know her, but she didn¡¯t seed. Later, she wanted to buy them, but I refused to sell them. She left.


    ¡°It must be Miss Fu. We heard she had her face disfigured. It serves her right.


    She used to rob us, so we didn¡¯t dare to go out. We heard her house was robbed, and her face became like that, so we decided toe out together.¡±


    ¡°I see. It seems that from now on, I can¡¯t wear these new hair ornaments when


    I go out.¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t run into her, it should be fine. By the way, which family are you from?¡±


    ¡°I came to the capital with the Wang family to attend a wedding.¡±


    ¡°Which family? We¡¯d like to hear.¡±


    ¡°Prince Shunqin. The bride is my sister.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, so you¡¯re the sister of the future princess. Please forgive us for our disrespect. ¡±


    ¡°Now that there¡¯s nothing else, can I take my children to y?¡± ¡°Sister, do you have more of these new hair ornaments?¡±


    ¡°I do, but they are expensive.¡±


    ¡°Where are you staying?¡±


    ¡°Bichun Garden..¡±</font>

 Chapter 160 - 160: There Are So Many Rich People

    Chapter 160 - 160: There Are So Many Rich People


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°That seems to be Grand Perceptor Pang¡¯s sister¡¯s private residence.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°If we want to buy, can wee to your ce?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but these hairpins are priced at ten thousand taels. I will be leaving by the end of September, so you won¡¯t be able to find me then.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the youngdies gulped. ¡°Are you in the business of selling these?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°No, I just saw that you all liked them, and you look elegant, unlike that youngdv who tried to snatch them from me. So. I¡¯m willing to share mv beautiful items.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded to them. The crowd made way for her as she drove her carriage away.


    Unexpectedly, many people sent invitations to Bichun Garden the next day. Old Mistress Wang took the invitations and found her.


    ¡°Is this your doing?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I couldn¡¯te to the capital for nothing. I had to make some money.¡±


    ¡°What are you selling? Fruits, vegetables?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m selling the hairpins I¡¯m wearing.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang nced at her head. ¡°They are beautiful. How much are you selling them for?¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand taels of silver for something like mine. Even better ones worth over a hundred thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Over a hundred thousand taels? My goodness, what are they like?¡±


    Qiao Mai gave her a mysterious smile and took a headdress from the box she had brought. It could be worn like a hat. As soon as she took it out, it shimmered like stars in the sky, continuously emitting light. Old Mistress Wang quickly covered her eyes with her hand.


    ¡°Girl, you shouldn¡¯t unt your wealth like this.¡±


    ¡°I was stopped when I went out today. It seems they all like this kind of hairpin.


    Since they love it, I¡¯ll sell a few and make some money.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite bold. The capital is a ce with hidden dangers. If you¡¯re not careful, you could bring disaster upon yourself.¡±


    ¡°What can I do? I¡¯ve already attracted someone¡¯s attention. If I don¡¯t sell these, more people will notice me. But once these are sold, many people will have this item, so who will pay attention to me in the future?¡±


    ¡°How many do you have here?¡±


    ¡°Ten small ones, arge one, and ten sets of Horse-face dresses.¡±


    ¡°You brought these to the capital to sell?¡±


    ¡°Not really, it¡¯s just a side business. After selling these, I won¡¯t have anymore.¡± ¡°This would be more than twenty thousand taels of silver!¡±


    ¡°In the capital, many wealthy families deal with sums of tens of thousands and even more. The officials and magistrates all pay their taxes upwards. That¡¯s the hard-earned money of themoners.¡±


    ¡°Are you at ease to keep this money at home?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t n to keep it at home. There are many poor families in the city. Outside, there are also disaster victims. I n to buy grain with this money and distribute it to those in need.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang took a deep breath and looked at her appreciatively. ¡°You are a good child. I underestimated you. You¡¯re selling these for them?¡± ¡°Yes. Along the way, we¡¯ve encountered many disaster victims. Even though twenty thousand taels of silver may not be much, I¡¯ll do what I can to help. We¡¯ll also assist them on our way back. It gets colder as we go further, and they won¡¯t make it without silver.¡±


    ¡°Child, women like you who worry about themoners are too few.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can. There¡¯s no need to praise me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll get smug.


    Besides, don¡¯t you often help them too?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll ept the invitations. Let theme to our house tomorrow morning, and we can sell these in the front hall?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead!¡±


    This trend caught on, and the next day, many people arrived at Bichun Garden, all from influential families.


    Some were even sent by the pce concubines, making the living room crowded.


    Old Mistress Wang had the maids and servants leave the living room, leaving only their mistresses.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cut to the chase. Everyone is here today to see the hairpins. Since there are so many people, let¡¯s look at each item one by one.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the first item and opened the exquisite box, revealing the sparkling hairpin inside.


    ¡°This is called ¡®Butterflies in Flight.¡¯ It can be pinned to the side of the head, on top of the hair, or at the back, and it will look good no matter how you wear it.


    Gently clip it to your hair like this.¡±


    Qiao Mai demonstrated by attaching it to her hair, showing everyone how it looked.


    ¡°I assume you have all heard about the price. The reason it¡¯s expensive is that it¡¯s adorned with many diamonds. These diamondse from a country across the ocean. They¡¯re simr to the gemstones here but brighter. Therefore, it¡¯s shiny. This hairpin starts at ten thousand taels. Who would like to make the first bid?¡±


    ¡°How many hairpins are you selling today?¡±


    ¡°Ten of these small ones and arge one. These are brought from overseas by my friend. Once they are sold, I won¡¯t have anymore.¡±


    ¡°Where is this foreign ce?¡±


    ¡°So far? No wonder we haven¡¯t seen them before.¡¯


    ¡°Ladies, let¡¯s get started with the bidding.¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand taels!¡±


    Onedy raised her hand and shouted the price. Some others wanted to see the next item before deciding, fearing they might regret their bid if they set it too high now.


    Qiao Mai smiled and presented the ¡®Butterflies in Flight¡¯ piece to thedy. Thedy took a silver note from her sleeve and handed it to her.


    Qiao Mai epted the piece with a smile, nced at the amount on the note, and nodded in acknowledgment.


    Next, she took out the second piece, saying, ¡°This piece is named ¡®Blossoming Together,¡¯ with a simr meaning to the previous one. The starting price is ten thousand taels.¡±


    Each time, she would go through the same routine, showing the pieces to thedies to ensure they had a clear view so they wouldn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Ten thousand taels!¡±


    Thedy who had purchased the first piece raised her hand again. The otherdies couldn¡¯t hold back and joined the bidding.


    ¡°I¡¯d say, Madam Jiao, your family is quite rich. You¡¯ve already bought one; you can¡¯t keep snatching things from us.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re not offering any price.¡± ¡°Who told you we won¡¯t? Twelve thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Twenty thousand taels!¡±


    Madam Jiao¡¯s neck stiffened as her bid for the second piece seemed to leave others breathless.


    She once again got the second piece. With a satisfied smile, Qiao Mai took the silver note and tucked it into her bosom before unveiling the third piece.


    Old Mistress Wang watched with great interest. Today, it was just buyers and sellers; there were no distinctions of high or low status, only those who had the means to buy. It was enjoyable!


    Each of the following pieces of jewelry was auctioned off one by one. When she finally presented thest tiara, the room lit up. It was truly stunning.


    ¡°This is the final piece. It¡¯s the grand finale. But don¡¯t forget that we still have ten dresses to auctionter. If you¡¯re interested, stay tuned.¡±


    ¡°Quickly, make your bids!¡± ¡°Starting at fifteen thousand taels. Let the bidding begin!¡±


    ¡°Twenty thousand taels!¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five thousand taels!¡±


    ¡°Thirty thousand taels!¡±


    Qiao Mai thought, ¡°Damn, these people are filthy rich. They¡¯re bidding without even blinking an eye, increasing it by five thousand taels each time.¡±


    What¡¯s the difference between them and the wealthy people on Earth? Ordinary people pay two dors for a bottle of mineral water, but wealthy people pay a thousand. That¡¯s the gap. Therefore, when she has something good that catches the eye of a rich person, she has to milk them for all they¡¯re worth. They don¡¯tck money.


    Finally, the tiara was sold to onedy for thirty-five thousand taels.


    Those who didn¡¯t make a purchase were impressed and found it eye-opening. They also inquired about the items.


    ¡°Miss, when will your friend bring more of these hairpins?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not easy to go there. It¡¯s a perilous journey, and you don¡¯t know what you¡¯ll encounter at sea. If you run into a whirlpool, the ship¡¯s crew could be lost. So, when he goes again isn¡¯t certain.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention there are also dresses?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled mischievously, walked to the side, and tapped a beautifully decorated box on the table. She opened it, revealing one of the dresses inside..</font>

 Chapter 161 - 161: Good Things Don’t Sell Cheap

    Chapter 161 - 161: Good Things Don¡¯t Sell Cheap


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Someone screamed when they saw the dress.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen this dress before. The future princess from the Wang family wore it. It was so beautiful.


    ¡°This is a winter dress, priced at five thousand taels each.¡±


    ¡°Goodness, that¡¯s so expensive! Earlier, your diamonds could rival gemstones, but is this dress worth that much?¡±


    ¡°In our Great Ming Dynasty, a bolt of cloud brocade costs over ten thousand gold. Do you think my dress isn¡¯t worth it? This fabric is even better than cloud brocade, and making one dress requires half a bolt. Just the fabric alone costs much, not to mention the embroidery.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai held the dress with both hands and approached thedies, allowing them to see up close.


    ¡°Wow, this fabric doesn¡¯t wrinkle. It¡¯s incredibly soft, and there¡¯s even ayer of fine fleece inside.


    Qiao Mai nced back at Old Mistress Wang, who smiled. Today, she supported Qiao Mai throughout the event.


    Some of the madams and youngdies who came were of even higher social status than her. Old Mistress Wang had to pay her respects to them. Nevertheless, she was willing to do so.


    Compared to the hair essories, the dresses were a bit pricey, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t lower the price.


    She believed that if the product was good, it would sell.


    Sure enough, she took the dress back and held it in her hands. ¡°Thiske blue Horse-face dress is five thousand taels. Anyone interested? If not, I¡¯ll take it back. Good things shouldn¡¯t be sold cheap.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it. They snatched the hair essories, and I can¡¯t return empty-handed.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and neatly folded the dress before cing it back in the box. She then brought it to the youngdy who had called out the price.


    ¡°Miss, please take it!¡±


    ¡°What ¡®Miss¡¯? I¡¯m a county princess.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. In the future, please take care of my business.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you nning to stop selling after this?¡±


    ¡°What if Ie across more good items in the future?¡±


    ¡°In that case, remember to send someone to inform me at my residence.¡±


    ¡°Sure, County Princess!¡±


    Immediately after, another horse-face dress, and then another, each different from thest. Those who hadn¡¯t managed to buy the hair essories quickly made their moves and grabbed the dresses.


    These dresses didn¡¯t go up for auction; each was priced at five thousand taels. In no time, they were all sold.


    Qiao Mai continued to smile throughout, watching the satisfied crowd.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please wait for my next visit to the capital. I¡¯ll bring more good stuff for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Miss, where are you from?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from Wei City.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s quite far.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°It will be difficult for us to buy from you in the future.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily. Perhaps one day, my friend will suddenlye across some good items, and I¡¯lle to the capital to post notices for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Great, we¡¯ll be waiting!¡±


    Seeing that there was nothing left to buy, the women bid their farewells and left Bichun Garden.


    In the hall, only Old Mistress Wang and Qiao Mai remained. ¡°How much did we sell?¡±


    ¡°The dresses sold for fifty thousand taels. Ten small hair ornaments for two hundred and sixty thousand taels, and the hairpin sold for three hundred and fifty thousand taels. It¡¯s six hundred and sixty thousand taels. What an auspicious number! ¡±


    ¡°Will it all be used for the disaster victims?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll start by providing relief to the victims outside the city. On our way back, we can provide further assistance. I n to buy a house in Tianshui Town for the beggars with basic amodation. We shouldn¡¯t let them develop bad habits of idleness. If there are cases that require more, we can assist ordingly.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, should I go outside the city in your name?¡±


    ¡°Why? It¡¯s your money.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not expose myself. I still want to enjoy a peaceful life. While helping people is good, we can¡¯t let others reap all the benefits. So, I thought of passing the credit to you and your husband.¡±


    ¡°Were you nning this all along?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I heard your husband retired from his official position.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s rted to the Fu family. The head of their family is the Minister of


    Revenue, and he managed to push my husband out of office.¡±


    ¡°Why did that happen?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because Grand Tutor Fu has a good rtionship with the emperor. He often influences the emperor¡¯s decisions, and gradually, the emperor became displeased with my husband. Combined with my husband¡¯s bad temper, they simply couldn¡¯t get along. So, my husband decided to resign. Coincidentally, Zongsheng was the magistrate in Wei City, so we moved there.¡±


    ¡°Who holds the highest position in the Wang family?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s the highest official rank!¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the recipes you sold to Zongsheng benefited themon people, and the emperor was pleased. As a result, he promoted the Wang family¡¯s position.


    Now, do you understand why I was upset?¡±


    ¡°Ah, your son contributed money and effort, but the Wang family reaped the greatest benefit.?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. We are far from the emperor¡¯s sight. We can enjoy a peaceful life and let them live in fear and uncertainty. Let them be short-lived while we live long and prosper.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right. After listening to you, I¡¯m feeling less upset.¡±


    ¡°And what about you, Grandmother?¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you receive any noble titles or honors?¡±


    ¡°No, titles like those are only granted by the emperor to people who have made significant contributions to the court. They are just empty honors. I don¡¯t care for them.¡¯


    Qiao Mai blinked but didn¡¯t say anything further.


    After a morning of bustling activity, the olddy felt a bit tired. Qiao Mai brewed a pot of tea with spiritual river water for her.


    After taking the first sip, the olddy noticed something was amiss.


    ¡°Girl, did you add something to the tea?¡±


    ¡°I added a tonic to it. After you have lunch, you¡¯ll get a good nap.¡± ¡°When did you be knowledgeable about medicine?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about understanding medicine; this tonic just works this way.¡±


    ¡°Oh, thank you. Honestly, sitting here all morning to watch you sell goods has made me quite tired.¡±


    After two cups of tea, Qiao Mai had the maid assist Old Mistress Wang back to her resting ce.


    With Old Mistress Wang¡¯s reputation established through the auction, Qiao Mai could now openly assist themoners.


    All the proceeds from the Fu family would be used for the benefit of the people. She recalled the customer service¡¯s words, ¡°Take from the people and use for the people.¡±


    The next day, she went to a grain shop after breakfast.


    ¡°Shopkeeper?¡±


    ¡°Hello, customer. How can I assist you?¡±


    ¡°How much grain do you have in stock?¡±


    ¡°We have quite a bit. Our warehouse at the back is full.¡±


    ¡°How much does cornmeal and white flour cost?¡±


    ¡°Cornmeal is ten coins per pound, and white flour is thirty coins per pound.¡± ¡°Why is it so much more expensive than in the countryside?¡±


    ¡°The court has requisitioned all the grain, and there are so many refugees outside the city. That¡¯s why the prices have gone up.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Emperor allow refugees to enter the city?¡±


    ¡°They can, but only one person per family is allowed toe in and buy food.


    They¡¯re not allowed to beg or roam around the city.¡±


    ¡°Is there porridge avable for them?¡± ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s limited.¡± ¡°Which city gate has the most refugees?¡±


    ¡°The South Gate!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take all your cornmeal and white flour. Pack them in fifty-pound bags and deliver them immediately to the South Gate. I¡¯ll be waiting there. As soon as the goods arrive, I¡¯ll pay you. Make sure to fill the carriages up and keep theming until all your goods are delivered.¡±


    ¡°May I ask which family you belong to?¡± The shopkeeper was nervous.


    ¡°Do you know Grand Perceptor Pang¡¯s sister?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Grand Perceptor Pang¡¯s sister.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m her granddaughter, staying at Bichun Courtyard. My grandmother asked me toe and perform acts of charity.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡±


    Using the olddy¡¯s name made things much easier. Even though she had left the capital, her reputation still held sway. People knew who she was, and mentioning her name carried weight.


    Qiao Mai arrived alone outside the South Gate, where she saw that the refugees had set up makeshift tents. But there didn¡¯t seem to be any porridge distribution.


    It had been several months since May.. Why were there still so many refugees outside the city? Weren¡¯t there any other viges or towns where they could find shelter?</font>

 Chapter 162 - 162: Life-Saving Money

    Chapter 162 - 162: Life-Saving Money


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°The imperial court is so incapable.¡± Qiao Mai shook her head and walked towards the nearby refugees.


    Seeing someone approaching, the refugees¡¯ eyes all lit up. They were hoping someone would lend them a hand.


    ¡°Miss, do you have any food? Please, we¡¯re starving.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there porridge distributed every day?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s too little food for too many of us. There¡¯s just one pot of porridge, and they leave after serving it.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai looked at their emaciated figures and sighed. ¡°Relying on the court¡¯s aid alone won¡¯t work. You have to find a way yourselves.¡±


    ¡°But we need money on hand, right? When we settle in a vige, don¡¯t we need to build a house, buy two acres ofnd, and ensure our family has enough to


    ¡°Why not find work in the city?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not enough work. We¡¯ve sold everything of value. We¡¯ve been waiting here for two months, and the court still hasn¡¯t arranged anything for us. We are struggling to survive.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed again and took two steamed buns from her backpack, handing them to one of the refugees.


    ¡°Eat. I am the granddaughter of Madam Pang, the owner of Bichun Garden in the capital. She sent me to help all of you. Don¡¯t worry. Soon, you¡¯ll be able to queue up and receive aid. Everyone will get their share.¡±


    ¡°Is it true?¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. The shopkeeper from the grain store will be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, youngdy. Thank you, Madam Pang!¡±


    The man ate the steamed bun while kneeling in gratitude. Themotion quickly caught the attention of other refugees, and when they learned that relief aid wasing, they all knelt before Qiao Mai, grateful and excited.


    Qiao Mai raised her voice to maintain order, fearing that any unrest might give the wrong impression to the authorities.


    ¡°Those who want to live, send one person from each family to the city gates. No grabbing and no fighting! Everyone will have their share, understand? If anyone tries to take more, they won¡¯t receive aid next time.¡±


    She used her inner strength to project her voice clearly, and the refugees obeyed her instructions.


    ¡°As long as we all get our share, we¡¯ll queue up and not fight!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked back at the city gate. A wagon filled with grain was approaching her.


    ¡°Customer, our shopkeeper sent me with this. It¡¯s twenty bags of cornmeal, fifty pounds each. Ten taels of silver, please.¡±


    Qiao Mai handed a silver ingot to the shop assistant, ¡°Go back and send a few more wagons.¡±


    ¡°Yes, customer!¡±


    Qiao Mai stood in front of the wagon. ¡°Come, line up, and take your share. After that, hurry home to cook.¡±


    The refugees lined up, receiving fifty pounds of cornmeal and two ten-tael silver from her.


    One wagon carried twenty bags, enough for twenty families, but there were thousands of refugees outside the city gates.


    Wagons kepting and going. When the refugees saw that every family would receive their share, they stopped causing trouble and patiently lined up to collect.


    They thought they would only receive food, but to their surprise, each family was also given twenty taels of silver. This moved them to tears.


    ¡°Who is this Madam Pang?¡±


    ¡°She is the younger sister of the current Grand Perceptor Pang. She just returned and sold her jewelry to help all of you as soon as she heard of your suffering.¡±


    ¡°Dear Miss, please thank her on our behalf!¡±


    ¡°My grandmother can¡¯t bear to see others suffer. She¡¯s getting old and couldn¡¯te, so she sent me. Now that you have food and silver, please settle down as soon as possible. Don¡¯t stay at the city gates all the time.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll eat a full meal and then search in the nearby viges.¡±


    For an entire day, Qiao Mai remained at the southern gate. Whenever a cart loaded with grain arrived, she would settle the ounts and watch as the refugees received their share of food. She also distributed relief funds to them.


    Each cart carried a thousand catties of grain. With ten carts, that totaled ten thousand catties. She practically bought all the white flour and cornmeal from that grain shop.


    Before nightfall, the people outside the southern gate, each receiving fifty catties of grain and ten taels of silver, were all taken care of.


    They cooked on the spot, and the rising smoke from their fires brought a smile of satisfaction to Qiao Mai¡¯s face.


    The next day, she nned to visit the northern gate, where there were fewer refugees. Since the capital didn¡¯t allow refugees to enter without silver, some refugees hoped to go north and depart from the northern gate.


    They were all observing and waiting to see if the court would provide any arrangements.


    Returning home, Qiao Mai drank from her teapot, feeling refreshed. Old Mistress Wang asked, ¡°Were you outside the city all day?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The southern part has the most refugees, and the court hasn¡¯t taken action. ¡±


    ¡°How much grain did you buy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I settled the ounts for each cart as it came. We had cornmeal and white flour. I bought dozens of carts and gave each family twenty taels of silver. With this, I hope they can settle down soon. Winter will arrive in about a month.¡±


    ¡°Are you going there again tomorrow?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the north gate. There are fewer refugees there.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to apany you?¡±


    Old Master Wang also came to see her. ¡°Youngdy, you¡¯ve done a great job. As soon as you have some money, you think about themoners. You¡¯re not like those who are wealthy but unkind.¡±


    ¡°I earned quite a bit yesterday, so I thought I should spend a little.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    The kitchen brought in some food. Old Mistress Wang, full of concern, picked out some dishes for her.


    ¡°You must have spent a lot today.¡±


    ¡°Not too much, perhaps tens of thousands. Compared to what I earned, it¡¯s a small sum.¡±


    ¡°Are you nning to spend all the money you earned yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Well, I wanted to give more, but I was afraid of attracting thieves if I gave too much. So, I gave each family twenty taels of silver along with the food. I¡¯ve spent nearly sixty thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°The court doesn¡¯t even want to provide this much. Those people would rather spend tens of thousands on useless hair ornaments than help these disaster victims. Sigh.¡±


    ¡°We should focus on doing what we can.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai rested for a night and went to the grain shop again. The previous shop was sold out, so she visited another one.


    Due to her extensive purchases the day before, grain prices in the capital had risen. Cornmeal was now fifteen coins per catty, and white flour was forty coins per catty.


    Qiao Mai clenched her teeth and went to check the northern gate. After estimating the number of refugees there, which was about a hundred families, she bought six carts of cornmeal from another grain shop and distributed it to the victims. As usual, each family got twenty taels of silver.


    It was much less work than the previous day. However, many impoverished families lived in the northern part of the city, often referred to as the slums. When they heard that refugees were receiving help from a benefactor, they came to try their luck.


    Seeing these desperate people, Qiao Mai decided to help them as well.


    She purchased ten more carts of grain, and just like the refugees in the south, she provided each family with fifty catties of grain and twenty taels of silver.


    This twenty taels of silver might be a small amount for the wealthy, just enough for a snack or meal, but it was a lifeline for the poor.


    The story of Madam Pang from the Wang family providing relief to disaster victims soon spread throughout the capital.


    Those who had spent a fortune on hair ornaments regretted it when they learned that Madam Pang had sold her jewelry to raise funds.


    Thisparison made them appear heartless.


    One sold her jewelry to help disaster victims while they spent a fortune on hair ornaments for their vanity. Those who had bought the hair ornaments dared not show their faces, feeling ashamed.


    Even the pce had heard about this matter. They wondered why it was always the Wang family involved. The Wang family operated workshops, collected sweet potatoes and sesame seeds, providing additional ie for themoners. It was a good thing. Now, they were helping disaster victims, highlighting the emperor¡¯s inability to govern.


    In truth, the emperor had his own difficulties. When the southern region faced disasters, he allocated grain funds, but it was far from sufficient.


    The imperial treasury was empty, and they relied on the uing autumn harvest to collect grain taxes..</font>

 Chapter 163 - 163: I Don’t Know How to Pretend, and I Don’t Want to Act

    Chapter 163 - 163: I Don¡¯t Know How to Pretend, and I Don¡¯t Want to Act


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Upon hearing that someone would rather spend a fortune on jewelry than help themoners while Lady Pang from the Wang family sold her jewelry to aid themoners, the emperor couldn¡¯t help but feel angry.


    He thought, ¡°I¡¯m facing such difficulties, and all of you are wealthy. You don¡¯t even think about sharing the burden with me. Yet, an elderly woman like Lady


    Pang sold her jewelry to help me. Thisparison makes me extremely bitter.¡±


    Immediately, he ordered Old Master and Mistress Wang to the pce.


    After praising them in person, the emperor couldn¡¯t offer rewards due to financial constraints. However, he asked Old Master Wang if he was willing to return to the court.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Old Master Wang promptly declined, citing his advanced age. The emperor didn¡¯t force it and issued a decree conferring the title of a first-grade noblewoman upon Old Mistress Wang.


    The old couple recalled what Qiao Mai had said about not revealing her involvement. They immediately expressed gratitude for the emperor¡¯s favor and returned to Bichun Garden with the imperial decree.


    Qiao Mai was unaware of this development. She had just returned and was sitting in her room, taking a break and drinking tea.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang arrived and showed the decree to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°This should be your honor.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the imperial decree and returned it to Old Mistress Wang. ¡°This belongs to you. It has nothing to do with me.¡±


    ¡°Child, did you just give this honor away so easily?¡±


    ¡°You always say you can¡¯t hold your heads high in the Wang family, and they look down on you. Well, now you¡¯ve got it. You¡¯re a first-grade noblewoman. There aren¡¯t many of those in the capital. You¡¯re one now.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang wiped away a tear. ¡°Did you want to earn this for me long


    ¡°When ites to matters that can be solved with money, why not? This can be considered as killing two birds with one stone. Besides, you¡¯re the daughter of thete Grand Perceptor Pang. The emperor¡¯s conferment is well-deserved. I just gave it a little push. Regarding my sister¡¯s marriage, I hope you can grandly go to the Wang family.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, child!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you arrange for a banquet at the most famous restaurant tonight?


    Our whole family is eager for it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a must!¡±


    While the family chatted happily, visitors from the Wang family arrived.


    Surprisingly, it was Minister Wang and his wife. He was Old Master Wang¡¯s older brother, Wang Yue. Old Master Wang was the third son in their family and was called Wang Meng.


    Qiao Mai discreetly avoided them and didn¡¯t meet them in person.


    Upon meeting, Minister Wang and his wife congratted Old Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Sister, we never expected that your kindness would earn the emperor¡¯s favor and grant you the title of a first-grade noblewoman. It¡¯s something to celebrate.¡±


    ¡°Humph, didn¡¯t my son¡¯s act of kindness help elevate you to the position of prime minister?¡±


    ¡°Well, we did give you five carts of goods. We didn¡¯t shortchange you, ¡± Minister Wang¡¯s wife said disdainfully.


    ¡°But my son gives you a third of what we earn every year. You¡¯re taking the money my son made to buy us gifts. Sister-inw, are you even justified in saying that?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you should do? We¡¯re supporting the Wang family in the capital. In the background, we¡¯re supporting Zongsheng, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Supporting? I haven¡¯t seen that.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you two, don¡¯t argue as soon as you meet. Big brother, thank you and your wife foring. We¡¯re not young anymore, and being given an honorary title doesn¡¯t make us happy. Everything for Ruler¡¯s wedding is ready, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, little brother. Nothing will go wrong.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Old Master Wang nced at his older brother. His eyes showed disbelief. However, he kept his mouth shut.


    ¡°Zongsheng will return tomorrow. Why don¡¯t youe with us?¡±


    ¡°No need. We¡¯re not fond of crowds, and we¡¯re not young anymore. We¡¯lle early on Ruler¡¯s big day.¡±


    ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll take our leave now.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang didn¡¯t even see them off. After Old Master Wang returned from sending them off, she clicked her tongue.


    ¡°Such people. They didn¡¯te to congratte us sincerely. They didn¡¯t even bring a gift.¡±


    ¡°Come on, wife. I know you don¡¯t like my family, but they¡¯re still my rtives.


    You can grumble about them in private, but we should get along on the surface. Otherwise, we¡¯ll be aughingstock.¡±


    ¡°Humph, I won¡¯t pretend and don¡¯t want to act. This is how I speak. I don¡¯t care what they want to do!¡±


    ¡°As you grow older, your temper bes more childlike.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m almost in the grave. Why should I pretend? I¡¯ll speak my mind. If I like something, I like it; if I don¡¯t, I don¡¯t. This first-rank decree is all thanks to my granddaughter¡¯s efforts!¡±


    ¡°Yes, congrattions!¡±


    ¡°Your big brother¡¯s minister position is also thanks to my granddaughter.¡± ¡°Yes, our family is basking in the glory brought by our granddaughter.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was stubborn, but Old Master Wang knew her well. A little coaxing was all it took to bring her around.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let my granddaughter spend money and effort for nothing. Later, I¡¯ll set aside some valuable items for her in my dowry.¡±


    ¡°You should decide on your belongings. I¡¯ll talk to Zongsheng about it. In the future, we¡¯ll allocate one-fifth of the profits from the Wang family¡¯s business to our granddaughter.¡±


    ¡°Humph, that sounds about right.¡±


    ¡°Father, mother, this son pays his respects to you!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Rul er¡¯s wedding is in three days. You must arrange everything carefully and ensure those unruly people from the Wang family don¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Father, rest assured. Li Longji is a desirable match that everyone wants. But he happened to be interested in our silly girl. As her father, I must be extra vignt. I¡¯ll ensure her safety.¡±


    ¡°Good. Madam Qiao has been aiding the disaster victims outside the city under your mother¡¯s name. The emperor conferred the title of a first-grade noblewoman upon her.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng chuckled, ¡°I heard about it as soon as I arrived in the city.


    Mother is blessed. Our Wang family owes Madam Qiao a great favor.¡±


    ¡°What do we owe? She¡¯s even more popr than your daughter. Your mother treats her like a real granddaughter. If not for you and Ru¡¯er, she would want to officially adopt Qiao Mai as her daughter. When you return, allocate one-fifth of the business profits to this girl.¡±


    ¡°Father, as long as Mother is happy, I¡¯ll listen to both of you.¡±


    The olddy raised her eyebrows. ¡°Listen, only my son¡¯s words make me happy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, everyone in the family is fine except me. I¡¯m sorry, okay?¡±


    The olddy gave her husband a sharp look and then turned to Wang Zongsheng.


    ¡°Stay here tonight, and we¡¯ll go over tomorrow morning?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to go now to make arrangements in advance, just in case.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then. We¡¯lle overter on the day.¡±


    ¡°Very well, Mother. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    As Wang Zongsheng left, the old couple felt somewhat anxious, fearing something might go wrong at their granddaughter¡¯s wedding. They had seen their fair share of unsavory incidents within influential families.


    Today, Jiao Mai had gone to the southern part of the city and found that the refugees who had received relief had all left, leaving the outskirts empty.


    She went to the north as well and found a simr situation. While she had managed to do some good for themoners, she hadn¡¯t touched a single coin from the Fu family¡¯s generous donation. She had been pondering this matter while absentmindedly cracking melon seeds.


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye! Before dawn at Bichun Garden, preparations were already in full swing.


    The old couple from the Xiangyun Courtyard had risen before the sun¡¯s up. They were afraid Qiao Mai and her children might oversleep, so they came to her courtyard.


    The weather was neither too cold nor too hot, and the stars were still visible in the sky. Qiao Mai certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten her task. She was helping her children get dressed and freshened up.


    Each child was dressed impably, carrying a beautifully crafted cloth bag over their shoulders. The three young boys looked polite and had a sweet demeanor.


    Upon seeing the two elders, the children immediately paid their respects and approached to assist them in taking their seats.


    Meanwhile, Ling¡¯er got ready like her three brothers, but she dressed more beautifully as a girl.


    Today, neither Qiao Mai nor Ling¡¯er wore their exquisite hair essories. They wanted to avoid any trouble simr to what had happened with Miss Fu. It wasn¡¯t that they were afraid, but it was Rul er¡¯s big day, and they didn¡¯t want anyplications.


    Ling¡¯er wore a pearl flower in her hair, a bun elegantly pinned at the back of her head. She also had a pair of silver pearl earrings.


    Her deep blue outfit was elegant and understated.


    Like her brothers, Ling¡¯er carried a cloth bag over her shoulder. Even Yue Hong and Yue Xia followed suit.


    ¡°Why are you all carrying these bags?¡±</font>

 Chapter 164 - 164: Substitute Bride

    Chapter 164 - 164: Substitute Bride


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°It¡¯s convenient. Small items like handkerchiefs can be put in the bag. Tying them to the waist would be inconvenient if they get lost.¡±


    ¡°Could you make one for me and the old manter?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll make one for both of you when I return.¡±


    Everyone got ready, and the group of people from the entourage boarded the carriage heading for the Wang family mansion.


    After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the Minister¡¯s residence. The main gate was wide open, and the red carpet had beenid out.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    The old couple got off the carriage, stood in ce, and waited for Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai brought her children and approached them.


    ¡°Grandfather, Grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Follow us, and don¡¯t be nervous. We¡¯ve got everything under control.¡± ¡°Could you look after my children for a moment? I want to check on Ru¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s meet upter.¡±


    The group entered the hall, where everything for the wedding, including decorations and congrattory signs, had been arranged. The Wang family members were all in the living room, and a round table in the dining room was filled with snacks.


    Upon their arrival, the people from the Wang family, including Wang


    Zongsheng, his wife, and Zi Han, quickly came over and paid their respects.


    Others also exchanged greetings and took their seats. They noticed Qiao Mai and her children.


    ¡°Who is this?¡±


    Madam Pang immediately stood up and said, ¡°Ruler¡¯s foster sister, my god-granddaughter!¡±


    Apanied by her children, Qiao Mai paid her respects to everyone and stood behind the olddy. Beforeing here, she had briefed Yue Hong, Yue Xia, and the children.


    ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯d like to check on my sister.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll watch over the children for you.¡±


    Madam Wang looked at a maid by her side. ¡°Lead the way for her.¡±


    The little maid was disciplined, with her hands sped in front of her abdomen


    and her head slightly bowed as she led the way.


    Qiao Mai followed her without a word, scanning her surroundings.


    After walking for about fifteen minutes, they arrived. It was evident that the Minister¡¯s residence was quite spacious. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw a sea of red decorations.


    Rednterns, red carpets, and red silk tied around pirs ¨C create a cheerful and festive atmosphere.


    Inside the house, the bride had changed into her wedding dress and covered her head with a veil. Many maids and servants surrounded her.


    When she noticed Qiao Mai¡¯s entrance, she was momentarily stunned. Only two of her personal maids recognized Qiao Mai.


    ¡°She¡¯s the bride¡¯s foster sister. Madam Qiao, greetings!¡±


    ¡°Very well, but why are you wearing the veil so early? I haven¡¯t even had a chance to see my sister¡¯s bridal appearance.¡±


    ¡°ording to royal customs, the bride covers her face at this time.¡± One of the maids exined to her, and Qiao Mai nodded in understanding. She approached Ru¡¯er, saying, ¡°Sister, I am here to see you!¡±


    Rul er would have stood up, but she didn¡¯t move. She seemed quite abnormal. Qiao Mai noticed Ru¡¯er was clenching her hands tightly, showing signs of nervousness.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, can¡¯t you speak?¡±


    ¡°The bride can¡¯t speak until the groom unveils her.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked around the bride once,paring her height and build. The bride was taller and heavier than Rul er. Moreover, her hands were far from Rul er¡¯s delicate and slender ones.


    Qiao Mai squinted, suspecting the Wang family was attempting to pull off a swap.


    She immediately grabbed the maid who had apanied her and whispered a few words into her ear. The maid quietly left the room and hurried toward the main hall.


    In no time, Wang Zongsheng, his wife, and other family members rushed in. Their faces looked grim, realizing they had to confront the Wang family about this issue.


    As they left the hall, many sharp-eyed guests followed to witness themotion.


    Since they entered the girl¡¯s courtyard, most of the onlookers were women of high status, some of whom had bought hair essories and dresses from Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai remained by the bride¡¯s side, not moving. Seeing that the people hade, Madam Wang and Old Mistress Wang focused on the bride.


    ¡°Girl, are you sure there¡¯s no mistake?¡±


    Qiao Mai showed them through her actions. She reached out and swiftly lifted


    the bride¡¯s veil.


    When Madam Wang saw the bride in a red outfit, her eyes widened in disbelief.


    She asked loudly, ¡°How can it be you?¡±


    Everyone was stunned. The bride turned pale, unsure of what to do. Furious, Madam Wang pped her, knocking the headdress off her head.


    A servant hurriedly squeezed through the crowd to ry the message. The women who had learned the truth were all shaking their heads in disapproval. ¡°Oh, what a switcheroo! The Minister can really pull off something like this?¡±


    The bride, who was actually the granddaughter of Minister Wang, knelt in fear.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. It was my idea. I admired the prince. This has nothing to do with my grandfather or father.¡±


    ¡°Nothing to do?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng snorted. ¡°I had so many people protect Rul er. If they hadn¡¯t provided cover for you, would you be able to sit here?¡±


    Qiao Mai spoke, ¡°Where is my sister?¡±


    The Wang family had been too mad to think clearly and had forgotten this crucial matter. Upon hearing Qiao Mai¡¯s question, they stared at the bride intensely.


    The girl bit her lip and remained silent. Seeing her reluctance, Qiao Mai took a fruit knife and pointed it at her face.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me where my sister is, I¡¯ll leave you with a mark today!¡±


    ¡°Please, no. I¡¯ll talk. She¡¯s under her bed in her room.¡±


    Qiao Mai red at her, then went to the bedroom and found Rul er unconscious.


    Madam Wang and Old Mistress Wang followed closely, their hearts nearly stopping at the sight of Ruler in such a state, fearing the worst.


    Qiao Mai examined her and found no injuries. She might have been drugged and passed out.


    They brought a basin of cold water and sshed it on her face while Madam Wang and the olddy called out to her.


    At this moment, she was still in a daze. Ru¡¯er thought she was in a dream.


    ¡°All of you, why are you in my dream? I¡¯m so tired. I want to go back to sleep.


    Please stop bothering me.¡±


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, wake up. Today is your wedding day!¡±


    ¡°Wedding?¡±


    Jiaru immediately sobered up and touched her head, being helped to her feet by her maids. She took tentative steps toward the living room.


    Seeing a room full of people and then noticing a woman dressed as a bride, she became even more awake.


    She pointed her finger, ¡°It¡¯s her! She got my maids away from me. She deceived me into the bedroom and drugged me!¡±


    Without the need for her usations, the women present had a clear idea of


    what happened.


    At that moment, Minister Wang and his wife entered the room along with their children. They looked at the bride in her red attire and then at Ruler.


    ¡°What in the world is happening?¡±


    Madam Wang rushed over to them, regardless of whether they were older or held higher positions, and shouted.


    ¡°Is this your granddaughter? Is this the reason you insisted on having Rul er leave from your mansion? So you could y such tricks?¡±


    ¡°No, we didn¡¯t do it. Don¡¯t get angry right away. It¡¯s not toote to address the issueter after the wedding. Right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, if something really happened, who would my daughter cry to? You¡¯ve benefited from our family¡¯s prestige, gained higher positions, and received money yearly. Now, you even want my daughter¡¯s marriage. You have truly outdone yourself!¡±


    Old Master Wang, whose beard had bristled with anger, was simrly furious. He snorted, ¡°Elder brother, you¡¯ve gone too far this time.¡±


    ¡°Third brother, it wasn¡¯t us. It was this child who had an infatuation with the prince and did something foolish. Luckily, we still have a chance to rectify it. The prince ising to take his bride soon. Let¡¯s not make a scene now.. We can deal with the rest after the wedding, alright?¡±</font>

 Chapter 165 - 165: Why Do You Know Everything?

    Chapter 165 - 165: Why Do You Know Everything?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At this moment, the Wang family¡¯s girl, like she had gone mad, somehow got a pair of scissors and started cutting her wedding dress violently.


    ¡°Haha, if I can¡¯t marry the man I set my eyes on, you shouldn¡¯t think about it either. Why would he choose you? You¡¯re just the daughter of a low-ranking official. Why you? I won¡¯t ept this. I won¡¯t!¡±


    Many people tried to stop her, but they were scared off by her swinging scissors and couldn¡¯t approach. Seeing the wedding dress being cut into pieces, Qiao Mai unleashed a Wind de, knocking her unconscious.


    The living room finally quieted down. Old Master Wang looked at Minister Wang.


    ¡°Big brother, your granddaughter just ruined the wedding dress. How do you n to handle this?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Well¡­


    Qiao Mai realized she couldn¡¯t continue wasting time, so she spoke up.


    ¡°Have someone take her away for now. I¡¯ll handle the wedding dress. Today is Rul er¡¯s big day, and we should let her get married before discussing anything else.¡±


    After saying that, she left the room and disappeared. The maidservants carried the unconscious girl away, and the minister¡¯s people cleaned up the living room. Jiaru sat in the living room, gazing absentmindedly at the door.


    The three brothers stood obediently behind Old Mistress Wang with Ling¡¯er.


    Fifteen minutester, Qiao Mai entered the room holding arge wooden box. She ced the box on the table and opened it.


    ¡°Men, please leave the room. The bride needs to change now.¡±


    Once the men left, she took a fiery-red wedding dress from the box. The women in the room couldn¡¯t help but exim at its beauty.


    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡±


    Rul er, who had been feeling down, brightened upon seeing the dress.


    ¡°Sister, this dress is so beautiful.¡¯


    ¡°Come, put it on. Today, I¡¯ll do your makeup. You¡¯ll be the most beautiful bride.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re the best to me. If it weren¡¯t for you today, I would have be theughingstock of the whole city.¡±


    ¡°Come on. The groom wille to pick you up soon.¡±


    ¡°Sister, can you escort me to the wedding?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Old Mistress Wang and Madam Wang. They both nodded with teary eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Follow her. We will watch your kids.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded and helped Ruler put on the dress. The two maidservants felt guilty for what happened earlier and had swollen eyes from crying. ¡°Why are you crying? It¡¯s a happy day. You can make up for itter.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    After dressing Ruler, Qiao Mai styled her hair and took a set of cosmetics from the box to do her makeup. Finally, she ced a red crown adorned with rubies and gold on Ru¡¯er¡¯s head.


    Wang Jiaru asked for a mirror, and Qiao Mai handed her one.


    ¡°Sister, how are you so good at everything? Your makeup skills are amazing!¡±


    The women and girls in the room nodded in agreement; Qiao Mai¡¯s makeup skills were remarkable.


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you the cosmetics as a gift. Later, have the maidservants apply them for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Qiao Mai helped Ruler stand up and had her spin around to check her appearance. Satisfied, she then took out a red veil.


    ¡°Once you put this on, you can¡¯t speak,¡± She said as she handed Ru¡¯er an apple.


    ¡°Take this and don¡¯t eat it. Apples symbolize peace.¡±


    After everything was ready, Qiao Mai looked at thedies.


    ¡°Go to the front hall and wait. I¡¯ll stay here to guard.¡±


    ¡°Madam Wang, Old Mistress Wang, you can go now. We¡¯ll follow the bride and groomter.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at Yue Hong. She nodded. They carried the children while following Old Mistress Wang out of the room.


    She didn¡¯t concern herself with the matters between the two Wang families; her main focus was ensuring that Jiaru had a smooth wedding.


    She sat by Jiaru¡¯s side, whispering words of advice. Jiaru nodded like a docile child, resembling the familiar girl that Qiaomai knew so well.


    When she heard the firecrackers outside, Jiaru became nervous, clutching the apple tightly. Qiao Mai patted her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t leave tonight. If anything happens, call me softly, and I¡¯ll know.¡±


    Qiao Mai apanied Wang Jiaru. When the groom came to fetch her, she stepped back slightly. They walked side by side to the front hall, where they greeted Wang Zongsheng and Madam Wang.


    An unmarried male member of the Wang family approached to carry Jiaru to the bridal sedan chair. Qiao Mai never left Jiaru¡¯s side and escorted her to Prince Shunqin¡¯s residence and then to the bridal chamber.


    After seeing Prince Shunqin lift the bridal veil and exchange gentle words with Jiaru before leaving, Qiao Mai turned her attention to Wang Jiaru.


    ¡°Sister, you can speak now.¡±


    ¡°I was almost suffocated. This substitute scheme is definitely the work of the Wang family. Even if the Minister doesn¡¯t know, his wife is aware.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re clever. That¡¯s why they insisted on having you marry out of the Minister¡¯s residence. If their n seeded, it would benefit their family. Even if it failed, they would still maintain an image of benevolence and virtue.¡±


    ¡°My father was wary of this, but I never expected they woulde so close to seeding. ¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on this. You¡¯re married into their family now. I¡¯ll stay with you tonight. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll return to Bichun Garden. After three days, you can go straight there. I¡¯m sure your parents are quite upset with their family.¡±


    Jiaru bit her lip and said, ¡°Even if they ask me to return to the Minister¡¯s residence, I won¡¯t go. That¡¯s not my home.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll stay with you tonight. As long as we make it through this night safely, everything will be fine tomorrow.¡±


    Jiaru¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°Sister, I¡¯m hungry!¡±


    Qiao Mai led her to the table and said, ¡°Eat without worry. Even if the food is poisoned, I have an antidote.¡±


    Speaking of which, she took out a bottle of medicine and handed it to Jiaru. ¡°This is the antidote. There are too many schemes in the mansion, so take one every few days to detoxify and maintain your beauty.¡±


    ¡°Sister, eat with me. You rushed to the Minister¡¯s residence early this morning without breakfast, right?¡±


    While eating, Jiaru kept feeding Qiao Mai. They chatted while having their meal, and Qiao Mai asionally nced at the room¡¯s ceiling, checking the area outside.


    The Wang mansion had sent hidden guards, and Wang Zongsheng had also dispatched guards. Both groups were stationed around the bridal chamber, hoping that nothing unexpected would happen tonight.


    ¡°With so many guards sent by your father, they still nearly seeded in switching you. We mustn¡¯t let our guard down tonight. If anything unusual happens, call for me immediately.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you are amazing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to leave in two days. If you need anything, send me a letter.¡±


    ¡°After this incident, the rtionship between my family and the main branch will likely end.¡±


    ¡°It depends on your grandfather and father.¡±


    ¡°They care about their reputation and have maintained a good rtionship with the main branch. Unfortunately, some people are never satisfied and always want more. I never intended to tter the prince and marry him. I am the most innocent person in this ordeal.¡±


    Qiao Mai nted a trace of her spiritual sense in Ruler. ¡°If anything unusual happens tonight, call me softly, and I¡¯ll know.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much, Sister!¡±


    ¡°If you keep being polite, I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t go. I can talk freely with you. I don¡¯t know when the prince will finish his socializing.¡±


    ¡°Do you trust these two maidservants by your side?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re trustworthy. They grew up with me and have no ulterior motives. But they don¡¯t have any martial arts skills and can¡¯t defend against people with ill intentions.¡±


    The two chatted until thenterns were lit. The maidservants removed the wedding feast.


    Qiao Mai inspected the food and tasted each dish, even the wine, to ensure nothing was amiss.


    With so many people watching the Prince, Jiaru was like amb waiting to be ughtered. Even if she wanted to follow certain customs, they had to be cautious.


    After inspecting everything and confirming there were no issues, Qiao Mai approached Jiaru. Just as she was about to speak, the drunk prince stumbled into the room, pushing the door open.


    Qiao Mai slightly bowed to him, and the prince waved his hand, mistaking her as a maid.


    ¡°You can leave.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the prince but didn¡¯t reply. She turned around and left..</font>

 Chapter 166 - 166: Wishful Thinking

    Chapter 166 - 166: Wishful Thinking


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion | Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Jiaru blushed and hurriedly came to support her husband, ¡°Cai Yun, Zhui Yue, quickly bring some sobering soup for your lord.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked to the door, turned back with a smile, and walked out. She carried a chair to the courtyard and found a seat.


    The moon was round, as the people say.


    This auspicious date chosen by the royal family had a special meaning.


    She crossed her legs and cultivated in the courtyard, unaware of what was happening inside the bridal chamber. All she knew was that the moon was gradually moving westward above her.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Themotion inside the bridal chamber had also subsided significantly, indicating that the newlyweds had probably gone to rest.


    Outside Prince Shunqin¡¯s residence, she could sense hostility converging towards this ce. It seemed that tonight was destined to be eventful.


    Those who were not content had sent people here to assassinate the bride.


    Even if they couldn¡¯t seed in killing her, they wanted to disturb Wang Jiaru.


    Unfortunately, their ns were thwarted as they encountered her tonight.


    Qiao Mai carried a chair and ced it by the bridal chamber¡¯s door. When she saw Cai Yun and Zhui Meng dozing off, she nudged them gently.


    ¡°If a fight breaks outter, don¡¯t panic. Protect yourselves.¡±


    They widened their eyes, frightened but obediently replied, ¡°Yes, Madam!¡±


    The three remained vignt, watching the surroundings and the roof. Before long, dark figures appeared. The hidden guards took action, and the battle began.


    The ck-clothed figures leaped from the roof and rushed straight towards the bridal chamber. Cai Yun and Zhui Meng, seeking redemption for their previous mistake, stood their ground at the door.


    Qiao Mai held a handful of pearls that emitted a soft light in the moonlight. With a flick of her hand, one pearl shot towards the foremost ck-clothed figure.


    The ck-clothed figure fell to the ground without making a sound. Cai Yun and Zhui Meng, who were watching, could see a ck hole in the center of his forehead, blood slowly trickling out. They covered their mouths, afraid to make a sound and disturb the newlyweds.


    Just as they were scared, another ck-clothed figure fell to the ground. They were charging toward the bridal chamber.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care whether it was the prince¡¯s guards or Wang Zongsheng¡¯s guards. Anyone who dared to charge at her with a weapon was considered an enemy.


    One pearl took one life. At this moment, Qiao Mai¡¯s face was as cold as ice. She seemed possessed, killing without hesitation but remaining as steady as a mountain.


    When the sun rose, the battle on the roof finally ended.


    There was not a single living ck-clothed figure left in the courtyard. The guards on the roof, protecting the prince and Wang Jiaru, were not fools. They saw the enemies falling and knew a skilled expert protected the newlyweds. They only needed to block the intruders.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips. The wedding night was indeed exhausting. Even with such chaos outside, those inside were still sleeping soundly.


    Finally, it was almost dawn. The steward of Prince Shunqin¡¯s residence arrived, instructing people to dispose of the bodies quickly. The courtyard returned to calm.


    Qiao Mai stood up from her chair. ¡°It¡¯s time to offer tea. Notify your prince anddy. I¡¯m leaving; I won¡¯t apany them any further. The rest is up to you.¡±


    She said this and walked straight to the courtyard gate, leaving the Wang residence and returning to Bichun Garden.


    As she expected, after Jiaru¡¯s wedding festivities concluded, the Wang family had fulfilled their obligations to the minister in terms of pride and interest.


    However, Old Master Wang had some words to say to the minister.


    ¡°About what happened today, whether your Wang family had premeditated them, we will no longer owe you anything. From now on, we will go our separate ways. After Jiaru returns in three days, she wille straight to Bichun Garden. We won¡¯t trouble you guys anymore. Farewell!¡±


    After saying this, he left with his wife, son, daughter-inw, and Qiao Mai¡¯s family and returned to Bichun Garden.


    Even Madam Wang¡¯s belongings left in their ce were quickly packed and taken away.


    The next day, after breakfast, Old Master Wang instructed his son.


    ¡°Zongsheng, send a servant to tell Jiaru that when she returns in three days, she shoulde here. Starting today, our family¡¯s ie will no longer be shared with the main branch.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father!¡±


    ¡°Whether they strip you of your official position or whatever else, you must not harbor resentment. Our family won¡¯t have any dealings with them. Even if you spend the rest of your life as a magistrate in Wei City, I won¡¯t be disappointed in you.¡±


    ¡°This magistrate¡¯s position suits me just fine. I don¡¯t want to go to the capital and deal with all the drama there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and give thirty percent of the profit to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion. If they don¡¯t treat our daughter well, we can always take it back.¡±


    At that moment, Qiao Mai entered the room.


    ¡°Even if the Emperor dares to mistreat Jiaru, I won¡¯t let him off easily.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Last night, there was a group of assassins, and the fightsted until dawn.¡±


    ¡°Is it resolved?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we can¡¯t let our guard down during this period.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent ten guards to protect Jiaru, and the Wang family also has their guards. There shouldn¡¯t be any major issues.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll rest easy.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t slept all night. Go back and rest now. The children are doing well and ying in your courtyard.¡±


    After Qiao Mai left, the members of the Wang family looked at her departing figure with a sense of gratitude.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Madam Qiao, Jiaru would have been in trouble. We owe her so much.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that for now. We don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s good or bad for Jiaru to be in the prince¡¯s mansion.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯ll have to endure it. She brought this upon herself by sneaking into the mansion to eat. Let her suffer a bit; it might be good for her. We¡¯ve spoiled her too much.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang red at Wang Zongsheng. ¡°She¡¯s not spoiled; she¡¯s just childish. I think this girl is quite good. Otherwise, how could she make such good friends? Our family has benefited from her association.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng, ever the dutiful son, agreed.


    ¡°Mother is right.¡±


    ¡°You should count yourself lucky, son. Your father didn¡¯t take any concubines, and you are our only child. Even in your generation, you have only one son and one daughter. We don¡¯t wish for arge family; we hope for a peaceful and harmonious life.¡¯


    ¡°I understand, Father.¡±


    Suddenly, Zihao came forward and took Old Mistress Wang¡¯s hand. ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t be sad. I will be filial to you. You won¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡±


    Everyone turned to look at him, almost unable to believe that this little guy would say such heartwarming words.


    ¡°Zihan?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father, Mother.¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    Madam Wang suddenly hugged him and burst into tears. ¡°Zi Han, have you recovered?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®recovered!?¡±


    Madam Wang looked at everyone in confusion and exined.


    ¡°Madam Qiao gave him a bottle of medicine. She said it¡¯s good for the blood lump in his head, and Jiaru has been feeding him one pill daily. It seems that the medicine is effective.


    The family was moved. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s excellent. Heaven bless our Wang family!¡±


    Old Master Wang was delighted but reminded his son.


    ¡°Add ten percent of profits. Jiaru will get thirty percent, and Madam Qiao will get twenty percent. Anything less would not show our sincerity.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father!¡±


    Jiaru returned in three days, bringing the prince with her to Bichun Garden instead of going to the minister¡¯s residence.


    Fortunately, Li Longji was not interested in the minister¡¯s power but genuinely loved Jiaru. They looked harmonious together.


    On this day, she wore the Horse-faced skirt Qiao Mai had given her, the hairpin and earrings sent by Qiao Mai, and a top-quality emerald bracelet from her mother-inw.


    These three days with Prince Shunqin must have gone very well for her.


    Upon seeing this, Old Mistress Wang and Madam Wang finally rxed. The young couple paid their respects to the old couple, and the prince did not put on airs. The family was happy together.


    ¡°Where is Sister Qiao?¡±


    ¡°I heard she¡¯s busy in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look for her.¡¯


    Jiaru left with her maids while Li Longji watched her back with a doting expression.


    ¡°That day, I treated Jiaru¡¯s sister as a servant. I feel embarrassed about it now.¡±


    ¡°She wasn¡¯t nning to go, but Jiaru nearly got switched out. She couldn¡¯t rest easy, so she decided to go with her.¡±


    ¡°I heard from our guards that night. If Jiaru¡¯s sister hadn¡¯t been there, the consequences would have been unimaginable. She¡¯s capable..¡±</font>

 Chapter 167 - 167: How Much Do You Still Have?

    Chapter 167: How Much Do You Still Have?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°She usually likes to practice martial arts. Her skills are quite good.¡±


    ¡°Then can shee to the mansion¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Old Master Wang interrupted.


    ¡°She has a family to take care of. It¡¯s not suitable for her toe to the capital.


    Besides, she doesn¡¯t like it here.¡±


    ¡°Are there people who don¡¯t like the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she likes farming, practicing martial arts, doing small business, and enjoys rural life. The capital is not for her.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity!¡±


    Seeing that the Wang family all protected Qiao Mai, the prince smiled and didn¡¯t insist further.


    Not long after, Qiao Mai came to the front hall with her sleeves rolled up.


    ¡°Greetings to the prince!¡±


    ¡°You are Ru¡¯er¡¯s sister, and I am her husband. From now on, you are my sister. No need to be so formal.¡¯


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m cooking in the kitchen. Please sit down and chat with


    Grandmother and the others.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡±


    Qiao Mai pointed at the living room and returned to the kitchen, where Wang Jiaru helped her.


    ¡°I heard about that night. It was so dangerous.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive in the future. Listen to the women talking about the backyard affairs. Although it may sound vulgar, you must listen carefully. Some things need to be guarded against.¡± ¡°That sounds like a lot of work.¡¯


    ¡°Is your life more important or yourziness?¡±


    ¡°I understand, sister. What are you making for lunch today?¡±


    ¡°Your family likes seafood, right? We have plenty of ingredients in the capital, so I¡¯ll prepare a table for you. You haven¡¯t had a good meal these days.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t eat well at my inws¡¯ house. Sister, you need to replenish me well. ¡±


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re at home and could have whatever you wanted? Just make do.¡±


    Although she said that, Qiao Mai still demonstrated her best culinary skills for this meal. She couldn¡¯t let the Wang family lose face when Wang Jiaru brought her husband to visit.


    She had to consider the Wang family in everything.


    Seeing that Ru¡¯er was only causing trouble here, Qiao Mai chased her out and returned to the living room, where she smiled at the Wang family with embarrassment.


    ¡°Sister Qiao kicked me out!¡± ¡°Quickly sit down. Don¡¯t make trouble over there.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to help my sister.¡±


    ¡°Just focus on eating. With you there, she¡¯s even busier.¡±


    The Wang family watched. Since Jiaru returned to the living room, the prince¡¯s gaze was fixed on her.


    It seemed like this was true love. Otherwise, how could a prince like him, with his handsome appearance, marry the daughter of a fourth-ranked official?


    The Wang family really went all out this time. Ruler¡¯s dowry alone, excluding the dowry from the prince¡¯s mansion, was almost three hundred carriages, making it auite a grand asion.


    On the morning of their wedding night, the prince was stunned when he saw her dressing table and dressing mirror.


    This was unique in the capital. No one else had it except for his little princess.


    Wang Jiaru didn¡¯t hide it from him and told him about Qiao Mai¡¯s abilities, but she only brushed through it because she knew Qiao Mai¡¯s personality.


    The prince remembered it and thought about recruiting Qiao Mai for his use, which led to the scene at the beginning.


    What a joke! Even if Qiao Mai were willing, the Wang family wouldn¡¯t be. Their daughter already became his wife, and the other had to be his subordinate? Why should they?


    Even though he was a royal rtive, the Wang family didn¡¯t want it. Not everyone wanted to curry favor with the royal family.


    Theughter and conversation rang in the living room. After a while, the dining room began to set up.


    A table full of seafood, meat dishes, and stir-fried vegetables was served. Even the prince, ustomed to luxury, couldn¡¯t help but gulp.


    What was this vor? Ah! Such a fragrant aroma! Wasn¡¯t this meant to embarrass the prince?


    Seeing Li Longji continuously salivating, the Wang family members secretly chuckled.


    But no one started eating yet because Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t arrived, which indicated how highly the Wang family regarded her.


    The prince felt puzzled. Could this youngdy really be that talented?


    From Ru¡¯er¡¯s description, he knew Qiao Mai had exceptional culinary skills, embroidery skills, and martial arts abilities. She was a virtuous person and even had connections with overseas merchants.


    In short, she had numerous strengths and almost no weaknesses.


    After some thought, he figured there was one area shecked ¨C If she had a more beautiful appearance, she would be perfect.


    After cooking, Qiao Mai took two porcin bottles of white liquor from her space and went to the dining room.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t anyone sitting down?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re family. If you don¡¯te, how can we sit?¡±


    Seeing her arrive, everyone finally entered the dining room, gathered around the table, and took their seats. Feng¡¯er and the others didn¡¯t join them for the meal as they ate at the Haitang Courtyard.


    Rul er epted the wine bottle and said, ¡°I¡¯m the youngest here, so let me pour everyone a drink.¡±


    The men at the table couldn¡¯t help but salivate as the wine was incredibly fragrant. Old Master Wang looked at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Girl, I didn¡¯t expect you to bring this wine.¡±


    ¡°You like this wine, so I brought a few more bottles for you.¡±


    ¡°How many bottles do you have?¡±


    ¡°Ten bottles!¡±


    ¡°Before you leave, can you give five bottles to your sister and her husband?¡±


    ¡°Alright, Grandfather.¡±


    The prince was quite pleased. ¡°Thanks, sister!¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the prince and treated him as casually as a family member. Her eyes showed neither awe nor ttery. The prince found it interesting.


    She was undoubtedly not an ordinary woman. She was more like a monk in a temple, looking at worldly matters as if they were beneath her.


    While the men enjoyed their wine and conversation, the women discussed their matters.


    However, while eating and drinking, the prince never forgot to peel shrimp and crabs for Ruler. It made others envious.


    ¡°Sister, I heard you and Grandmother are selling hair essories here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were pestered by those beauty-loving girls, so we started selling some.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your gifts to be so precious. Each hair essory costs ten thousand taels! What about earrings?¡± ¡°I only sell hair ornaments, not earrings.¡±


    ¡°What if you did?¡±


    ¡°Five thousand taels each.¡±


    ¡°Wow, the clothes and jewelry I wore add up to tens of thousands of silver!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re surprised? Your wedding attire alone cost me a hundred thousand taels.


    Luckily, I have a friend in the capital who happened to have such clothes. Otherwise, you would have¡­¡±


    ¡°Hehe, a wedding attire worth a hundred thousand taels. I¡¯ll cherish it.¡±


    ¡°Sister, could you make a few more mirrors for me?¡±


    ¡°Do you want full-body mirrors or dressing mirrors?¡±


    ¡°Both! This time, I¡¯ll pay for them. I can¡¯t always take advantage of you.¡±


    ¡°For gifts?¡±


    She nodded shyly. ¡°Mother-inw gave me such a precious bracelet, so I need to give her something special. She said she liked my mirror.¡±


    ¡°I see. Maybe around New Year¡¯s, I¡¯ll ask my friend if anyone has these items.


    I¡¯ll bring them over when I get the chance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister. I¡¯m overjoyed. I have a loving grandfather, parents who adore me, and a doting sister.¡±


    ¡°Enough of that. This doting should being from your husband.¡±


    The men drank and chatted. Although the prince was young and couldn¡¯t discern the quality of the wine, he drank more because of its fragrance.


    They had nearly finished half of the dishes, and everyone was thoroughly satisfied with this meal.


    When they arrived, Jiaru had brought many gifts. She distributed them to everyone, including Feng¡¯er and the others.


    Knowing that Old Mistress Wang and the others would leave in half a day, she felt reluctant to part. She almost stayed behind but had to leave with the prince after seeing his pitiful gaze.


    The family saw them off at the gate. As soon as they got on the carriage and it started moving, Madam Wang started to shed tears.


    Old Mistress Wang¡¯s mouth twitched like she had eaten something sour. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t cry. Ru¡¯er has found a good man. She¡¯s going to enjoy her life. If you cry all her good fortune away, it¡¯s not worth it. The capital isn¡¯t far from Wei City, so you cane and visit whenever you miss her. No one is stopping you..¡±

 Chapter 168 - 168: Shopping Can Relieve Your Pressure

    Chapter 168: Shopping Can Relieve Your Pressure


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying. In the past, Ru ¡®er helped me manage the family business, so I still had time to go out. Now, it¡¯s just me. Zongsheng is an official, so he can¡¯t interfere in business matters. How do I have time?¡±


    Zihanforted her, ¡°Mother, you still have a son. I¡¯ll help you take care of it.¡¯


    Everyone realized that Zihan was really getting better. They looked at Qiao Mai happily.


    ¡°The medicine you gave me is really effective!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor. This is what someone told me when he gave me this medicine. I took it and let Zihan try it. It¡¯s good that it works. After you finish it, I¡¯ll ask that person to buy another bottle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to send you 20% of our annual profits,¡± Wang Zongsheng said sincerely.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. I don¡¯t want anything from you guys. I don¡¯tck money.¡±


    ¡°Because of this, we treat you as a rtive of the Wang family. You must take it.


    You and Prince Shunqin will get 20% and 30% respectively.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give it to the main branch?¡±


    Speaking of this, the Wang family¡¯s face darkened.¡±No! We¡¯d rather throw the money into the water than give it to them. They have gone overboard.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep it. When are we leaving for home?¡±


    ¡°The day after tomorrow. You¡¯ve been out for a while now. Many things are waiting for you at home. The sooner you go back, the better. The children have also missed quite a few days of homework.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll pack tomorrow.¡±


    As they mentioned about returning home, everyone in the family, except Madam Wang, felt eager. They wanted to go home and restfortably for two days.


    Although Bichun Garden belonged to Old Mistress Wang, she did not treat it as her home.


    To put it bluntly, she did not even treat the Wang family in Wei City as her home. She had long treated Lucky Garden as her home.


    As long as she was at the Qiao family¡¯s residence, she could eat and sleep well and do everything with great effort.


    The next day, Qiao Mai asked Yue Hong and Yue Xia to clean up. She went south of the city and saw another group of disaster victims, but there were not many.


    She didn¡¯t have time to send food, so she gave each family twenty-five taels of silver and asked them to find a way to enter the city to buy food. She did the same for the disaster victims in the north. They probably heard of a kind noble helping them and came for this.


    She had done charity twice in Old Mistress Wang¡¯s name.


    Therefore, the disaster victims only knew about Old Mistress Wang, not Qiao Mai.


    After that, she went to various branded shops. She ate, drank, wore, used, and yed. She bought everything she wanted and spent money to her heart¡¯s content.


    Sure enough, shopping could relieve stress. No wonder women would shop when they were happy and sad. It was satisfying!


    She had the space and shopping tform. She really didn¡¯t care much about ancient items.


    However, since she hade to the capital, she had to bring some gifts back for everyone.


    After hiring two carriages, she finally returned. Old Mistress Wang was dumbfounded. It was good being rich!


    They took five carriages when they came, but it took eight on the way back. It was because the Wang family had also received many gifts.


    This time, Wang Zongsheng went with them, bringing many guards on the way.


    On the morning of their departure, Jiaru and the young prince came over to send them off. Ru¡¯er hugged this and that reluctantly.


    She cried and was despised by Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry. In the future, I¡¯ll only have the chance toe here more often when you¡¯re in the capital. Besides, we¡¯re in Wei City, so you can take the opportunity to visit. How interesting would it be for you to go back and forth like this?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different.


    ¡°What¡¯s the difference? You were in Wei City, and I¡¯m in Tianshui Town. You don¡¯t evene to my house for half a year. We didn¡¯t grow apart. Alright, stop crying. Let¡¯s go. If you miss us, write a letter. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the lead and got into the cart. The children came over and said goodbye to Jiaru.


    ¡°Aunty, don¡¯t cry. My mother is capable. When the timees, write a letter and let my mother get you whatever you want to eat.¡±


    ¡°Good boy!¡±


    One by one, they bid her farewell and got into the carriage. Seeing that the carriage had gone far, Jiaru was reluctant to turn around and go back.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, let¡¯s go home?¡±


    Jiaru pouted and red at him.¡±Who told you to like me? If you don¡¯t like me,


    I¡¯ll still be living a carefree life in Wei City. Humph!¡±


    Then, she got into the carriage in a huff. The young prince liked her personality. He felt that she was cute.


    He followed her into the carriage. After coaxing her all the way, the two finally reconciled.


    The Wang family left the capital on September 21st and arrived home on October 3rd.


    Wang Zongsheng and his wife felt helpless. They passed by their house, but their parents didn¡¯t even linger for a moment. They let the coachman drive the carriage away with Qiao Mai without looking back.


    Why did it feel like they were picked up from the streets while Madam Qiao was their biological daughter?


    Once they reached home, everyone feltfortable. Theyy on the brick bed and did nothing but sleep.


    After Qiao Mai made the arrangements, she settled the ounts for the carriage and walked around the house.


    It was October ¨C time for the autumn harvest. She had to pull the seedlings and prepare to cultivate the field.


    Before winter arrived, they had to buy arge amount of firewood and charcoal. The more they stored, the better.


    Also, she had been away for more than a month, so the stock in her shop would be empty and needed to be replenished.


    When she went over to inspect, it was true. Other than some fruits and vegetables they could produce, the other items were all sold out.


    Qiao Mai quickly got someone to move the fruits in her courtyard. Baskets after baskets of fruits were brought from outside, but she had picked them from the space and ced them in the room in advance.


    With her return, everyone immediately had a leader.


    After Shopkeeper Niu arranged all the goods into the inventory, he reported the situation to Qiao Mai for the past month.


    ¡°Mistress, the house has been fine this month. The Yuan and Qiao families came to cause trouble once but haven¡¯te again.¡±


    ¡°What did they do?¡±


    ¡°They knew you were away and wanted to take advantage of the situation. I got someone to chase them out. They wanted to ckmail us into reporting to the government. When the official came, they left after understanding the situation. I gave each official ten taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Okay, beat them if theye again. Remember these two families and the Tian family of Peach Blossom Vige. No matter whoes, break their legs if they dare to cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    ¡°Quickly erect a sign at the shop entrance to collect firewood and charcoal.


    Remember to get good quality ones.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t anyone asked about the shops in the south?¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu shook his head. ¡°They all think it¡¯s expensive.¡± ¡°Then we won¡¯t rent it. Whoeveres next, say that it¡¯s rented out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Is Jiaqiing back at the end of September?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s back. He stayed home for two days and helped the family with housework every day. The servants at home all said that he is the best.¡±


    ¡°We traveled slowly, or we would have seen him again. There¡¯s no hurry.


    Anyway, he must return at the end of this month.¡±


    Qiao Mai got up and left the shop. She looked at the birdhouse and only went to rest after seeing nothing abnormal.


    The next day, everyone returned to their normal life.


    Qiao Mai divided the gifts into several portions and sent them to the Lu, Qian, and Qin families.


    At the same time, she also prepared two small gifts for Liu Ye and Liu Hai to bring home.


    In Tianshui Town, not only was the Qiao family busy, but everyone else was busy as well. During the golden autumn season, some people learned from the Qiao family and began to stock up.


    It was like making pancakes. One could tell at a nce. Every family was making pancakes after collecting persimmons.


    This year, the Qiao family did not do this. They only collected peanuts, corn, chestnuts, and sweet potatoes, all stored in the empty courtyard.


    For some reason, it was only mid-October. People had just collected the crops in the fields and brought them home.


    It was frosty early in the morning, and the temperature dropped immediately. It was so cold that people couldn¡¯t stand it..

 Chapter 169 - 169: Entering Winter Ahead of Time

    Chapter 169 - 169: Entering Winter Ahead of Time


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Qiao family has put on cotton clothes. The ones fromst year are still warm enough. Qiao Mai was busy sending people to the fabric store to buy cotton and fabric for making clothes. However, she found that the cotton in the town had been sold out.


    She thought and decided to go to the county town herself.


    Unexpectedly, even the cotton there was sold out. She furrowed her brows and used her psychic powers to harvest a few acres of cotton she had nted in her space, loading it onto a carriage.


    Qiao Mai was skilled in machinery. When she returned home, she immediately built a cotton-picking machine from wood.


    She summoned two maids, taught them how to use the machine, and had them pick cotton.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Once the cotton was ready, everyone worked through the night to make thick cotton clothes, ensuring everyone had two sets of warm clothing.


    With some cotton and fabric remaining, Qiao Mai had them made into adult-sized clothes and sent them to the Qian family. These were not for Mayor Qian but for the beggars in town.


    Fortunately, everyone responded promptly. Shopkeeper Lu allowed the beggars to stay in the small courtyard where Qiao Mai used to live and refrained from using Qiao Mai¡¯s store.


    Qiao Mai supported Mayor Qian by donating cotton clothes and buying winter food for them.


    She had Mayor Qian post notices in the town, allowing families in need toe to the mayor¡¯s house to receive food. For elderly people who were poor andcked clothes, she would deliver food and firewood to them.


    Qiao Mai was not concerned about their food supply but rather about the possibility of a snow disaster. She feared they would be trapped in their homes if heavy snow fell. Therefore, she sent out food and firewood in advance.


    It¡¯s often said that officials who take action lead to the well-being of the people.


    With Qiao Mai¡¯s support, Mayor Qian dispatched guards and carriages to deliver food and firewood to needy households in the viges he was responsible for.


    Some came to collect it themselves, creating a two-way flow. In a few days, they had all been provided for.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned at the end of the month. When he left, he had only taken thin cotton clothes and returned freezing.


    Qiao Mai quickly sent him the newly made thick cotton clothes and medicines for treating colds and fevers. Shebeled the medicines with their names and uses on the bottles.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been busy these days and might not be able to take care of you. If you don¡¯t feel well, see a doctor. These two bottles of medicine are for you to take to the academy. There¡¯s also a new set of clothes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can take care of myself.¡±


    After Qiao Mai left, Yuan Jiaqi changed into warm cotton clothes and pants, removed his shoes, and climbed into the warm bed.


    Home was the best ce; having a caring woman at home was even better.


    Qiao Mai might be busy, but she never neglected him.


    Wrapped in a thick cotton coat and looking like a round ball, Chuan¡¯er entered with a small cloth bundle on his back.


    ¡°Dad, can I sleep with you tonight?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gained weight again. Did you eat well in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I had good food every day.¡±


    He spread the good things he had brought from the bundle and introduced them to Yuan Jiaqi, asionally feeding his father some.


    ¡°Dad, are you hungry? Shall I find you something delicious in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Let¡¯s eat together at noon.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Mom is in the backyard reinforcing the greenhouse with the maids.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me about what happened in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    In the warm room, the father and son cuddled together. Yuan Jiaqi listened to his son vividly recounting Qiao Mai¡¯s activities in the capital.


    Sometimes heughed, sometimes he was moved, and sometimes he felt proud.


    Once his body warmed up, he went to help in the backyard.


    The old couple didn¡¯t dare toe outside. They were afraid of the cold, and going out in such weather was asking for trouble.


    The outside temperatures dropped sharply in early November, and Yuan Jiaqi reluctantly left for the academy. The howling north wind cut through his face like a knife.


    Compared to previous years, Tianshui Town had entered winter almost half a month earlier. The vigers had just nted their wheat crops. They were uncertain whether they could withstand this sudden change in weather.


    Although Qiao Mai was not a deity or a fortune-teller and couldn¡¯t predict the future, she took precautions by instructing people to stockpile grains.


    This happened shortly after they paid their grain taxes. Not only did they store grains, but they also continued to purchase firewood and charcoal.


    In the martial arts training ground, a significant portion of the space was dedicated to storing firewood and charcoal.


    It wasn¡¯t just Qiao Mai; many other households found this situation abnormal and started hoarding grains and fuel. Even ordinary vigers, fearing they might freeze or starve during the winter, began buying with whatever money they had.


    As a result, grain and charcoal prices skyrocketed. There were instances of grain and charcoal shortages in various ces.


    Coincidentally, the rubber trees Qiao Mai had harvested from herst space excursion came in handy. In the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep, she had the training ground stacked high with neatly cut thirty-centimeter pieces of firewood, making it convenient for usage.


    On the sixth day of November, heavy snow nketed the town. Not a soul could be seen on the roads, and the cold was biting.


    Qiao Mai ordered the eatery to close and instructed the shopkeeper and staff to rest well. They could sweep the snow off the roofs when they had nothing else to do, but there was no need to continue business.


    Every two hours, people would climb updders to scrape the snow from the roofs of their houses to prevent the snow from causing structural damage.


    Although the houses were new, they needed to be maintained.


    This heavy snowfall continued day and night and then turned into moderate snow,sting another day before bing lighter.


    When people finally emerged from their homes, the snow had reached a person¡¯s height. If this snow were to melt, Tianshui Town would face severe flooding.


    Many vigers were worried about next year¡¯s harvest. They even considered the possibility of a crop failure. Despite their concerns, they had to focus on the present.


    After the snow stopped, Mayor Qian promptly ordered the clearing of snow. However, it was a daunting task. There was snow everywhere, and they didn¡¯t know where to put it.


    They could only clear narrow pathways for walking as there was no space to store the umted snow.


    Qiao Mai thought about using her space but hesitated. Snow was essentially water, and manipting the fundamental aspects of the environment could lead to unforeseen consequences.


    She didn¡¯t dare to try it as she couldn¡¯t bear the responsibility.


    Instead, she led her people topact the snow in open areas around her home. She piled snow from other ces onto these mounds until they resembled small hills. In this way, they managed to clear the warm sheds, poultry coops, and roads.


    At the entrance to the Qiao family¡¯s residence and in front of their shop, Qiao Mai and her family simrly cleared the snow.


    Afterpacting all the umted snow, the piles grew from the height of one person to two or three people. This was the routine they followed daily.


    The townspeople followed suit, observing what Qiao Mai had initiated.


    It was essential to clear the roads. Without the movement of traders and the local poption, there would be no ie.


    With his servants and guards, Mayor Qian also joined the effort.


    With thebined strength of the townspeople, they cleared about ten miles to the north and twenty miles to the south.


    Snow depth varied from ce to ce, indicating that the snowfall was unevenly distributed across the region.


    In many other areas, simr efforts to clear snow were underway. An imperial decree mandated that roads must be kept open in times of rain and snow.


    It wasn¡¯t until the end of November that the roads were finally cleared. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s school had suspended sses due to a shortage of firewood and charcoal. They would wait for further notice.


    With no need for sses, Yuan Jiaqi finally had the opportunity to rest at home.


    When he wasn¡¯t working, he spent time with Old Master Wang, discussing academic topics over tea.


    The children didn¡¯t venture outside much. They practiced calligraphy and yed games indoors.


    During this time, Mayor Qian kept himself busy. Since the roads had been cleared, he led his guards to inspect the viges. He recorded houses that had copsed, rendering them uninhabitable.


    Fortunately, this year¡¯s preparations had been timely. There were only a few households in such dire situations. Mayor Qian covered the expenses for their relocation, sparing Qiao Mai and the other merchants from further trouble.


    Qiao Mai had already done a lot by donating grain and firewood. Without her, many households in the town and surrounding viges would have struggled to survive.


    Liu Ye and Liu Hai had delivered a cartload of grain and firewood to their home before the snowfall.


    These two had been stranded in the small town for a month. They spent their days helping the townspeople clear the snow..</font>

 Chapter 170 - 170: You Can’t Lie to Your Family

    Chapter 170 - 170: You Can¡¯t Lie to Your Family


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Looking at their cousin¡¯s every word and action, Liu Ye and Liu Hai wondered why such a good person would be sold by their uncle and have their rtionship severed. It¡¯s so foolish.


    Back at the Qiao family, they were furious when they heard their family had no share in the grain distribution.


    Although they heard Mayor Qian held the distribution, they quickly realized it was probably a donation from that ungrateful daughter.


    The Qiao family couldn¡¯t get any grain, yet they still tried to show off in the vige. ¡°This grain was bought with my daughter¡¯s money. You should give me some.¡±


    Some vigers who didn¡¯t like them retorted, ¡°Your daughter? She doesn¡¯t even<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Hmph, keep talking nonsense, and I¡¯ll have my daughter take the grain back.¡±


    ¡°This grain was given by Mayor Qian, not your daughter.¡± ¡°It is my daughter¡¯s. She deliberately said that to hide it from us.¡±


    ¡°Give it up!¡±


    Qiao Shicheng¡¯s eyes turned red when he saw the bags of grain. He tried to snatch some with his son but was beaten by the vigers.


    Nobody bought their act. They all knew what kind of people they were. They were trying to save face for themselves.


    Meanwhile, being true to their character, the Yuan family had already prepared firewood for themselves. They hadn¡¯t left their home since the snow started. They stayed indoors, afraid that going outside would expose them to the cold.


    They didn¡¯t want to risk getting sick as they still had plenty of money to spend.


    However, they hadn¡¯t given up on Yuan Jiaqi.


    Why should they stay in a simple earthen house while their son enjoys theforts of the big mansion?


    They should be living in the Lucky Garden instead.


    These two were causing their own problems. They were even encouraging their four sons.


    ¡°I say, don¡¯t just stay at home. Now that the roads are clear, visit your youngest brother. It¡¯s getting colder. He should help you a bit, right?¡±


    ¡°Mother, please stop bothering us. Whether we visit him or not is none of your concern.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean none of my concern? Aren¡¯t you going to prepare New


    Year¡¯s gifts for us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too early for that.¡±


    The four sons didn¡¯t want to engage with them, but they couldn¡¯t ignore their parents¡¯ words.


    They had visited Yuan Jiaqi before and brought him gifts. Although the incident with the family leader made Yuan Jiaqi angry, they maintained a good rtionship. They thought it was worth trying again.


    So, the four brothers arrived at the Qiao residence together.


    Upon hearing their arrival, Yuan Jiaqi furrowed his brows. But recalling the gifts they brought before, he put down his books and went to the front hall.


    ¡°My brothers. ¡±


    ¡°Little brother, please help us.¡±


    As they spoke, the four grown men unexpectedly shed tears, putting on a pitiful act.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°The snow is too heavy. Part of our house has copsed, and we¡¯re all crowded together for warmth. Can you help us? Don¡¯t worry. We don¡¯t need money, just some grain and firewood. The grain shops in town are closed, and they don¡¯t have any more supplies.¡±


    The four brothers had discussed it beforehand. They mustn¡¯t ask for money directly; they should start with small requests and see how Yuan Jiaqi responded.


    If he gave once, he could give again.


    Yuan Jiaqi wasn¡¯t that cruel. He sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give one family a hundred kilograms of grain and a big bundle of firewood. Is that enough?¡±


    ¡°More than enough! Thank you, little brother!¡±


    ¡°How did you get here?¡±


    ¡°We walked.¡±


    ¡°Go and get a small cart. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to carry it all.¡±


    ¡°Can


    ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s not right to give grain without her consent. If you don¡¯t go home, get a cart, and transport it yourselves, you can forget about the grain. I¡¯m not obligated to deliver it to your home.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll go.¡±


    The four men hurried back to their vige, fetched a cart from their house, and returned to the Qiao residence. Fourrge bags of grain and bundles of firewood were waiting for them at the door.


    The stern-faced maid said, ¡°Master said you can each take one. He is busy with other matters.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The woman gave them a cold stare, locked the door, and watched as they loaded the grain and firewood onto their cart.


    Troubled by the guilt, Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t concentrate on his studies. With a restless heart, he approached the door of Qiao Mai¡¯s room.


    ¡°Wife, may Ie in?¡±


    Qiao Mai was busy doing embroidery when she heard his voice. She paused for a moment.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    As he entered, she gestured for him to take a seat. ¡°Please have a seat. There¡¯s tea on the table; you can pour it yourself. I¡¯m a bit busy here.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I provided my four brothers with a bag of cornmeal and a bundle of firewood each without your permission.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai pricked the needle on the cloth. She rubbed her face with her hand and looked at him, sensing his difort.


    ¡°Although we have signed an agreement, you are also a member of this family.


    Let¡¯s not discuss these matters for now. Instead, let¡¯s talk about you, a schr.¡± Yuan Jiaqi looked puzzled, not understanding the purpose of her words.


    ¡®What?¡±


    ¡°Firstly, is it true that the Yuan family is truly struggling to make ends meet?¡± ¡°The old couple have some silver. When they divide the family property, each will receive around one hundred taels of silver and ten acres ofnd.¡±


    ¡°If they divided the family property, why haven¡¯t they built new houses? Why did they let the snow copse their homes? I advise you to dress warmly and take Wu Zhui and Sai Xue with you to see for yourself. Trust your own eyes.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face turned somber as he realized he had been misled by his family¡¯s words. He had blindly believed what they said.


    How could he be an official or make just judgments with such a gullible mindset?


    Realizing his mistake, he stood up abruptly. ¡°I was wrong. Thank you, Wife, for your guidance. I will quietly return to the vige to see for myself.¡±


    ¡°Go. One should never deceive their own family.¡±


    Qiao Mai lowered her head and continued her embroidery work. Meanwhile, Yuan Jiaqi walked out of the room, his eyes reddened.


    He hoped that his older brothers hadn¡¯t deceived him. His heart, which had started to warm up, was gradually freezing over.


    He returned to his room, wore warm clothing, and didn¡¯t call Wu Zhui and Sai Xue. Alone, he set out on the road back to the vige.


    The surroundings were eerily quiet. Not a single soul could be seen, and the snow on both sides of the road was piled high, making it almost impossible to hide.


    His thoughts were consumed by today¡¯s events. He hadn¡¯t walked far when Wu Zhui and Sai Xue caught up to him.


    His heart warmed at the sight of them. He was sure that Qiao Mai had sent them. These two dogs were highly intelligent and courageous. Several peoplebined couldn¡¯t match their strength.


    If they bit someone, bones would surely break.


    After half an hour, he reached the entrance of Apricot Blossom Vige. On this cold day, there was no sign of any vigers or children ying around.


    He walked alone with his two dogs, proceeding silently.


    Apricot Blossom Vige¡¯s houses were mostly ancient, still made of earthen bricks. There were only a few new houses with visible brick walls.


    He walked from one end of the vige to the other and back but didn¡¯t find any houses that had copsed.


    With a grim expression, he arrived at the front of a new house and knocked on the door. A woman¡¯s voice echoed from inside the courtyard. A woman¡¯s voice came from inside, sounding irritated. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t respond and continued knocking.


    The woman walked to the door while scolding, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you make any noise when you came? You¡¯ve been knocking so persistently! ¡±


    When she opened the door and saw Yuan Jiaqi, her face turned sour as if she had just eaten something unpleasant.


    ¡°Fifth Brother, you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°I came to see if your house copsed!¡±


    The woman was frozen in ce, not knowing what to do. Several men, reeking of alcohol, came out of the house. They were the four brothers who had just gone to collect grain.


    What a coincidence! Yuan Jiaqi casually knocked on the door and ended up catching them in the act.


    Are they celebrating because they got the grains?


    ¡°Big brother, you all are in such a festive mood, huh? The house copsed, yet you can still drink and chat here? Truly remarkable! ¡°</font>

 Chapter 171 - 171: Serves You Right

    Chapter 171 - 171: Serves You Right


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The four brothers trembled with fear. ¡°Little brother?¡±


    Their house was perfectly fine, and the family was not impoverished enough to resort to such actions. They couldn¡¯t justify their deceit even with ten mouths.


    Yuan Jiaqi looked disappointedly at them and took ten taels of silver from his sleeve, throwing it on the ground.


    ¡°All the things you brought me when you visited before probably cost a few coins. These bags of grain and these ten taels of silver today are your repayment for that gift. If you daree to the Qiao family again without my permission, I¡¯ll have someone break your legs!¡±


    With a harsh remark, Yuan Jiaqi turned and left. The four brothers wanted to intercept him, but they were scared off by Wu Zhui and Sai Xue¡¯s fierce barking.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Yuan Jiaqi had never felt so remorseful before. He walked faster and faster, tears streaming down his face.


    It was his fault, his desire for a little family affection, his blindness, his gullibility. He had been deceived, and he deserved it!


    He walked, but it soon turned into a run. When he arrived home, he instructed the gatekeeper woman.


    ¡°From now on, when anyone from the Yuan familyes, drive them away! No need to inform me!¡±


    Then he returned to his room and copsed into tears. Qiao Mai, knowing about this, didn¡¯t try tofort him. Sometimes, people need to face reality.


    The Qiao family, the Yuan family, and the Tian family were rotten at their core. There was no hope of reforming them. He shouldn¡¯t have held out hope in the first ce.


    As a man, he should be content with providing for his family, especially now that he had Chuan¡¯er.


    He imagined the Yuan family changing for the better, but it was a futile hope.


    His priority was to raise Chuan¡¯er well and live a good lite.


    He couldn¡¯t know his ce unless he suffered some setbacks.


    He and his son were still living off her, wearing her clothes, and eating her food without even starting to repay her. Yet he still thought about helping the Yuan family with her assets.


    No, she wasn¡¯t going to let them take advantage of her like that.


    The little bit of goodwill she had towards Yuan Jiaqi disappeared instantly.


    He was far from meeting her expectations.


    The four Yuan brothers had teamed up to deceive their younger brother. From that day on, Yuan Jiaqi severed ties with the Yuan family.


    Since the Qiao family couldn¡¯t benefit from Qiao Mai¡¯s connections, they shifted their focus to the Liu family.


    The Qiao family arrived at Liushu Town like bandits. However, neither Liu Dashan nor Madam Liu Qiao were intimidated by them. Both families shed fiercely, having a brutal battle.


    No one benefited much from this situation; the fight was intense, but luckily, there were no fatalities.


    If it weren¡¯t for the timely arrival of the vige chief, the consequences could have been much worse, considering that the Liu family was weaker inparison.


    Upon investigation, it was revealed that the Qiao family used the Liu family of benefiting from their daughter¡¯s luck and demanded that their belongings be split in half.


    Madam Liu Qiao disagreed, stating Qiao Mai had cut ties with them, and that the Qiao family had no rtion to Qiao Mai whatsoever.


    The audacity of their actions was beyond belief. Their daughter didn¡¯t give their family anything, so they went to steal from another family.


    Once the vige chief understood the situation, he was prepared to send someone to report it to the authorities.


    Seeing that things were not going well, the Qiao family, terrified, left without taking anything, feeling utterly defeated.


    They were basicallymitting robbery. It would have been justified if the vige chief had ordered them to be tied up and handed to the authorities.


    They were greedy but not foolish.


    While watching her husband injured in the battle, Madam Liu Qiao couldn¡¯t stop crying. Just when their family was doing slightly better, the Qiao family came to cause trouble.


    Liu Dashan didn¡¯t mind much; rural people were tough. His slight injuries could be treated with some herbal medicine. As long as no one lost their limbs or life, it wasn¡¯t a significant issue.


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be angry. If theye again next time, I¡¯ll take out my knife. Even if I kill them, we won¡¯t break thew.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you next time. The people from their families all came. We suffered because only Hai¡¯er is in town.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better that way.¡±


    ¡°Should we inform my niece about this?¡±


    ¡°No need. Don¡¯t spread everything to that side. There¡¯s no need to bother them.


    Our family doesn¡¯t have any major problems.¡±


    The Qiao family¡¯s visit to the Liu family was kept a secret for a few days. However, it eventually became known in Tianshui Town, and Liu Ye and Liu


    Hai found out.


    Taking some time off, they rode a cart back home.


    Upon learning about it, Qiao Mai coldly snorted. She thought Qiao Shicheng¡¯s family was foolish for daring to cause trouble at someone else¡¯s doorstep. They were insane!


    Did they think they could fish in troubled waters?


    In a hurry, she sent two servants to fetch a 100-kilogram bag of white rice and ten kilograms of pork from her home. She had them deliver it to the Liu family.


    At the same time, she posted a notice at her shop¡¯s entrance.


    She stated that the Qiao family was unrted to the Qiao family in Lihua Vige and had no association with them. If they dared to behave arrogantly and exploit others in the future, they would have to resolve it themselves. The Qiao family in town would not interfere.


    This move quickly quelled any malicious intentions the Qiao family had towards her.


    To her surprise, Qiao Shicheng seemed to genuinely consider this approach. Upon hearing about her posting the notice, he was nearly driven to anger. ¡°This ungrateful wretch won¡¯t leave us any room to survive!¡±


    ¡°Father, let¡¯s be honest and live our lives peacefully. Don¡¯t try to scheme against our younger sister anymore. She despises us. Do you think we canpete with her with our current family situation?¡±


    ¡°Our son is right. If she really wants to take revenge, our family might disappear overnight.¡¯


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare. I¡¯m her father!¡±


    At this moment, Qiao Shicheng still considered himself Qiao Mai¡¯s father.


    On the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, snowkes began to fall again. People were afraid of another snowstorm. If there were to be another blizzard, it would spell disaster for the crops.


    Fortunately, it was just light snow, asionally growing heavier. People¡¯s hearts would race every time it snowed.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery continued to operate as usual, providing free daytime water in the summer and hot, spicy meat soup in the winter for passing traders.


    Everything is free to let the travelers rest and warm up in the small town, and of course, to buy some snacks on the side.


    Large households that came by would usually buy sweet potatoes, popcorn, and fried rice cakes.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s roasted sweet potatoes were particrly famous; they had a clean outer skin, were soft and oily inside, and had a delicious golden color.


    Popcorn and fried rice cakes were equally popr and sold out quickly.


    The workers are also diligent. As soon as they see supplies running low, they immediately start preparing them.


    Additionally, they offer items such as candied hawthorns, melon seeds, peanuts, chestnuts, tea eggs seasoned with five spices, and spiced quail eggs. However, rice cakes were not provided this year.


    Vegetables sold well, but they were expensive. The bad weather didn¡¯t allow for a rich harvest like in previous years.


    Fruits were bought by the wealthier families. They would send their maids to buy some asionally as it was really expensive.


    The fruit juices were taken off the menu, but the milk tea continued to sell well and was highly popr.


    Gradually, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery became like an inn, always crowded with people, whether they were traveling north or south. They liked to rest there, warm themselves, and chat.


    As a result, news spread quickly from her ce.


    Winter came half a month early, catching Qiao Mai off guard. She hadn¡¯t had the chance to make pickled vegetables, kimchi, or soy sauce.


    She didn¡¯t even bother making sausages, garlic sausages, red sausages, or canned luncheon meat.


    She would take them out of her space whenever someone felt like having them to satisfy their cravings.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery hadn¡¯t introduced any new dishes this winter.


    However, she took out the bamboo shoots piled up in a corner of her space, cleaned them, and ced them in the shop for sale.


    But the northerners were unfamiliar with this food, and it didn¡¯t sell well. Shopkeeper Niu came to see Qiao Mai with a worried expression.


    ¡°Boss, the locals don¡¯t recognize this food.¡± ¡°We had some southern visitors, didn¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t have the money to buy from our shop.¡±


    ¡°True. How about this? Get somerge empty jars from the courtyard wall, clean them, and bring them inside. I¡¯ll teach you how to pickle bamboo shoots. The pickled bamboo shoots can make soup and stir-fry, and they taste great.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu left. Qiao Mai realized she had a little over half a month left and needed to bring in some fresh products for the shop.


    This year, she didn¡¯t make sausages or canned luncheon meat. The meat shop¡¯s business had declined significantly..</font>

 Chapter 172 - 172: She Should Have Done This Long Time Ago

    Chapter 172 - 172: She Should Have Done This Long Time Ago


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Forget it. She should be more diligent in making bacon and sausages to sell in the shop. It can be considered a signature item for the snack shop.


    Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Niu had all the empty vats cleaned and filled all the empty rooms on that side of the shop.


    Qiao Mai looked at it and got a headache. Was he forcing her to make pickled vegetables?


    Fine. She could teach them how to do it. The workers used to be busy and felt ufortable when they had nothing to do.


    Shopkeeper Niu had also hired three more assistants. Now there were twelve people in the shop. With so many mouths to feed, how could they not sell more goods?<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai selected three clever assistants who had arrivedter and instructed them to make pickled vegetables, kimchi, preserved vegetables, spicy radish, spicy pickled cabbage, and garlic chili.


    After teaching them several times and making sure they understood, Qiao Mai stopped interfering.


    There were plenty of ingredients in the warehouse, so she let them use them as they pleased. From now on, she didn¡¯t have to handle these tasks personally.


    Next, it was time to buy meat. Qiao Mai brought several kitchen maids to the butcher¡¯s shop. The shopkeeper was overjoyed to see her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, starting today until the 25th of the twelfth month, send a pig to my house every day. The more small intestines, the better. Leave three sets of pig heads and intestines at the end of the year and keep all the pig trotters for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve kept the freshest ones for you.¡±


    Back at home, Qiao Mai taught them to make cured meat, sausages, garlic sausages, red sausages, and canned luncheon meat in three days.


    She regretted not doing this earlier. She didn¡¯t have to wait for everything.


    For example, they had to wait half a month for bacon and cured sausages. Other sausages could be steamed and sold after drying for a day.


    Shopkeeper Niu kept ounts recording the flow of meat daily.


    As for the cabbages and radishes, Qiao Mai moved them from the space to the warehouse after using them. Shopkeeper Niu kept track of the purchase price in the autumn.


    After the popcorn and crispy rice craze, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had a sausage frenzy in less than three days.


    When the kitchen staff delivered the red sausages, garlic sausages, and luncheon meat to the snack shop, Shopkeeper Niu knew they would sell well. Sure enough, people were meat lovers. After tasting them, the customers went crazy.


    ¡°How much for a pound of these sausages?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we sell them by piece. One piece is five hundred coins.¡±


    ¡°This is daylight robbery!¡±


    ¡°Ah, no bargaining. Good things are expensive; it¡¯smon sense. If you don¡¯t want it, let someone else have it. Some people want to buy.¡±


    Behind the counter, Shopkeeper Niu watched the arguments between the assistants and customers with a smile. He set the price and thought it was reasonable.


    Although each sausage cost 500 coins and the pure profit was about 450 coins, he knew that making these delicious sausages required effort from the kitchen staff.


    It involved chopping, cleaning the small intestines, seasoning, stuffing, drying, and steaming. It was indeed abor-intensive process, but it was necessary to create delicious sausages. There was no room for shortcuts.


    Qiao Mai said that for every sausage sold, the kitchen staff would receive fifty coins as a bonus for their hard work.


    Therefore, this sausage earned a profit of 450 coins, which wasn¡¯t much. If they didn¡¯t want to buy, that was their loss.


    Qiao Mai also made this decision because she saw the kitchen staff working hard, cooking for her family, and making sausages to sell. She wanted to reward them for their efforts.


    The kitchen maids were overjoyed about this. They appreciated the extra ie and were generous in sharing it with other household staff. Anyone who helped with the meat chopping received their fair share.


    So, when the older maids were free, they would go over to help. In a day, they could make quite a few sausages.


    After tasting the sausage, people couldn¡¯t get enough of it. They thought, ¡°500 coins for one? Damn it, even if it¡¯s one or two silver coins, I still want to buy one to satisfy my craving and taste it againter.¡±


    The sausage war began. It was fortunate that it was winter and the sausages could be stored. The wealthy families in the town rushed to buy them.


    By mid-December, the delicious sausages had made their way to the county and the prefectural cities.


    Many wealthy households in the area sent people to Tianshui Town to buy sausages. The ones who couldn¡¯t immediately ce orders and nned to pick them upter.


    When Wang Zongsheng heard about this, he couldn¡¯t help butugh and sigh. He remembered how the Wang family had tried to obtain the recipe, but she had adamantly refused to share it. If they had seeded, their business would have undoubtedly reached new heights.


    Although sausages couldn¡¯t be sold during the hot summer months, there were still five months from November to March in the northern region when they could be sold. That was a substantial amount of time.


    Wang Zongsheng decided not to fret over it too much. After all, there was no end to wealth.


    However, having money and not making more of it would be foolish. He shared this matter with his wife.


    She immediately sent the manager of their restaurant at Wei City to ce an order for sausages at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. This unique offering would add a special touch to their restaurant¡¯s menu and boost their business.


    Although they had a special rtionship with the Qiao family, they couldn¡¯t ce too many orders. Shopkeeper Niu limited their purchase to twenty sausages a day, and they had to pick them up every ten days.


    To make things easier for the restaurant, Madam Wang instructed them to have the sausages cut into individual servings, each priced at five hundred coins. In this way, the sausages could be sold for more than one tael each, showing how popr the dish is in Wei City.


    Anyway, it¡¯s not an outdoor activity. Everyone sits indoors, chopping meat on wooden cutting boards when they have nothing else to do.


    Qiao Mai considered providing the kitchen staff with a meat grinder to ease their workload, but she decided against it.


    She didn¡¯t want topromise the traditional handmade quality of their products. Hand-chopped meat was more vorful than machine-ground meat.


    Old Mistress Wang thought they might not enjoy sausages this year, but Qiao Mai¡¯s decision to sell these delicacies in her store brought them unexpected joy.


    They savored sausages with every meal, pairing them with white wine and relishing their vorful life.


    Even the Jingtai Restaurant¡¯s shopkeeper asked Lui Hai to buy sausages from Qiao Mai.


    Naturally, Shopkeeper Niu gave them special treatment and promised to provide ten sausages to Jingtai Restaurant daily. Anything beyond that would not be avable.


    Shopkeeper Tong was delighted with this arrangement. Hiring Liu Hai was a wise decision, as his connections with the Qiao family proved advantageous.


    On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, the families of Lu, Qin, Qian, and the Wangs all sent New Year¡¯s gifts earlier than the Qiao family.


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips, thinking about how she gave sausages, cured sausages, and fruits as giftsst year. Should she give the same this year?


    She took a spin in her space but didn¡¯t feel like there was anything particrly appetizing. So, she scrolled through her inventory once more on the tform.


    She ordered six boxes of donkey-hide gtin, lollipops, milk candies, crispy candies, spicy snacks, and pickled chicken feet.


    She opted for bulk packaging and wooden crates, which she had discussed with the sellers in advance.


    Each family received one box of each item with some fruits and sausages.


    She allocated the gifts, delivered them to the respective households, and kept a set for herself and another for Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    Old Mistress Wang asked someone to call Qiao Mai. ¡°Girl, what¡¯s this dark thing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s donkey-hide gtin slices. They¡¯re good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Is it the one made from boiled donkey hide?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. It¡¯s effective for people with blood deficiency, dizziness, palpitations, insomnia, and lung dryness. You can take one when you¡¯re feeling fine.


    ¡°Thank you. Even though I¡¯m in good health, I still need to take care of myself. I like this. What about these other items? I haven¡¯t seen them before.


    ¡°Lollipop candy is for entertaining children. You can hold the little stick and eat it. Milk candy is made from milk, rich and creamy. Crispy candy is suitable for those with poor dental health, but it¡¯s very sweet, so don¡¯t eat too much. These are spicy. This one is pickled spicy chicken feet, and it¡¯s also spicy.¡±


    ¡°I can handle spicy food.¡±


    She took a cautious bite of the spicy snack, nodding in approval as she savored the vors.


    ¡°The spicy snack is quite good. The more I chew, the more vorful it bes.¡±


    After finishing it, she reached for the pickled spicy chicken feet. Qiao Mai had ordered the boneless version so the olddy didn¡¯t have to worry about bones. ¡°It¡¯s so spicy! Quickly, get me a cup of room-temperature tea.¡±


    Seeing the olddy¡¯s enjoyment, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but smile. Even at her age, she had quite an appetite.


    On the other hand, Old Master Wang was different; he ate without much reaction, focusing solely on filling his stomach..</font>

 Chapter 173 - 173: Touchwood

    Chapter 173 - 173: Touchwood


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai divided her share into six portions. She kept one for herself, gave one to Yuan Jiaqi, one to Chuan ¡®er, one to the Fengyun brothers, and one to Ling¡¯er.


    If they thought it was spicy, they could switch with others. It could also be considered as giving them something fun to do.


    Just as people were busy preparing for the new year, the weather changed overnight.


    It started snowing heavily again. In the past two months, it had snowed several times. Qiao Mai stood at the door and looked at the dark sky.


    The whiter the ground was, the darker the sky looked.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to be another blizzard!¡±


    She quickly got Yue Hong to run errands and ordered everyone in the Qiao family to be in a state of emergency.


    Other than the elderly and children, the rest were not allowed to sleep soundly. They had to change shifts in pairs and check the poultry house and the vegetable garden every two hours.


    After checking the roof and clearing the snow in four hours, she cursed in her heart.


    The snow had not even melted yet, but another hade. It was enough to be a snow disaster.


    Was the heavens testing her patience? If this continued, the harvest next year would be worrying.


    Qiao Mai gritted her teeth and cursed the heavens. Damn it. At this rate, there might be a flood next year.


    She quickly spat on the ground. ¡°Touchwood! I should hope for only the best.¡±


    Qiao Mai bit her lips and looked at the space. There were already 50 million acres ofnd. Her cultivation was now at the second level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and her spiritual and soul power was twice as strong as before.


    Now that she could cultivate 20,000 acres ofnd at once, it was not impossible for her to move the snow in.


    Since she had this idea, she would do it.


    Qiao Mai cleared out a 100-acre, three-meter-deep pit in the pasture with her mind, thinking that she needed to move the ck soil elsewhere.


    She did not expect the space would automatically spread out a deep pit ording to her will instead of opening up on the spot.


    In other words, she had an extra 100 acres of crater in the center of the ranch.


    She looked inside, but there was nothing. ck soil was all around, making the three-meter-deep pit feel like an abyss.


    Qiao Mai walked around her courtyard. The snow mountains she passed by disappeared in the blink of an eye and appeared in the huge pit.


    Lucky Garden wasn¡¯t considered big. It was about 30 acres, and there were several snow mountains inside. She had moved them in.


    Qiao Mai bit her lip, intending to stop after filling the 100-acre pit. She kept her word.


    She cleaned up her house first and then went to the Lu family.


    In the middle of the night, she was like a dancing elf, jumping on the roofs and collecting snow from house to house.


    She even collected the umted snow on both sides of the official road. It was about to be a snow disaster. She could not stand by, knowing she had the ability to stop it.


    At most, if there was a drought somewhere, she would just move the snow out and turn it into water before returning it to the ce.


    With her speed, she had collected all the snow from the towns in the north and south overnight.


    Only then did she fill up the 100-acre pit. When Qiao Mai returned home, she willed the snow piled up into mountains in the pit to melt into water. The space¡¯s purification function was activated immediately, and the snow water became clear. One could see the bottom at a nce.


    Qiao Mai reached out and touched it. The water was as cold as a pond. Without her will, it would always maintain this temperature. In other words, it would not be warm without hermand.


    Qiao Mai smiled. It seemed that she was a master with authority.


    With a thought, the water slowly began to warm up. At this time, she was in high spirits and quickly bought live fish, shrimp, and crabs from the tform to raise them in the water.


    She didn¡¯t buy too many to let them reproduce on their own.


    Qiao Mai had a strange habit. She never ate any of the living creatures she raised. She raised the fish to make the water lively.


    Right, lotus roots. She bought some lotus seeds on the tform and nted them as well.


    Just as she thought about whether the pond would expand like her fields, she saw the entire pond trembling.


    Her eyes widened. The pond was expanding in a way visible to the naked eye.


    ¡°Oh my god, if I knew you could expand like this, I would have made you bigger long ago.¡±


    She could raise lotus roots, fish, prawns, crabs, and others in the two hundred acres of pond. The food chain must be arranged well. Otherwise, they will multiply out of control.


    This night was not in vain. Qiao Mai had wanted to provide disaster relief, but she did not expect to have an additional 100 acres of water. It was a good thing to kill two birds with one stone.


    The space began to shake at this moment, just like the previous upgrade.


    Qiao Mai screamed in her heart,¡± F * ck, it¡¯s leveling up. I didn¡¯t expect to bring in a hundred acres of snow and let the realm level up. Isn¡¯t it just farming to expand the area? I don¡¯t understand this space.¡±


    It didn¡¯t matter if she didn¡¯t understand. It was good that she had the space. This was her cheat code. As long as she had it, everything would be easy.


    Qiao Mai only stayed in the space for a while before she pulled out her consciousness. The snow outside was getting heavier.


    That night, she went out a few times to add charcoal to the children¡¯s house and firewood to the stove. She walked around the courtyards.


    She even secretly went to the warehouse to replenish her supplies.


    It was even heavier than the first snow andsted longer. It was still snowing until the 30th of the year, and the people¡¯s eyes turned red.


    It was especially so for those disaster victims who had migrated from the south. They had just suffered from the flood. Now, they had to suffer from the snow disaster. They had no tears left to cry.


    Mayor Qian was also anxious. He immediately organized the wealthy families in the town to clear the snow. As long as the road was cleared, they would start the rescue.


    The vige chiefs also brought along the vigers who had a certain degree ofbor ability and began to save themselves.


    They had to shovel the snow on the road first. As long as the road was clear, they could send someone out to ask for help. Qiao Mai asked Yuan Jiaqi to bring people to shovel the snow while she checked the grain in the warehouse.


    There were still more than 10,000 catties of grain left from the batch handed over by the tenants in the autumn. She collected a few more batches of grain from the space and filled the warehouse.


    Then, she got someone to call the mayor and ask them to deliver food and firewood to the nearby viges.


    Nearly half of the Qiao family¡¯s grain and firewood was donated. Mayor Qian was grateful to Qiao Mai from the bottom of his heart. Without her, who knew how many people would have died this year?


    However, he added,¡± Girl, should we give these to the Yuan, Qiao, and Tian families?¡±


    ¡°Yes, every family has a share. Although I hate them, I don¡¯t want their lives.¡±


    ¡°With your words, I know what to do.¡±


    At the same time, the prefecture and county cities had alsounched a rescue operation. It was likely that everyone would not have a happy year.


    Although everyone in the Qiao family ate dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year, there was no festive atmosphere at all.


    After greeting each other, they went their separate ways.


    Fortunately, the magistrate of Wei City was wealthy. Madam Wang took the lead and donated 100,000 taels of silver. The merchants in the city donated money, and some even gave porridge. All of them supported Wang Zongsheng


    The county magistrate of Yi County did not do anything. He shouted for donations every day, but themoners did not see any supplies. They were all extremely anxious.


    After Qiao Mai heard about this, she went to the county magistrate¡¯s residence that night.


    The next day, this scum began to send people to transport relief supplies to the viges.


    Not only that, he had also donated a thousand taels of silver.


    Many people felt that the sun had risen from the west. It was rare to see corrupt officials so generous.


    To be honest, if Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t seen the disaster in the north and that no one would be in charge if he were killed, she would have killed him directly.


    There were so many people waiting to save their lives, but he wanted to embezzle the relief money donated to the disaster victims.


    He deserved to be killed!


    Later, Old Mistress Wang told her about the county magistrate.


    ¡°Girl, his backer is a prince of the Imperial Court. As long as he doesn¡¯t make a big mistake, Zonsheng can¡¯t do anything to him. After all, he¡¯s only a fourth-rank official. Even Old Master Wang can¡¯t do anything..¡±</font>

 Chapter 174 - 174: Rather Be Shattered As Jade

    Chapter 174 - 174: Rather Be Shattered As Jade


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°He gave most of the money he embezzled to higher-ups, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but he didn¡¯t embezzle too much with your uncle keeping an eye on him. In some areas, the county magistrate and the prefect embezzle, leaving many people in dire straits.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, a bunch of parasites. The emperor sits high up and can¡¯t see these things, yet he protects his son. This kind of court will copse sooner orter.¡±


    ¡°Shh, don¡¯t say that out loud. We know it in our hearts. Otherwise, why doesn¡¯t Zongsheng want to return to the capital? He prefers to stay here. Our Wang family doesn¡¯t aim for great fortune and glory; we want our family to be safe.¡± ¡°What if the main branch retaliates against you?¡±


    ¡°They dare not. We have dirt on them. If they dare to take action because we didn¡¯t give them money, we¡¯re not easy to mess with. We can go down together if necessary.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Hehe, I think the same way. It¡¯s better to be shattered as jade than intact as pottery.¡±


    ¡°Look at this heavy snowfall; there might still be disasters this year.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make preparations in advance. Our house has a high foundation, and the base is deep. It¡¯s designed to withstand floods and earthquakes. The structural beams are very sturdy. Unless it¡¯s a catastrophe of epic proportions, it won¡¯t copse.¡±


    ¡°I knew it. Howe you spent so much money building a house?¡±


    ¡°You and Old Master Wang can stayfortably in my house without going anywhere. If my house is unreliable, then Wei City is even worse.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll enjoy my time here.¡±


    Days passed by. The servants in the Qiao family had a whole month of rest, and they all gained some weight.


    The snow on the ground remained untouched, with no sign of melting. It was almost February, and the people were getting anxious.


    If the seeds were frozen, they would have to plow the fields again and could only nt one season of crops this year.


    Upon learning of the disaster, Wang Zongsheng immediately submitted a report requesting the court to exempt the grain tax for the people in the Wei City area.


    However, there was no response, which made Wang Zongsheng anxious. Fortunately, good news arrived from the capital.


    Rul er was pregnant, already a month and a half along.


    She was craving sour and sweet fruits, but they couldn¡¯t be found in the capital at this season. So, Madam Wang asked Qiao Mai to see if she could obtain some.


    Madam Wang didn¡¯t mind the cold weather and brought Zihan to visit Lucky Garden.


    She shared the good news with the grandparents, and they were overjoyed. ¡°It¡¯s only been a short time, and she¡¯s already pregnant. How delightful.¡±


    After reading Ruer¡¯s letter, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but pout, ¡°She thinks of me only when she wants to eat something. We¡¯ve been back for so long, and not a single letter from her.¡±


    ¡°Well, the roads have been blocked due to the continuous snowfall. Don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    ¡°Alright, since the mirrors have arrived, I¡¯ll deliver them to her.¡± ¡°Do you still have the medicine you gave Zihanst time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you in a moment.¡±


    Madam Wang took a letter and a document from her pocket. ¡°Your uncle wants to reduce the grain tax for the people of Wei City, but the report we submitted has had no response. It¡¯s probably being held up by someone. When you go to the capital, give this document to Ru¡¯er and ask her to present it to the prince. Get it on the emperor¡¯s desk and urge the emperor to decide as soon as possible.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded and put the letter and document in her pocket.


    ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll make preparations and leave early tomorrow morning to find sour fruits for her in the south.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you and Zihan stay here for the night? We can leave together tomorrow morning. ¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    Madam Wang hadn¡¯t seen Qiao Mai¡¯s skills, but she knew that Qiao Mai was skilled in martial arts. The world was bing more chaotic, and it was better to have someone apanying them.


    Wang Zongsheng must have thought the same way, which was why he sent his wife to deliver the message. He probably felt it was more appropriate for Qiao Mai to do it than anyone else.


    As expected, when he heard that Ruler was pregnant and craving sour foods, Qiao Mai immediately volunteered to deliver them herself. This way, the letter and document would surely reach Rul er¡¯s hands.


    That day, she made all the necessary arrangements at home.


    On the second day, Qiao Mai released Dong Zao from her space. It seemed to have grown taller and stronger.


    Its fur was thick and could withstand the northern cold.


    After putting a saddle on Dong Zao, she led it to the front yard. Old Mistress Wang let Zihan take away the boxes Qiao Mai had given her before.


    Zihan didn¡¯t cry or act stubborn; he had be obedient and sensible. Old Mistress Wang and Madam Wang wrote letters and entrusted Qiao Mai to deliver them to Ru¡¯er.


    Qiao Mai ced the letter in her bosom, mounted her horse, and followed behind the carriage as she left the town of Tianshui.


    Along the way, Madam Wang spoke to Qiao Mai through the carriage window for quite some time, offering her many admonitions. Qiao Mai nodded in agreement throughout the conversation.


    Finally, she arrived at the city gates and was no longer subjected to Madam Wang¡¯s naggings. Qiao Mai promptly bid her farewell, whipped the reins, and raced towards the capital.


    During her journey, Qiao Mai encountered refugees fleeing south due to the disaster. She didn¡¯t have time to buy food to aid them, but whenever she came across a family, she would bestow twenty taels of silver upon them, allowing them to fend for themselves.


    Due to her role as a benefactor, she didn¡¯t reach the capital as quickly as she could have.


    With Dong Zao¡¯s speed, the journey should have taken only three days. However, Qiao Mai assisted themoners along the way, so she didn¡¯t arrive at the north gate until the sixth day.


    Qiao Mai took the carriage from her space and harnessed it to Dong Zao.


    The carriage was already stocked with two baskets of bright orange sour apricots, waxberries, plums, and somemonly seen fruits.


    Whether in size or freshness, these fruits were beyondpare with those in


    the market.


    Additionally, there were two dressing mirrors and six makeup mirrors.


    After a quick inspection to ensure everything was in order, she drove the carriage into the capital.


    Upon arriving at the outer part of Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, Qiao Mai noticed guards standing on either side. She bowed to them.


    ¡°I am the princess¡¯ sister, bearing a letter from her family from Wei City.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any proof?¡±


    ¡°No, but I was the one who stood guard for the princess during her wedding night. Your steward should recognize me.¡±


    ¡°Please wait a moment.¡±


    One of the guards hurried inside, and after a short while, the steward emerged. As soon as he saw Qiao Mai, he greeted her with a bow.


    ¡°Madam, I offer my respects.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard my sister is pregnant, so I¡¯ve brought her some sour items.¡± ¡°Please follow me,¡± The steward said, opening a side gate.


    Qiao Mai led her carriage into the mansion and went directly to the Zijing Pavilion, where Ru¡¯er resided.


    At this moment, the young prince was apanying her, and her cravings were causing quite a stir. She had hardly eaten anything since yesterday.


    Qiao Mai sat in the carriage, raised her voice, and called out,


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, your sister is here to see you!¡±


    As soon as Jiaru heard the voice, she jumped up in excitement, making the young prince hurry to hold her back.


    ¡°You can¡¯t run. Be careful of your health!¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. Let¡¯s go. My sister is here, and she brought delicious food!¡±


    With one dragging and the other pulling, they arrived at the courtyard gate like two rivals. Qiao Mai saw that Jiaru had lost a lot of weight.


    ¡°Oh, how did ite to this?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t eat!¡±


    ¡°Hurry, let someone unload the cart. They¡¯re all sour and sweet fruits. I guarantee you¡¯ll love them.¡±


    ¡°Sister, get off the cart quickly and let them do it.¡±


    Jiaru held her hand, and Qiao Mai jumped off the cart with a smile. ¡°The mirrors are inside. Please be careful when handling them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you brought mirrors for me too?¡±


    ¡°I got them before the new year, but our ce has been hit by continuous snowfall. I couldn¡¯te to deliver them.¡¯


    The two sisters walked hand in hand into the living room, ignoring the young prince, who followed behind them with a dejected look.


    The maids busied themselves serving tea. ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll have someone bring food right away!¡±


    Qiao Mai was not polite either. She drank tea and watched the servants bring things into the living room.


    Jiaru¡¯s eyes were fixed on the fruits, and she couldn¡¯t help but salivate. ¡°Wow, they¡¯re so fresh, and there¡¯s frost on them. Were they just picked?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Feel free to take some. No need to wash them; they¡¯re all clean..¡±</font>

 Chapter 175 - 175: Eat If You Have Nothing to Do

    Chapter 175 - 175: Eat If You Have Nothing to Do


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Jiaru eagerly reached out to take the food, but the young prince quickly stopped her and ordered a servant to prepare a te.


    Rul er, displeased, red at Li Longji. ¡°These are all mine. You can¡¯t eat them!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t eat them. They¡¯re all yours.¡±


    It was only at this moment that Qiao Mai noticed him. ¡°Oh. I¡¯ve been so busy talking to my sister that I forgot about you.¡±


    ¡°Sister, no need for formalities.¡¯<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai handed the letter and documents from her bosom to Jiaru. ¡°This is a family letter, and these documents are from Uncle Wang, requesting your assistance in delivering them to the Emperor.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve heard about the snow disaster in Wei City. There should indeed be a protocol for this.¡±


    ¡°Lord Wang submitted the documents half a month ago, but there has been no response. Could it be that someone is withholding them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that, but the Emperor¡¯s health has been poor. He is still recovering.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t the Crown Prince overseeing the affairs of the state? Is no one handling the government affairs?¡±


    The young prince shook his head. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s intentions are inscrutable. With these documents not reaching him, he cannot make any decisions at the moment.¡±


    Qiao Mai ced the documents back in her bosom. After reading the letter, Rul er wiped away tears.


    But when the young prince brought the fruits, she immediately smiled and ate happily.


    ¡°Eating too much sour food isn¡¯t good for you. Please eat in moderation.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    When the mirrors were brought in by the servants, Rul er had them taken to her bedroom.


    Afterward, they all sat down for a meal, but Ru¡¯er hardly ate anything and mostly consumed the fruits.


    She couldn¡¯t stand the smell of meat and felt nauseous when she tried to eat it. Qiao Mai shook her head, thinking she was lucky to have three sons and a daughter and didn¡¯t need to go through pregnancy again. Seeing a woman like this made her anxious.


    She¡¯d rather endure injuries and bleeding than go through pregnancy again.


    After the meal, the young prince went out to handle his affairs while Jiaru held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand and led her into her bedroom. She had her maids open the boxes containing the mirrors, checked them for any damage, and sent one to the former queen and another to the current queen. She also sent out arge and a small mirror to others. Finally, she distributed the remaining mirrors one by one.


    Ru¡¯er retrieved fifty thousand taels of silver from her private chamber and handed it to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°We¡¯re sisters, so you must ept it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Stop being so formal. We will always be sisters.¡±


    ¡°Then why give me the silver?¡±


    ¡°This is a formality. You need capital to purchase these things, right?¡± Helpless, Qiao Mai took several hair ornaments from her shoulder bag.


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t worth fifty thousand taels. I¡¯ll add these to it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister. I knew you were the best to me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tter me. First, I prioritize my husband, then my children, your grandparents, and finally you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t care. I think you¡¯re the best to me, and that¡¯s final.¡±


    ¡°You have a sweet tongue. No wonder the young prince likes you so much. How have you been during your time here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been fine, but I often encounter rivals when my husband has social gatherings.¡±


    ¡°Even after the marriage? Are they still interested?¡±


    ¡°Ah, the prince can have concubines and mistresses. Do you know that royal mistresses are not like those in ordinary families?¡±


    ¡°Do you want him to take concubines?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but I can¡¯t stop him. He¡¯s a prince. However, he promised not to take concubines for five years.¡±


    ¡°Then make the most of these five years. Grow well, and be strong. When he has concubines, your life, and your child¡¯s life, will be chaotic, like walking through a forest fire every day.¡±


    Rul er¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°I¡¯m so scared.¡±


    ¡°Be strong for the sake of your child. Since you married into this family, you must face all this, or your child will suffer.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I will slowly be stronger.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her, thinking she had a good heart but was too kind and would likely be taken advantage of in such a family.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving early tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you stay a few more days?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been away for half a month, and there¡¯s much to do at home. Do you have any other cravings? I¡¯ll look for them this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°I want to eat taro, bamboo shoots, your family¡¯s sticky corn, and strawberries.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked out the window, somewhat speechless. This girl was quite demanding.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you stay a few more days?¡±


    Rul er, with her big watery eyes, looked like she felt quite wronged.


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Alright, find more food for me, okay?¡±


    ¡°Sleep for a while.¡±


    Qiao Mai got up and left. She couldn¡¯t stand how pregnant women transformed into different people. She thought Ruler would be more mature, but instead, she seemed to regress.


    Qiao Mai left the mansion and was d she brought pickled vegetables, kimchi, spicy cabbage, and spicy radish from home.


    She heard that pregnant women often craved these vors, so she took a jar of kimchi from her space.


    She knew Ruler wanted these things, so she took two baskets from her tform. Along with that, she bought a box of spicy strips, popcorn, crispy rice, and hawthorn-vored lollipops. She figured that if Ruler acted like a child, she would indulge her.


    Rul er slept until it was nearly dark. When she woke up, she asked for Qiao Mai and was surprised that she hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    Anxiously, she heard the sound of horses neighing at the door and hurriedly got up. Her maids quickly held her back and helped her outside.


    ¡°Finally, you¡¯re back! I was so worried.¡±


    ¡°I went to get some food for you. I really owe you. Are you still worried about


    ¡°Of course.


    The servants got off the carriage and quickly began moving the items into the house. Ruler stood by, watching with longing eyes.


    ¡°Wow, everything looks so delicious!¡±


    ¡°Eat slowly. Some food can be stored, but others can¡¯t. Use your discretion.¡±


    ¡°I had some sour fruits for lunch and don¡¯t feel as nauseous now.¡± Entering the living room, she circled around the baskets of food. ¡°Quickly steam some taro for me. What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s kimchi. Try it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s delicious. Spicy strips, popcorn, and crispy rice! I love these.¡±


    ¡°Can you handle spicy food? We also have some spicy radish, pickled by my family.¡±


    ¡°I can.¡±


    Ru¡¯er¡¯s trusting nature led her to believe in Qiao Mai too easily. Could she really bring all these things from her home in just one trip? Rul er didn¡¯t give it much thought.


    ¡°You¡¯re craving sour and spicy foods; could it be twins?¡±


    ¡°Thanks for your kind words. Maybe I¡¯ll have twins.¡±


    Qiao Mai noticed Ru¡¯er¡¯s pregnant belly and extended her spiritual sense to examine it. She could see two small points attached to the uterine wall.


    It seemed that she might be carrying twins. However, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t reveal this information. A doctor could easily confirm itter in her pregnancy. Beforeing, she had prepared a batch of pills to protect the pregnancy.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sister, I know you¡¯re hungry. Just wait. Dinner will be here soon, and we can eat together.¡±


    ¡°This is a bottle of pills to stabilize your pregnancy. Keep it safe. Hopefully, you won¡¯t need to use it.¡±


    Rul er epted the pills with a smile and ced them in her pocket.


    ¡°You always give me such good things.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and poured herself a cup of hot tea.


    The young prince entered the room at this moment and saw the room filled with baskets.


    He smiled and said, ¡°Sister, you brought all this delicious food. How skilled.¡±


    He nced at Qiao Mai deeply, but she didn¡¯t respond to hisment.


    ¡°Think about what else you¡¯d like to eat. I¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow after breakfast.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need anything else. When my pregnancy stabilizes, I¡¯lle to visit you.¡±


    The young prince¡¯s face became stern. ¡°Even when your pregnancy is stable, you shouldn¡¯t travel recklessly. The road is bumpy. If you miss your family, please invite your parents toe. This is your first pregnancy, and you must take good care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re so strict. I won¡¯t talk to you anymore..¡±</font>

 Chapter 176 - 176: He Should Wake Up With Another Pinch

    Chapter 176 - 176: He Should Wake Up With Another Pinch


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai silently watched the two interact, ate the food they had prepared, and only then went to her guest room to rest.


    In the stillness of the night, she walked out of her guest room and scanned her surroundings.


    The entire guest courtyard seemed empty of any hidden figures. With a graceful leap, shended on the rooftop and headed towards the imperial pce.


    The ancient imperial pce, much like the modern one, was simr in terms of architecture, nomenture, and the arrangement of the main pce, as well as the east, south, west, and north pces.


    She passed by several hidden sentries and arrived at the emperor¡¯s sleeping chamber.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Dressed in ck attire and wearing a headscarf, she silently sat beside the emperor¡¯s bed.


    All those who were attending to him had fallen unconscious.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t a doctor, but she had developed her spiritual senses to observe the internal structure of the emperor¡¯s body.


    His organs were deteriorating, and his vitality was slowly dissipating¡ªclear signs of impending death.


    ¡°Oh my, if I hadn¡¯te, this old emperor would have passed away in days.¡±


    Considering his age, which was only in his forties, he wasn¡¯t particrly old. Nevertheless, the state of the country under his rule was dire.


    She frowned at the thought of whether to save him or not. If she didn¡¯t, it would be themon people who would suffer the most when turmoil broke out in the court.


    With a sigh, Qiao Mai pinched the old emperor¡¯s arm.


    He didn¡¯t react. She inserted a detoxifying pill into his mouth and examined him for signs of poisoning.


    After a brief pause and seeing no reaction, she administered a wound-healing pill as well.


    Surprisingly, the emperor¡¯s organs began to regain vitality. Qiao Mai decided to give him another pill.


    Observing the gradual recovery of the old emperor¡¯s body, she shook her head in amazement. Perhaps another pinch would awaken him.


    Without hesitation, she pinched his arm again. This time, the old emperor stirred, groaning before opening his eyes. ¡°Who dared to pinch me?¡±


    He saw a person in ck attire with a headscarf.


    ¡°Bold assassin, you dare to attempt an assassination on me?¡±


    Qiao Mai reached out and strangled his throat. ¡°Arrogant Emperor. If you don¡¯t want to die, shut your filthy mouth.¡±


    Oh, it¡¯s a female assassin.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll be quiet.¡¯


    ¡°Good, you understand the situation!¡±


    The emperor nced around at the eunuchs and pce maids who had fallen to the ground. Finally, he focused on Qiao Mai.


    He was sick for several days and growing weaker, but he now felt full of vitality. He attributed this miraculous recovery to the woman before him.


    ¡°Must I thank you?¡±


    ¡°Cut the nonsense. I didn¡¯t want to save you, but if you died, your sons would fight for the throne, and themoners would suffer.¡±


    ¡°I want to be a good emperor, but the south is suffering, the north has heavy snow, and problems are everywhere. The treasury has been empty.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! Your pce consorts spend hundreds of thousands on jewelry, and your officials revel outside, indulging in corruption and bribery. If there¡¯s no money, why not recover it from them? Kill a few corrupt officials, and you¡¯ll have everything.¡±


    ¡°I admit my negligence.¡±


    ¡°Let me make it clear. I can save you once, but I can alsoe to kill you. If you can¡¯t rule as a good emperor, step down even if you find someone to rece you. They must be a prince who treats the people well. Otherwise, I¡¯ll wipe out your entire family and rece it with a different surname to govern this country.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re the first person who dares to speak to me like this.¡± ¡°I have the power to back up my words. Do you want to try me?¡± ¡°Heroine, feel free to make your requests. I¡¯d rather not test you.¡±


    ¡°I want you to use the Golden Dragon Guard, left by your ancestors, to eliminate corrupt officials and restore order to the court. In addition, I¡¯ll give you a n for flood control. If you follow it, you can prevent more than sixty percent of disasters.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eyes brightened, but he was surprised.


    ¡°How do you know about the Golden Dragon Guard passed down by my ancestors?¡±


    ¡°With my abilities, nothing escapes my eyes. There are five of them on the rooftop of your room, and their waist tes read ¡®Golden Dragon Guard.¡¯ I¡¯m not blind. I¡¯ve put them to sleep.¡±


    After saying that, Qiao Mai took a notebook from her pocket and tossed it to the emperor.


    ¡°This is the n for flood control. This year, taxes will be waived for the northern regions affected by the snow disaster. The same goes for the southern regions. Let themon people breathe a sigh of relief.¡±


    ¡°What about food? Even if I follow your advice and start flood control immediately, it will take time. What about the soldiers? Will they starve?¡± ¡°Execute corrupt officials, and let the generals on the border use their money to purchase food. Let me make this clear. If you kill the wrong person, I will hold you ountable.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a God.¡±


    The old emperor quickly changed his tune, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!¡±


    ¡°Heroine, or should I say, Goddess, is my illness cured now?¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t get poisoned again, you¡¯ll live for many more decades.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up. ¡°Remember my words: govern justly and benevolently, and don¡¯t let your personal preferences lead to unfairness. I¡¯lle back to deal with you if you don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    Qiao Mai left the main hall and looked at the empty courtyard. With a single thought, she moved the hundreds of thousands of grain from her space.


    ¡°Old man, I¡¯ve given you enough grain for a year. Don¡¯t let me down, or you won¡¯t be able to bear the consequences.¡±


    The emperor, witnessing this scene, regarded her as a deity.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I will definitely be a good Emperor.¡±


    If the emperor had been reluctant earlier and had his dignity challenged by a woman, he now regarded Qiao Mai as a divine being, willing to listen to her every word.


    Who can fill the square with grain with a wave of their hand?


    Only a deity can. Respect the deity and heed their words. That¡¯s right!


    Qiao Mai, disappearing into the night at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, caused the emperor to rub his eyes and stretch his muscles before calling for his officials.


    No matter what the emperor did, Qiao Mai aplished what she set out to do. Returning to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, she closed the door and slept in her space.


    She wanted a peaceful sleep, which she couldn¡¯t find outside.


    Qiao Mai woke up the next day, brought Dong Zao out of the stable, and stored the carriage in her space.


    Riding her horse, she arrived at the Zijing Pavilion. The young prince had already left, and Ruler was still sleeping. Qiao Mai left a message and departed from the mansion.


    Riding her horse, she kept an eye on her surroundings. She spotted freshly roasted ducks and decided to take ten.


    She also picked up five bags of snacks from a pastry shop.


    As she continued to shop, she felt that something was amiss.


    She had a tail following her and could sense a faint trace of killing intent.


    Oh dear, thest time she took action, it attracted attention. Were they finally catching up to her?


    Well, it was a good opportunity since she had nothing else to do.


    Qiao Mai deliberately took her time, originally nning to return after shopping, but now she had a reason to stay longer.


    Throughout the day, she leisurely explored the city. She stopped shopping as the day grew darker, realizing that the city gates would soon be closing.


    She headed north on the official road, urging Dong Zao to trot.


    The killing intent behind her grew stronger, indicating that more people were closing in. These assassins didn¡¯t ride horses and instead relied on their light footwork to silently chase Qiao Mai, waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    As the night grew darker, Qiao Mai continued to ride Dong Zao northwards leisurely while the assassins remained cautious and did not make a move.


    Qiao Mai remained unperturbed. She casually retrieved a fruit from her space and began to eat it slowly.


    This time, she decided not to use pearls as they were too expensive. A good pearl could cost several taels of silver, enough for an ordinary family to live on for two to three months.


    She needed to be more frugal and save money to donate.


    Under the moonlight, Qiao Mai noticed a space by the road. She dismounted her horse.


    ¡°Good boy, take care of yourself. Come here to pick me upter. I¡¯ll deal with them for now.¡±


    Qiao Mai patted Dong Zao¡¯s rump, and the horse neighed before heading north. The assassins continued to watch her closely. Since she had stopped, they didn¡¯t pursue her horse.


    Seeing that Qiao Mai had reached the empty space, many assassins were puzzled, not knowing what she was nning.


    Qiao Mai finished eating the remaining apples, tossed the cores aside, and beckoned to the assassins hiding in the darkness.


    ¡°Come on, all of you. Don¡¯t hide any longer.. Let¡¯s settle this matter!¡±</font>

 Chapter 177 - 177: Killers With Dignity

    Chapter 177 - 177: Killers With Dignity


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The killers heard this, and their faces showed quite a spectacle. They were killers with dignity that would not ept any insult!


    They rushed toward Qiao Mai like a giant, thinking they had the upper hand. However. she flicked her hand when thev were nearlv uDon her. and a gleaming,rge knife appeared.


    Up until now, Qiao Mai had never been willing to spend money on buying a spiritual weapon. Ordinary des were enough to make them regret their actions.


    She likedrge knives. They feltfortable in her hand and could cut cleanly and swiftly.


    The sound of ¡°ka-cha, scrape, and pounce¡± filled the air as she unleashed her skills.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    For her, dealing with these people was no different than slicing melons. Those ck-d individuals met their demise without even a chance to scream and were sent to the afterlife.


    In the dark of night, Qiao Mai was like the Grim Reaper harvesting lives. Her eyes and divine sense could see things within a hundred meters.


    ¡°These guys have determination, right? Don¡¯t run away. Damn it!¡± Qiao Mai drew her gun from the space and fired. One fell, and then another.


    The field was soon littered with ck-d corpses.


    Only one was left, desperately trying to retreat. Qiao Mai put away her gun and knife and rushed toward him.


    After catching him, she dislocated his jaw and skillfully removed the poison hidden in his teeth. Then she reset his jaw.


    ¡°Speak. Who sent you?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    The killer stubbornly turned his head away. Qiao Mai knew the rules of this profession and understood that getting information out of a killer was not easy.


    But it was only difficult, not impossible. ¡°Tell me the truth, and I¡¯ll make it quick for you. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make you wish you were dead.¡±


    ¡°Never! I won¡¯t talk even if you torture me to death.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re determined. Then why did you run just now? You could have died by my de instead.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face grew cold. She sealed his acupoints, drew a dagger, and patted his body with her hand. His clothes fell apart in tatters. Someone unaware might have thought she intended to assault him.


    Qiao Mai remained expressionless. With precision, she made cuts along his body, each grazing close to the bone.


    The pain reached the marrow of his bones, and the killer convulsed all over. He refused to talk, so Qiao Mai continued until he could bear it no longer.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll talk.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stubborn. You could have saved yourself a lot of suffering if you¡¯d talked earlier.¡±


    ¡°It was Lady Fu from the Fu family. She paid us from Mingyou Pavilion to kill you.¡±


    ¡°Where is Mingyou Pavilion?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a brothel. You can find it in the capital.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t die, will I be pursued forever?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What if Lady Fu dies?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d still be pursued. We took her money, and the mission will persist.¡±


    ¡°It seems like this will only end by destroying Mingyou Pavilion. How many Mingyou Pavilions were there in the Ming Dynasty?¡±


    ¡°Just one in the capital. I don¡¯t know about others. We are ordinary killers, and there are more advanced ones. Please make it quick.¡±


    ¡°All right. Rest in peace.¡±


    With a flick of her dagger, the killer¡¯s neck twisted and fell to the ground.


    Qiao Mai walked onto the official road and whistled into the distance. Dong Zao quickly approached, and she stored it in her space before racing back to the capital at top speed.


    Qiao Mai was not one to be trifled with. Anyone who tried to kill her would meet their end. She had to act quickly.


    Her figure moved like a blur through the night, reaching the Fu family¡¯s residence. She found Lady Fu¡¯s room. Two maids involved in the malicious schemey asleep beside her, and Qiao Mai ended their lives.


    If Lady Fu was the murderer, these two maids were her aplices. They were not innocent, having helped hermit wrongdoing.


    She arrived at the bedside, looked at the words on her face, and swiftly put an end to her life.


    How could these people remain so defiant even in such circumstances? They were utterly despicable!


    She turned and left the Fu family¡¯s residence, heading straight for Mingyou Pavilion.


    It was indeed a brothel, dealing in the flesh trade for men and women. The scale was not small, and at this moment, it was the liveliest time for the brothel.


    Inside the brothel, Qiao Mai systematically searched the premises. She first looted all their gold and silver hidden away.


    Then, she searched room by room. She was a former high-level special agent, highly skilled in concealment. Not to mention that she was now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.


    Her effort pays off. She finally found a secret chamber.


    The ce was quiterge, about a hundred square meters.


    Inside was a man with a mask seated at the main seat. Five or six people were sitting cross-legged on the floor, all wearing masks.


    ¡°Why did you send so many people to kill a vige woman?¡±


    ¡°Miss Fu wanted our people to take turns tormenting her until she died.¡±


    ¡°She hates her that much?¡±


    ¡°Who knows what she¡¯s thinking? She paid a lot, so we have to follow her orders.¡±


    ¡°This vige woman is no ordinary person. Our people died at her hands during the assassination the other night. She has some skills.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We sent middle-tier assassins this time. They¡¯ll definitelyplete the mission.¡±


    ¡°Our Mingyou Pavilion has never failed before. Another failure would be the second one. Why does Miss Fu have such a grudge against this vige woman?¡±


    ¡°I heard Miss Fu wanted the vige woman¡¯s hairpin, but she was refused. She was angry and humiliated. Then, her appearance was destroyed. Later, she heard that the vige woman sold her hairpins under Madam Pang¡¯s patronage and invited everyone except her. She got even angrier, saying the vige woman was unting it in her face. So she decided to use us to vent her anger.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the Fu family get robbed?¡±


    ¡°Their wealth is not just on the surface; the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back was much heavier.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai could no longer endure. These killers even wanted to torment her. They seemed to take on any job without hesitation.


    She took her shoulder-mounted cannon from the space, loaded it, and fired upon them.


    Modern advanced weaponry was something martial arts experts of ancient times couldn¡¯t even imagine.


    They heard the shot toote and instinctively tried to retreat. Unfortunately, the exit was blocked by Qiao Mai, and the explosive force of the cannon in such a confined space led to catastrophic consequences.


    Qiao Mai entered the space the moment she shot it.


    Within ten miles of Mingyou Pavilion, everyone felt the earth-shaking. People thought it was an earthquake and fled their homes in fear.


    Many prostitutes wore nothing but their bras, and some patrons had to run out with their upper bodies exposed.


    They waited outside for a while, but when there was no moremotion, they cursed and grumbled before returning to their revelry.


    Through the space, Qiao Mai looked at the dusty interior of the secret chamber. The wall behind the master¡¯s seat had a gaping hole from which the dirt had poured in.


    All those inside were lying on the ground, most likely knocked unconscious.


    Qiao Mai went over to them, one by one, and removed their masks. She didn¡¯t recognize any of them.


    When she removed thest mask, which belonged to their supposed leader, she was stunned.


    It was Wang Zongtang, the eldest son of Prime Minister Wang. My, he had quite a background. This Wang family was indeed not ordinary.


    They were operating such an organization covertly. Tonight, it seemed she would have to visit the Wang family.


    Regardless of what Old Mistress and Master Wang thought, if they wanted to kill her, they had to be punished.


    However, considering Wang Zongsheng¡¯s status, she would spare his life.


    But he couldn¡¯t escape punishment.


    She beheaded those people and broke Wang Zongtang¡¯s legs before leaving for the Wang residence.


    In one night, the Wang family¡¯s assets were all looted.


    By the time morning arrived, Qiao Mai was galloping along the official road on Dong Zao¡¯s back.


    Three dayster, she arrived in Wei City. She first visited the government office and reported Rul er¡¯s situation to Wang Zongsheng.


    ¡°Uncle, Rul er is doing well. Her due date is in early September. Please inform


    Auntie. ¡±


    ¡°What about the document?¡±


    ¡°The prince didn¡¯t take it. He said it wasn¡¯t the document that was confiscated but the Emperor¡¯s health. As soon as he recovers, there will be news..¡±</font>

 Chapter 178 - 178: Let’s Stop for Now

    Chapter 178 - 178: Let¡¯s Stop for Now


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Wang Zongsheng finally rxed. ¡°Child, thank you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Shall I go back now?¡±


    Qiao Mai took her leave, and it took her half an hour to return to Tianshui Town. Her visitsted ten days.


    Yuan Jiaqi hadn¡¯t gone to the academy yet; he said the sses would resume mid-March. During this time, he had been studying with Old Master Wang.


    Mid -March? That¡¯s not long before the imperial exam.


    The weather was still cold, with snow gradually melting during the day but freezing at night.


    However, this was beneficial as a sudden thaw after so much snow would lead to flooding.


    In previous years, people were already working in the fields by mid-February, but this year, they were cooped up at home with no chance to grow crops.


    Tianshui Town¡¯s residents were better off as they received relief food and firewood, resulting in fewer casualties and no starvation.


    In other towns and viges, the situation was less certain, and beggars from neighboring areas flocked to Tianshui Town.


    Qiao Mai had a food shelter set up outside, serving porridge from dawn to night, adding vegetables and sal. asionally, she ordered batches of steamed buns from a bakery to support their business.


    She had been spending the money earned from selling hair ornaments and hadn¡¯t used any of the proceeds from the looted items.


    However, some rare items she couldn¡¯t sell openly were ced on the tform. She donated all the proceeds to help the townsfolk.


    ording to Shopkeeper Niu, the Qiao and Yuan families resumed their arrogance during her absence.


    They believed Qiao Mai had softened her stance as they also received the relief package, so they spread rumors, iming she would acknowledge them now.


    As long as things are fine at home, she feels at ease. Upon returning home, she hugged Ling¡¯er and went to rest in her room.


    Being away from home, no matter how good the food and amodation are, always keeps one on edge.


    Qiao Mai slept for a day and night, and when she woke up, she went to see Old Mistress Wang and updated her on the situation in the capital.


    ¡°Will you go when Ru¡¯er gives birth?¡±


    ¡°No, let her mother go. We¡¯re getting old and can¡¯t endure such a long journey.¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t go either. I¡¯ll give the things to Madam Wang and ask her to deliver it.¡±


    ¡°Is the Emperor really ill?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what the young prince said. His father and the Emperor are close brothers, so this should be true.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, it would be best if he recovers. If not, it will be a catastrophe.¡±


    ¡°It will get better.¡±


    Upon her return, she adopted a busy schedule. Qiao Mai had sturdy elevated storage rooms built home to store the grains.


    She expanded drainage around her property inside and outside, preparing for unforeseen circumstances.


    She even ordered a few boats, each capable of carrying ten people.


    At first, the Qins found this amusing, but after thinking it over, they decided to make a few for themselves.


    The deer raised by the Qiao family are about to shed their antlers. Initially, they had one male and two females, but after a year of breeding, there are now five of them, with three shedding antlers and two still not fully grown.


    Only antlers from three of the deer were collected. Since there wasn¡¯t much, they were sold to the local medicine shop at a price lower than the county¡¯s rate.


    As for musk, it can only be collected in August. It¡¯s not the right time yet. However, the musk deer count has also increased from three to five.


    At this rate, they will have two more each year, and soon, there will be an abundance of deer antlers and musk.


    Now, everyone knows that the Qiao family has added another source of ie. The local medicine shops have even secured orders with her, expecting the price for deer antlers to be much higher next year, thus hoping Qiao Mai will reserve some for them.


    Furthermore, knowing her capabilities, the medicine shop also hoped that Qiao Mai could help them obtain medicinal herbs.


    There have been too many patients, and their current supply of herbs is insufficient.


    Qiao Mai asked them to list the herbs theycked, and she went on two trips with her carriage to gather the necessary herbs for the medicine shops.


    Not only did she procure all the herbs needed, but the quality was also excellent. This led even other towns to seek her out.


    It¡¯s a waste not to make money when the opportunity arises. After receiving a deposit, she loaded her carriage with herbs and delivered them to the medicine shops, greatly relieving their stress.


    Qiao Mai was considering whether to open a specialized herb store.


    However, she thought better of it, as having her eatery was already attracting envy. Adding deer antlers and musk to the mix would only intensify the jealousy.


    She reconsidered, thinking it might be better to teach Liu Hai a trade. With the current weather, she couldn¡¯t guarantee anything. She might provide him with recipes, but if the heavens didn¡¯t cooperate, it would be better to dy it now.


    As a result, the four small shops in the southern area remained unrented, with their doors shut.


    In March, Shopkeeper Lu became busy. Even though Ruyi married into a humble family, her dowry was the same as Ruxin¡¯s. This way, there would be no discrimination, preventing her daughter from feeling ufortable.


    Upon hearing about the dowry she provided for Ruyi, the Qin family clenched their teeth and managed to scrape together one thousand two hundred taels as a betrothal gift.


    The betrothal gift from the Qin family was different from what the Feng family provided. Although the amounts were the same, she could tell the difference in sincerity.


    One was merely putting on a show, having money but not using it, while the other was an all-out effort made by the family. It was clear at a nce.


    Since Ruxin¡¯s return to the Lu family, Qiao Mai has not visited them once. Shopkeeper Lu also visited the Qiao family less frequently, and the amount of embroidery work Qiao Mai gave her decreased.


    Unknowingly, the distance between the two families seemed to grow wider.


    Perhaps it was because of Ruxin, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t take it to heart. When others treated her well, she would repay them tenfold or a hundredfold.


    As long as she treated the Lu family fairly, that would be enough.


    If Lu Sanniang didn¡¯t do anything to harm her in the future, she would continue to treat her well.


    Ruxin¡¯s business was booming. She earned a considerable amount of silver every month. As for the scum, Feng Yinshi, he had been in a slump ever since he broke his leg.


    Heined about the newly-wedded beautiful concubines and kept causing trouble.


    Now, he suddenly remembered howfortable life had been when he had a wife. When he heard that Ruxin¡¯s business was flourishing, he came to the shop several times but never saw her.


    If he dared to make a scene, she would call the authorities.


    Later, he shamelessly waited for her at the entrance of the Lu family and sometimes at the town¡¯s archway.


    After Mayor Qian learned of this, he sent several guards to patrol the town and beat him up whenever they encountered him. After a few times, he stoppeding.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t react to this news. She pretended not to know about it and never asked Lu Sanniang about it.


    In mid-March, Yuan Jiaqi went to the capital.


    On the twenty-first of March, Ruxin and Carpenter Qin¡¯s son had a grand wedding. Lu Sanniang invited the entire Qiao family to attend.


    Because it was nearby, Old Master and Mistress Wang decided to join in on the festivities.


    Qiao Mai prepared two sets of gifts, one from herself and one from the Wang family.


    Despite adding to the dowry, they attended the wedding on the Qin family¡¯s side. As for the bride¡¯s family, she didn¡¯t represent them.


    She had already done it once, which had hurt her heart enough. She didn¡¯t want to go through that pain again.


    Ruyi did a better job than her sister. Every season, she would send two sets of clothing without fail, handmade by her.


    Her double-sided embroidery was better than Ruxin¡¯s, and sometimes, she even came over to seek her guidance.


    In the end, it was the younger sister who was more thoughtful and knew how to get along with people. Every time she visited, she would seek guidance from Qiao Mai if she was present.


    Yuan Jiaqi packed up his belongings before leaving. He took everything he needed and said he didn¡¯t need anyone to see him off for the examination; he could go on his own.


    Qiao Mai gave him enough silver to use and sent him off.


    Around the time of his examination, the imperial court issued a decree, granting a one-year exemption from grain taxes throughout the Ming Dynasty.


    Now, themoners were overjoyed and cheered loudly, putting a smile on Qiao Mai¡¯s face.


    In the north, the snow didn¡¯tpletely melt until mid-March. The seeds nted before the New Year had not sprouted; they had frozen to death long ago.


    So, this year, the people in the north could only nt one season of crops, and they didn¡¯t know if the heavens would throw them another curveball..

 Chapter 179 - 179: Son-in-law Is a Scholar

    Chapter 179 - 179: Son-inw Is a Schr


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The five acres ofnd owned by the Qiao family were nted with sweet potatoes after they removed the warm greenhouse. It was nothing particrly precious.


    They did this out of caution in case something unexpected happened. They didn¡¯t want to waste valuable crops.


    Afterpleting his exams, Yuan Jiaqi headed home instead of returning to the academy. He wanted to wait until the results were announced before making any decisions.


    As it turned out, an official visited their home to deliver the good news after the results were released. Yuan Jiaqi had once again achieved the top score in the exams, bringing immense joy to the family.


    It was the same official as the previous year, who had also received several red envelopes. This time, he remembered the Qiao family.


    This significant achievement quickly became the talk of the town.


    Yuan Jiaqi had been the top scorerst year and had now repeated the feat. As the top schr among the students, he had the highest chance of bing a Rmended Schr.


    Furthermore, Yuan Jiaqi consistently held the top position year after year, causing some people to feel uneasy.


    Who were these people? They were none other than Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s family and the n leader who had previously vowed never to return.


    Such an honor was supposed to belong to the Yuan family, and they couldn¡¯t allow a woman to take credit for it.


    They boldly approached again, but this time, Yuan Jiaqi had people block them from entering their house, refusing to let them in.


    The Qiao family was equally frustrated. Their son-inw had achieved the top score, a great source of pride for the family. Moreover, he was a live-in husband, adding to the Qiao family¡¯s pride. Unfortunately, they watched this honor slip through their fingers.


    What could they do? They couldn¡¯t im any credit for themselves.


    Even though they couldn¡¯t take any action, they proudly boasted about their son-inw being the schr within the vige, much to the annoyance of others.


    The Tian family, on the other hand, was furious. They smashed pots and dishes, resenting Qiao Mai for leaving their family and marrying such a sessful husband. They couldn¡¯t stand that she had be the wife of a Rmended Schr.


    This frustration had driven them to the point of despair.


    Qiao Ma was quite pleased. Instead of hosting a celebration at home, she booked a banquet at the Jingtai Restaurant.


    After all, her cousin worked there. When there was a cause for celebration at home, it was important to support Shopkeeper Tong in his business.


    She reserved ten private rooms and the entire main hall at the restaurant. In other words, she had rented out the ce, with each table costing ten taels of silver.


    This delighted Shopkeeper Tong immensely. Ten private rooms with eight guests per table amounted to eighty people, and an additional ten tables in the main hall meant another twenty tables, totaling one hundred and sixty people. How many guests would she need to invite?


    Qiao Mai invited Mayor Qian, the guards, and the Lu family, including Xiu Hong, Xiu Yu, and Liu Ye. She also invited Shopkeeper Qin and his family, as well as all the merchants in the town who had contributed to the relief efforts during the snow disaster.


    She provided her own wine ¨C arge jar of Maotai for each table.


    She had put a lot of effort into celebrating Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s sess.


    Yuan Jiaqi was pleased. The more Qiao Mai treated him well, the more he felt she had feelings for him.


    The celebration banquet took ce on the second day after he became the top scorer. The area in front of the Jingtai Restaurant was bustling with people, and everyone celebrated Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s achievement.


    While Qiao Mai greeted the guests, a few suspicious figures quietly entered the restaurant.


    Who were they? Who else could they be?


    Since Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery opened after the New Year, these two pairs of old individuals had shamelessly gathered there, openly plotting against the Qiao family. However, they hadn¡¯t been able to do anything against the Qiao family.


    Upon hearing that the Qiao family was hosting a banquet at the Jingtai Restaurant, with each table costing ten taels of silver, they couldn¡¯t resist the temptation.


    They decided not to return home for lunch and instead sneakily came to enjoy a meal.


    In any case, one pair was Qiao Mai¡¯s parents, and the other pair were Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents. Could they kick them out in front of everyone?


    Taking advantage of the chaos, they entered the restaurant, found a conspicuous table, and dug in.


    The waiters would serve the dishes to the reserved tables. They didn¡¯t need to arrange the guests; that was the host¡¯s responsibility.


    Thus, when Qiao Mai noticed them, these people had nearly finished their meal.


    With a stern expression, she approached their table and said, ¡°Leave!¡±


    ¡°Mair? Can¡¯t you let us finish our meal?¡±


    At this moment, Qiao Shicheng was no longer acting as a father, speaking pitifully.


    ¡°Are you leaving or not?¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re your parents and inws. Is it too much to ask for a meal without any other requests?¡±


    Qiao Mai walked to the counter and picked up a broom without hesitation. She swung it towards them.


    ¡°A shameless bunch! You never change; no matter how many times I scold you, you don¡¯t learn. Get out!¡±


    ¡°Ah, Mai, we¡¯re your parents. You might be struck by lightning for hitting your parents.¡±


    ¡°I told you to leave!¡±


    With no restraint, Qiao Mai struck them with the broom. Fortunately, they were still wearing light clothing. Otherwise, they would have suffered grave injuries.


    The two pairs of old folks quickly got up and, reluctant to leave the dishes on the table, ran outside.


    The broom Qiao Mai was holding had been smashed to pieces. She stood at the restaurant¡¯s entrance, pointing at the old folks and scolding them.


    ¡°Shameless scum! Even after all these years, you haven¡¯t learned your lesson. If you dare toe again, I¡¯ll hit you every time I see you.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. ¡°Madam Qiao, please stop. After all, they are your biological parents, and two are Mr. Yuan¡¯s parents.¡± ¡°Tsk! We¡¯ve cut ties long ago. They are nothing to me.¡±


    ¡°That may be your view, but the world doesn¡¯t see it that way. When your husband bes a top scorer, you should pay attention to your reputation.¡± ¡°With these two shameless people, what kind of reputation can I have?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy to cut off ties, but it¡¯s a fact that they are your biological parents.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care about other people¡¯s families, but they can¡¯t have anything to do with my assets.¡±


    Qiao Shicheng and his wife, along with Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents, couldn¡¯t believe that she had resorted to physical force. They thought she would prioritize appearances.


    They never expected her to take action, especially in front of so many guests and right in the main hall.


    This youngdy was audacious!


    Some believed Qiao Mai was ruthless, while most thought she was genuine.


    If you treated her well, she¡¯d reciprocate a hundredfold, but if you treated her poorly, she¡¯d return it a thousandfold.


    There was nothing wrong with what she did. Some people assumed she would never take action, that she would meekly ept things. They were caught off guard by her actions.


    ¡°Well done! These shameless people have been scolded countless times, yet they never change. They even dare toe back. They deserve to be beaten!¡±


    Lu Sanniang was the first to apud. Everyone outside the door burst intoughter when they saw the four disheveled figures.


    Yuan Jiaqi watched as his parents became pariahs, with everyone calling for punishment. Although he resented them, it didn¡¯t sit well with him.


    He wasn¡¯t like Qiao Mai, a woman of the new era, who was both a secret agent and an orphan, able to treat her biological parents this way.


    He was a traditional and native man. Despite his seemingly ruthless exterior, he couldn¡¯t do what Qiao Mai had done.


    That was the difference. Qiao Mai wanted a man who shared her mindset, someone who would support her no matter what she did. Clearly, Yuan Jiaqi wasn¡¯t there yet, and he couldn¡¯t achieve that.


    After the celebration banquet, Yuan Jiaqi returned to the academy the next day.


    On the other hand, Qiao Mai settled down to focus on her cultivation. Since her space had been upgraded, she had been incredibly busy. Although she had been farming, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to inspect it properly.


    At night, she entered her space. She had nted trees on the additional 50 million acres ofnd she had acquired, and all futurend expansions would also be dedicated to tree nting.


    Currently, her space covers over 100 million acres ofnd, roughly one-fifth of the Earth¡¯s surface area.


    She sat cross-legged by the edge of a pond where lotus flowers stretched to the horizon. Fish swam in the water, and shrimps were now the size of fingers. The concentration of spiritual energy in her space had reached 50%. She couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased.


    Just as she was about to close her eyes and begin her cultivation, she heard a rustling sound nearby.


    Oh my goodness, what was that sound?


    She knew her space had living beings, but she knew what sounds they made. It wasn¡¯t the hiss of snakes, the crunching of grass by horses or deer, or the chewing of cud..

 Chapter 180 - 180: Big Green Insect

    Chapter 180 - 180: Big Green Insect


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai stood up, closed her eyes, and followed the sound to the edge of the vegetable garden. When she felt that the source of the sound was right in front of her, she opened her eyes.


    What on earth was this?


    My goodness, a gigantic green caterpir? Plump, chubby, and struggling to move?


    Qiao Mai stared at the caterpir as it devoured her Chinese cabbage right before her as if enjoying the meal.


    A single Chinese cabbage had been gnawed beyond recognition. Keeping a caterpir wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, but even if it ate to its heart¡¯s content, it couldn¡¯t finish this cabbage.


    The problem was, how could this oversized caterpir have a pair of shiny ck eyes?


    And why did it seem to exude human-level intelligence? Could someone please exin to her how this thing appeared?


    The giant caterpir seemed to sense being watched and turned its plump head to lock eyes with Qiao Mai.


    After a while, it regained itsposure. Suddenly, its green body turned pinkish-blue.


    Qiao Mai swallowed and muttered to herself, ¡°This is incredibly strange. Could this thing feel shy?¡±


    The caterpir raised its head, revealing sharp yet cute little teeth. ¡°Master, when you stare at someone like this, they¡¯ll feel shy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be darned. You can talk?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m the spirit of this space. If I can¡¯t talk, how would Imunicate with my master?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve read novels online that mention spirits like you, but couldn¡¯t you have looked a bit less¡­ ugly?¡±


    ¡°So, Master prefers beautiful things?¡±


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Master, I can undergo metamorphosis. What do caterpirs be after metamorphosis?¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Butterflies?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s my ultimate form.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your initial form, then?¡±


    ¡°An egg underground!¡±


    The corners of Qiao Mai¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Are you the only spirit in this space?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the only one. I can call myself a butterfly or an elf. The space¡¯s upgrade and the increase in spiritual energy have allowed me to start metamorphosing.¡±


    ¡°So, can you absorb spiritual energy instead of eating my cabbage?¡±


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re busy every day, and no one pays attention to me. If I don¡¯t eat, what else can I do?¡±


    Qiao Mai poked its body with her finger. ¡°So this is how you get this huge body?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m a little girl. The bigger I grow, the more beautiful the butterfly I¡¯ll be.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, you¡¯re just finding excuses to eat more. Let¡¯s not talk about this.


    What can you do for me now?¡± The caterpir shook its head. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything right now. I can only eat.¡± ¡°Why am I keeping you then?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better upgrade the space. When it reaches level seven, I can be a butterfly. Then, when I can fly, I can help you with farming. You won¡¯t have to work hard anymore and can focus on cultivation.¡±


    Qiao Mai, who had initially wanted to throw it away, immediately stopped.


    ¡°You can help me with farming?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Once I be a butterfly, I can help you with farming and even create ponds, mountains, and seas in your space, turning it into a real world.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t throw you away!¡±


    ¡°What? Master, you wanted to throw me away?¡±


    ¡°Why would I keep a useless creature that only eats and can¡¯t do anything for


    ¡°Hmph, you can¡¯t get rid of me. I¡¯m the spirit of this ce, and I can¡¯t die.


    Master, stop dreaming.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face darkened, and she heard the caterpir speak again.


    ¡°If you want to get rid of me, you have to sever the contract with the space.


    Otherwise, don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    ¡°Dream on! You think I¡¯ll sever the contract with you?¡±


    ¡°In that case, you¡¯d better take good care of me. Otherwise, when you expand thendter, it will be more and more troublesome. You¡¯ll be exhausted without me.¡±


    This space spirit had quite an attitude.


    Qiao Mai red at it, and it red back. The two stared at each other until Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes grew tired.


    ¡°Go ahead. Eat as much as you want. Just don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you have so muchnd here, but you¡¯re stingy with me?¡±


    The caterpir lowered its head and continued eating while Qiao Mai asked another question.


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll call you Greeny. How muchnd does this space need to level


    ¡°Right now, it¡¯s 101.6 million acres. When it reaches 150 million mu, it can upgrade to level seven. After that, you should go to the seaside and collect 100 acres of seawater, simr to how you created the pond, allowing it to level up once more.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°First, level up. When the timees, I will guide you on how to advance to the next level. ¡±


    Buried in its hard work, the caterpir ate the Chinese cabbage non-stop like silkworms devouring mulberry leaves.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you helping with farming after bing a butterfly?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave it a stern look. How dare it y games with its master! She couldn¡¯t kill it, but she could certainly give it a good scare.


    ¡°Master, we share a blood contract, so you should think about the consequences. If I¡¯m not well, you won¡¯t be happy either.¡±


    ¡°You¡­!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    For the first time, Qiao Mai felt helpless. It seemed like the heavens had been too kind to hertely, thus sending her such an odd space spirit.


    Oh well, no point in getting upset. She jumped out of the space.


    Since returning to the capital, she had developed a habit of sitting in the courtyard and returning to her space in case an assassin came to her home and harmed her family.


    Over a month passed without any incidents. Everything had been quiet, but she never let her guard down.


    Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the sky, and raindrops started to fall. Qiao Mai returned to the corridor and sat cross-legged, watching the lightning streak across the dark sky.


    This year, there had been quite a bit of rain. Since the beginning of spring, several showers had fallen, although they were small but frequent.


    She couldn¡¯t help but worry about the summer. It was a cause for concern.


    The capital was in turmoil at this time. The emperor had recovered from his illness, which should have been good news. However, he had mobilized all the Golden Dragon Guards and begun a secret investigation of the officials.


    As long as corruption and bribery were uncovered, they were executed on the spot, and their assets were confiscated.


    It seemed that the emperor had taken Qiao Mai¡¯s advice to heart. This time, he was ruthless. With the treasury empty and corrupt officials, the Ming Dynasty would be in jeopardy if he didn¡¯t cut deep and clean.


    Only the heads of the guilty officials were executed, while their family members were exiled to remote areas to work as farmers.


    As one family after another was confiscated, the emperorughed. Three families were equivalent to one treasury; you could say it wasughable.


    And that was just in the capital. Below, those officials were said to make a hundred thousand silver per year. If they continued investigating, the treasury would be filled to the brim.


    As expected, the corrupted officials were like the emperor¡¯s moving banks. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t have had the money.


    In over a month, the treasury had been replenished, but the emperor didn¡¯t stop there. He continued to investigate secretly, from the top to the bottom, sparing no one, including his concubines and prince heirs.


    He intended to dig a canal and change the current state of the court. The money filled the treasury only for that purpose. He still needed a considerable amount of silver to dig the canal.


    Prime Minister Wang¡¯s family was in dire straits. He had three legitimate sons and five illegitimate ones. The most promising of his legitimate sons had been brought home from Mingyou Pavilion on a stretcher.


    Not only were his legs crippled, but he had also be mentally impaired, staring nkly after waking up.


    He had wanted to me Mingyou Pavilion for the incident, but upon investigation, it turned out that the establishment was under this son¡¯s name. He was the leader there.


    If the leader was injured on his own turf, who could he hold ountable?


    People who knew the internal situation had all been wiped out by Qiao Mai. Combined with the loss of the Wang family¡¯s wealth, they were like headless flies, bumping into walls everywhere.


    They wanted to seek help from the emperor but were afraid of the truthing out and their dark deeds being exposed.


    So they could only swallow their grievances, unable to say a word. Prime Minister Wang wrote a letter to Wang Meng.


    They hoped he would lend them one hundred thousand taels of silver as brothers.


    When Old Master Wang saw the letter, he coldly snorted.


    ¡°Robbed? Would his many secret guards be robbed? He must have done something or offended someone.¡±


    He immediately called his two bodyguards and ordered them to inquire in the capital..

 Chapter 181 - 181: They Are Nothing

    Chapter 181 - 181: They Are Nothing


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Two dayster, the guards returned and reported the situation in the capital to Old Master Wang, who immediately became furious.


    ¡°What a disgrace! Allowing his son to engage in such business! This is utterly hical. The Wang family has a tradition: we don¡¯t engage in the flesh trade or involve ourselves in ruinous gambling. The main branch is making money from running a brothel, yet he dares to ask me for help.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re angry, but will you help or not?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯s close to my second brother; let my second brother help him. Our family has faced a disaster this year, and we donated all our money to themoners. We don¡¯t have any silver left.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was pleased. She watched as Old Master Wang wrote a reply but didn¡¯t include any silver notes and finally felt relieved.


    After writing the letter, Old Master Wang still wasn¡¯t at ease. He wrote another letter to Ru¡¯er.


    He asked her not to lend any money to the main branch.


    Old Mistress Wang expressed her satisfaction. ¡°This is what we should have done long ago. All these years, we gave everything to them first. They enjoyed the benefits before us. They even want their granddaughter to snatch our granddaughter¡¯s marriage. You should know that we¡¯ve split our family, so why should they get to choose the good stuff? We¡¯ve spoiled them rotten.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I understand. I¡¯m not that foolish, but they are still blood rtives. We can¡¯t cut tiespletely. Now, I want to make it a bit difficult for them so they understand that without us supporting them, they are nothing.¡±


    ¡°They were never anything to begin with. Your father and mother entrusted the ancestral heritage to them, but they haven¡¯t aplished anything significant with it.¡±


    Old Mistress Wangined about it to Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai thought, ¡°I wondered why the assassins didn¡¯te. It seems that the leader of Mingyou Pavilion was scared off by the artillery.¡±


    It was a relief. If he became mentally handicapped, no one would bother her, and she could live peacefully.


    When there was nothing much going on at home or outside, she started farming in her space. She wanted to level up quickly so that the green worm would be of use.


    She spent her days and nights nting trees in the space. Even when Yuan Jiaqi returned at the end of the month, she didn¡¯t pay him any attention and continued working.


    She found various excuses to stay indoors and continued nting within her space.


    Finally, in mid-May, her space reached level seven.


    Qiao Mai was overjoyed as she witnessed the transformation. The green worm had lied to her; it wasn¡¯t a matter of nting 1.5 billion acres and then 2 billion acres for the upgrade. It looked at her with a human-like smile and began evolving into a pupa.


    Just like the growth of nts, it was rapidly progressing. In no time, a head emerged from the pupal shell.


    A bat?


    The green worm turned its head to re at her. ¡°Who are you calling a bat!¡±


    Then its sharp beak began to tten and finally started to look somewhat cute.


    To be honest, it resembled the elves in the pictures.


    It took all night, but Qiao Mai sat there staring. The little guy finally broke free from the cocoon.


    It fluttered its beautiful wings, with a human-like face, pointed ears, and delicate hands and feet. It wore a bellyband and looked incredibly adorable.


    It stood on its discarded cocoon and bowed to Qiao Mai in a gentlemanly manner.


    ¡°Greeny pays respects to the master.¡±


    ¡°Humph, you¡¯re ugly!¡±


    Greeny immediately got defensive. ¡°Master, can¡¯t we talk nicely? If I¡¯m ugly, what about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a human. Among humans, I¡¯m not considered ugly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an elf, and among elves, I¡¯m perfect. Just look at my wings. How beautiful they are! My skin is wless. Even among butterflies, you won¡¯t find wings like mine.¡±


    Once it finished boasting, it unted its wings before Qiao Mai. The wings were indeed beautiful, and Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but wish she could have them for herself. She loved beautiful things.


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Master, don¡¯t ¡®huff.¡¯ My wings can be lent to you, or rather, replicated for your use.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai became excited.


    ¡°How can you lend them to me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a space spirit. What¡¯s the greatest advantage of our space?¡±


    ¡°Duplicating?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I can duplicate my wings and give them to you as a flying apparatus. As long as I¡¯m in the space, you can use them to fly for as long as you want.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re finally a bit useful.¡±


    Greeny rolled its eyes and said, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®a bit useful¡¯? With me around, you can save energy and focus on cultivation.¡±


    ¡°Fine, you¡¯re pretty and useful.¡± ¡°Finally, you¡¯re speaking sensibly!¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m going to nt some trees now. Should I use the extra 2 billion acres for nting?¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead. nt anything you want. Just make sure to expand the space area and upgrade it.¡±


    ¡°What about the sea? Marine life?¡±


    ¡°You can start by digging a big pit. Once I find the time, I¡¯ll go to the seaside and collect some seawater.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Once you¡¯re at the seaside, I¡¯ll take care of the rest. If your space is not arranged properly, I¡¯ll fix it all for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, take your time.¡±


    Watching it happily fly away and its discarded shell slowly disappearing, Qiao Mai finally breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn¡¯t have to farm herself anymore, which saved her a lot of effort. It was a great relief.


    Otherwise, she had to deal with various matters outside during the day, and at night, she had to divide her time between farming and cultivation.


    Now, she wouldn¡¯t have to farm anymore. She was almost fed up with it.


    She would feel dizzy when she saw trees and sick when she saw dirt.


    At the end of May, she finally came out of the space. When she opened the door, she saw many people sitting in the courtyard, all wearing worried expressions as if they were waiting for her.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with all of you?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at her and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Child, Jiaqi has been persuaded to drop out of school by the academy.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the incident where you chased your parents with a broom. He suffered as a result.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Old Master Wang took him to the academy to discuss the matter.¡±


    ¡°Wait for me here. I¡¯ll go to the academy.¡±


    After speaking, Qiao Mai rushed towards the courtyard gate. As soon as she stepped outside, she summoned Dong Zao, mounted it, and headed toward the city.


    At the academy¡¯s entrance, Old Master Wang knocked on the gate with a stern expression.


    ¡°Go and call your headmaster out!¡±


    The gatekeeper immediately saluted when he saw Old Master Wang.


    ¡°Greetings, sir!¡±


    ¡°Quickly!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Shortly after, the headmaster rushed out and respectfully greeted Old Master Wang.


    ¡°Greetings, Teacher.¡±


    ¡°Do you still have any respect for me?¡±


    The headmaster nced at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Sir, I had no choice in the matter. How big can Wei City be? The incident of his wife assaulting the elderly spread like wildfire, and I heard it even caused illness. Our academy maintains strict discipline, and such incidents are not tolerated.¡±


    ¡°You went along with the crowd, don¡¯t you? All these years of education are in vain. You believe rumors without verifying the facts!¡±


    The headmaster hung his head in embarrassment, seemingly like a scolded child.


    ¡°Have you witnessed it yourself or experienced it firsthand?¡±


    ¡°You know there¡¯s no smoke without fire.¡±


    ¡°Rubbish! I¡¯ve been living in their house all this time; I understand this matter


    the best. Those old guys not only deserved a beating but should also die. I


    couldn¡¯t help but want to give them a thrashing myself.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the whole story?¡±


    Old Master Wang exined the entire situation to the headmaster from start to finish.


    ¡°I see. Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier, Jiaqi?¡±


    ¡°If I had, would anyone have believed me? You would have thought I was making excuses.¡±


    The headmaster looked awkward. ¡°In that case, how about this? I¡¯ll bring you to exin the situation to everyone, and you can return to school tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I only want to clear up this matter. As for returning to school, I¡¯d rather not. I¡¯ll study at home, especially with Old Master Wang here. There shouldn¡¯t be any issues with the next year¡¯s examinations.¡±


    Wang Meng snorted coldly and was about to enter the academy with Yuan Jiaqi. Just then, Qiao Mai arrived.


    ¡°Grandfather, Jiaqi, wait a moment.¡±


    She dismounted, handed Dong Zao over to the Wang family¡¯s coachman, and followed the two into the academy.


    The headmaster gathered all the students. During the journey, Old Master Wang had given Qiao Mai a general idea of the situation.


    The students of Windforest Academy stood on the field. Qiao Mai stopped Yuan Jiaqi because this whole situation started because of her. She decided to speak up..

 Chapter 182 - 182: It Was Difficult For Her

    Chapter 182 - 182: It Was Difficult For Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She stood on the tform, looking down at the students below. ¡°My fellow students, you are schrs, the pirs of the court. In the future, you will be a government official. I have a question for you. After receiving a case, do you believe in words without investigation? Do you not gather evidence?¡± The people below, who had been discussing the matter, fell silent.


    ¡°When there is no concrete evidence, and you rely solely on hearsay, it can lead to inconvenience in people¡¯s lives, even expulsion from school. Is this not a form of false usation?¡±


    Her words struck like lightning, making them realize they had been gossiping like busybodies, much like the vige¡¯s gossipmongers.


    ¡°I am Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s wife. Let me rify the facts of our family¡¯s grievances.¡±


    Qiao Mai stood on the tform and briefly exined the situation in her family in about fifteen minutes.


    ¡°Because they are our blood rtives, my husband and I did not treat them as heartlessly as they treated us. We merely drove them away. If it weren¡¯t for this familial connection, they would be our archenemies!¡±


    She finished speaking and stepped down from the tform, leading Yuan Jiaqi and Old Master Wang out of the academy. They got on their horses, and she mounted hers.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home. There is more to the world than just the Windforest Academy.¡± ¡°Yes, let Jiaqi study at home. I will assist him.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I will find all the books in the world for you. Study diligently at home.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi hung his head and shed a couple of tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing you trouble.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. If anything, I brought trouble to you. I could have tolerated that meal that day, but I didn¡¯t want to. I took action. Anyway, you love reading, and I will find all the books in the world for you. You don¡¯t necessarily have to be an official to be sessful. Do you see Old Master Wang? He¡¯s not scheming at all. In the officialdom, there¡¯s always someone waiting to rece you.¡±


    ¡°I can study on my own.¡±


    ¡°Good, continue with the examinations next year. Without them, we can still achieve sess.¡±


    It was clear that the source of this trouble was the Qiao and Yuan families. Qiao Mai held back when she chased them out; it was mostly an act.


    When they returned home, they escted the situation and deliberately spread it.


    These two families realized Qiao Mai would never forgive them. They would


    rather drag her down than let it go.


    When they returned home, Old Master Wang immediately dispatched someone to their residence in the capital to retrieve his extensive collection of books.


    Qiao Mai had a room in Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s courtyard cleared out, and she ordered numerous modern bookshelves from the carpenter¡¯s shop.


    She had bookshelves covering all four walls, with the center space filled with bookcases.


    She also asked Old Master Wang to write down the titles of all the books in her house and took the list to the broker center.


    Upon seeing her, Shopkeeper Qiu was pleased. ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯vee?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I have a task for your shop.¡±


    ¡°Do tell, what can we assist you with?¡±


    Qiao Mai ced the list of book titles on the table. ¡°Apart from the books listed here, I want everything you got. Can you handle this task?¡±


    Shopkeeper Qiu looked a bit dumbfounded. This was the first time someone had entrusted such a task to them.


    ¡°It can be done, but it will take some time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. For every hundred books delivered, I will pay ording to their price. We can discuss separately if there are rare ones. Additionally, I will add an extra ten percent of the book¡¯s value as a reward. Is that eptable?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    They signed the agreement. With this matter settled, Qiao Mai began to contemte her and Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s family¡¯s situations.


    Damn it, whether it¡¯s done lightly or taken to the extreme, she doesn¡¯t care. She¡¯s afraid of causing trouble for Yuan Jiaqi again.


    Given her temperament, she really wants to kill them.


    The reason they¡¯ve survived until now is due to this lifelong debt; they are her parents. No matter how cold-hearted she is, she can¡¯t bring herself to kill her parents.


    Even though she came here from another world and didn¡¯t have any emotional attachment to them, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to act against them unless necessary.


    But these annoying pests, who keep bothering her day in and day out, are getting on her nerves.


    Considering her future path of cultivating immortality, killing her own parents is forbidden by thews of nature. It¡¯s a difficult situation. These troublesome individuals only made it harder for her.


    On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi had epted his new life at home, focusing on his studies and even helping with chores.


    This way of life suited him well. He didn¡¯t me Qiao Mai, nor did he dare to. He even admired her for doing what he had always wanted to do.


    He does want to take action against those individuals, but societal norms and values are holding him back.


    The rainy season continued, and the crops in the fields were not doing well due to excessive rain.


    Old Master Wang¡¯s books arrived, and Yuan Jiaqi eagerly devoured them. Every so often, the broker center would deliver a hundred books to Qiao Mai¡¯s house.


    He continued to expand his knowledge and sought help from Old Master Wang whenever he didn¡¯t understand something.


    Life in Lucky Garden was peaceful for a while, but it was short-lived. What they feared finally came.


    One day, ominous dark clouds covered the sky, and thunder rumbled overhead.


    The people inside Lucky Garden hurriedly prepared for the iing storm. They ced their clothes and bedding in high ces. Yuan Jiaqi moved his beloved books to the top shelves.


    The loud sound was terrifying. They had custom-made small boats in the courtyard, one for each family, ced in the corridor in case the house was flooded during heavy rain. They could escape onto the boats temporarily.


    At this moment, without much thought, Qiao Mai returned to her space and bought dozens of raincoats on the tform, handing one to each person.


    She also taught them how to wear the raincoats, as they were unfamiliar with this style.


    When they heard these raincoats could keep them dry, they were all delighted. Even Old Master Wang, in high spirits, put on a raincoat and went outside for a stroll.


    When he came back and touched the inside of the raincoat, which was dry, he burst intoughter.


    ¡°These are a hundred times better than straw raincoats! They¡¯re lightweight and effective. Did you get these from overseas?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re great.¡±


    ¡°Make sure to take good care of them after using them.¡± ¡°Of course. These are precious items in your possession.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen everything I have.¡±


    With these raincoats and boats, everyone in the Qiao family feels relieved, and no one is afraid anymore.


    The thunder and lightning above continued to produce awe-inspiring sounds, and no one had the mood to rest; they were all on edge.


    In Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s arms, Chuan¡¯er said, ¡°Dad, should we go to Mom¡¯s ce? Just in case something happens, we can discuss it together.¡±


    Yuan looked a little embarrassed. ¡°We¡¯re men; it wouldn¡¯t be convenient for her if we went over like that.¡¯


    ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t continue like this with Mom, can you?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? As long as I can live with your mom, even if we¡¯re not a real couple, I¡¯m willing.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re like a monk. You can¡¯t do this. You should be a real couple with Mom and have more brothers and sisters in the future. That way, Mom can truly spend her life with you.¡±


    That way, Mom can truly spend her life with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in adult matters as a child. Just take care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Son is just looking out for you.¡±


    ¡°Eat less and learn more from your brothers. See how hardworking they are.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Just as they talked, a loud thunderp shook their eardrums.


    The rain outside was pouring down, and they instinctively opened the doors and went out.


    Such heavy rain couldn¡¯t even be drained through the gutters. The courtyard quickly filled up with water, steadily rising onto the corridors.


    Seeing this scene, Qiao Mai suddenly remembered a kind of water-repelling talisman.. If they were to attach one to each room¡¯s entrance, could it prevent water from entering?

 Chapter 183 - 183: Already Made Plans

    Chapter 183 - 183: Already Made ns


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She instructed Yue Hong and Yue Xia to take good care of Ling¡¯er, then went to her room and entered her space.


    There was no time for her to refine talismans, and she didn¡¯t know how to do it anyway. Even though Qiao Mai had been a top student, that wouldn¡¯t help. She searched for water-repelling talismans on the tform and looked for earthquake-repelling talismans.


    Fortunately, both talismans were not high-level; they were second-level talismans that she could afford.


    Qiao Mai sold all the second and third-grade pills she had recently refined to the tform, keeping only a portion for herself, and earned a significant amount of spirit stones.


    Using these spirit stones, she bought twenty water-repelling talismans and twenty earthquake-repelling talismans.


    Qiao Mai quickly left her space and began sticking one at each room in her courtyard.


    And so, she went from one courtyard to another, sticking talismans on every room and courtyard entrance, leaving no ce untouched. Thest door she adorned with talismans was the grand gate.


    She even put them on the outhouse doors. After all, if they got flooded, things could crawl out, which was too disgusting to think about.


    At first, it was hard to tell what effect these talismans had, but after she had finished putting one on the main gate of Lucky Garden, she turned back and looked at her courtyard.


    Surprisingly, the water was slowly receding. It was miraculous. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t expect these talismans to be so powerful. They were indeed products of the celestial realm, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    With these two items, she didn¡¯t need to worry anymore. She didn¡¯t have to worry about flooding or earthquakes and could sleep soundly.


    It seemed like everyone had noticed this, and they curiously looked outside their doors at the rain.


    The rain had been so heavy, but the water was receding, which was incredible.


    Could it be¡­that Qiao Mai came and attached something to the doors earlier? Many people came out to look at the talismans attached to the doorframes.


    ¡°Are these the reason?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. Ever since Master attached these to our rooms, the water gradually receded. Could she be a deity?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t spread rumors; be careful not to bring trouble to the master.¡±


    Old Master Wang sat at the door, drinking tea and watching the rain outside.


    When Qiao Mai came and attached two pieces of paper to the doorframe, he noticed the water was receding. He went out to look at the two long yellow pieces of paper.


    ¡°Talismans?¡±


    Did she attach the legendary water-repelling talisman? Was that one an earthquake-repelling talisman?


    Old Master Wang took a deep breath. He had a broad range of knowledge and guessed correctly. If that was true, this girl was really something else.


    He had thought highly of her but now realized he still underestimated her.


    The longer he spent with her, the more he noticed how extraordinary she was.


    He put on his raincoat and walked around the area of the Qiao family. Indeed, wherever he walked, the rainwater on the ground disappeared instantly, leaving everything clean and dry.


    He then arrived at the entrance and opened the gate. He was astonished that the water was about to flood the stone tform, and the umted water outside was half a meter deep.


    He looked behind him, in front, and finally, he raised his head to gaze at the two symbols affixed to the gate. Wang Meng gulped.


    Their family was truly fortunate to have encountered Madam Qiao. This was the greatest blessing in their lives.


    If it weren¡¯t for observant individuals, it would appear that she was merely a woman capable of making money. However, the more one got to know her, the more they realized how extraordinary she was.


    Qiao Mai never showed off although she was such an exceptional person. She willingly stayed here, caring for the children, preparing delicious food, and serving him and his wife. How rare!


    Old Master Wang forced himself to suppress his shock.


    He recalled what Qiao Mai had said. She told him that living here was the safest option. If it wasn¡¯t safe here, then there was no safe ce.


    She had also reassured them, saying, ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯m here for everything.¡±


    He had thought she wasforting him, but he hadn¡¯t realized that she actually possessed such abilities.


    He smiled bitterly and returned to his room, where his wife nervously asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening outside?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With that girl here, nothing will go wrong.¡±


    He didn¡¯t mention the situation outside the Qiao family andy on the bed.


    ¡°Take a nap; the water has receded. Put your worries aside for now. You¡¯ve stayed up all night; you can¡¯t go on like this.¡±


    ¡°Is it really okay?¡±


    ¡°Why would I lie to you? Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m about to go to sleep?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang finally rxed andy down next to her husband. She soon fell asleep.


    The torrential rain continued for an hour and then turned moderate. The thunder and lightning also moved elsewhere.


    At this point, the Qian family had been flooded. Their house was filled with water everywhere. Mayor Qian sat on a small boat with guards, heading to the Lu family.


    Lu Sanniang and Ruxin were also on the boat. None of them knew how to row. They sat on the boat, motionless.


    It wasn¡¯t until Mayor Qian arrived and the guards jumped onto their boat that they started moving.


    Mayor Qian felt especially powerless when he saw this disaster. He could only hope that the floodwaters would recede soon.


    After all, this was the northern region; heaven wouldn¡¯t flood the entire north. Fortunately, the water wasn¡¯t very deep, and adults could still wade through it.


    Some forward-thinking individuals had prepared earlier, ensuring their money, food, and supplies were not soaked. They managed to handle the arrival of the heavy rain without causing any casualties.


    Some families living near the mountains had taken refuge in caves.


    Those who could climb trees had sought refuge in tall trees.


    Those with ess to logs had bound them together to create rafts that could carry three or four people. Everyone came up with their solutions.


    Qiao Mai stood alone on the wall in her backyard, looking at the vast expanse of water. Shemunicated with Greeny through her thoughts.


    ¡°Can I collect them now?¡±


    ¡°Of course. but remember to return them at the right time.¡¯


    ¡°Immediately create arge pit of 1,000 acres for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    Upon receiving hermand, Greeny flew into the sky in her space and pointed downwards, creating a pit of ten acres.


    Qiao Mai found it too slow and said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself. You bring the water in.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    With a single thought, Qiao Mai could dig a hundred-acre pit. In just fifteen minutes, she had finished digging therge pit.


    Greeny tore open a rift in the space. With a wave of its hand, the water from the outside flowed into the space like a water dragon, pouring into the pit.


    ¡°Shall I take it all, Master?¡±


    ¡°Take it all. Themoners have already had a hard time. They can only nt one crop of grains this year. If all the crops in the fields are destroyed, how can I save so many people by myself?¡±


    ¡°Compared to giving food, isn¡¯t this a better solution?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    An hourter, the rain began to diminish, and the clouds in the sky became thinner, with a faint hint of brightness.


    The water outside had receded to the level of their calves. Qiao Mai and Greeny worked together to transfer the water outside into the space.


    The thousand-acre water pond within the space continued to purify and expand.


    Another hour passed, and the water had receded, leaving no visible traces of flooding on the ground. The sky only had a drizzle falling.


    Qiao Mai finally breathed a sigh of relief. Using her mental power for so long had caused her eyes to darken and her head to ache. She felt like copsing from the wall.


    She quickly jumped down and slowly walked back to her courtyard. When Yue Hong saw that her mistress was unwell, she rushed to support her.


    ¡°Mistress, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Help me back to my room. I want to sleep, and don¡¯t wake me up until I¡¯m awake.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    As soon as she entered her room, Qiao Mai copsed onto the bed and fell asleep. Yue Hong quickly closed the door behind her.


    Old Master Wang had also been napping, but he woke up when he heard the rain outside had lessened. He came out to check the situation.


    Inside the house, it was as dry as if it hadn¡¯t rained. He quickly rushed to the front door and was surprised to see that the water outside had also receded.


    He hurriedly sent someone to inquire about the situation in Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard. When he learned that she had copsed from exhaustion, he knew the sudden improvement in the weather was rted to her.


    Since she was tired, he decided to take over. He instructed someone to call


    Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Your wife has exhausted herself due to the flood. It¡¯s our turn to help out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your orders, Teacher..¡±

 Chapter 184 - 184: Doomsayer

    Chapter 184 - 184: Doomsayer


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I see those four shops to the south are idle. Let¡¯s free them up and use them to shelter the homeless disaster victims. Then, send a few maids to set up stoves at the doorstep and start making porridge, twice a day. Make sure to tell the victims to bring their bowls and utensils.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡±


    Clearly, Old Master Wang has seen the world and remains calm in adversity. He¡¯s systematically organizing things in the house for Qiao Mai.


    Mayor Qian and the others found it strange that the water receded quickly.


    But no matter how puzzling it was, they were relieved because the faster the water receded, the less damage the people would suffer.


    Those mud-brick houses could easily copse when submerged.


    If the water receded quickly, there might still be a chance to save the houses and the crops in the fields.


    Everyone was celebrating, but they had no idea that Qiao Mai had exhausted herself for them.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t know either. He wondered why Qiao Mai, who was usually the first toe running when there was trouble, had been so quiet today.


    He was lost in thought while busying himself.


    Qiao Mai would be the one to solve any problems, but now that she wasn¡¯t around, he could pitch in.


    While themoners were thanking the heavens on their knees, Qiao Mai was sound asleep on her bed.


    In the space, Greeny was busy nting lotus seeds. Like her master, she wanted to make this water pond beautiful.


    Unfortunately, even though she knew Qiao Mai could buy things from theputer, she didn¡¯t know how to use it. She could only click on beans endlessly.


    However, since Greeny came, the space was continuously changing.


    Not only did its area expand, but it was also made beautiful and pleasing to the


    eye.


    It enclosed all the vegetables in a garden, separated them from other nts with wooden fences, and named it ¡°Green Green Vegetable Garden.¡±


    If Qiao Mai were to see this, she would definitely scold it for stealing her hard work.


    Greeny also turned the fruit trees into a patch called the ¡°Green Green Fruit Orchard,¡± and the nut trees among them were named the ¡°Green Green Nut Orchard. ¡±


    Every kind of nt was categorized, and the outer circle was enclosed with wooden fences. At a nce, it looked good.


    What with the ¡°Green Green Bamboo Grove,¡± ¡°Green Green Prairie,¡± ¡°Green Green Pasture,¡± and ¡°Green Green Big Forest¡± would wake Qiao Mai from her sleep with anger.


    It even modified the ce where Qiao Mai lived, doubling the space and tidying up the shelves.


    It ced the items that could be duplicated after mutations on the shelves and put everything that couldn¡¯t intobeled boxes.


    Since Greeny had transformed into a butterfly, it regarded itself as Qiao Mai¡¯s housekeeper.


    From now on, everything in the space would have to go through its hands.


    Qiao Mai slept for three days and nights before recovering from the exhaustion of overusing her mental power. Even so, she still felt a bit weak when she woke up.


    She remembered the Revitalization Pills and took a bottle from the space, swallowing two pills and stashing the rest in her pocket.


    Then, she walked out of the room. The sky outside was still gloomy, and it hadn¡¯t cleared up despite her having removed all the water.


    Nheless, the house was dry. Although the ground outside was a bit damp, there was no standing water.


    She was satisfied as she looked at the water-repelling and earthquake-repelling talismans on the door. She decided to make a lightning-repelling talisman for the next time.


    Yue Hong had taken Ling¡¯er out to y. Yue Xia saw her mistress wake up and hurried out of the room.


    ¡°Mistress, are you hungry? I¡¯ll prepare some food for you.¡±


    ¡°No need. Have there been any problems at home while I was asleep?¡±


    ¡°No, but Old Master Wang is currently assisting in disaster relief. Old Mistress Wang is also helping.¡±


    ¡°Oh? How are they helping with disaster relief?¡±


    ¡°They have arranged the four shops to the south to shelter disaster victims and are distributing porridge by the official road.¡±


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips. They knew her well. ¡°Alright, you can go on with your work. I¡¯ll go check things out.¡±


    Qiao Mai said as she walked out. Yue Xia quickly grabbed a few buns from the small kitchen, wrapped them in oiled cloth, and handed them to her.


    ¡°Eat while you watch.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Outside of Lucky Garden, there were crowds of people. Old Master and Mistress Wang were sitting on the side supervising.


    The victims lined up with their bowls, each being served porridge.


    ¡°Grandfather, grandmother?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here. Is your health better?¡±


    ¡°Much better.¡±


    ¡°Yourplexion still looks a bit pale. Come, sit with grandmother.¡±


    Qiao Mai obediently sat down, and the olddy took her hand and touched her face.


    ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t that too troublesome if theye every day?¡±


    ¡°What do you suggest then?¡±


    ¡°Have them bring their household registration and queue up. I¡¯ve stored a lot of grain before. Let them take it back home to cook for themselves. It¡¯s too crowded in the town, and there¡¯s a risk of an epidemic.¡±


    Upon hearing the word ¡°epidemic,¡± the old man¡¯s hand stroking his beard trembled with fear.


    ¡°Starting when?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow morning. It¡¯s alreadyte today. Write a notice and tell everyone.


    Let them spread the word. We¡¯ll stop serving porridge tomorrow.¡±


    Old Master Wang sent someone to fetch paper and a quill and quickly wrote a short notice, posting it on the wall.


    Then he shouted to the disaster victims in line, ¡°Listen up, starting tomorrow, we won¡¯t be serving porridge anymore. We¡¯ll be distributing grain. Remember to bring your household registration. Each family can get fifty kilograms of grain. Don¡¯t stay in the town every day. Be careful of the epidemic.¡±


    Upon hearing that they could get grain, everyone was delighted, but when they heard about the epidemic, they all became scared. Those who had received their food quickly finished it and went home.


    Qiao Mai nodded and checked the nearby viges and towns.


    The losses weren¡¯t substantial, and as long as they had grain, they would soon be able to rebuild their homes. The crops in the fields were also fine. Fortunately, she had removed the water in time.


    The two thousand acres of water in the space was ready at any time. She hoped that there would be no drought.


    Tsk, no jinxing!


    When she returned, Qiao Mai went to the snack shop. The interior was empty and cold, but quite a few people were sitting under the tent outside, most of whom were townspeople.


    Seeing her arrive, they greeted her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, we haven¡¯t seen you these days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been sick and sleeping after taking medicine.¡±


    ¡°No wonder. Thanks to your reminder, we¡¯re not going hungry right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I was worried too. I¡¯m just d everyone is okay.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat down, and the shopkeeper quickly made her a ss of fruit juice, which she liked because it was cold.


    When everyone saw her take a few sips, they said, ¡°The price of grain outside has gone crazy. It¡¯s so quiet in our town as if nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re prepared. Besides, we¡¯ve been giving out porridge all along.


    Whether the grain prices rise or not, it has nothing to do with us.¡±


    ¡°It has. Some people from other towns can¡¯t buy grain there, so theye to our town. Look at those disaster victims; many are not from our town.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced around and saw many unfamiliar faces. She had been in this ce for several years, often serving porridge, so she could recognize people from the surrounding viges.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    As she turned her head casually, she saw Madam Liu Qiao. What¡¯s going on? Did her family also get flooded? Were they out of grain?


    Madam Liu Qiao stood in the crowd, her head down and hair messy, trying not to be recognized.


    Qiao Mai waved to her. ¡°Auntie,e over here!¡±


    Seeing that she had been recognized, Madam Liu Qiao smiled awkwardly and reluctantly moved away from the crowd.


    ¡°Have a seat!¡±


    ¡°Mai, I really had no choice but toe here; I¡¯ve embarrassed you.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the shop and said, ¡°Shopkeeper Niu, bring twenty tea eggs and a ss of fruit juice over.¡±


    Seeing the tea eggs in front of her, Madam Liu Qiao burst into tears.


    ¡°Mai, I¡¯m so sorry!¡±


    ¡°Did your home get flooded?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even though Liu Ye and Liu Hai earned money here, the price of grain has skyrocketed. We couldn¡¯t bear to spend so much money on grain..¡±

 Chapter 185 - 185: Stubborn

    Chapter 185 - 185: Stubborn


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Bring your family and stay here. Sell that house andnd over there!¡±


    ¡°Sell it? Then what will we eat and drink?¡±


    ¡°Come live in my house for now. I¡¯ll teach Liu Hai a trade, and you can use one of the shoplots once it¡¯s avable. Once you earn some money, you can pay rent. If it doesn¡¯t work out, your family can stay in the house behind the shop.


    It¡¯s better than your old ce.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao lowered her head, finding it hard to believe what Qiao Mai was saying.


    She felt touched and skeptical. ¡°I feel that my family isn¡¯t cut out for business.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, have some self-confidence. With me around, what are you afraid of? Don¡¯t you have the desire for a better life? You don¡¯t even have the will to make things better.¡±


    ¡°We do, but we¡¯re afraid we can¡¯t do it. We¡¯re worried about embarrassing you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of being embarrassed, but I¡¯m afraid of being poor and ignorant. I¡¯m afraid of people being aggressive when poor, especially towards their family.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao nodded in understanding. ¡°We don¡¯t want that either. Our family won¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°In that case, it¡¯s settled. If you don¡¯t even want to try, I can¡¯t push you up.¡± Madam Liu Qiao bit her lip. ¡°We¡¯ll follow you!¡±


    ¡°Go tell Liu Ye and the others. Have Liu Hai quit his job and go to my house to borrow a carriage. Get ready to move your things. You can move here this afternoon. I¡¯ll tell them to clear a courtyard for you to live in temporarily.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mai.¡±


    ¡°After having this fruit juice and tea eggs, go find Liu Hai. It¡¯ll be dark soon.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    Madam Liu Qiao quickly agreed. She was too excited to find the right words to express her gratitude.


    Qiao Mai finished her fruit juice and returned to her house without wasting a drop. She briefly exined things to the maids before leaving.


    Madam Liu Qiao ate two tea eggs and didn¡¯t feel hungry anymore. She finished the fruit juice and put the remaining tea eggs in the bowl she had brought. Then, she headed towards Jingtai Restaurant.


    Shopkeeper Tong was behind the counter at the entrance. When he saw Madam


    Liu Qiao, he called out, ¡°Liu Hai, your family is here!¡±


    Liu Hai came out of the restaurant and saw his mother. ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Our family has run out of food. I heard that Tianshui Town is providing porridge, so I came to look.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there money at home?¡±


    ¡°Food is too expensive. It¡¯s several times pricier than usual, and I didn¡¯t want to spend so much.¡±


    ¡°If Cousin Qiao finds out, she won¡¯t be happy. Your confidence didn¡¯te from nowhere, you know?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to save some money. I didn¡¯t think about anything else.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    As he was about to take Madam Liu Qiao to buy grains, she hurriedly whispered to him as she followed along.


    ¡°Just now, I met your cousin. She asked you to quit your job and borrow a carriage from her. She wants us to go to her house and pack our things to live here.¡±


    ¡°Our house is fine. Except for theck of grain, there¡¯s no need to worry about anything else. What did you say to my cousin?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. She said she would teach you a trade, and in the future, we can make a living in the town. She told us to sell our old house andnd and not return. ¡±


    ¡°But Liushu Town is our home.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao hit him. ¡°Stubborn boy, what¡¯s the use of going back to such a poor ce? The crops in the field don¡¯t grow well, and your cousin has offered us this opportunity. We should be happy.¡±


    ¡°Did you tell Dad about this?¡±


    ¡°I make decisions about family matters. Hurry up. I¡¯m waiting outside!¡± Madam Liu Qiao went out, and Liu Hai was a little hesitant. ¡°Shopkeeper?¡±


    ¡°Yes, with your mother¡¯s loud voice, I heard everything. Your cousin spoke, so you should go. There¡¯s a future in following her.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Shopkeeper!¡±


    Liu Hai went back to pack his luggage. Shopkeeper Tong settled his wages and patted his shoulder.


    ¡°Be a good person and work with your cousin. Your days will get better.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    Liu Hai bowed to the shopkeeper and came out with his luggage. Madam Liu Qiao told Liu Ye at the embroidery shop that she should go to Lucky Garden when she was free.


    Liu Ye widened her eyes. ¡°Mom, did Cousin invite you to stay at her house?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao nodded excitedly. ¡°Yes, so you don¡¯t have to run so far when youe back in the future.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! My cousin¡¯s house is the best in the whole town. Should Ie with you to help move?¡±


    ¡°Enough, you stay here. If you go, the carriage will have to carry one more person, and there will be less space for luggage.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I understand!¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao and Liu Hai arrived at Lucky Garden. At this time, there wasn¡¯t much porridge left in the pot. When the mais saw the two of them, she approached and said, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao looked around the courtyard. ¡°This ce is really nice!¡±


    ¡°Mom, no matter what happens in the future, we can¡¯t be like those few families. We can¡¯t be ungrateful and forget our roots.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Do I need you to tell me?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao had Liu Hai put his luggage in the east wing, and then she went to the stable to drive a carriage. She wanted to bring everything in one trip.


    When the two carriages entered Liushu Town, it caused a sensation throughout the vige. The vige chief and the people came to their house.


    Seeing them packing, the vige chief asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao stood in the courtyard, directing her family, ¡°Hurry up and pack the bedding, clothes, and anything valuable.¡±


    Liu Dashan was a bit puzzled. He couldn¡¯t figure it out, just like the vige chief.


    ¡°Wife, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Mai told us to pack up and move to her house.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Did she really say that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, she even said she would teach our son a craft. We¡¯ll make a living in the town in the future.


    The vige chief finally understood. ¡°Dashan, when your family bes wealthy, don¡¯t forget the people in our vige.¡±


    Liu Dashan sneered, ¡°Of course. Back in the day, the people in our vige helped our family a lot.¡±


    The vige chief¡¯s smiling face froze, knowing he was being sarcastic.


    ¡°Our vige is too poor. It¡¯s not that they didn¡¯t help you; you didn¡¯t help them either.¡±


    ¡°They took many things from my house without asking. Is that not helping? They came to my house to borrow something, saying it was a loan, but did they ever repay it?¡±


    The vigers looked at the things in his house. ¡°You¡¯re moving to enjoy a better life. Do you still want these things?¡±


    ¡°Who said we don¡¯t want them? I¡¯ll register the house andnd with the court.


    If anything is missing here, I¡¯ll report it to the officials.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re going to town now, so you¡¯ve got the confidence to speak arrogantly?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. With my niece backing us, I guarantee you won¡¯t receive any grain during the next disaster if anyone dares to bully us. I won¡¯t let my niece give you any.¡±


    The people in Lishu Town dared not speak anymore.


    Indeed, in these several disasters, it was Madam Liu Qiao¡¯s niece who provided relief. If they did so, they might starve in the next disaster.


    The vige chief quickly smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your things won¡¯t be lost. I¡¯ll keep an eye on them for you.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao nced at the vige chief and said, ¡°Thank you, chief!¡±


    Their family moved to Lucky Garden overnight.


    Their home was inhabitable. It was damp everywhere, especially in the pit. Sleeping there for a long time would lead to illness. The adults handled it better, but Madam Liu Qiao¡¯s grandson had beenining of stomachaches these days and has rashes on his body.


    The lights were on in the house, and several maids sat in the courtyard. When they saw the carriage at the door, they hurried out.


    They helped with moving and cleaning. A few maids brought food in boxes.


    The family felt a bit awkward. After the food was set, the maids left, leaving only their family in the courtyard.


    Madam Liu Qiao invited them all to sit down. ¡°Eat, it¡¯s my niece¡¯s house. You¡¯re not strangers.¡±


    She took the lead in eating. The ten or so tea eggs she had brought back were distributed during the journey.


    ¡°It¡¯s better at my niece¡¯s house. Everything is neat and clean.. When can we have a little courtyard like this?¡±

 Chapter 186 - 186: Heavenly Retribution

    Chapter 186 - 186: Heavenly Retribution


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be greedy. If my cousin is willing to teach me a skill, I¡¯ll definitely learn well. Our whole family will work together, and we¡¯ll surely buy a small courtyard like this in town.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s all work together!¡±


    The next day, when they found out that they had visitors at home, Old Master and Mistress Wang came to visit after breakfast with Qiao Mai¡¯s family.


    After exchanging some pleasantries, Old Master Wang took the children to school.


    Old Mistress Wang went to feed her poultry. Qiao Mai sat at the head of the living room, looking at the somewhat ufortable Liu family.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Why so nervous? I¡¯m not going to eat you. Now that we¡¯re closer, let me know if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°We understand!¡±


    ¡°Cousin, go to the kitchen and find Mama Zhang. I¡¯ve talked to her. She¡¯ll teach you to cook a few dishes. These days, you should learn from her. When you¡¯ve mastered it, we can discuss the shop again.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Cousin!¡±


    Qiao Mai ced ten taels of silver on the table. ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen to stay at my ce, you snould dress cleanly and properly. ¡®l¡¯ake tms silver to buy some fabric and make your own clothes. Also, there are bugs in your hair. Buy some medicine from the pharmacy to get rid of them.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Qiao Mai left. Madam Liu Qiao blushed as she looked at her family¡¯s clothes and hair.


    ¡°Madam Sun,e with me. We can¡¯t embarrass my niece.¡±


    She happily picked up a silver ingot from the table and left with her daughter-inw.


    Five dayster, Liu Hai finished his apprenticeship.


    He found Qiao Mai and said, ¡°Cousin, Mama Zhang has taught me four dishes.


    I¡¯ve learned them all!¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go take a look at the shop!¡±


    Qiao Mai took him to the shop, where some of the disaster victims were still living there.


    ¡°Choose one. I¡¯ll have them vacate it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this one. It¡¯s closer to your eatery, which I think is better.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not in vain that you spent some time with Shopkeeper Tong. You will benefit greatly from being close to my little eatery. Someone, have them move to the southernmost shop.¡±


    Several maids went into the shop. After a while, someone came out carrying bedding and entered the southernmost shop.


    Qiao Mai led him inside, but an unpleasant smell made her furrow her brow. Seeing the mess and even some feces in the shop, her anger red up.


    ¡°Go fetch Mayor Qian!¡±


    The servant saw her mistress was angry and immediately ran to Mayor Qian¡¯s house to inform him. Even the guards were infuriated.


    ¡°Damn these troublemakers!¡± The guard captain didn¡¯t wait for the town mayor to intervene; he immediately led his men to find those responsible for causing the trouble.


    Qiao Mai stood with her hands behind her back, waiting by the side of the road.


    The disaster victims who had been removed from the shop were brought back under guard, and shortly afterward, the inside and outside of the shop were cleaned up.


    Qiao Mai handed the guard captain ten taels of silver. ¡°You¡¯ve done well,


    Brother Guard!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s our duty, Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t they moved out yet, even though I¡¯ve distributed grain?¡±


    ¡°Their house copsed. They are in the process of rebuilding, so they¡¯re temporarily staying here.¡±


    ¡°Please do me a favor. Have them all moved out in five days. The weather is not cold now, and it¡¯s not raining. They won¡¯t suffer if they sleep outside.¡± The guard captain hesitated for a moment and then whispered to her.


    ¡°The southernmost shop is upied by two troublesome families. It might not be easy to drive them out.¡±


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°You know them¡ªThe Qiao family and the Yuan family. They¡¯ve lived there since the day the shop was made avable for the disaster victims.¡±


    ¡°Their houses copsed?¡±


    Qiao Mai gave the guard captain another ten taels of silver. ¡°Take some men to escort them back to the vige and throw them into their homes. If they return to freeload, let them spend a few days in jail.¡±


    ¡°Can we really do that?¡±


    ¡°Do it as long as they don¡¯t die. You can do whatever you want!¡±


    ¡°Good. With your words, we dare to take action. They¡¯ve annoyed us for a long time, always relying on your influence in town and acting recklessly. It¡¯s getting on our nerves.¡±


    ¡°If you need money to go through the court,e to me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, MadamQiao!¡±


    Qiao Mai stood with her hands behind her back, watching as several guards escorted the four troublemakers out of the shop in no time.


    The couple who had been making a ruckus were howling in protest, but they fell silent instantly. The Qiao family couple, upon witnessing this, obediently climbed onto the carts. The two guards seated on top then kept watch over them.


    As they passed by Qiao Mai, Qiao Shicheng red at her with pure malice.


    ¡°You heartless wretch, mistreating your own parents. You¡¯ll pay for it. Wait for divine retribution.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you exploit your own flesh and blood for profit, disregarding their lives and well-being. Such behavior is an affront to heaven and earth. I can¡¯t wait to see whether you or I will meet our end first!¡±


    After saying this, Qiao Mai exuded a hint of killing intent towards Qiao Shicheng. He let out a miserable cry and fell onto the cart.


    The guard quickly checked his pulse. ¡°Madam Qiao, he¡¯s still alive.¡±


    ¡°Good, you¡¯ve all worked hard!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only right. They have enough to eat and a house to live in. They deliberately caused trouble here, so they deserve this!¡±


    After all thatmotion, the disaster victims living in the Qiao family¡¯s shop became much more obedient. Qiao Mai handed the shop¡¯s keys over to Liu Hai.


    ¡°Call your family to move in hereter. Clean this ce thoroughly; it¡¯s not spotless yet. Remember to prepare food, and it must be clean. Don¡¯t be frugal; if something spoils, throw it away. Never serve spoiled food to customers. It must always be fresh.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Liu Hai brought his family to the shop. Although the ce was not asrge as Qiao¡¯s mansion, it was still made of blue bricks and green tiles, much better than their previous home.


    In the blink of an eye, it was the end of August. Since the heavy rain, it seemed that the heavens had cleared up, and there hadn¡¯t been a cloud in the sky for days.


    The azure sky lifted people¡¯s spirits.


    Liu Hai¡¯s cold skin noodles shop opened on the first day of September. Qiao Mai had a reclining chair ced in front of the shop.


    Shey there with a tea set beside her, sipping tea and leisurely watching.


    Qiao Mai herself was a kind of attraction. Wherever she went, customers followed. Many people came just for her.


    After learning from the kitchen staff, Liu Hai mastered four types of snacks:


    cold skin noodles, spicy sesame noodles, hot and sour noodles, and crispy fried buns.


    It took their family three days to thoroughly clean and prepare the shop, making it spotless. They also replicated the exterior of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    After three more days of preparation, they had all the necessary utensils and ingredients ready for the grand opening on the first day of September.


    These three snack items were avable all day, and customers coulde in anytime. The shop remained open throughout the day.


    Once people heard that the shop owner was a rtive of Madam Qiao, they came to show their support. During the first three days of the opening, all snacks were offered at a 50% discount.


    These dishes could serve as meals and snacks, and they were delicious, satisfying the customers. Some had previously tasted these dishes in the county and knew how good they were. They called their family members toe and taste them.


    The snack shop became a bustling ce, and Liu Hai priced the dishes at fifteen coins for a bowl of cold skin noodles, spicy sesame noodles, and hot and sour noodles, while two crispy fried buns cost five coins.


    During the first three days of the opening, two bowls of these snacks only cost fifteen coins, which was considered reasonablepared to the prices in the county.


    Some people wanted toin about the prices, but as soon as they heard that a bowl of cold skin noodles in the county cost twenty coins and required standing in long queues, they immediately stopped.


    Shopkeeper Lu didn¡¯t react much to this news. Her daughters¡¯ shops were in the county, and it was Qiao Mai¡¯s recipe. She was free to open it wherever she wanted. There was nothing toin about.


    With Qiao Mai¡¯s presence, the opening of Liu Hai¡¯s cold noodle shop was highly sessful.


    When customers praised the dishes, the Liu family gained more confidence running the shop.


    They were very grateful for Qiao Mai¡¯s help and proactively paid monthly rent to Shopkeeper Niu. Without him asking, they paid five taels a month.


    In the first three days, the business was booming, with customers frequently lining up at the door.


    Even after that, business remained good, although there were fewer people, and the prices had returned to normal. Still, they continued to make a decent profit..</font>

 Chapter 187 - 187: I Definitely Won’t Forget You

    Chapter 187 - 187: I Definitely Won¡¯t Forget You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Every day, Madam Liu Qiao would hold onto the money chest at night, happily counting money, sometimes wiping tears of joy.


    ¡°Thanks to my niece, we can make several silver every day. It feels like a dream.¡±


    Having eaten a bite of food and had a sip of wine, Liu Dashan was all smiles. ¡°If we save money for a couple of years, our family can buy a house in town.¡±


    ¡°Buying a house isn¡¯t necessary for now. We can live here and think about it when Bao¡¯er grows up. What¡¯s important now is saving money. If something unexpected happens, we¡¯ll need money to buy food.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense. How about sending Bao¡¯er to school now that we¡¯re earning money?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Let¡¯s focus on saving for now. We¡¯ve just started making money. After the New Year, we can think about it.¡±


    ¡°Alright. How about you talk to your niece and let Bao¡¯er learn with the children from the Qiao family?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao remained silent, but Liu Hai immediately intervened.


    ¡°No, we should find a private tutor for education. The Qiao family¡¯s old man has a special background, and it¡¯s not someone we can request.¡±


    ¡°Who is he?¡±


    ¡°I heard he¡¯s the father of the magistrate.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, forget about it. I¡¯m d you told me early. Otherwise, I might have upset my niece, which wouldn¡¯t be good.¡±


    With that settled, the Shunqin Manor brought good news in mid-September, announcing that Jiaru had sessfully given birth to twins.


    Old Mistress Wang was overjoyed and prepared many things to send to Jiaru in the capital with the help of the town¡¯s escort agency.


    Upon hearing the news, Qiao Mai went to her space to find two ginseng roots to help strengthen Jiaru¡¯s health.


    As she looked at her space, Qiao Mai saw a remarkable change. Greeny flew up to her, showing off.


    ¡°Master, praise me, praise me!¡±


    ¡°Praise you for what? You¡¯ve turned my space upside down, and now it¡¯s hard to find anything.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that because of me? I¡¯m your steward, and as the master of this realm, you can know where everything is with just a thought.¡± ¡°Where are the two-hundred-year-old ginseng roots I had?¡±


    ¡°Here, here!¡±


    Greeny led her to the second shelf. ¡°Look.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t there only two roots? How is there an extra root now?¡± ¡°Master, how many roots were on the shelf when you arrived?¡±


    ¡°Six roots.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it. After you took out four, one must have been consumed. So, a new one has been duplicated here.¡±


    Qiao Mai smirked, ¡°I almost forgot about that. It¡¯s cost-effective to eat such a precious thing and get a new one.¡±


    Greeny pouted, ¡°Master, is that all you¡¯re satisfied with?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Our realm is now Level Seven. With such a high concentration of spiritual energy, your ginseng and reishi mushrooms can quickly mature into centuries-old nts.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°So, does this mean I¡¯ll soon have a hundred acres of centuries-old ginseng and reishi?¡±


    Greeny nodded. ¡°Yes, and not only that, but your ginseng will be a never-ending resource. With such high spiritual energy concentration, they will flourish.


    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s fantastic!¡±


    ¡°The most important thing for you now is to improve your cultivation and alchemy and refine your skills. You should exchange more high-level items on the tform. For example, seeds for five-grade or higher spiritual herbs. You¡¯re already a level three alchemist. Many high-grade herbs require more years to cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the reminder.¡±


    ¡°Master, can I learn trading on the tform with you?¡±


    ¡°Why would you want to learn that?¡±


    ¡°When you¡¯re not around, I can handle purchasing myself. I can also trade your space¡¯s unused spiritual herbs for what you need, like spirit stones or alchemical materials, or help you stock up on useful talismans, arrays, and more.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at it. Greeny blinked with innocent eyes.


    ¡°Alright, but you can¡¯t mess around. You can only buy and sell, no fiddling with other Darts of theouter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    Qiao Mai opened theputer and taught Greeny how to buy and sell items on the tform.


    Before long, Greeny had mastered trading. After a few transactions, Qiao Mai was pushed aside, and theputer became exclusively Greeny¡¯s domain.


    Seeing it happily trading this and that, Qiao Mai left with the two ginseng roots.


    She found Old Mistress Wang and gave them to her.


    ¡°Grandmother, I won¡¯t send any food this time. Instead, I¡¯m giving these two ginseng roots to Jiaru for her recovery.¡±


    ¡°Jiaru¡¯s health is important. She can make red ginseng tea with these roots to recover quickly.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang had the items packed, called the town¡¯s escort agency, and sent them away from Tianshui Town.


    The weather was lovely. With Jiaru¡¯s joyous asion, Lao Tai Tai held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°There¡¯s a temple over a hundred miles outside the city. Let¡¯s light incense, draw a fortune stick, stay for a couple of days, eat vegetarian meals, and rx.¡±


    ¡°Sure, will Grandfather be joining us?¡± ¡°Let him stay home to look after things.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take Ling¡¯er with me.¡±


    ¡°Shall I start preparing now? We¡¯ll set out early tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Sure, but this time I won¡¯t be traveling in the same carriage with you.¡± ¡°Hmm? What do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll ride horses. Ling¡¯er loves horseback riding, and I haven¡¯t spent quality time with her for a while.¡¯


    ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t forget this olddy sitting in the carriage while you¡¯re riding horses.¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course not! We won¡¯t forget you.¡±


    Qiao Mai liked it when her grandmother acted cute; it was endearing to see her at her age.


    The twins overheard that their mother would be going on an excursion and immediately ran to Qiao Mai¡¯s side, clearly wanting to join.


    ¡°Mom, can we go too?¡±


    ¡°We are going to the temple to light incense and make offerings, eating nothing but in meals. What are you going to do there?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re going to the temple?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We really want to go. We haven¡¯t been to a temple before.¡±


    ¡°Once the autumn harvest is over, we will take you on a ride outside to have fun. Focus on your studies at home for now, alright?¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a promise then?¡±


    Qiao Mai had a n for the family to stay home and study. However, Old Mister Wang had dered that if some were going, they would all go.


    She would have to bring the whole family along. In reality, everyone had felt quite stifled and bored during this period. Going out for a change of scenery was a good idea.


    Qiao Mai let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Alright, everyone cane. Let¡¯s all go!¡±


    The children were now thrilled, and Old Mister Wang wore a smug smile. She thought she could outmaneuver them, but they weren¡¯t having it!


    Qiao Mai was quite efficient. In the afternoon of the same day, she arranged for several ponies for the children.


    Each child got a pony, but because Ling¡¯er was still too small, she had to share a pony with Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai promised that she could have her own pony when she grew as tall as her brothers to stop her from crying.


    The children spent the afternoon learning to ride.


    The ponies were not very fast, but they could follow the carriage. The ponies acted as the children¡¯s ¡°legs¡± and gave them a sense of novelty.


    Feng¡¯er rode with Ling¡¯er on a pony while Yue Xia followed along, worried Ling¡¯er might fall from the pony. She was even more attentive than Qiao Mai, her biological mother.


    After practicing for the afternoon, the children had be proficient in riding. Then they started packing.


    They didn¡¯t need to bring much since they were going nearby. Each person brought a set of spare clothes and some snacks.


    The head of the household brought enough silver. They couldn¡¯t take things like alcohol and meat to the temple. Furthermore, Old Mistress Wang required that starting that day, everyone should abstain from meat, and the family should eat a vegetarian diet.


    They also had to avoid getting meat odor during the journey, as it would be disrespectful to the Buddha.


    For the sake of the trip, even the meat-eating children turned into herbivores..</font>

 Chapter 188 - 188: Not Worthy To Begin With

    Chapter 188: Not Worthy To Begin With


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai had prepared ponies for the children long ago, raising them in her space. After being nurtured with spiritual energy for a considerable time, these horses were naturally intelligent. Following Qiao Mai¡¯smands as the space¡¯s owner, they were well-behaved and obedient.


    Even when they encountered loud noises like fireworks, they remained calm. This is why Qiao Mai feltfortable with the children riding on their backs.


    The next day, the whole family set off, each person carrying a cloth bag.


    The cloth bags proved convenient, and both Old Mistress and Master Wang liked them very much.


    The weather was clear, and the sun shone brightly, yet it didn¡¯t feel too hot.


    Each child rode a pony while Ling¡¯er sat on the back of the horse with Qiao Mai. Even Yuan Jiaqi, who had a gentle and schrly appearance, was riding a ck horse.


    He and Qiao Mai rode side by side while Old Master and Mistress Wang watched from the window. ¡°These two look quitepatible.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi can¡¯tpare to my Mai Mai.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re already calling her by a nickname. Do you treat her like a child?¡± ¡°In my eyes, my granddaughter is still a child. Think about it. She¡¯s not even twenty years old yet.¡±


    Old Master Wang sighed softly, ¡°She¡¯s worked hard. From a woman who only knew how to make money, she¡¯s be someone who can study and practice martial arts. For the sake of this family, she¡¯s been working hard to learn everything. ¡±


    ¡°Yuan Jiaqi has umted good karma from a previous life. Although their marriage might be a ruse, they are still married, and it¡¯s most likely to be a real marriage.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not happy about it? Do you not approve?¡±


    ¡°Naturally, I disapprove. What can he do? Since he joined the Qiao family, he¡¯s been spending money. He¡¯s still spending money on his education. He makes my granddaughter work hard on her own.¡±


    ¡°He also wants to help her, but your granddaughter won¡¯t let him. Don¡¯t worry about it; this girl will have good fortune. I like that young man very much. He has feelings for her; she¡¯s just testing him.¡±


    ¡°If he mistreats my granddaughter, I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°You never know. In the future, Mai Mai might take an interest in someone else. This matter is uncertain. Let¡¯s not worry about it here. Fate is something no one can exin.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the Xiangtang Temple to look at their destiny and to bless Rul er and her child to be safe and sound.¡¯


    ¡°You are always worrying about trivial matters.¡±


    Old Master Wang looked at Yuan Jiaqi sneakily watching QiaoMai and said, ¡°Ah, this young man is probably afraid he¡¯s not good enough for such a strong-willed woman.¡±


    ¡°He was never good enough to begin with. In my eyes, Mai Mai is the best woman in the world.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a matter of perspective. People say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.


    You¡¯re the best in my eyes, but in others¡¯ eyes, Madam Qiao is just a housewife.¡±


    The olddy shot him an annoyed look, but she was secretly pleased by his words.


    The three boys rode a pony, running behind the carriage with joy. Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi asionally looked back at them.


    As a family, they attracted attention on the road due to their appearances and the guards apanying them. People could tell they were not ordinary.


    Therefore, no one dared to provoke them. Along the way, they encountered several men who looked like local ruffians or troublemakers.


    They were idle and always trying to steal from other people¡¯s pockets and purses, looking for ways to get something for nothing.


    Upon seeing them eyeing the money pouches around her family¡¯s waists, Qiao Mai gave them a stern, threatening look.


    The look in her eyes terrified some of those individuals so much that they urinated on the spot, and their legs went weak.


    This was Qiao Mai¡¯s warning: anyone daring to harm her family would meet their doom.


    Those men, who had wanted to follow the carriage, immediately retreated and sighed as they watched the carriage depart.


    They didn¡¯t stop along the way and avoided lingering on the road.


    They soon arrived at the foot of the Xiangtang Temple mountain. It was past lunchtime. Old Mistress Wang was a devout Buddhist, so the carriage stopped at a parking lot at the base of the mountain, where they paid for parking.


    The attendants would take care of the carriage and horses once they paid. After disembarking from the carriage, they followed the olddy up the mountain.


    The Xiangtang Temple was not very well-known during the Ming Dynasty, but it had some reputation within Wei City.


    Old Mistress Wang had likely been a frequent visitor as the abbot and temple head came out to wee her.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s family stood behind her. The abbot and temple head nced at Qiao Mai through the olddy.


    In that brief moment, Qiao Mai had captured their attention.


    Although she was an atheist, her recent time travel experience had made her believe in the existence of deities, especially since she was a cultivator herself.


    She only believed in herself and respected but didn¡¯t worship any particr religion, as she trusted in her abilities.


    After the formalities, the abbot and temple head led them to the guest rooms at the back of the temple.


    ¡°Kind donors, the journey must have been tiring. I¡¯ve already arranged for vegetarian meals. After you¡¯ve eaten, please rest well. You should fast and meditate for three days, cleanse yourselves, and then you may pay your respects to the Buddha.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    The abbot left first, but the temple head nced back at Qiao Mai as he departed.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes as if to say, ¡°What are you looking at? Even if you see through me, what can you do? I¡¯m not afraid.¡±


    Men and women had separate rooms, which were quite spacious and capable of amodating multiple people.


    The guards had one room, Yuan Jiaqi and the three boys had another, while Qiao Mai, Ling¡¯er, and Yue Hong Yue Xia shared a room.


    Finally, she could sleep with her mother at night. Ling¡¯er happily bounced on the heated brick bed.


    Before long, the meals were served.


    Except for Old Mistress Wang, everyone else was taken aback as the food was incredibly nd, without a trace of oil or vor.


    They didn¡¯t even put salt on it.


    Even the pious olddy was puzzled, frowning as she asked Qiao Mai.


    ¡°My dear, it¡¯s your fault that we can¡¯t eat such in food. It¡¯s so nd that I can¡¯t eat it anymore. Do you have any ideas?¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. So it was her fault that they couldn¡¯t stomach the in food.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know about this. Can spicy food be eaten here?¡± ¡°Yes, as long as it¡¯s vegetarian and not too oily.¡±


    ¡°Alright, wait here.¡±


    Qiao Mai took an empty bowl and a small bottle from her bag in front of everyone. After a moment, she concocted a versatile sauce.


    Qiao Mai shared the sauce with everyone and said, ¡°Dip your food in this sauce; it¡¯s all vegetarian, and the oil is soybean.¡±


    The people at the table began dipping their food into the sauce, some even using steamed buns to soak it up, savoring the delicious vors.


    After tasting it, Old Mistress Wang¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Delicious!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s some chili in there. After the meal, have a cup of green tea to clear your pte.¡±


    After the meal, everyone went about their business. When the young monks came to collect the dishes, they couldn¡¯t help but sniff the air curiously.


    The aroma was heavenly, unlike the scent of meat, but something different. It filled the air with a tantalizing fragrance that left them longing for more.


    Seeing people walking around the courtyard, they couldn¡¯t resist asking,


    ¡°Excuse me, what did you all eat just now? It smelled so delicious!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a versatile sauce made by ourdy of the house.¡±


    ¡°Versatile sauce?¡±


    ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s entirely vegetarian.¡±


    The young monks scratched their heads, ¡°May we know if there¡¯s any of this


    sauce left?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s all gone. It was so tasty that we finished it all. Right now, our masters are resting, and we wouldn¡¯t want to disturb them.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thanks anyway.¡±


    The young monks walked away, and no one asked about the sauce again. Monks were particr about their diet and spiritual practices. They merely wanted to inquire without demanding anything more.


    During the three days of fasting and prayer, Qiao Mai took her children to explore the temple grounds and enjoy the scenery..

 Chapter 189 - 189: I Respect You, But I Don’t Worship You

    Chapter 189: I Respect You, But I Don¡¯t Worship You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Watching people of all backgrounds, Qiao Mai encouraged her children to use the vocabry they had learned to describe them and taught them how to interact with others.


    Old Master Wang taught them to read and write and gave them drawing lessons. However, these three boys were not particrly interested in drawing.


    The twins were passionate about martial arts; Chuan¡¯er was a food enthusiast, and Ling¡¯er loved to y.


    Nheless, all these children were intelligent and quick learners. With a willingness to learn, they quickly acquired new skills.


    Yuan Jiaqi found Qiao Mai¡¯s approach to guiding the children¡¯s education fresh and different.


    After three days of fasting and prayer, Old Mistress Wang, apanied by the others, visited the main hall to pay their respects to the Buddha devoutly.


    They also made a generous donation, with the abbot and the temple head present.


    While the others kneeled, Qiao Mai stood in a corner, hands behind her back, unmoving.


    The olddy led the group, paying their respects to Buddha after Buddha and bodhisattva after bodhisattva.


    Qiao Mai remained at the back, ying the role of a guardian.


    The abbot approached her and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you bow to the Buddha?¡± ¡°Our paths differ. I won¡¯t bow. However, I respect.¡±


    ¡°I see. I have observed your features. You are half dark and half gold, indicating merit, virtue, and karmic obstacles.¡±


    ¡°Killing those who deserve it without fear of consequences¡­¡±


    ¡°The path of the Buddha involves not harming ants when sweeping the floor¡­¡± ¡°You im the path of the Buddha, but I¡¯m not a Buddhist. I won¡¯t follow your path. Furthermore, you intend to save the wicked and let them return to the world, where they may harm the virtuous. How does that serve justice?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°So, there¡¯s the Buddhist path and the human path. I respect you, but I won¡¯t bow to you.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked away, and the abbot sighed and followed.


    The children listened to the stories about Buddha from Old Mistress Wang. They were captivated, behaving very well, not even moring to go out and y.


    The following day, the abbot conducted a meditation and scripture teaching session for Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t participate in such activities; the meditation room was for the old couple and Yuan Jiaqi.


    It was at the request of Master Wang that he be invited to gain insight into worldly truths through Buddhist scriptures.


    After the scripture teaching session, the abbot addressed the three of them.


    ¡°All of you are fortunate individuals. Cherish your good fortune, especially this young man. You must treasure it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The Qiao family stayed in the temple for six days before they prepared to depart.


    During these days, Qiao Mai felt content in the temple, finding a tranquility she had never experienced.


    She enjoyed the sights of the mountains, the quaint town below, the sound of the temple bells, and the scent of incense. The idea of continuing such a life seemed appealing.


    Rising with the sun and resting with its setting, life might be simple, but the serenity was invaluable.


    Once they packed their belongings and checked their things, the children cheered. They could finally ride their beloved ponies.


    The abbot escorted them to the temple gate and looked at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯re wee to visit the temple and stay when you have leisure. It will be beneficial for your body and mind.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master. I will certainlye when I have the time.¡±


    The group returned down the mountain and arrived at the parking lot to retrieve their carriages and horses.


    The carriages and horses emerged one by one. As Ling¡¯er slept, Yue Hong and Yue Xia carried her onto the olddy¡¯s carriage.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were thest to leave. Yuan Jiaqi had already mounted his horse. but Qiao Mai¡¯s horse hadn¡¯t been brought to her vet.


    She asked the stable attendant with a cold expression, ¡°Where¡¯s my horse?¡± An attendant led a horse with a coat color simr to Dong Zao¡¯s over to her.


    ¡°Madam, your horse is here.¡±


    Qiao Mai exuded a hint of murderous intent as she moved towards the attendant, who knelt in ce. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. Where¡¯s my horse?¡±


    ¡°This, isn¡¯t this it?¡±


    ¡°How could I not recognize my own horse?¡±


    The attendant nced at the innkeeper. The innkeeper immediately put on a smiling face. ¡°Madam, this is indeed your horse!¡±


    Qiao Mai saw the exchanged nce and understood everything.


    It was highly spiritually attuned and couldn¡¯t be taken away by anyone. It was clear that someone had targeted it, hidden it away, and nned to switch it with a simr horse, trying to pull the wool over her eyes.


    They were indeed insatiable, even lusting after their guest¡¯s belongings.


    Qiao Mai put her index finger in her mouth and let out a sharp whistle. Dong


    Zao responded with a loud thud, crashing through a wooden wall to reach her.


    Everyone was left dumbfounded, witnessing Dong Zao rush to her side and give a resounding neigh.


    Qiao Mai grabbed the reins and walked away, but the innkeeper stepped in her path.


    ¡°This is our inn¡¯s horse. Please don¡¯t take it.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re indeed audacious, tantly telling a lie. My horse came to me with a single whistle. How dare you im it as yours?¡±


    At this moment, Old Master Wang peered out from his carriage and seemed to have grasped the situation. He beckoned his guards.


    ¡°Arrest the innkeeper and take him to the city court for further handling.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Old Master!¡±


    The guards moved to apprehend the innkeeper. However, he remained unyielding and obstinate.


    ¡°Who are you people? How dare you arrest me? Do you know who I am?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out at the court.


    ¡°Help! These people are robbers, trying to steal our inn¡¯s horses.¡±


    ¡°You are crying ¡®thief¡¯ to catch the thief! ¡±


    Old Master Wang got down from the carriage and went to the innkeeper. ¡°Tell me, who is backing you?¡±


    Seeing the old man, the innkeeper sneered. ¡°Our boss is the magistrate¡¯s steward¡¯s brother. Are you afraid now?¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Grandfather, someone is trying to take my horse by relying on your family¡¯s influence. Would you help me resolve this


    matter?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your uncle will not let them off lightly.¡±


    Old Master Wang pointed at the innkeeper and said, ¡°Seize him and silence him!¡±


    The guards moved to apprehend the innkeeper, who threatened to shout and scream. However, the guards were irritated and used the back of a de to knock him unconscious before tying him up and putting him on a horse.


    They had arrived happily but encountered such a situation on the way back, leaving Old Mistress Wang angry.


    As soon as they arrived in the city, they went directly to the government office. When Wang Zongsheng saw his parents, he saluted them in the courtroom.


    Qiao Mai recounted what had happened at the inn and the horse ranch on the outskirts of the mountain.


    Wang Zongsheng was furious and had his steward brought in and sent people to investigate their ount books and question all their servants. Wang Meng said, ¡°Go ahead and interrogate them. We¡¯re going home. Let me know if there are any updates. And remember, don¡¯t be lenient.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was not content with this. ¡°Such audacity. A mere servant dared to let his brother take advantage of his position. Who emboldened this coward? Zongsheng, the Emperor is cracking down on corrupt officials, so you can¡¯t allow one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother, rest assured. I will make sure this doesn¡¯t tarnish our family¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°Good, proceed with the interrogation!¡±


    It appeared that the olddy held significant influence within the Wang family, as even Old Master Wang listened to her.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind the incident; her horse couldn¡¯t be taken away so easily. Right now, Dong Zao wasn¡¯t just a mount; he was also a powerful warhorse.


    When they returned home, it was alreadyte at night.


    The kitchen had received a letter and prepared a sumptuous dinner in advance.


    In the past few days, they had been unable to enjoy any meat dishes, and everyone had been craving them.


    While still meaty, dinner consisted of nourishing soups that satisfied their appetites and fortified their health.


    They all ate to their hearts¡¯ content and felt that despite their travels, there was no ce like home.


    They settled down on the heated brick bed, each asfortable as little pigs..

 Chapter 190 - 190: Couldn ‘t Bother to Argue With Him

    Chapter 190 - 190: Couldn ¡®t Bother to Argue With Him


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The night had fallen, and Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t inquired about the family¡¯s affairs. She would need to find a reliable steward among the servants to handle matters. This way, she wouldn¡¯t have to keep asking around, and the steward coulde to her for discussions or reports.


    After a good night¡¯s rest, Qiao Mai had Yue Xia summon fifteen maids from the household after breakfast.


    They stood in the courtyard, arranged in three rows. Qiao Mai stood on the steps, observing each of them. She knew who was the most proactive, who was the most articte, and who had a keen eye among them.


    She pointed to one of the maids in the middle. ¡°You, step forward!¡±


    The maid¡¯s face remainedposed, with her hands ced in front of her orderly.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Mistress, I am here.¡± ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°I am Xi Juan.¡±


    ¡°That surname is quite rare, and your name is nice. Can you read?¡±


    ¡°I can read a little, and I can also do some ounting.¡±


    ¡°Starting today, you will be the steward of Lucky Garden. You will be responsible for managing the household affairs. For major matters, consult with me, and for minor matters, handle them yourself. But always ensure


    fairness.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mistress. I will do my best!¡±


    ¡°Your monthly allowance will be increased to one or two silver coins. If you do well, everyone¡¯s allowances will increase ordingly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your graciousness!¡±


    ¡°You may all go back to your duties!¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, and the maids dispersed. By now, she felt relieved of many of her burdens.


    Just as she had sipped tea, Madam Liu Qiao came to see her.


    ¡°Mai?¡±


    ¡°Auntie, isn¡¯t your shop busy at this time?¡±


    ¡°I have something I¡¯d like to discuss with you. Can you think of a solution for


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qiao Mai picked up her teacup and continued to drink while listening to Madam Liu Qiao¡¯s chatter.


    ¡°Well, I took Bao¡¯er to our town¡¯s school to enroll when you were out having fun. I wanted him to learn a few characters there, but the teacher refused him right away when he learned that he was rted to you. It¡¯s infuriating. What should I do about it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my fault for not telling you earlier. You should have asked me first.¡± ¡°Do you have any grievances with him?¡±


    ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, no, but from his perspective, there is a grievance.¡±


    Qiao Mai briefly exined the history between the two families. Madam Liu Qiao was astonished, unable to believe her ears.


    ¡°Is he so petty?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t asked my husband about this matter yet. I believe with his personality, he wouldn¡¯t try to benefit from Mr. Lin¡¯s reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have ignored him from the start and continued to teach my children.¡±


    Coincidentally, Yuan Jiaqi came to find her at this moment. ¡°Wife, Auntie, are you both here?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Mr. Lin?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°He refused my auntie¡¯s child entry into school just because we are rtives.¡± Yuan Jiaqi sat down and talked about his experience in detail.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s like this. I was eager to learn back then, and he allowed me to sit in and listen, but I had to collect firewood for his family every day. Carrying a load of firewood earned me five coins, which is equivalent to paying him. So, he ims that I¡¯m ungrateful, which is untrue. He charges fees at the school, and it¡¯s not free education. I paid for my lessons.¡±


    ¡°I see. That petty person told others that you attended his sses for free and used you of disrespecting your teacher, even calling you an ungrateful brat.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t bother to argue with him. This matter is not a secret; it¡¯s just that some people in his sses are unwilling to offend him.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Madam Liu Qiao and said, ¡°Auntie, let your child assist in the shop for now to build his confidence. I can think of a way in a few days. Old Master Wang is getting older, and it¡¯s unfair to burden him with more students.¡±


    ¡°Just let Bao¡¯er study with me. The initial learning process is straightforward. It won¡¯t take much time.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao waved her hand quickly, ¡°I can¡¯t allow that. I heard you¡¯ll take the imperial examination in the capital after the New Year.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him, ¡°Study well. Leave this matter to me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you can find me when you need me.¡±


    ¡°Very well. Do you have any other business with me?¡±


    ¡°Early this morning, a friend from school sent me a letter, inviting me to join them in the capital for drinks and reminiscing. Is that okay with you?¡± Madam Liu Qiao felt out of ce here and quickly said her farewell.


    Qiao Mai looked at him, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be okay? You need friends as well. Just be cautious when drinking outside.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a vial from her sleeve and gave it to him. ¡°If you encounter anything that doesn¡¯t feel right, take one of these.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be off.¡¯


    ¡°Do you have any money on you?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi left, and Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say anything more. She realized her husband had few friends in the past. Still, this trip to the academy had allowed him to make a few new friends. She hoped that they wouldn¡¯t disappoint her.


    She also hoped that Yuan Jiaqi could make some genuine friends.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned to his residence, changed his clothes, and tucked a money pouch in his pocket. He then led a horse out of Lucky Garden and set out.


    In fact, he didn¡¯t really want to go. It had been a long time, and his fellow ssmates and friends hadn¡¯te to visit him. Since they seemed to disregard him, there was no need to keep in touch.


    However, he thought the flood might have been the reason for their absence. Therefore, he set off with hopes in his heart to meet them.


    At Jufu Tavern in the capital, which was one of the Wang family¡¯s properties, several people were chatting andughing in a private room on the second floor.


    When Yuan Jiaqi arrived, they were drinking tea and hadn¡¯t ordered their meal yet. The sight of their warm wee eased his cold demeanor.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you wait. My home is quite far, and as soon as I received the letter, I rushed here.¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize, Brother Yuan. It¡¯s been half a year since you left the academy. We wanted to visit you, but the timing never seemed right. Either we were attending school, or it was raining on our days off.¡±


    ¡°I thought so.¡±


    After some pleasantries, the server came to ask if they were ready to order.


    Yuan Jiaqi was the oldest among them. ¡°Let¡¯s have some of the signature dishes from this restaurant and a pot of good wine.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Brother Yuan, you¡¯re so generous. We were nning to treat you to a meal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a few years older than you all, so it¡¯s my treat!¡±


    After the dishes and wine were served, they raised their sses to toast while discussing Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s life since leaving the academy.


    ¡°When your wife exined the situation, we all felt that both sides¡¯ parents were in the wrong, and there was no need to continue this feud.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a sip of his wine. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re trying to convince me?¡± ¡°Yes, they are indeed wrong. But as a schr, and considering your excellent performance, the academy still wants to keep you. However, the dean said that you are bound for a career in government service, and letting them continue to hound you is not a solution.¡±


    ¡°What if I reconcile with them? Won¡¯t they continue to drain my resources, like bloodsuckers, asking for money endlessly?¡±


    ¡°I heard that your wife is capable and makes a good ie. Giving them a bit wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi had drunk some wine, and his face was rosy, but he immediately turned icy upon hearing these words.


    ¡°For one, my wife¡¯s earnings are hers, not mine. As a man, I couldn¡¯t make a single coin, and I still had to spend her money. It¡¯s already a burden on our household, so I won¡¯t feel right giving it to my parents. Secondly, you don¡¯t know my parents; they want more than money. They want the entire Qiao family¡¯s assets.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all family, so it¡¯s only right for her to support your parents.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re educated, yet you¡¯re saying this. Are we really family? Does she owe my parents or me? Just because we¡¯re family, you want her to hand over her hard-earned money to those people? I¡¯ll tell you, it¡¯s me, Yuan Jiaqi, who owes my wife. This debt can never be repaid in a lifetime.¡± The friends tried tofort him when they saw how upset he was.


    ¡°Rx, we only mean well. We suggested this because we wanted to help you find a solution.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, as long as I reconcile with them, those two old geezers will suck me dry and eat my flesh. They only recognize money. My first wife was worked to death by them. She was carrying Chuan¡¯er, about to give birth, and they still didn¡¯t let her rest, forcing her to do chores..¡±</font>

 Chapter 191 - 191: Cutting Off Kinship

    Chapter 191 - 191: Cutting Off Kinship


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The few people lowered their heads. When they heard this, they couldn¡¯t persuade him any further.


    ¡°We¡¯re also acting on behalf of the headmaster. Don¡¯t be offended. The main concern is your future prospects in the government. Your reputation could affect your official career.¡±


    ¡°If I can serve the people as an official, I¡¯d be happy. If not, I won¡¯t be disheartened. My wife, a woman without any official position, can still do good deeds for the people. Meanwhile, those in high office are feasting on the people¡¯s blood and flesh. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d rather not be an official. I would rather be a good husband, assisting my wife in caring for our home. I want her to work without worries.¡±


    ¡°But a man living behind a woman is not right.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi mmed the table and stood up with a re.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°I won¡¯t say anything if you belittle your family¡¯s women, but if my wife is belittled, I can¡¯t ept it.¡±


    Seeing that he was genuinely angry, the others quickly held him back to sit down.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t mean it that way. We only want to advise you to find a way to mend the rtionship with your parents so you can continueing to the academy, and we can study together.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not possible to mend it. Once the rtionship is severed, it¡¯s severed. My wife and I don¡¯t want further dealings with parents like that. Furthermore, they have more than one son.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it because your family has money?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve hit the point. If my wife and I were destitute, would those people help us? They would stay far away from us.¡±


    ¡°How could that be? Then how did you grow up?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we survived being born, but then it was all about doing various chores all day long like ves. May I ask, is that how your parents treated you?¡±


    The other students fell silent before saying, ¡°It might be because your family is poor.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we are poor. As elderly parents, they live and eat well. Without experiencing hardship, you don¡¯t know it¡¯s hard for others. Do you understand this saying? Well, there¡¯s no use continuing to talk about it. Farewell!¡± Yuan Jiaqi stood up and left, settling the bill at the counter, and rode back home.


    Sitting on his horse, heughed bitterly to himself.


    He could never reconcile with his parents. He would never forgive the things they did for his entire life.


    He remembered the kind woman from before, who held his hand and looked at him and the baby in her arms with reluctance as shey dying. It filled his heart with sadness.


    His parents were willing to let his wife for money. They even wanted to deceive someone else by getting him married again.


    He thought of his parents, who were so obsessed with keeping the money for themselves that they neglected Chuan¡¯er, even when he had a high fever.


    Because they were his parents, did he and his son have to die? He disagrees. He was Chuan¡¯er¡¯s father, and he would protect himself and his child. He didn¡¯t do anything wrong!


    He gave them one hundred taels for their retirement. That was the money he earned from copying books day and night.


    In the vige, giving one hundred coins per month to the elderly was considered generous. That was a little more than one tael annually. He gave them nearly a hundred years¡¯ worth of retirement money when he severed ties with them.


    He didn¡¯t owe them anymore from the moment his wife died.


    One life for another. Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother used her life in exchange for theirs.


    The more Yuan Jiaqi thought, the more pathetic he felt. Even those who were not his parents were making life difficult for him, which made him furious. He rode his horse back to Lucky Garden. As soon as he entered the house, hey on the heated brick bed and cried.


    Since he was a child, he had always borne the burden himself whenever something happened, with no one tofort him or share his worries. It was hard to finally turn things around and establish his family. Now, he had a home, a teacher, and friends.


    However, they persuaded him to make amends with his shameless parents. Why should he?


    No, absolutely not!


    He didn¡¯t notice when Qiao Mai stood at his door. She sighed and startled Yuan Jiaqi, who quickly got up from the bed.


    ¡°Why¡­ Why did youe?¡±


    ¡°I knew things would not go well. You¡¯ve been home for so long, yet they haven¡¯te to see you. They must be looking for you for a reason.¡±


    ¡°The headmaster asked them to persuade me to return to the academy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid they have conditions, right?¡±


    ¡°They asked me to settle things with my family and hoped such incidents wouldn¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re quite a busybody. Such a person would surely make a poor official. Why get upset over this? It¡¯s your family matter, and you haven¡¯t harmed any moral principles. Why should you feel sad because of others¡¯ words? It¡¯s only detrimental to yourself, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Walk your path, and let others say what they want. You¡¯ve studied under Old


    Master Wang and listened to various teachings. Why can¡¯t you grasp this?¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯m sorry for letting you see a fool of me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just speaking my mind because we¡¯re in simr situations. But I know that if others treat me well, I¡¯ll treat them a hundred times better. If they treat me badly, I¡¯ll return it a thousandfold. Even though our parents gave us life, it¡¯s not a reason for them to mistreat us. Even the current emperor, who preaches filial piety, would put the empress dowager to death if she posed a threat. Do you think he¡¯d let her live?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing from Qiao Mai. She was discussing royal matters casually and even used them as an analogy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. Royals are just people with flesh and blood, not divine dragons. If every emperor were a dragon, how did dynasties fall one after another? They take themselves too seriously. People are the dragons; without them, there would be no rulers. If everyone in the world perished, do you think those royal folks would grab hoes and start farming to feed themselves? Even the emperors would need to pick up hoes and farm.¡±¡®


    With a snort, Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.


    ¡°Alright, buck up. Their words are nonsense. Live life as you like, with dignity and integrity. Don¡¯t worry about what others say.¡±


    ¡°Right. I¡¯ll listen to my wife!¡±


    ¡°Go freshen up and change your clothes. They¡¯re soaked in tears.¡±


    Qiao Mai said before turning and leaving. Yuan Jiaqi looked down at his wet clothes, and his face turned bright red.


    He hurriedly ran to the courtyard, sshing water on his face and changing into fresh clothes. When he came out, he began washing the clothes right away.


    He¡¯d always washed his and his son¡¯s clothes and seldom asked the servants to do it.


    Upon hearing that he had returned, Old Master Wang met him. They had a thorough discussion about his parent¡¯s situation, and in the end, Old Master Wang made the final call.


    ¡°Don¡¯t acknowledge them. No matter how much they insist, don¡¯t do it. Once you do, it won¡¯t be just the endless trouble for you and your son, but even this home won¡¯t find peace.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I think too.¡±


    Old Master Wang almost said that if his parents wanted to meet their end quickly, they should continue their antics. Eventually, Qiao Mai would reach a point where she couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer and would take action.


    Since he learned about her abilities, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she had any connection to the events happening in the capital.


    Looking at the empire, she seemed to be the only one with such abilities. Things like water-repelling charms, which were considered mystical, were not even possessed by esteemed monks or Daoist masters. Yet, she casually used them, even pasting two on each doorway in their house.


    These past few days, he secretly observed the charms. No matter how strong the wind or heavy the rain, they wouldn¡¯t budge. If these aren¡¯t magical objects, what else could they be?


    Thinking further, he considered the things she had acquired. None of them were something an ordinary person could obtain.


    That person from overseas was probably an excuse. Old Master Wang grew shrewder with age. He realized it but never mentioned it to anyone, not even Old Mistress Wang. And certainly not to other people.


    Yuan Jiaqi came back from the gathering more dedicated, seldom leaving home.


    Qiao Mai was annoyed with Mr. Lin because of the school.


    It seemed like he was pressuring her to open another school. Fine, if that¡¯s how he wanted it, she¡¯d oblige..</font>

 Chapter 192 - 192: Doing Good to Accumulate Virtue

    Chapter 192 - 192: Doing Good to umte Virtue


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the southern side, Qiao Mai had four rooms. One was rented to Liu Hai. Since he had many peopleing in and sometimes didn¡¯t have enough space,he rented the adjacent room.


    These two shops would have cost ten taels of silver per month. However, she asked Shopkeeper Niu to charge them only seven taels.


    The Liu family was happy and grateful to Qiao Mai. They even wanted to invite her to their house for a meal, but she declined.


    Qiao Mai had two more rooms prepared and entrusted the broker center to decorate them. Just at that moment, Ruyi arrived with her husband.


    ¡°Master, your disciple hase to see you.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Why did youe at this time?¡± She nced at Ruyi¡¯s belly.


    Ruyi blushed, ¡°I heard you wanted to open a school.¡±


    ¡°Yes, our town has many poor families, and their children can¡¯t afford to go to school. I want to hire a teacher specifically for these children. If there are smart and eager students, we can cultivate them.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my husband happens to have some free time. Can you hire him as a teacher?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at them. She knew the character of the Qin family.


    ¡°Okay, I will pay your husband ten taels of silver monthly. However, he must teach the students diligently. Just because they are attending for free doesn¡¯t mean he can cut corners.¡±


    ¡°Master, please rest assured. I will definitely teach them well,¡± Qin Yide immediately agreed.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you nning to continue your studies?¡±


    Qin Yide replied, ¡°I want to take the imperial exams, but I also want to find something to do instead ofzing around at home. And I want to move out with my wife.¡±


    ¡°Is there a dispute at home?¡±


    ¡°Just some family matters. There are always disputes. With this livelihood, I¡¯ll have an excuse to move out with Ruyi.¡±


    ¡°Well, your family is reasonable. Have a good discussion. If it doesn¡¯t work out, call me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The matter was decided straightforwardly. Ten dayster, the two rooms were fully furnished.


    The exterior looked simr to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, with tables and chairs for the children to rest outside. They could use it to write or do other activities.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to waste the spacious area in front of her building. She put up arge sign.


    ¡°Lucky Star Academy.¡±


    Ruyi moved in with her dowry and maids.


    She knew her Master was giving her face; a schr was typically paid around two taels of silver in schools, but Qiao Mai paid ten.


    The two courtyards behind the buildings were connected, and they had all the necessary furniture.


    All the daily necessities were also prepared. As for Ruyi, she learned about this matter and wanted to help her Master, so it saved Qiao Mai from the trouble of finding other people. Her husband also wanted to engage in some work, so it was a perfect match.


    The enrollment and start of sses were left in Qin Yide¡¯s hands.


    He and Ruyi prepared all the arrangements. They posted a notice outside ¨C Free enrollment for children aged six to ten.


    Children from poor families who can¡¯t afford to attend school are wee.


    Qiao Mai mentioned to Madam Liu Qiao, ¡°Aunt, please have Bao¡¯er attend. Mr. Qin is a schr with good knowledge. Next year, he will take the imperial exams with Jiaqi.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you charge tuition?¡±


    ¡°How many families can afford it? I established this school to give children who can¡¯t afford to attend a chance to study together.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao sighed, ¡°You have a kind heart.¡±


    ¡°My husband has always loved learning since he was young. He¡¯s from a poor family, and there are many children like him. I want to give them an opportunity. Prepare some writing supplies for Bao¡¯er.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao brought Bao¡¯er to register the same day. He was the first student in the school.


    Qiao Mai bought twenty sets of elementary school books. These books were for the school, and teachers would give them to students during lessons. They needed to return the books after ss.


    As for brushes and ink, Qiao Mai thought of an idea. She bought twenty stone tes and brushes. When students needed to write, they could dip the brushes in water and then write on the tes. Afterward, they could wipe it off with a cloth and reuse them indefinitely.


    Qin Yide thought this was a great idea. If all the students used this method, they could save a lot of money.


    Even Madam Liu Qiao stopped buying paper and ink for Bao¡¯er, allowing him to use these tes.


    The news of the Qiao family¡¯s school shook the small town of Tianshui. Everyone was busy spreading the word. Even Mayor Qian visited the school. He scratched his beard and said it was a great idea.


    Madam Qiao has done another great deed. She truly practices kindness and umtes virtues.


    Although the school was free, the number of children attending wasn¡¯trge. Most children at this age could help with household chores, so they couldn¡¯t afford to spend a whole day at school. Who would do the housework if their children went to school?


    Some parents were reluctant to send their children to school because they couldn¡¯t bear it. Qiao Mai was dumbfounded by this and didn¡¯t understand if they were being foolish or if she was.


    In any case, she wouldn¡¯t plead with them toe.


    However, some clever people understood the value of education and the old saying that ¡°books hold a house of gold.¡± They were willing to send their children to study, even if it meant some sacrifices.


    Fifteen families enrolled their seven to eight-year-old children in the school.


    The school¡¯s start date was set for the first day of October, with ten consecutive days of sses and one day off, as Qiao Mai and Qin Yide had discussed.


    This arrangement was made to ensure the students didn¡¯t grow tired of learning.


    During lunchtime, the children didn¡¯t have to return home. Qiao Mai gave them a hearty meal, ensuring they ate their fill.


    Among the students was Chen Hao, the eleven-year-old boy who used to y with Feng¡¯er and others.


    He was unhappy at Mr. Lin¡¯s private school, where he received scolding daily. This led him to stop attending the school out of frustration.


    Mr. Lin didn¡¯t refund the tuition fees, causing Madam Chen to pay several months of sry for nothing.


    This angered Madam Chen, who attributed all of this to how Qiao Mai had offended Mr. Lin.


    She kept looking for opportunities to take advantage of the situation, but when confronted with Qiao Mai¡¯s overwhelming presence, she didn¡¯t dare to approach.


    Now, she saw an opportunity and forcefully enrolled her Il-year-old son, Chen Hao, in the school.


    Qin Yide didn¡¯t say much, as he learned that she was a widow and raising a child on her own wasn¡¯t easy. Since her son was just slightly over the age limit, he agreed to let him attend.


    Chen Hao knew this school was run by the Qiao family. He secretly tried to visit Feng¡¯er and his friends at Lucky Garden.


    However, he was out of luck. All of them were in ss, and the housekeeper didn¡¯t allow him to enter.


    Despite not being able to visit his friends, he was excited about his studies and didn¡¯t spend his days cooped up at home.


    On the opening day of school, Mayor Qian presented the school with a que that read, ¡°Educating and nurturing the next generation for the benefit of all time.¡±


    Parents who sent their children to the school held high hopes for them. Qin Yide, being from a poor background, understood their aspirations well.


    He didn¡¯t want to waste the money given by Ruyi¡¯s Master. He taught those children diligently every day. Parents outside could hear the melodious reading of their children, making them feel that all their hard work was worthwhile.


    In particr, the midday meal provided by Qiao Mai was a significant help to them. It relieved them of the need to feed their children at home. This simple gesture of saving a meal daily meant they could save a considerable amount of food over a year.


    Not to mention, their children could also eat well at the school.


    Even though they didn¡¯t have extravagant dishes like fish and meat, the meals sent by Lucky Garden included either rice or steamed buns, and the stir-fried dishes were generously seasoned. Each child received their portion and had different dishes to ensure they ate their fill.


    As for those who did not send their children to school, some began to regret their decisions. On the one hand, they didn¡¯t want their children to miss out on household chores. On the other hand, they wanted the good meals provided at the school.


    Qiao Mai smiled when she heard about this. Poverty was often the result of such hesitations.


    But she didn¡¯t care. If they didn¡¯t want toe, she wouldn¡¯t go out of her way to persuade them.


    Upon learning about this, Mr. Lin was deeply irritated. He even went to Mayor Qian¡¯s house to express his grievances.


    ¡°Mayor, do you think Madam Qiao has a grudge against me? I set up a private school, and she came to undermine it. Now, she¡¯s starting her own school.. Isn¡¯t she tantly stealing my students?¡±</font>

 Chapter 193 - 193: You Still Have The Audacity To Come Looking?

    Chapter 193 - 193: You Still Have The Audacity To Come Looking?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Mayor Qian red at him. ¡°Rivaling you? From what I know, the friends and rtives who tried to enroll in your school spent the day being lectured without even receiving a refund after quitting. Some were turned away. Our town only has your private school. If you don¡¯t ept them, what are they supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be a model teacher, but don¡¯t forget when you falsely used Madam Qiao to protect your disciple. You twisted the facts to make her look bad. I know what you were up to.¡±


    ¡°And as for what happened with Yuan Jiaqi, I¡¯ve investigated it thoroughly, even asking your former students who are grown up and have families. You had that young man sit in on your lessons because he brought firewood to your family daily.¡±


    Mr. Lin turned red with embarrassment. ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother making excuses. One load of firewood is worth five coins. That¡¯s one hundred and fifty coins a month for a single student¡¯s tuition. Moreover, he was merely listening in. You never gave him a single book to use. You didn¡¯t lose anything, Old Lin. You need to be more honorable.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°You don¡¯t take people¡¯s children, so someone else starts a school that teaches them for free, especially if theye from poor families. It won¡¯t affect your private school. If you don¡¯t do good deeds while others are, you might leave this ce and find another town.¡±


    Mayor Qian¡¯s words were delivered with a measured tone, neither too harsh nor gentle, but they hit Mr. Lin like a hammer, leaving him almost dizzy. Mr. Lin was left embarrassed and humiliated. He quickly bowed to Mayor Qian.


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson. I¡¯ll take my leave!¡±


    He scurried away, leaving Mayor Qian to shake his head in disgust.


    ¡°Some people have no shame. He had the nerve toe here andin. Not giving him a tongueshing is already mercy.¡±


    Mr. Lin had wanted toin, but he ended up being humiliated. After he returned home, he fell ill.


    In the town, there were several schrs. Even Old Master Wang, a Tribute Schr, was residing there. Mr. Lin paid little attention to teaching and was more interested in gossip. People like him weren¡¯t wee.


    Upon learning that Qiao Mai had opened a school, Old Master Wang developed a newfound respect for her.


    She surpassed all the women in the world, and most men fell short inparison. She was a remarkable woman.


    As for Yuan Jiaqi, he was naturally proud and filled with happiness whenever Qiao Mai¡¯s name was mentioned.


    Whenever he had time, he and Old Master Wang would visit the school to help out. Sometimes, Old Mistress Wang would also go with the kitchen servants to assist in serving meals to the children.


    The school became popr, and even people from other towns and viges outside Tianshui Town wanted to send their children there.


    Qiao Mai had no objections, provided they arranged transportation for the children to and from the school, as the long journey worried her.


    Qiao Mai entrusted the operation of the school to Qin Yide. She didn¡¯t want to get too involved in the daily management.


    But then, why did she keep bumping into Madam Chentely?


    When she inquired, she found that Madam Chen had enrolled her son in the school.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes but decided not to let adult matters affect the children. She let it go.


    However, Madam Chen was getting bolder and more persistent. She would sit in front of Liu Hai¡¯s house every day, iming she had nothing to do but wait for her son.


    In reality, she was secretly watching Yuan Jiaqi, her love interest.


    Qiao Mai shook her head and decided not to get involved. This was Madam Chen¡¯s and Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s romantic entanglement, and she let them navigate it on their own.


    Love entanglement! Let them figure it out themselves!


    Yuan Jiaqi was growing increasingly disgusted with Madam Chen¡¯s obsession. He thought there were plenty of other men to marry, but she insisted on clinging to him.


    If he had been single, her infatuation would have been somewhat understandable, but now, he was married into the Qiao family. Still, she clung to him. Such behavior in a woman had questionable morals, and he didn¡¯t appreciate it.


    He visited the school in the beginning but soon stopped going.


    Madam Chen kept pushing her son, Chen Hao, to y with Qiao Mai¡¯s family to find an excuse to explore the Qiao household.


    Qiao Mai had moved to a new house and had not paid any attention to Madam


    Chen since then. She hadn¡¯t even invited her to any gatherings. This had left Madam Chen quite angry back then.


    However, when Madam Chen saw that Qiao Mai was making a lot of money and helping themunity, she couldn¡¯t help but feel envious and longed to return to the way things were between them in the past.


    Chen Hao, who was already eleven and mature, red at Madam Chen.


    ¡°Mother, if you want to remarry, I won¡¯t object. But Mr. Yuan is already married. You should give up on him.¡±


    Madam Chen¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯m just here because you used to have fun ying with them. We haven¡¯t gone there since we moved.¡±


    ¡°Stop making excuses. If you don¡¯t say anything, I might still find time to y with them. But now that you¡¯ve said it, I won¡¯t go, especially since the three brothers had to study during the day and practice martial arts at night. They don¡¯t have time to y. If you are too free, learn from Aunt Qiao and figure out how to make more money instead of being infatuated with Mr. Yuan. He has a wife. He¡¯s not someone we can aim for.¡¯


    Madam Chen was embarrassed and wanted to p him, but she thought better. After all, he might have to support her in her old age.


    Besides, Chen Hao was well-behaved and obedient. He just happened to disagree with her about the Qiao family, which she med on Qiao Mai.


    After addressing the school¡¯s affairs, Qiao Mai finally unloaded some of her burdens.


    She now had a steward to manage her affairs, and with Shopkeeper Niu overseeing the shops, she could focus on her cultivation.


    However, someone started to gossip, saying that Qiao Mai opened the school for her reputation. The teachers in the school were unqualified, and the midday meal was made from the leftovers of the Qiao family.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care, but she could guess who was behind this.


    It must have something to do with Mr. Lin. Qiao Mai was puzzled. She couldn¡¯t understand why he seemed to have a grudge against her for opening a school. After all, her school didn¡¯tpete with his private tutoring.


    Qin Yide approached her and asked, ¡°Master, how do you want to handle this situation?¡±


    ¡°A clear conscience fears no nder. We can ignore it. Our school doesn¡¯t charge tuition for the students. Anyone who believes these rumors can stay away. You¡¯ll save yourself some trouble.¡±


    ¡°Sounds reasonable!¡±


    Qin Yide returned to the school, but Qiao Mai¡¯s kitchen servants became angry.


    They decided to serve lunch for the students outdoors. This way, everyone could see the quality of food provided by the Qiao family.


    ¡°No way! Our Qiao family doesn¡¯t even let us eat leftovers. We only feed them to the chickens. The master¡¯s rules are that no one in the family eats leftovers, which includes the children.¡±


    ¡°Those who spread such lies are despicable. Our master has a kind heart for opening this school, and people are jealous. If you have the guts, go ahead and donate money, open a school, and feed the students, or you can keep your mouth shut. If you can¡¯t afford to help, then don¡¯t talk nonsense. Your ancestors won¡¯t be able to show their faces in the afterlife.¡¯


    Onlookers burst intoughter. Qin Yide, along with Ruyi and the kitchen servant, sat outdoors to eat with the students.


    The studentsmented, ¡°We have this kind of food every day. We even get meat in our meals.¡±


    The children were honest and wouldn¡¯t tell lies, and it was clear to everyone that the food was not leftovers. In response, the kitchen servants decided that as long as the weather allowed, they would serve the children¡¯s meals outside for everyone to see. They wanted everyone to witness the quality of food provided.


    It was surprising that even providing a simple meal for the children caused such turmoil. The kitchen servants were genuinely concerned for their mistress¡¯s well-being.


    Qiao Mai remained unbothered and watched the situation unfold with a smile outside Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    Those who believed the rumors could stay away, as she wouldn¡¯t mind having fewer children to feed. After all, the midday meal for the students amounted to thousands of kilograms each year, not to mention vegetables and meat.


    Someone seemed to have underestimated her intentions, thinking she was running the school topete with them and steal their money..</font>

 Chapter 194 - 194: The One and Only

    Chapter 194 - 194: The One and Only


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Not only did the Qiao family¡¯s kitchen maids exchange curses from afar, but even the parents of students and the townspeople joined in.


    Mr. Lin was lying on the brick bed when he heard the curses. He spat out a mouthful of old blood, frightening the Lin family into calling for a doctor.


    His illness was almost healed, but it had be severe again.


    Serves him right for his actions.


    Despite the good weather, the crop yields weren¡¯t decent due to the previous rainy season.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care about other families. She exempted the rent for her two tenant families. Those two families were ecstatic and didn¡¯t know how to thank Qiao Mai. They brought their whole families to the front of Lucky Garden, kowtowed three times, and left.


    This incident quickly made waves throughout the town. Among the families that leasednd outside, who would be like Qiao Mai, daring to exempt the rent for tenant farmers generously? It was sixty acres ofnd!


    She stood alone, without peers.


    Even Mayor Qian had to admit that this was true generosity. The Qian family might have money, but they couldn¡¯tpare to Madam Qiao in terms of generosity.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t worried about food. She had plenty of space; there was rice and corn when needed, let alone wheat. Even millet, soybeans, green beans, and various grains were readily avable.


    She would harvest a batch every once in a while, store some in her space, and keep some at home for asional needs. She did not need to argue with tenant farmers over a bit of grain.


    Normally, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but this year, they only nted for one season. The yield wasn¡¯t high, so she spared them.


    With the harvest done, thend plowed, and the seeds sown, the weather remained good. People finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    Qiao Mai looked at the vast blue sky and felt a bit worried. They had just survived a flood; she hoped there wouldn¡¯t be a drought. If the sun kept shining, this winter would certainly not be too cold.


    It turned out she guessed correctly. It was already November, yet the weather remained warm.


    People wore light clothing, basking in the sun, and chatting with each other. asionally, Qiao Mai would also go out.


    She would visit Liu Hail s shop and order a bowl of hot and sour noodles while observing his business.


    Cold skin noodles could be stir-fried and eaten even in winter. The fragrant garlic and chili oil aroma became even more pronounced.


    For some reason, many gourmets believed that the cold skin noodles in


    Tianshui Town were even more delicious than in the county or other ces.


    Those who had tasted cold-skinned noodles from the Liu family woulde here for a bowl. The sour and spicy hot noodles and mixed noodles were popr among customers.


    His business was booming every day.


    Just two months in, he had already made dozens of taels of silver. Madam Liu Qiao couldn¡¯t stop praising her niece to everyone she met.


    She was happy, but not everyone was.


    Guess who? It was Lu Sanniang¡¯s eldest daughter, Lu Ruxin.


    For a while, she had been busy running shops outside, teaching her employees the technique of making cold skin. She was busy all day.


    In several counties within the city, she had started her cold skin business and even opened a shop in the prefecture city. Her business was decent. Making three or four thousand taels of silver profit monthly was not a problem.


    She had also shifted her focus back from love to making money.


    When she returned home, she saw the cold-skinned noodle shop by the road.


    She frowned. She came back in a hurry and asked Lu Sanniang.


    ¡°Mom, whose cold skin shop is this in our town?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Qiao Mai¡¯s aunt¡¯s shop. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°She gave the recipe to someone else?¡±


    Lu Sanniang looked at her, somewhat annoyed. ¡°What, are you the only one who can use it?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I also want to open a shop in town.¡± ¡°Then go open it somewhere else. This town is not for you.¡±


    ¡°Mom, there are many people in our town.¡±


    ¡°If you want to make money, you can go to other prefecture cities, or the counties they govern, or in other towns. You can forget about Tianshui Town.¡± ¡°Mom, why are you taking her side? This recipe was given to me. Isn¡¯t it mine?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Lu Sanniang looked at Lu Ruxin, somewhat in disbelief.


    ¡°Daughter, you¡¯ve changed.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re trying topete with your master¡¯s rtives for business?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Are her rtives the only ones allowed to open businesses here, and I can¡¯t?¡±


    Lu Sanniang stood up in anger, shaking her finger at her.


    ¡°Are you really going to be this ungrateful?¡±


    ¡°Mom, what do you mean by that? I¡¯m just dealing with things objectively. She gave me the recipe but also gave it to her rtives. Isn¡¯t that trying topete with me for business?¡±


    ¡°She only let her rtives run a small business to make a living. They have no intention of opening shops outside.¡±


    ¡°Right now, that may be the case, but who knows what might happen in the future?¡±


    Lu Sanniang looked at her coldly. ¡°You better think it through. She is your master.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t even acknowledge me anymore.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re still using her recipe to make money. If you have any ambition, stop using her recipe. It seems like you¡¯re getting lost in the pursuit of wealth.¡± ¡°She did it willingly. I never forced her to give me the recipe.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Let me ask you this. She has given you the recipe, but have you signed any formal agreement with her?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    ¡°You have never signed anything. Her recipe is given to anyone she wants. Even if she gave it to anyone for free, what can you do to her?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao has a sense of propriety in everything she does. I hope you will, too. Don¡¯t offend her. She might scatter the recipe, attracting morepetitors. I wonder how you will deal with it.¡±


    As soon as Lu Ruxin heard this, her face immediately changed.


    ¡°Mom, thank you for reminding me. Will you go to the Qiao family now and buy the cold skin recipe?¡±


    ¡°Uh, go yourself. I don¡¯t have the face to go.¡±


    ¡°Mom, please?¡±


    ¡°Back then, I only spent ten taels of silver, but I made tens of thousands of silver from her. It allowed you and Ruyi to get married in glory. My matter has been resolved. I don¡¯t want to owe more. Don¡¯t be too greedy.¡±


    ¡°Mom, how can you say that? Are you even my mother?¡±


    ¡°If you make me do something I don¡¯t want to, are you still my daughter?¡± The mother and daughter argued over this issue. Coincidentally, Liu Ye arrived.


    ¡°Boss, someone is looking for you at the shop.¡±


    Lu Ruxin was still sulking, so she scolded Liuye loudly.


    ¡°Why did youe to my house? Your cousin only knows how to do this. She arranged for a stranger in my family to let you eat and drink for free, and we even had to pay you. Get out of here! Get out of my Lu family!¡±


    Liu Ye couldn¡¯t believe that Lu Ruxin would say such words and looked at Shopkeeper Lu in surprise.


    Lu Sanniang was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected her daughter to say such things, and she pped her across the face.


    ¡°How dare you speak to my people like that! If you have the guts, scold me!


    How can you treat my crew like that?¡±


    ¡°Mom, how can you p me? She¡¯s just an employee of our shop. She¡¯s the same as a servant!¡±


    ¡°Y-you have gone on the wrong path.¡±


    Lu Ruxin covered her face, crying, and ran back to her room. The maidservants followed closely.


    Liu Ye felt wronged and didn¡¯t return to the shop. Instead, she went to find Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Cousin


    Seeing her with red eyes, Qiao Mai could tell she had just been crying.


    ¡°Is something wrong with the Lu family?¡±


    ¡°I went to the Lu family to call on Shopkeeper Lu, and I saw her and Lu Ruxin arguing. I somehow got scolded by Sister Ruxin.¡±


    ¡°Tell me what she said.¡±


    ¡°She said you put me there to let them raise me for you, eating and drinking for free and taking money from their family. I don¡¯t understand it fully, but she even said I¡¯m a servant in her family.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath. It seemed that the Lu family had no intention of being on good terms with her.


    ¡°Go to the Lu family, pack your belongings, and move to your parent¡¯s ce. Your embroidery skills have improved quite a bit now. If you don¡¯t know something, I¡¯ll teach you. You can handle embroidery work on your own.¡± ¡°Got it, Cousin. But what should I tell Shopkeeper Lu if she asks?¡±


    ¡°Tell her to talk to me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Cousin!¡±


    Liu Ye wiped her tears and left. She returned to the Lu household, packed her belongings, and went to the shop. She waited until Shopkeeper Lu had finished talking with the customers before making a sound..</font>

 Chapter 195 - 195: Are You Done?

    Chapter 195 - 195: Are You Done?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Shopkeeper, I¡¯m leaving. My cousin asked me to help my family, and I¡¯ll do embroidery work. Can I leave my goods here to sell?¡±


    Shopkeeper Lu looked apologetic as she nced at Liu Ye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you go through this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m leaving then.¡±


    ¡°Let me walk with you.¡±


    Lu Sanniang escorted her to the Liu family¡¯s shop, then sighed and went to find Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°I want to hear the truth from you. What did you and her argue about?¡±


    ¡°Because you gave the cold skin recipe to the Liu family, allowing them to open a shop in town.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s being so petty?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I didn¡¯t expect her to change like this.¡±


    ¡°In the entire Ming Dynasty, with so many towns and cities, she¡¯s fixating on a small cold skin shop in Tianshui? She can¡¯t tolerate my rtives making a living here?¡±


    Lu Sanniang lowered her head awkwardly. ¡°I argued with her over this, and she took it out on Liu Ye in her anger. I ended up pping Ruxin.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her and said seriously, ¡°If I have a falling out with her, what would you do?¡±


    ¡°This girl is stubborn and hasn¡¯t learned her lesson yet. If you choose to discipline her, I won¡¯t me you.¡±


    ¡°Discipline? There mighte a day for that. You¡¯ve raised quite an extraordinary daughter. She could think of such a thing and say such words. Sanniang, when I first came here, I had other choices. I chose Tianshui. I chose you. I wasn¡¯t without alternatives.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ve always known. I made so much money because of you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a sensible person. Now that both of your daughters are married, handle your affairs.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait until Ruxin finds someone. However troublesome she is, she¡¯s still my flesh and blood. I won¡¯t rest easy until her lifelong matter is settled to marry Old Qian.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t meddle in your affairs. It¡¯s just a suggestion. Now go!¡±


    ¡°Sister, I¡­¡±


    Lu Sanniang got up and left. Qiao Mai watched her depart, feeling a little emotional. She and her sister could talk about anything, and now, she was gradually drifting away.


    But she wouldn¡¯tpromise because of this. She had done nothing wrong.


    She would never back down. If she did, those people would advance further.


    Conveniently, the Liu family¡¯s cold skin shop was overwhelmed with work. Although the Liu family was somewhat unhappy about Liu Ye, it wasn¡¯t a major issue for the poor family. Being scolded a little was tolerable.


    Qiao Mai had Liu Ye return, which helped ease the burden in the shop.


    Time flew by. By the end of November, the weather finally turned cold. The first snow of the winter, falling sporadically for a day, was over.


    It was more of a symbolic snowfall. The days afterward were sunny, and even on cloudy days, a gust of wind could clear it.


    The weather made people feel like spring had arrived.


    The better the weather, the more worried Qiao Mai became. The court was digging a canal, but distant water couldn¡¯t quench near thirst. It would take at least five or six years to dig all the way from south to north.


    She decided to handle it herself. She carried some water from her space and nned to return itter. It was just like working as a water carrier.


    She instructed the steward. That night, she made her first attempt at flying using the butterfly wings on her back.


    She had undergone further body modifications by Greeny, making her wings invisible. When needed, she could summon them with a thought. Flying was as simple as a thought, with no need tond. Everything was convenient.


    It felt so exhrating to have wings on her back.


    They were like an angel¡¯s wings, more carefree than birds soaring in the sky. Thin and agile, they moved effortlessly and obediently. It was fantastic.


    Qiao Mai practiced in her space until she feltfortable, then flew out. She resembled a night elf flying through the dark.


    She didn¡¯t have the wings for the show. Despite their thinness, they provided remarkable speed when pped.


    She estimated she could reach up to 500 kilometers per hour, covering a thousand miles in an hour. It would only take her one night to get to the south.


    Greeny mentioned that as the space evolved, her wings would be even faster.


    That sounded great to her. Qiao Mai enjoyed the pleasure of flying in the air.


    She glided over the night sky to a remote, rocky ind by the sea.


    ¡°Greeny, did you prepare the pit?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all set, Master. I¡¯ve developed an area of 10,000 acres. You can take your time. No need to drain the ce all at once.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll take a little now and then more.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to act recklessly. She observed the terrain the next morning, choosing a hidden area to start.


    Greeny removed the barriers of the space and watched her master, who was only dealing with water and not the marine life within it. So, it did something sly and introduced various fish, shrimp, and crabs into theke.


    After nearly depleting her mental energy, Qiao Mai decided to take a break. She found a small town, ordered some dishes, and requested a pot of rice wine. The feeling of going out alone was quite nice.


    She repeated this pattern, moving from one ce to another until she filled the 10 ,ooo-acre pit with water.


    Her unassuming appearance helped her blend in with the crowd when she went out, dressed in men¡¯s clothing, avoiding drawing attention.


    ¡°Master?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re out, would you like to visit the seaside?¡±


    ¡°Have you developed the area?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master. As you know, the space adapts ording to the proportion ofnd and sea.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impressive.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I might be a spatial spirit, but the space has its consciousness, knowing what it needs.¡±


    Above the night sky, a streak of light dashed to the ocean.


    ¡°Greeny, shall you or I take care of this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, Master. You rest if you¡¯re tired.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll find a deserted ind in the vicinity.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced around the sea and flew to a dark ce she assumed was a solitary ind.


    The ind was covered in reefs, and the howling sea wind and crashing waves dominated the coastline. She found a spot sheltered from the wind andnded.


    After examining the surroundings, she confirmed no living creatures were around, so she lit a fire. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°An entire night.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t drain all the seawater.¡±


    ¡°With our current abilities, it would take years to drain the sea.¡± Qiao Mai kindled a fire and set up a grill. ¡°Greeny, get me a fish.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    A fishnded in front of her, and she swiftly cleaned it with a dagger and seasoned it before grilling it.


    When was thest time she¡¯d been this casual? Ever since she¡¯d arrived here, such moments had been rare.


    Today, Qiao Mai decided to let loose. She took a bottle of white wine from her space, opened the cap, and drank two sips.


    ¡°This wine is strong.¡±


    She used a knife to cut a piece of fish, grabbed it, and started eating.


    A water column continued to flow into her finger ring, maintaining a constant stream regardless of her movements.


    As she enjoyed her meal, she sipped wine and conversed with Greeny using her thoughts.


    ¡°I say, Greeny, what kind of creature did you bring here? It looks like a whale.¡±


    ¡°Haha, for the sea, we needed this guy; it¡¯s the king of the sea.¡±


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve brought?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve included a bit of everything from the sea. To recreate a real world, we need a bit of everything, don¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Do we need a volcano?¡±


    ¡°No need. The space will evolve automatically soon. It will have distinct seasons, no longer maintaining a constant temperature.¡± ¡°Will it snow, rain, be windy, and have hailstorms?¡±</font>

 Chapter 196 - 196: It’s All Because of Alcohol

    Chapter 196: It¡¯s All Because of Alcohol


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Yes, but it needs to be further upgraded. Natural elements like this need the space to evolve automatically.¡±


    Qiao Mai pouted. ¡°Got it!¡±


    She kept watch over the fire and enjoyed her grilled fish and white wine. Unbeknownst to her, she had finished an entire bottle. She looked around at the sky and her surroundings.


    ¡°Greeny, continue your work. I¡¯ll take a nap. If there¡¯s any trouble, wake me up, alright?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    As her words fell, she started snoring softly. Greeny fetched a nket from the space and covered her.


    She woke up at some point, feeling ufortable.


    When she looked around, she was startled.


    What was going on? Several people were gathered around her, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    Were they watching her like a monkey in a cage? What was going on?


    ¡°Young man, are you awake?¡±


    ¡°Why am I here? Who are you?¡±


    ¡°We are fishermen heading out to sea. This is a deep-sea area, and we found you on our way. You¡¯re quite lucky; otherwise, who knows when you¡¯ll encounter another ship.¡±


    ¡°Uh, so you¡¯re here because of me?¡±


    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t just leave someone stranded here, can we?¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed internally. These people were treating her as a castaway. She tried tomunicate with Greeny mentally.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡±


    ¡°I did call you, but you were sleeping so soundly you didn¡¯t notice.¡±


    Alright, it was her fault for indulging in alcohol. She would have to be more careful in the future.


    She got up, rolled up the nket, and politely greeted them.


    ¡°Thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be at sea for two more days. Will you join us?¡± ¡°Sure, I can¡¯t fish, but I can watch and help you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go. Get on board.¡±


    The fishermen boarded their ship, and Qiao Mai followed.


    The ship was not particrlyrge, about 15 meters long and 5-6 meters wide. In the ancient fishing industry, it was considered substantial.


    They had ventured into deep-sea areas at the risk of their lives to make more money. On the way, they encountered Qiao Mai.


    She watched these shirtless men casting hopefuls into the sea, slowly pulling them in.


    Experienced fishermen could tell by the boat¡¯s speed whether there were any fish in the.


    When the boat was hard to row, it meant the was full.


    The boat stopped, and the fishermen started hauling in thes. Qiao Mai sat at the back of the boat and observed.


    Sometimes, when they pulled thes, she would step forward to lend a hand.


    The fishermen were quite surprised. Despite her tiny and slender appearance, she was surprisingly strong. Her assistance clearly made their work much easier.


    ¡°Captain, how much fish can you catch in one trip?¡±


    ¡°It varies, sometimes several thousand catties. Other times, a thousand catties is considered good.¡±


    ¡°Is it easy to sell all these fish and shrimp?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re managing. We sell the seafood we catch to merchants at a low price. We dry anything unsold. We can¡¯t just throw it away.¡±


    ¡°How much silver can you get for the fish and shrimp on this boat?¡±


    ¡°Not much. A few hundred taels, split among everyone.¡±


    ¡°Is this ship yours?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we all chipped in to buy it.¡±


    ¡°Good job.¡¯


    As they chatted, a fisherman shouted, ¡°Captain,e quick! Looks like we¡¯ve caught a big one!¡±


    The captain and Qiao Mai rushed over, and everyone worked together to haul the. Slowly, the big catch emerged. ¡°Look, it¡¯s a massive fish. Oh my, is it a shark?¡±


    ¡°No, it should be a deep-sea fish.¡±


    While the fishermen didn¡¯t recognize it, Qiao Mai did. This was top-grade tuna, weighing several hundred catties.


    All the crew members rushed over to help.


    This fish wasrger than an adult human, weighing over five hundred catties.


    Since fish this size had few buyers, the crew was worried about what to do with it.


    ¡°The weather here is so hot. This fish won¡¯t keep for long. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Should we put it back?¡±


    Watching them prepare to release the fish into the sea, Qiao Mai realized the tuna would likely die if returned. So, she spoke up.


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy this fish.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Can you finish it on your own?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. When we get to the shore, I¡¯ll hire a carriage to take it away. I won¡¯t eat it all; my family will enjoy it too.¡± ¡°How much are you willing to pay for it?¡±


    ¡°Is one hundred taels enough?¡±


    The crew members were stunned, and Qiao Mai thought they found the price too low.


    ¡°How about two hundred taels? Will that be eptable?¡±


    The captain patted her on the shoulder. ¡°One hundred taels will do. Two hundred taels is too much; we wouldn¡¯t dare ept it.¡±


    ¡°Two hundred taels it is. From now on, if you catch this fish, don¡¯t sell it too cheaply. This is called tuna. Its flesh is firm and tender, excellent for frying, cooking, and even sashimi. It¡¯s incredibly delicious.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re lucky to have caught this fish.¡±


    Hearing this, the fishermen smiled. ¡°Since you like it so much, we¡¯ll sell it to you for two hundred taels.¡±


    ¡°Also, I¡¯d like some of the prawns you caught, but only the top-quality ones. Could you select two hundred catties of prawns, about the size of a palm each? I¡¯ll pay you a tael for each catty.¡±


    ¡°You have money to burn. We only sell to merchants for fifty coins per catty.¡±


    ¡°You mix them all together. I want only the top-quality ones. I also want those mackerels, yellow croakers, and Spanish mackerels. I want the best quality. I¡¯ll pay you a tael per catty for each.¡±


    The crew members stopped working and watched her in awe. It was as if she were a big fish herself.


    The captain, who seemed more experienced, carefully observed Qiao Mai from head to toe. She reached into her money pouch and pulled out a gold ingot, which she handed to the captain.


    ¡°This is a deposit. After we return, you can wait for me on the shore, and I¡¯ll give you the rest.¡±


    The captain grinned as he looked at the gold ingot. ¡°I almost thought you were ying with us.¡±


    ¡°How could I? You saved my life.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t continue today. Let¡¯s return to shore now. It¡¯s better not to keep the fish too long. They¡¯ll spoil.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡±


    The captain waved to the crew, and they all positioned themselves, rowing with determination, and quickly returned to shore.


    What felt like a long journey on the way out now seemed swift. In less than a day, they had already reached the shore.


    To be honest, Qiao Mai had no idea where she was.


    The boat docked at a less crowded spot. The captain asked everyone to help Qiao Mai select the best catch.


    The small harbor was bustling. Qiao Mai moved Dong Zao and the carriage out of the space to an area without people.


    ¡°Hey, my friend, can you help me transport a few loads? Haha, when I get home, I can enjoy some tuna.¡±


    Just thinking about it made her gulp. She promptly drove the carriage to the shore, hauled the swordfish away to a deserted spot, and stowed it in her space. Then, she returned to get the prawns, mackerels, yellow croakers, and other fish.


    Although she could have bought these from her tform, she wanted to express her gratitude to the kind-hearted fishermen.


    Besides, seeing the fish caught from the sea had its unique meaning.


    She made five trips and paid the captain a thousand taels of silver. The fishermen on the boat were thrilled. They looked at her with silly smiles.


    Sitting on the carriage, she waved at them.


    ¡°I need to get these fish home quickly, or they won¡¯t be fresh anymore. You¡¯re all good people, and good people will have good karma. If I have the chance, I¡¯ll return to buy fish from you again.¡±


    ¡°Young man, you¡¯re a good person too. We¡¯ve benefitted from your kindness.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it!¡±

 Chapter 197 - 197: Not the Ancient People

    Chapter 197: Not the Ancient People


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°We all share the surname Meng and live in Mengjia Vige in Huaiyuan


    County. In the future, if you want to eat fish, juste and find us. You don¡¯t need to pay such a high price anymore.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll thank you in advance.¡±


    The two exchanged smiles and nodded to each other. Qiao Mai continued on her way.


    After Qiao Mai had gone a distance, she asked some passersby for information and learned she was in Huaiyuan County, part of the Great Ming Dynasty in the southeast ¨C Yan City.


    Here, they produced salt and fish. In this ancient and less developed era, the hardworking people in the south had found various ways to make a living, such as drying fish and shrimp to make dried seafood.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in a hurry to return home. Along her journey, she bought some dried fish and salted fish.


    She also bought seaweed, dried sea squill, and conch meat.


    She had a lot of money, so she decided to provide some benefits for the local people.


    If she couldn¡¯t eat it all, she would sell it in her shop. She had space to store everything.


    During her trip, it seemed like Qiao Mai had looted the town, as her space was


    filled with a wide variety of seafood, which she had taken from the shores.


    Greeny watched all of this in awe. Qiao Mai, who never ate the seafood from her space, was now gleefully feasting on what others provided.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯ve been away for quite some time.¡±


    ¡°How many days?¡± ¡°Five days.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I had so much fun.¡¯


    She quickly put the horse carriage into her space. She rode Dong Zao during the day and flew with her wings at night.


    On a dark evening, Qiao Mai returned to Tianshui Town, unlocking the front gate and entering Lucky Garden, her family¡¯s residence. As she arrived, the Qiao family household came to life with excitement and joy.


    As soon as her family heard that she had returned, nobody had any intention of sleeping. She had been gone for several days, and they were curious to see what she had brought back.


    One after another, curious faces looked at Qiao Mai as she unloaded a fish that weighed five to six hundred pounds from her carriage.


    They all stared in amazement, as it was the first time they had seen anything like it.


    Luckily, it was winter, so Qiao Mai left the fish outside. The house was filled with crates containing various seafood items.


    Qiao Mai began unloading the goods from the cart, and the others eagerly took over. Old Master Wang stroked his beard and watched while the rest of the family seemed to be ecstatic like a group of fools, except for him, as he remained clear-headed.


    The amount of goods the cart carried was too much. Perhaps only these seemingly clueless folks could believe it.


    Despite this, the sight of so much seafood brought great joy to him. He smacked his lips in anticipation, realizing there would be some excellent side dishes for the following day¡¯s drinks.


    It waste at night. Qiao Mai insisted that everyone should rest after unloading the cargo, and she didn¡¯t ask the kitchen staff to prepare her dinner.


    The servants were dismissed for the evening, but her family stayed in Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard, gazing upon the mountain-like bounty of seafood.


    ¡°Wife, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi offered, knowing that his culinary skills were nothing special, but he could make something simple.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll cook for myself. Why aren¡¯t you all sleeping?


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave after you¡¯ve had your meal.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go to the living room. I¡¯ll make myself some noodles.¡±


    ¡°What kind of noodles? I¡¯d like some.


    The smell of seafood had made everyone hungry. Qiao Mai had awakened their appetites.


    Qiao Mai went to one ot the boxes and found arge basin, which she used to scoop out shrimp and take them to the kitchen.


    First, she heated some water, then cleaned the shrimp and nched them briefly with hot water.


    Afterward, she set another pot of water to boil and retrieved instant noodles from her space. She intended to prepare a deluxe version of noodles for everyone.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia waited near the kitchen door. They were aware that Qiao Mai preferred to cook without anyone standing by.


    The people sitting in the living room felt somewhat embarrassed. They realized that after a long journey, Qiao Mai was tired, yet they couldn¡¯t help but eagerly anticipate ate-night snack.


    Some wanted to leave but also wanted to stay for the meal. They looked hesitant, and it wasical.


    Not long after, the noodles were ready. Qiao Mai served them inrge bowls with three big prawns, ham slices, half a boiled egg, and a few green leaves as garnish, making the dish look appetizing.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia took the bowls and brought them into the living room, with Qiao Mai following them and bringing her own bowl.


    As they entered, they saw everyone eagerly slurping their noodles.


    People were not only eating but also enjoying the soup.


    Instant noodles were a universally beloved food, especially in the modern world, where they came in varieties.


    There were cup noodles, hand-pulled noodles, stir-fried noodles, and many other creative vors. With such a wide range of options, no one could resist the allure.


    Even ancient people couldn¡¯t resist this delicious treat.


    Ling¡¯er was asleep and didn¡¯t get to enjoy the meal, but Qiao Mai had cooked it for her on previous asions.


    As for the others, it was their first time trying such a dish.


    Everyone relished the food, especially Old Master Wang. He couldn¡¯t resist looking at others¡¯ bowls while eating his own.


    ¡°Girl, is there any more?¡±


    ¡°You still want more?¡±


    ¡°I was just asking,¡± Old Master Wang said, a little embarrassed.


    ¡°If you want more, I¡¯ll make it for you tomorrow. Eating too much at night isn¡¯t good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal. Tomorrow¡¯s breakfast will be this.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll add some more seafood for you.¡±


    ¡°By the way, what about that big fish of yours?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have it for lunch tomorrow. I¡¯ll pan-fry some for you to taste in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Everyone smiled. With Qiao Mai around, they all had hearty appetites.


    Even Yuan Jiaqi, the bookworm, couldn¡¯t help but gulp when thinking about Qiao Mai¡¯s culinary skills.


    The next day, everyone was looking forward to the instant noodles. They arrived in Qiao Mai¡¯s yard early in the morning. To prevent them from feeling bored, Yue Hong prepared tea for them in the living room.


    Since they knew Qiao Mai was tired, they didn¡¯t disturb her sleep. They all had growling stomachs, but none of them left.


    When Qiao Mai woke up and saw this scene, she chuckled. She wore peculiar pajamas and slippers as she walked to the kitchen. Old Mistress Wang followed her. ¡°What are you wearing?


    ¡°Pajamas.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a peculiar look.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s veryfortable.¡±


    ¡°These are what you wear when you sleep?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Can you get a couple of sets for me too? I¡¯d also like the thing you¡¯re wearing on your feet.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll get you two sets for the New Year as a gift. But not right now; I need to contact him.¡±


    Early in the morning, Qiao Mai prepared a seafood feast for everyone.


    Steamed yellow croaker, braised belt fish, pan-fried tuna, garlic steamed oysters, oil-braised king prawns, and garlic stir-fried sea crabs¡ªeach dish was served inrge bowls.


    Old Master Wang had set up the alcohol and invited everyone to dig in when the seafood was served.


    In front of each person was also a bowl of the deluxe instant noodles. This time, even Ling¡¯er had her portion.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia took turns holding Ling¡¯er while she ate. They knew they were included in the seafood meal thanks to serving Ling¡¯er.


    After breakfast, Old Master Wang took the children to their lessons.


    Old Mistress Wang went to feed her poultry, and Ling¡¯er snuggled up in Qiao Mai¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be four years old after the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Yes, what do you want to say?¡±


    ¡°I want to study and learn to read with my brothers. Is that okay?¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed. In ancient times, educated women couldn¡¯t take the imperial examination, and besides, what her brothers were learning now wasn¡¯t suitable for her. Teaching her from scratch wasn¡¯t the best solution either.


    It seems that after the New Year, she would have to find a female teacher for her daughter.


    ¡°Sweetie, at your age, it¡¯s time to y. I promise you can start studying when you¡¯re five. I¡¯ll find a female teacher to teach you properly. Is that okay?¡±


    Ling¡¯er shook her head. ¡°No. My brothers are studying, and I¡¯m just ying. It¡¯s not right.¡±


    ¡°Alright. After the New Year, I¡¯ll find a female teacher for you, okay?¡± Ling¡¯er nodded obediently.


    Qiao Mai asked, ¡°You only want to learn to read, not martial arts?¡±


    Again, Ling¡¯er shook her head. ¡°Martial arts are too tiring. I can¡¯t handle the hardship. I¡¯d rather study.¡± ¡°Okay, my dear. You can learn anything you want as long as you enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Mom, you¡¯re the best.¡±


    Ling¡¯er kissed Qiao Mai on the face. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re so fair and smell so nice..¡±

 Chapter 198 - 198: A Taste, No Matter How Expensive

    Chapter 198 - 198: A Taste, No Matter How Expensive


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°My baby is fairer and cuter!¡±


    The mother and daughter yed around for a while, and then Ling¡¯er was taken by the maids.


    Qiao Mai sent someone to call the kitchen staff. They ran quickly, afraid that the mistress would change her mind.


    ¡°Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Take the seafood in the yard and put them in the kitchen¡¯s warehouse. Leave this big fish and dried goods here. Also, call Shopkeeper Niu.¡± ¡°Mistress, won¡¯t you teach us how to cook these seafood?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Let me take a break. First, arrange these, and I¡¯lle to find you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    The kitchen staff left happily, and Shopkeeper Niu came running. He was taken aback when he saw the seafood in the yard.


    Is the shop getting new products again? But not many people in the north know about these things.


    ¡°Boss?¡±


    ¡°This is the price list for these dried goods. You will sell these in the shop from now on. You can decide how much to sell.¡±


    ¡°But, Boss, people in the north don¡¯t know these products.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give some recipes to the kitchen staffter, including how to use these dried goods. Let them prepare it. Then, you can take it to your shop and let customers try it.¡±


    ¡°What if the customers want the recipes?¡± ¡°Give them. How will they buy our seafood if they don¡¯t know how to cook it?¡± ¡°I understand now. I was being foolish.¡±


    ¡°Selling southern goods in the north is what makes them rare. Otherwise, how did our shop be so famous? You need to exin to the customers that if they haven¡¯t tried these products, they should start with a small portion, as some people may be allergic to seafood.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Qiao Mai stopped saying more and watched as Shopkeeper Niu and his staff took the goods. She needed to open up this new sales channel.


    In the future, she would visit Mengjia Vige to get more goods every once in a while to diversify the shop¡¯s inventory. She can¡¯t just sell fruits and vegetables all the time.


    She needs to sell a little of everything, especially when she has time, Qiao Mai could research a few methods for preparing seafood to make popr snacks.


    Next, she packed instant noodles in a basket and the seasonings in a jar and headed to the Liu family¡¯s shop.


    There were quite a few people in the shop now, all customers, some sitting inside and others outside.


    Liu Hai came out to greet Qiao Mai when he saw her.


    ¡°Cousin, what would you like to eat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to eat.¡±


    ¡°Then do you have something you need me for?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a charcoal stove?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Bring one out for me, and clean a small pot and put half a pot of clean water in it. ¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Liu Hai was obedient and did as he was told.


    He prepared everything. When he was about to leave, Qiao Mai spoke up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Watch me cook the noodles.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Qiao Mai cracked two eggs into the pot of water. She then added the instant noodles. When the noodles expanded, she scooped them into a bowl and stirred in the seasoning.


    ¡°Eat this.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I told you to eat it.¡±


    Liu Hai had no choice but to sit across from her and started eating. He couldn¡¯t stop after the first bite and quickly finished a bowl.


    ¡°How much can I sell this bowl for?¡±


    Liu Hai hesitated. ¡°Cold skin noodles sell for fifteen coins a bowl. This one definitely can¡¯t be any cheaper.¡±


    ¡°Two eggs and noodles for fifty coins. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°So expensive?¡±


    Liu Hai¡¯s exmation immediately attracted the customers¡¯ attention.


    ¡°What¡¯s so expensive? Tell us. As long as it¡¯s delicious, we¡¯ll try it no matter how costly.¡±


    He scratched his head and smiled awkwardly at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Cook some for them just like I did earlier.¡±


    ¡°Oh. ¡±


    He quickly followed Qiao Mai¡¯s instructions to cook a pot of noodles and then served several bowls to the customers present.


    The customers tasted the noodles and praised them. They not only finished the noodles but also drank all the soup.


    ¡°Boss, how much do you sell these noodles for?¡± Liu Hai quickly answered, ¡°It¡¯s fifty coins for two eggs and a bowl of noodles.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that expensive. Can I have a bowl?¡±


    Qiao Mai pushed the basket toward him. ¡°Start with the noodles for now. I¡¯ll talk to you about the priceter.¡±


    The customers eagerly waited for their bowls of noodles and refused to eat anything else. The noodles were chewy and smooth with an incredibly delicious taste. Even the soup was better than the meat broth.


    Liu Hai cooked bowl after bowl, charging fifty coins from the customers.


    Everyone felt that one bowl was not enough. Many wanted a second, but the basket had limited noodles.


    Qiao Mai shouted to the customers, ¡°If you want to eat more,e back tomorrow. I¡¯m just letting you get a taste today.¡±


    The customers sighed in disappointment and ordered other dishes.


    Qiao Mai had Liu Hai sit across from her. ¡°Twenty coins per portion with condiments for you, and you can sell it for fifty coins. That means a profit of thirty coins per bowl. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Do you agree?¡±


    ¡°Definitely. It¡¯s more profitable and less trouble than cold skin.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have someone deliver a hundred portions to you to test the market.¡±


    ¡°No need for a test. It¡¯ll definitely sell well. Have someone send me five hundred portions.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s lips twitched as she agreed. Liu Hai appeared simple but was quite clever.


    She wasn¡¯t after this little money; she just wanted the Liu family to earn more and modern products to gain recognition in ancient times.


    Of course, she provided the cheapest version, as the locals couldn¡¯t afford the expensive ones.


    For instance, the noodles she had for dinner and breakfast cost five taels a bowl, which she wouldn¡¯t sell here.


    However, thinking about Shopkeeper Tong, she felt she owed him a favor. Liu Hai had been well taken care of at his ce.


    Thinking about the deluxe instant noodles, she believed they were perfect for Jingtai Restaurant.


    She walked aimlessly, and before she knew it, she had a basket in her hand. As soon as Shopkeeper Tong saw her with a basket, he came out to greet her.


    ¡°Oh, Madam Qiao, what a rare guest.¡±


    ¡°I have a business proposition for you. Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m interested in anything you say.¡±


    Qiao Mai lifted the cloth covering the basket, revealing a steaming bowl of deluxe instant noodles.


    Without even looking at the noodles, the aroma alone was irresistible.


    ¡°Let me taste it, and we¡¯ll discuss the price afterward!¡±


    Unable to contain his excitement, Shopkeeper Tong immediately picked up the chopsticks and started eating the noodles, even burping a few times.


    His face turned red. ¡°Delicious, these noodles are truly delicious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll charge you two taels of silver for one piece of noodles, plus condiments and ingredients. You can sell it at any price you like. However, I suggest you sell it for five taels.¡¯


    ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re overestimating me. Five taels for a bowl of noodles? Will anyone buy it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you need something attractive here?¡±


    ¡°Five taels for a bowl of noodles? Is that really enticing?¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s your n? These customers are probably curious about such expensive noodles. They¡¯lle from far and wide to try it, and your shop will be famous. Take your time to think it over; no need to rush.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong rested his chin on his hand and thought for a while. ¡°What you said makes sense.¡±


    ¡°This is the ingredient list for ten bowls of noodles and a step-by-step guide on how to cook them. It¡¯s not an official recipe, but good things don¡¯t go unnoticed if you follow these instructions.¡±


    ¡°At five taels a bowl in your shop, once the word spreads, think about how many customers it will attract. These noodles and seasonings don¡¯t spoil. As for the shrimp and ham, you can add or remove them depending on the cost.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to maintain the quality; if someone orders it, cook it for them. However, remember that the shrimp and ham must not be kept for more than ten days. After that, they must be discarded. You can¡¯t sell them anymore. In the summer, you can focus solely on selling the noodles.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong had a bitter look on his face as he gazed at Qiao Mai. ¡°Madam Qiao, will this work?¡±


    ¡°Look at how you devoured that bowl just now. It¡¯ll definitely work.¡± He clenched his teeth. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with your n.¡±


    ¡°Later, put up a sign at the entrance that says ¡®A bowl of noodles for five taels of silver.¡¯ What you have here is deluxe noodles, and my aunt¡¯s ce serves regr noodles, which they sell for fifty coins per bowl.¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. She had entrusted the cheaper noodles to Liu Hai while keeping the more expensive ones for his establishment, thinking highly of him..</font>

 Chapter 199 - 199: What’s the Point of Coming Here?

    Chapter 199 - 199: What¡¯s the Point of Coming Here?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai left him ten sets of deluxe noodles, leaving Shopkeeper Tong in bewilderment. Coincidentally, someone overheard their conversation as they exited the private room and immediately took an interest.


    Their curiosity got the better of them. ¡°Shopkeeper, are the noodles she just mentioned really that delicious?¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong curled his lips. ¡°I find them tasty, but they are rather expensive. I wouldn¡¯t rmend you try them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just five taels of silver for a bowl. I¡¯d like to give it a try. Remember to make it just the way she instructed.¡±


    This took Shopkeeper Tong by surprise as he realized someone was genuinely interested in this expensive meal.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Are you sure you want to try it?¡±


    ¡°Quickly prepare it. Let me see what makes these five-tael noodles so delicious. ¡±


    Shopkeeper Tong, who initially wanted to cry but had no tears, quickly picked up the basket and headed to the kitchen. Five taels of silver was considerable; sometimes, it amounts to an entire table of dishes.


    How it went on Shopkeeper Tong¡¯s side was beyond Qiao Mai¡¯s control. She had done her part by helping him. Now, it was up to him to seize this opportunity.


    Upon returning home, she saw several tables pushed together with a massive piece of swordfish ced on top. She immediately pulled out a dagger and began her work.


    She expertly sliced the fish into pieces, preserving the best parts while storing the rest in her space¡¯s refrigerator.


    In the morning, she pan-fried some fish, and everyone praised its taste. She wondered if they¡¯d be willing to try it raw.


    She sliced the fish into thin pieces, arranged them neatly on a te, and prepared a mustard-based sauce.


    She spent the morning busy with preparations. Now, it was time for everyone to arrive.


    As soon as she thought of it, they arrived promptly.


    Looking at the tes of glistening raw fish, they raised their eyebrows.


    ¡°Are you trying to make us eat raw fish?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°Give it a try. If you can ept it, eat it. If not, enjoy the meals prepared by our kitchen staff. This is the most ssic way to enjoy this fish. It¡¯s the only way to savor its true essence.¡±


    She picked up a slice, dipped it in the sauce, and took a bite. She closed her eyes momentarily, making a satisfied expression.


    This encouraged a few others to try as well.


    ¡°Mmm, it tastes pretty good. I can ept it.¡±


    ¡°This fish cost me two hundred taels of silver. The captain was generous; I said two hundred, and they insisted one hundred was enough.¡±


    ¡°This fish is so expensive?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. This fishes from the deep sea and is not easy to catch. Even one thousand or ten thousand taels would be worth it.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I want to taste it too.¡±


    One by one, they picked up their chopsticks and tried a piece. Some furrowed their brows, while others found it enjoyable. People had varying tastes. Some epted it, while others did not.


    ¡°I still prefer it grilled.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll grill some for you next time. Personally, I like it this way. It¡¯s not fishy, and the sauce makes it even more delicious.¡±


    They sat down and devoured the swordfish. Only after finishing it did they eat the dishes prepared by the kitchen staff.


    Today, they had two meals. They were all so full that they skipped dinner.


    Having addressed the water situation, Qiao Mai felt a great weight lift off her shoulders. If the water source ran dry, she could always be a water carrier for the town.


    She can¡¯t let the people suffer. She hadn¡¯t experienced a drought before, but she had heard stories.


    Every time there was a fire in the south, many people died, and in the case of droughts in the north, people fleeing famine also suffered losses. She hoped they would all live well and prosper.


    What other purpose did she have foring here? What was the significance of having an extraordinary space like this?


    Besides her daily cultivation, she hardly did anything else.


    On the other hand, Liu Hai and Shopkeeper Tong were experiencing a surge in business due to the instant noodles.


    The noodles were incredibly delicious. Shopkeeper Tong supplied ten sets daily, while Liu Hai provided a hundred servings.


    No matter how much they requested, Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t increase the quantity. Customers eagerly flocked to their stores to taste the exclusive noodles.


    When the stock runs out, some customers would order something else. The limited avability boosted their businesses significantly.


    One day, while meditating and cultivating within her space, a servant came in and reported.


    ¡°Mistress, Miss Lu Ruxin from the Lu family is here, requesting an audience.¡± Without opening her eyes, Qiao Mai responded with a single sentence.


    ¡°Tell her to leave!¡±


    After the servant left, Lu Ruxin was unceremoniously sent out of Lucky Garden. When she arrived, shecked confidence, but now she felt like her pride had been shattered.


    She hade to discuss the cold noodles situation with Qiao Mai.


    Ruxin had even gone to the Liu family¡¯s cold skin shop to taste their noodles and found that they were indeed superior to her own. She began to wonder if Qiao Mai was holding back on her.


    Unable to contain her curiosity, she came to the house, but the oue was unexpected.


    Ruxin was not happy about the way things had turned out. When she went to the Liu family¡¯s shop, she called Liu Hai over. Knowing the rtionship between Liu Ye and the girl, Liu Hai acted coldly.


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Are you nning to open more branches of your shop?¡±


    ¡°No, only this one.¡±


    This answer eased Ruxin¡¯s mind. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t open any more branches, as it would be consideredpetition for me. Do you understand?¡±


    Liu Hai was not pleased. ¡°My cousin gave you her recipe as a gift, so don¡¯t be ungrateful. It¡¯s my decision whether or not I open another branch. There are several restaurants in the town; why do you think you deserve special treatment? As far as I know, your noodle shop has apetitor across the street in this town. They might not be as good as you, but their business is doing well. Why don¡¯t you say anything to them?¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re only good at taking advantage of those who treat you well. Don¡¯te to my shop again. It¡¯s not weing you, you ingrate!¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Liu Hai chased her away, leaving Ruxin with teary eyes and a feeling of indignation as if the whole world owed her something.


    When Lu Sanniang found out, she did not look for Qiao Mai orfort her daughter.


    Upon hearing about it, Ruyi was livid. ¡°It¡¯s her fault. I can¡¯t believe my sister would turn into this. She was given a recipe without charge, yet she¡¯s causing so many problems. She¡¯s the only one who gets to open a branch; even our master¡¯s rtives can¡¯t do so. It¡¯s outrageous.¡±


    Qin Yide ced the book in his hand on the table. ¡°Master is one of the rare good people in this world. Whenever someone treats her even slightly better, she reciprocates tenfold without keeping track of gains and losses. Despite this, people are still dissatisfied.¡±


    ¡°Whenever I see my sister, I get angry. If it were me, I would have used a stick to chase her out a long time ago. She even dared to go to our master, the ungrateful wretch.¡±


    Qin Yide didn¡¯t want to meddle in the matters of the Lu family, but he also found Lu Ruxin¡¯s behavior to be quite excessive.


    Strangely, the news of this incident spread throughout the town. Lu Ruxin had be a pariah, receiving scorn and criticism from everyone.


    Unable to bear the hostile atmosphere in Tianshui Town, Lu Ruxin used her considerable wealth to purchase a house in the capital. With her maids and dowry in tow, she left without uttering a word.


    When Lu Sanniang realized and tried to chase after her, Lu Ruxin gazed at her with resentment.


    ¡°If everyone despises me so much, I might as well leave. Why do you bother searching for me?¡±


    ¡°You are a vulnerable youngdy without anyone to support you. You will be at a disadvantage outside.¡±


    ¡°Mother, aren¡¯t you relying on Mayor Qian? I can have my own support; I don¡¯t need to fixate on you.¡±


    ¡°Fine then.¡±


    Lu Sanniang¡¯s temperament was equally fiery. ¡°Since you are so resolute in your decision, I hope you don¡¯t meet a dead end.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, even if I end up in a coffin, I don¡¯t need your concern.¡±


    Their rtionship became awkward after this incident. They each turned and walked away stubbornly.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t bothered by the situation. Only Ruyi came to visit her frequently. It seemed that because of Ruxin¡¯s behavior, Lu Sanniang had distanced herself from Qiao Mai, as she had rarely dropped by since October. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind the peace. She began preparing New Year¡¯s gifts for everyone..</font>

 Chapter 200 - 200: Can’t Get Happy

    Chapter 200 - 200: Can¡¯t Get Happy


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    This year, she didn¡¯t send fruits and vegetables to others. She prepared a set of pajamas for Old Mistress Wang, a knitted scarf, and a pair of gloves, all bright and adorned with flowers.


    For Yuan Jiaqi and Old Master Wang, she also prepared simr gifts in darker colors.


    For the boys and girls, she prepared cute animal-themed items with vibrant colors.


    As for Ruyi, she received a high-end custom-made hairpin that was exceptionally beautiful and sparkling.


    Mayor Qian received a basket of seafood and dried goods like seaweed.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    She didn¡¯t gift sausages and other items in the shop because they were already avable.


    As for the Lu family, she decided to prepare fruits, vegetables, sausages, and preserved meat.


    For Magistrate Wang, she also sent seafood products to help Shopkeeper Niu avoid problems selling them in the shop.


    Despite living in the north, there were quite a few people from the south who appreciated seafood as it was delicious and had a unique taste that appealed to northerners as well.


    People came to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery to buy seafood, but it didn¡¯t sell as quickly as others.


    Traditionally, people would send New Year¡¯s gifts to each other around the


    20th.


    This year, the Wang family also sent a gift. They didn¡¯t send any food but a servant with a hefty sum of 100,000 taels in silver.


    They mentioned giving her a dividend, and they actually handed it over. With a 100,000-tael gift, it was a substantial 20% of the Wang family¡¯s annual ie.


    Mayor Qian sent various pastries from his family¡¯s pastry shop, adding to the assortment of gifts.


    Ruyi, the Qin family, and Shopkeeper Tong sent their New Year¡¯s gifts early. However, Lu Sanniang¡¯s side remained silent.


    Qiao Mai sighed and prepared the return gifts, including one for the Lu family.


    She didn¡¯t intend to change her behavior because Lu Sanniang¡¯s daughter acted out. She was still Qiao Mai, and as long as there was no real falling out, she would continue on her path.


    After Old Mistress Wang received the gifts, she was thrilled. She tried on the pajamas at night and found themfortable and warm. She even put on the scarf and gloves and took a stroll outside despite the maids¡¯ advice.


    Neither she nor Old Master Wang felt the slightest chill.


    ¡°Are these overseas items this good?¡±


    ¡°Yes, look at what other people have; why are these so exceptional?¡±


    Old Master Wang¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. He thought these items might be treasures from the heavens.


    Both elders cherished their gifts, holding the pajamas and scarf, with smiles from ear to ear.


    The children happily changed into their pajamas in the evening and yed around the house.


    As for Ruyi, when she received the hairpin, she wore it in her hair, radiating happiness. She knew the preciousness of this essory.


    Rumor had it that a single piece could cost thousands or even tens of thousands of taels, making it a sought-after essory among youngdies and noblewomen in the capital. It was something hard toe by.


    Sometimes, she¡¯d see Linger and Qiao Mai wear simr items in their hair and feel envious. Now that she had one of her own, she couldn¡¯t help but be overjoyed.


    In summary, Qiao Mai¡¯s gifts brought joy to every household except Lu Sanniang.


    She felt caught in the middle, as her eldest daughter¡¯s stubbornness had hurt Qiao Mai¡¯s feelings. She didn¡¯t feel right epting the New Year¡¯s gift from the Qiao family and receiving things for free.


    It wasn¡¯t until Qiao Mai sent her a gift that she hurriedly prepared something to send in return, feeling embarrassed and as though she¡¯d lost face.


    This year, Old Master and Mistress Wang had no ns to return to the capital but intended to celebrate the New Year at the Qiao residence.


    This decision led Wang Zongsheng to rush with his wife and children to bring the elders home. Rtives and friends came to visit their home but found nobody there. It was a strange situation.


    In the end, the Wang family had no choice but to forcibly bring the old couple back.


    Before leaving, Qiao Mai handed a delicate box to Madam Wang and suggested she open itter.


    She also brought a bottle of herbal medicine for Zihan.


    Meeting him again, it felt like he had improved even more since theirst meeting. He was not only well-behaved but had more lively and expressive eyes.


    Every time Madam Wang met Qiao Mai, she couldn¡¯t help but express her gratitude and appreciation.


    With the old couple gone and their maids, the house became much quieter.


    The weather outside was pleasant. Winter hade and gone, but after the first light snowfall, there hadn¡¯t been any more snow.


    This anomaly concerned everyone, not just Qiao Mai.


    The unknown disaster that loomed, be it a flood or drought, weighed heavily on their minds.


    Despite this, the New Year has to be celebrated. The festive spirit was subdued, but the town¡¯s wealthy households and many people secretly began stockpiling food.


    Some people dug pits in their yards and filled them with water, anticipating potential water shortages.


    The bright sunshine graced the Qiao family¡¯s children with free time, as they were no longer required to attend school. They would ride their horses around the house, and Ling¡¯er joined them in their games, delighting in the carefree moments.


    Their joyfulughter could be heard from outside.


    Qiao Mai paid little attention to their mischief, allowing them to enjoy their ytime.


    She asionally visited the vegetable garden at the back of the house, helping the maids with harvesting. Since Old Mistress Wang had returned to the capital, she also assisted in feeding the domestic animals.


    The eggs from the chickens and quails during the winter sold well, and the shop could barely keep them in stock.


    Despite the poor harvest, the business was thriving.


    This New Year was no different from previous years. However, the unexpectedly warm weather made Qiao Mai allow her children to ride horses outside.


    The townspeople rarely saw the children from the Qiao family. When they appeared, they instantly became the center of attention.


    The boys were handsome and charming, while the girl was as delicate as fine jade. Their clothing might not have been the finest, but they still looked respectable.


    In the small town, numerous vendors looked to make extra money during the New Year.


    As the children rode their horses past these vendors, the sellers noticed them and raised their voices.


    The children had money in their pockets and bought whatever they liked.


    What warmed Qiao Mai¡¯s heart was that her children had good hearts. When they saw kids from less fortunate families, they would share their purchases.


    If they encountered beggars, they would give them a few coins.


    Every New Year, Qiao Mai set up food stalls to help those in need.


    The Qiao family had a reputation for kindness, known throughout the region.


    The town didn¡¯t return to normal until the fifteenth day of the New Year. The weather remained the same, which left people with mixed feelings.


    Fortunately, the flooding from the previous year had seeped into the ground, so the drought wasn¡¯t evident for the time being. The surrounding rivers hadn¡¯t dried up either.


    People continued with their daily routines. With Qiao Mai¡¯s support, the sixty acres ofnd behind her property began to see activity from tenant farmers.


    With the support of the kind-hearted Qiao family, they had a good yearst year.


    Havingnd adjacent to a river made it convenient for irrigation. Three families worked thend diligently.


    With the approach of spring, Qiao Mai started pickling eggs and quail eggs daily, as well as preparing some pickled vegetables.


    Her preparations weren¡¯t just for her family but also for potential disaster relief.


    When ites to grains, both empty courtyards are filled with white rice and various crops.


    Preparation was the key to ensuring everyone¡¯s well-being in case of unexpected circumstances.


    March felt more like April this year. By noon, it was warm enough to make people sweat. Qiao Mai wondered if this weather was normal.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang returned at the end of February due to visiting rtives in the capital.


    Their return brought liveliness to the house. They took the children for a pic, giving them more opportunities to be seen by the townspeople.


    The Yuan and Qiao families had to change their usual gathering ce after being driven away by Shopkeeper Niu.


    They moved to the opposite side and even brought a stool. They would sit there all day as if monitoring the Qiao family.


    When they saw Ling¡¯er, their mouths hung open. The Qiao family felt like they had seen Tian Sanzhuang.


    They were convinced that this was definitely Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s daughter, his flesh and blood..</font>

 Chapter 201 - 201: You Bullies!

    Chapter 201 - 201: You Bullies!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    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 timees, 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¡­<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    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 heing back soon?¡±


    ¡°Next year. This child hasn¡¯t sent a letter, so he should be safe.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Let hime 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 asionally 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 vigers 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 havee 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 rtion to your family at all. My cousin doesn¡¯t wee you. If you dare toe 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 toe 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¡¯dugh 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 sovishly. They felt she was wasting good resources.


    Their gazes were in and intrusive. Qiao Mai¡¯s stern re 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 nces 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 mes.


    These despicable people. If they dare to plot against Qiao Mai again, don¡¯t me 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 apany and protect them.


    Ruyi gave five hundred taels of silver to her husband, while Qiao Mai provided a thousand taels for Yuan Jiaqi.


    If theycked anything, they could buy it there. Their amodation 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, amodating her in her courtyard.


    The main reason was Ruyi¡¯s three-month pregnancy, although her petite size didn¡¯t reveal any visible signs..</font>

 Chapter 202 - 202: I’ll Cover for You

    Chapter 202: I¡¯ll Cover for You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qin Yide was worried. Ruyi didn¡¯t want to return to her family or her inws. Even though she had maids and servants, Qin Yide was still concerned about her living alone.


    So, Qiao Mai invited her to stay in her courtyard, making everyone feel more at ease.


    Ruyi spent her days in the courtyard, enjoying the sunshine, doing embroidery, taking walks, tending to the vegetable garden, checking on the poultry, and sometimes visiting the yground to watch the children y.


    Compared to her mother¡¯s and inws¡¯ homes, living in Qiao Mai¡¯s ce was morefortable, and she had never faced any grievances in terms of food.


    There was a variety of delicious and nutritious food served at every meal.


    She hadn¡¯t shared her pregnancy with Lu Sanniang or her inws.


    She wanted to wait until ater stage of the pregnancy. She felt that living in Lucky Garden allowed her to maintain her peace and privacy without being disturbed by visitors.


    When Qin Yide returned, her pregnancy would be more stable, and it would be easier for her mother and mother-inw to visit her.


    On the tform, Qiao Mai picked ten sets of cute baby clothes and bought small nkets and baby bedding, all made from pure cotton with adorable patterns.


    She also purchased several packs of sanitary napkins, tissues, and pads, all in preparation for Ruyi¡¯s childbirth.


    She taught Ruyi how to use them, and Ruyi was delighted with these new and practical items.


    Particrly the sanitary napkins, tissues, and pads, which Ruyi had never seen before and found much more convenient than her previous options.


    This was also considered her gift as a teacher to her disciples and children.


    Speaking of her experiences, Qiao Mai suddenly remembered that she hadn¡¯t had her period since arriving here.


    Her health was fine, and her meridians were open, so why hadn¡¯t it urred?


    The host never had a period although she had given birth to Ling¡¯er. It was a peculiar matter.


    However, as long as her health was fine, she didn¡¯t mind the absence of her period. Qiao Mai had no intention of having more children; she was content with her current ones.


    Qiao Mai had turned twenty. In the modern world, she was still a young girl.


    Yuan Jiaqi was three years older, reaching twenty-four after the New Year.


    Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er, who hade to her at seven, were now eleven. They had grown to 1.6 meters each, thanks to good food and care provided by Qiaomai.


    Chuan¡¯er, eight years old, had reached 1.3 meters. Both Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er were premature babies.


    Ling¡¯er was now five years old, having just celebrated her fourth birthday.


    When these children grew up in a few years, Lucky Garden would likely attract matchmakers. Thinking about bing a mother-inw in her twenties, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    But when she thought about the Tian family, her face clouded over.


    Upon returning to the courtyard, she called for Yue Hong and Yue Xia.


    ¡°In the future, when Ling¡¯er goes out, you must protect her. If you encounter anyone from the Tian family, show your strength, understand?¡± ¡°The Tian family? You mean those people who argued with you today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they think Ling¡¯er is their granddaughter and want to take her.¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia felt displeased hearing this. They had raised Ling¡¯er, and besides their mistress, no one else had the right to do this. The two stood tall and Droud.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mistress. We¡¯ll protect Little Miss with our lives. If the Tian family approaches, we¡¯ll show our tiger-like strength.¡¯


    ¡°Need me to teach you how to handle it?¡±


    ¡°We know. We¡¯ll be like vige shrews. If she dares to approach, one of us will protect Ling¡¯er while the other fights, scratching her face and pulling her hair.


    If we can¡¯t beat her, we¡¯ll call for backup.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°That¡¯s right. As long as you don¡¯t kill them, I¡¯ll cover for you if something happens. If needed, I¡¯ll have the guards intervene.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mistress. We¡¯ll take good care of Little Miss.¡±


    In the blink of an eye, it was mid-April. Yuan Jiaqi and Qin Yide had been away for a month. Ruyi was still discussing things with Qiao Mai in the courtyard when footsteps approached the entrance.


    They turned to see Yuan Jiaqi and Qin Yide walking in with cheerful expressions.


    They simultaneously called out, ¡°Wife!¡±


    Qiao Mai and Ruyi got up. ¡°From your looks, you¡¯ve probably passed the imperial examination, right?¡±


    ¡°Haha, Mr. Yuan ranked first again, and it¡¯s nationwide. I was far behind,ing in thirty-sixth.¡±


    ¡°Good. Yide, you haven¡¯t gone home yet, have you?¡±


    ¡°No, I came here to pick up Ruyi first.¡±


    ¡°Well, quickly take Ruyi home to share the good news.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Once the young couple left, Yuan Jiaqi looked at Qiao Mai affectionately and said, ¡°Wife, I passed again!¡±


    ¡°Good job. Keep striving. My goal is to have you achieve the Tribute Schr.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll work hard. And when I find the time, I¡¯ll transfer thend into my name.


    That way, we won¡¯t have to pay taxes to the government.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you thend deed. You can go to the county office to register it.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    Feeling that he had finally aplished something, Yuan Jiaqi was in high spirits. He even wanted to jump with joy.


    He didn¡¯t mind the embarrassment, taking Qiao Mai¡¯s hand. ¡°Shall we celebrate with Old Master Wang?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at his hand and nodded. ¡°Sure.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang had already received the report from their servants about their son-inw¡¯s return and were waiting in the courtyard.


    When the couple entered, Yuan Jiaqi hurried over and knelt before Old Master Wang.


    ¡°Jiaqi is honored to have fulfilled your orders and secured the top spot. Here is the official document from the government for your inspection.¡±


    Old Master Wang happily nodded, took the official document, and carefully examined it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too proud. Strive for the next year; let¡¯s aim to bring home the top schr position.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Teacher!¡±


    ¡°Haha. How did that young man from the Qin family do?¡±


    ¡°He did well and ranked thirty-sixth. We studied together and learned a lot from each other.¡¯


    ¡°Indeed, everyone has a different perspective on things and unique insights. There are no absolute rights or wrongs. Rather, you should extract what is useful for you.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    ¡°Girl, your husband ranked first again. Do you want to celebrate?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s have a simple family gathering. This year¡¯s crop harvest might not be great due to the drought. By saving money on a grand celebration, we can help those in need. That way, we¡¯ll be umting merit for our family.¡±


    ¡°Good, well said! Let¡¯s do as you wish!¡±


    When the Qin family heard that Qin Yide had passed, they were delighted and wanted to celebrate with drums and gongs.


    However, once they heard that Yuan Jiaqi was not celebrating ranking first, they dropped the idea.


    However, the sess of both men generated various reactions among the townsfolk.


    The Yuan family¡¯s rtives were happy and upset at the same time. Even though Yuan Jiaqi might not recognize them, they had a sessful rtive who could bring honor to the family.


    The Qiao family had mixed feelings upon hearing the news. They regretted their previous attitude and wished they had been kinder to their daughter earlier.


    The Tian family was infuriated upon hearing the news. They couldn¡¯t understand why someone like Qiao, whom they considered beneath them, could umte wealth and even be the wife of a sessful candidate in the imperial examinations. In their eyes, she should have spent her entire life serving them without aspirations.


    ¡°Why does it have to be this way? It¡¯s so unfair,¡± They thought. Why should someone they consider lowly have a life like this? Why her?


    The more Old Tian thought about it, the angrier he became, and he ended up spitting up blood. He was rushed to the doctor by his sons.


    Mr. Lin¡¯s health took a turn for the worse when he heard the news. He nearly choked on his breath.


    Despite what others might think, Qiao Mai had been living a low-key life and continuing her usual routine.


    After Qin Yide returned, he rested for two days and reopened the school.


    As time passed, it entered May. Although there hadn¡¯t been any rain, the drought wasn¡¯t too severe. The wheat harvest was decent.


    But as the weather grew hotter, and the sun scorched the earth, evaporation caused water sources to dry up. The drought had only just begun to reveal its true impact..

 Chapter 203 - 203: Bright Future With You

    Chapter 203: Bright Future With You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Themoners, while toiling the soil, were troubled. Theymented theck of rain and the exhausting effort required to water their crops and feared the impending hardship.


    They gazed up at the sky, which remained a clear, cloudless blue, devoid of even a wisp of cloud.


    In her moments of leisure, Qiao Mai stood in her courtyard with her hands behind her back, looking up at the heavens.


    The river still contained water, and the drought had not yet reached a critical level. They would endure these hardships for now, as the future trials might be more severe.


    In the fields, people worked diligently to ensure their crops received enough water. This year, they had nted only sweet potatoes.


    It was a crop that required less maintenance and provided sufficient sustenance.


    asionally, the sky rumbled with distant thunder, yet it wasn¡¯t at Tianshui Town. There were brief moments when dark clouds appeared on the horizon, only to be swept away by the wind, leaving the sky dry.


    The wells in Lucky Garden, which drew water from deep underground, continued to supply the household without any interruptions.


    However, other viges faced hardships as the water levels in their wells decreased due to the ongoing drought, having only enough to drink.


    The water level in the river was also diminishing due to the scorching heat, evaporating quickly and nearly revealing the riverbed.


    The situation was growing dire, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before Tianshui Town faced a severe water shortage. In response, Qiao Mai made preparations at home and embarked on a solo journey to the group of mountains in the northwest.


    She wanted to search for a water source and explore the possibility of diverting water from the mountains.


    As she reached the foot, she observed the surrounding trees and sighed. The locals had a habit of deforestation, and the once-abundant forest had been reduced to mere tree stumps.


    She took out a wooden stick from her space to clear a path, all the while observing the growth of the trees along the way to assess the condition of the vegetation and use it as an indicator to locate the water source.


    The better the growth of trees and underbrush, the closer she was to the water source.


    Unconsciously, she had ventured deep into the mountains.


    When she reached the spot where she had disposed of the bodies thest time, only tattered clothes and bones remained.


    She kicked a skull away and continued walking forward.


    Along the way, she encountered various wild mushrooms, such as ck wood ears and silver ears. She tossed them into her space along with the soil and rotting wood.


    She would let Greeny handle them; it being the guardian of her space, knowing how to cultivate these nts.


    As she delved deeper into the forest, the trees grew thicker and more imposing, blocking the sun. She could feel the moisture in the air, and her keen hearing indicated that the water source was not far off, as the sound of flowing water reverberated in her ears.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to harm the creatures in the forest, so she emanated an aura of dominance that caused them to retreat. Small, sensitive animals remained cautious, keeping their distance from her.


    In her space, Greeny secretly captured some of the forest¡¯s inhabitants. They are much needed to maintain the ecosystem¡¯s bnce within her space.


    When Qiao Mai arrived at a small spring, her expression turned somewhat grim.


    This appeared to be the only water source for the forest¡¯s wildlife. The water trickled down from a rock, forming a small stream.


    If she were to divert the water from here, what would the local wildlife drink? She sat by the creek and took a few sips from her water sk, closed it, and was about to leave.


    To her surprise, she found herself surrounded by animals ¨C birds in the trees, squirrels, and even a few wild beasts ¨C all observing her from a distance.


    She waved at them. ¡°You can all disperse now. Just go on living your life here. I¡¯m only here to take a look. I won¡¯t harm any of you.¡±


    As she turned to leave, the animals followed her from behind. She stopped and turned to look at them, and they stopped. It was quite a curious sight.


    In the sky, various birds circled above her as if she were the queen of the birds.


    ¡°Greeny, what do you think they want?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but they probably think that following you might give them a bright future.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then bring them into the space. But make sure to take care of the vegetable garden and orchard.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. They could never eat all of it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then go ahead and take them in.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind, and she wondered if Greeny had used some of its tricks.


    Nevertheless, even if it had, she had no intention of exposing it because she knew that Greeny always acted in the best interests of the space.


    Greeny opened up a gap in the space and beckoned. All the small animals surrounding Qiao Mai were drawn into it.


    With the animals safely inside the space, she was finally at peace. As she was about to leave, she suddenly felt a tug on her pants.


    Qiao Mai looked down and chuckled, then reached down to pick up what was tugging at her.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a small wildcat.¡¯


    She examined the creature. It looked like a cat, but the fact that it had survived in the deep wilderness suggested it might be a young member ofrger cat species.


    Qiao Mai threw the little wildcat into the space and instructed, ¡°Greeny, take good care of it. Raise it in my garden.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    When she returned home, she noticed that the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and Liu Cold Skin Noodles were still brightly lit.


    The townspeople gathered there to eat, drink, and chat, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of bustling urban night markets.


    Qiao Mai approached Liu¡¯s cold skin stall, where Liu Hai greeted her warmly.


    ¡°Cousin, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Yes, please bring me a bowl of cold noodles.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Please wait.


    While Liu Hai prepared her noodles, the staff presented her with arge ss of ice-cold fruit juice.


    The townspeople, recognizing her, asked, ¡°Madam Qiao, where did you go?¡±


    ¡°I went to the mountains in the northwest to explore.¡±


    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that a dangerous ce?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I have martial skills. As long as I¡¯m careful, there¡¯s no reason to worry.¡±


    ¡°Did you go hunting?¡±


    ¡°No, I was looking for a water source.¡±


    Hearing her words, the townspeople¡¯s expressions shifted, and their meals suddenly lost appeal. Some of them felt awkward.


    ¡°If you need our help, just say it. We don¡¯t know much about hunting or digging ditches, but we¡¯re willing to assist.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; when the timees, I won¡¯t hesitate to get your help.¡±


    With their worries somewhat alleviated, the atmosphere lightened. As Qiao Mai enjoyed her cold noodles, she sensed someone sitting across her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, hehe!¡±


    ¡°Family Head Yuan, I see you¡¯ve returned. It¡¯s quite an experience to repeatedly encounter defeat and hardship, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m almost embarrassed for you. You said you¡¯d never set foot in my home again.¡±


    ¡°I was angry back then, but it passed. I had no choice; Jiaqi is from the Yuan family and seeded in the imperial examination. He took the Yuan family name. I couldn¡¯t watch our Yuan family gain nothing.¡±


    ¡°Why not take the matter to court, then?¡±


    ¡°Your suggestion is amusing. We were in the wrong to begin with, so we couldn¡¯t possibly win in court. If possible, I would have pursued that avenue long ago.¡±


    Qiao Mai furrowed her brow as she ate her cold noodles, taking a sip of juice to cool the spiciness. Meanwhile, Chief Yuan was nervously clearing his throat beside her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any other asks. As long as he acknowledges his roots, I¡¯m fine with it.¡±


    ¡°But he is the son-inw of my Qiao family. When he passes away, he¡¯ll be memorialized as part of the Qiao-Yuan family, and we will bury him in our ancestral tomb.¡±


    ¡°As long as he acknowledges us.¡±


    Qiao Mai let out a coldugh. Chief Yuan no longer disyed the arrogance he had before.


    He acted as if Jiaqi couldn¡¯t achieve much without their family. When the Yuan family first settled here, they were a small household with a few members. As they¡¯ve grown and gained influence, they¡¯ve be quite presumptuous.


    Even if they¡¯re confident, they¡¯re just a farmer. They¡¯re far behind those who have wealth and power.


    When Yuan Jiaqi was still at home, they didn¡¯t help him. Now that he had seeded, they came crawling to her. How annoying!


    ¡°I won¡¯t interfere in this matter. I¡¯ve said it before, as long as he wants to, I won¡¯t stop him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good enough.¡±


    Chief Yuan stood up and gave her a slight bow before happily leaving.


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, observing his demeanor. Could it be that Yuan Jiaqi had relented? If that were the case, she couldn¡¯t help but look down on him.


    After eating and drinking her fill, Qiao Mai returned home, changed into fresh clothes, and sat in the courtyard. She fanned herself while rxing. Yuan Jiaqi arrived and brought a stool, sitting across from her.


    ¡°Chief Yuan came to see you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I happened to be at the Liu family¡¯s cold noodles shop.¡±


    ¡°He also came to see me, but I turned him down.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your business to handle. I don¡¯t want to get involved in your affairs with the Yuan family.¡±


    ¡°Today, when you weren¡¯t home, he came with a group of his family members.


    They even kneeled in front of me, begging me to return..¡±

 Chapter 204 - 204: Unwilling to Leave the (Mao Family

    Chapter 204 - 204: Unwilling to Leave the (Mao Family


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Have you thought it through? Once you go back, it¡¯ll be even harder to leave. The Yuan family hasn¡¯t helped you, and they¡¯ll only hold you back. I won¡¯t let the Yuan family interfere in our affairs. When the dayes for you to decide to return, that will be the day you leave my home.¡±


    ¡°Is that necessary?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s my principle. I don¡¯t like your parents or the Yuan family, and I don¡¯t want to get involved with them.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go back.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi seemed determined. If Qiao Mai changed her stance, he might have had a moment of hesitation.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    However, when he had to choose between Qiao Mai and his family, he chose Qiao Mai.


    He hade to hear Qiao Mai¡¯s thoughts. Since she didn¡¯t want him to, he wouldn¡¯t recognize the Yuan family.


    The next day, Yuan Jiaqi refused the Yuan family head.


    The family head was furious and asked, ¡°Why? We¡¯ve bowed to you. Why won¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to leave the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°Did Madam Qiao say something to you?¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like the Yuan family and doesn¡¯t want to host any members of the


    Yuan family in the future. If I return, I can¡¯te to the Qiao family again.¡± ¡°Thene back to our vige. Our family can support your education.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already passed the imperial examination. I don¡¯t need your support.¡± ¡°Then what should we do? We¡¯ll follow your lead as long as youe back.¡±


    ¡°No, I will never leave the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll talk to her.¡±


    The Yuan family head wanted to argue with Qiao Mai, but Yuan Jiaqi stopped him.


    ¡°Fine, you¡¯ll need to repay everything I¡¯ve consumed in her house over these years. Then I will follow you.¡±


    ¡°How much is that?¡±


    ¡°More than ten thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The Yuan family head staggered backward. Even a thousand taels were something they couldn¡¯t afford.


    ¡°I am the result of my wife¡¯s nurturing. She has spent countless silver on me to reach where I am now. If I go back just because you wanted me to, it would make her ufortable, and I wouldn¡¯t want to be an ingrate. You can leave now. If there are any family matters in the future, I¡¯ll consider helping out.¡±


    ¡°You said it¡¯s a deal. How can you change your mind?¡±


    ¡°How did I change my mind? I said as long as my wife agrees. But with her decision, how could I agree?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    The Yuan family head left. Before he left, he turned to Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Remember what you said ¨C that you would help as appropriate?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget it.¡±


    They finally managed to send him away. Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath. Qiao Mai, watching from a distance, shook her head. He was still not resolute enough and indecisive.


    While she was lost in thought, the door of Lucky Garden was knocked again.


    Since Yuan Jiaqi had passed the imperial examination, the door had never been quiet. There were always peopleing to knock.


    Qiao Mai stood in an inconspicuous ce and watched. The maid was also somewhat impatient as she opened the door.


    When she saw the visitors, she frowned. It turned out to be from Qingzhu Vige, the Jiang family. What were they doing here? What did they have to do with Yuan Jiaqi?


    Were they here to ask for a marriage? Or did they also want the twin brothers back?


    Thinking about it, Qiao Mai got angry. What kind of people were they?


    When they were poor, they took over someone¡¯s house and sold their children. Now, they came to fawn on her when they saw an opportunity.


    Qiao Mai kept a straight face and blocked them at the gate, not allowing them to enter.


    ¡°If you have something to say, say it. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, we are here today not by choice but because it¡¯s the wish of our Jiang family head.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the people behind them. ¡°Let me make this clear. If you want to take away your children, you can. But first, repay the money I spent on them for these four years. Moreover, it depends on the children¡¯s willingness.


    If they refuse, you won¡¯t be able to take them away even if you have money. We can go to court. I will stand my ground!¡±


    At that moment, the Jiang family head walked out from behind and bowed to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°I am the head of the Jiang family. I only found out about the children and that they were sold by their uncles and aunts after it happened. I wanted to speak on behalf of the children, but I heard they preferred to stay with you. So, I abandoned that idea. The Jiang family has already punished the children¡¯s grandfather and uncles, and we have kept the properties andnd deeds for them. As the head. I still h0De the children return to their roots.¡±


    ¡°Why did you wait for four years toe? Why didn¡¯t you take them back earlier?¡±


    ¡°Mainly because the children were too young. They wouldn¡¯t be able to work.¡± ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ve been using me to raise them for these four years?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it that way.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the family head. If you were sincere about your children, you should have taken them home earlier. Why did you choose to have them stay in my house for four years?¡±


    The Jiang family head was left speechless by Qiao Mai¡¯s words. She snorted.


    ¡°The two children spent more than three thousand taels each over four years. They spent two hundred taels each on clothing, more than ten taels per month for food, and another hundred taels for writing materials.¡±


    The Jiang family head turned green in the face. ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re such a kind and virtuous person. How can you calcte it this way?¡±


    ¡°Enough! I am kind and virtuous, but I¡¯m not a fool. The money I had didn¡¯t just fall from the sky. I do good deeds to help the poor, not scheming people like you.¡±


    ¡°You¡­!¡±


    ¡°Without three thousand taels of silver, keep dreaming of taking them back!


    Let me tell you, the more you wait, the more silver it¡¯ll take!¡±


    After saying this, Qiao Mai turned and left. The maid red at them fiercely, promptly shutting the door and locking it. She cursed under her breath.


    ¡°Shameless and heartless scoundrels!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi remained in the living room, watching the whole scene. His wife was seemingly haggling over money, but in reality, she was using it as an excuse to make it difficult for them to take the two children back.


    It had been four years, and they had developed strong bonds with these kids. Furthermore, going back to their original family posed uncertainties, including whether they would be sent to school or treated well. Regardless of how good they might seem, it couldn¡¯tpare to their life in the Qiao household.


    Qiao Mai left and went to find the twin brothers.


    They were in ss at the moment. When Qiao Mai came in, Old Master Wang had them stop reading.


    Qiao Mai approached the brothers and said, ¡°The Jiang family from Qingzhu Vige is here. They want to take you back, saying you¡¯re your parents¡¯ only sons and the pride of their family. I respect your opinion. If you want to go back, I won¡¯t stop them. If you don¡¯t want to go, you can tell them yourself.


    What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Mother, we won¡¯t go back. We are your sons, and the Jiang family has more than just our father as their son. Leaving won¡¯t affect them much. Our parents are buried in the Jiang family¡¯s ancestral grave, and we sneak back every year to tend to their graves and offer sacrifices. We want to be your sons, Mother.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good children. Since you¡¯ve made up your mind, you can talk to them if theye again.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai went out, and Old Master Wang let them continue their studies. He came out and asked, ¡°Based on your tone, do you want them to go back?¡±


    ¡°If the Jiang family is sincere and brings the silver, I will let them go. We will see the Jiang family¡¯s attitude. After all, they¡¯re blood rtions, and their parents are gone. It wouldn¡¯t be right to prevent them from returning, would


    ¡°My dear, I¡¯ve been watching. Over these four years, you¡¯ve treated them as if they were your own sons, maybe even better. It¡¯s hard for you to let them go like this.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how the Jiang family handles it.¡±


    ¡°I n to send the twin brothers to the exam next year. They are not as intelligent as Jiaqi, and though they are young, if they don¡¯t leave your home, I think we should have them take the imperial examinations every other year.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I have no objections..¡±</font>

 Chapter 205 - 205: That’s Not What She Wanted

    Chapter 205 - 205: That¡¯s Not What She Wanted


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Three days had soon passed, and there was still no news from the Jiang family. Presumably, they couldn¡¯t produce the required sum of money. Even if they could, they wouldn¡¯t be willing to spend it on two young boys.


    After all, although the boys had received education under a prestigious teacher, they weren¡¯t as appealing as Yuan Jiaqi.


    Yuan Jiaqi, being the top schr, meant he was destined to be an official, making it a worthwhile investment. On the other hand, these two boys saw no immediate prospects, so they were hesitant to spend their money.


    As the days went by, the drought conditions worsened. In the rainy northern region, they were now facing scorching days without any rainfall. Even the leaves of trees were beginning to wither.


    The crops in the fields wilted. If this continued, there would be a significant food shortage by October.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    With a sigh, Qiao Mai dug a one-acre-sized pit in the barrennd north of the town under the moonlight, filling it with water. She did the same with another pit to the south.


    Although she had reached the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, she didn¡¯t possess the power to control the weather. Without her space, she couldn¡¯t take on the role of a rainmaker.


    The two pits of water eased the situation for the people around the town. Qiao Mai visited every night to ensure they remained full.


    Some said that the people of Tianshui Town often did good deeds, so the heavens blessed them with these mysterious water pits.


    People from other towns came to collect water. As the water was enough, there was no sign of disputes.


    Mayor Qian was concerned about the situation. He stationed two guards there to ensure fair ess to water and to prevent any profiteering from the water pits.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery also began charging for water. A cup of water now costs a single copper coin, a reasonable fee many people paid.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t being stingy, but she didn¡¯t want anyone to realize her water source was abundant.


    She wanted everyone to conserve water together because if one family faced water scarcity, others would soon follow. Charging fees was a way to ensure everyone was aware of the water shortage.


    She often sat in front of her shop, watching water carts traveling back and forth on the main road, filled with water from the pits. Having water meant no one fled due to the drought.


    It was said that the drought in the jurisdiction of Wei City was the worst, and heading south would be slightly better. If the drought continued, there would be a famine next year.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to seerge groups of refugees fleeing, especially children losing their homes. She also didn¡¯t want an epidemic to spread with dead bodies everywhere.


    She wanted a peaceful and ordinary life, so she worked hard to change the situation.


    Otherwise, she would be part of the famine-stricken poption. That was not what she wanted.


    So, she went out every night to dig water pits in the territory of Wei City, helping to alleviate the drought.


    With her covert assistance, the drought situation in Wei City¡¯s jurisdiction had considerably improved. At this point, rumors began to circte among the local popce.


    They believed the magistrate was a virtuous and caring official, and they thought heaven blessed thend under his jurisdiction as they hadn¡¯t experienced severe drought, and the crops were not suffering.


    What bullshit! If the heavens were aware, they would have sent rain earlier.


    Nevertheless, the situation benefited Magistrate Wang. He could expect promotion and favor from the emperor once he heard about this.


    As time passed, the scorching summer came to an end, and it was time for the harvest season.


    The Wang family started collecting sweet potatoes that everyone had nted this year. As a result, the prices were slightly lower but still eptable for the townsfolk.


    Selling sweet potatoes allowed them to pay the grain tax with rtive ease.


    The Qiao family¡¯s tenant farmers had already asked her whether they should deliver sweet potatoes or sell them for silver to purchase grain.


    Qiao Mai saved them the trouble and chose silver.


    In Lihua Vige, the Qiao family¡¯s harvest wasn¡¯t good. After paying taxes, they didn¡¯t have much left. Without assistance this winter, the whole family would go hungry.


    Qiao Shicheng and his wife had no choice but to sell their granddaughter to a wealthy family as a maidservant.


    When they had sold Qiao Mai, her eldest and second brother hadn¡¯t felt much.


    But when it came to selling their own daughter, their hearts ached considerably despite the traditional preference for sons over daughters. This was still their flesh and blood.


    Selling their daughters to support the family expenses weighed heavily on their hearts.


    That family thought that if they had to sell another daughter in the future, it would be much preferable to sell her independently, keeping the money for themselves rather than contributing it to the collective fund.


    As Qiao Shicheng sold a granddaughter, the families began discussing a split.


    In a major dispute, the Qiao family also didn¡¯t hold out for long. They eventually divided their household like the Yuan family. Qiao Shicheng and his wife were pushed aside by their children.


    None of them wanted to live with each other. They took turns delivering food to their parents. When their parents could not move, each family took turns to take care of them, but nobody wanted to live together.


    The old couple of these two families now had more time to gather, often sitting across Lucky Garden, eagerly looking at its imposing gates, longing for what they had lost.


    The Tian family had ced their hopes on Ling¡¯er, hoping for the swift return of Tian Sanzhuang.


    If it was indeed Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s daughter, they could negotiate terms with that woman.


    This winter was colder andsted longer than the previous year. It was only in mid-December that the first snowfall came, followed by a sudden drop in temperature.


    Seeing the weather, Qiao Mai was worried. It seemed like she would have to work as a water carrier again next year.


    This year didn¡¯t bring much joy to her. The only constion was that her space had upgraded again, showing improvements in various indicators.


    Due to the upgrade, her water pond, which had already reached tens of thousands of acres, had doubled. It has enough water tost Wei City for another year.


    If Wei City¡¯s residents could endure, other towns and counties should be fine, as drought conditions weren¡¯t as severe.


    Winter was better than summer as the heat wasn¡¯t scorching, and water didn¡¯t evaporate quickly. One water pond could supply the people in the vicinity for a long time if they didn¡¯t waste it.


    As the New Year approached, Qiao Mai filled the pits with water every night, hoping everyone would have a good year.


    While filling the pits, Qiao Mai discovered several had been seized. If it weren¡¯t for the fires they had lit, the words they spoke, and the conspicuous signs they had ced, she wouldn¡¯t have known they were charging for the water.


    Qiao Mai was furious. She hadn¡¯t even charged people for using the water from the pits, yet these opportunists wanted to capitalize on the situation by taking over and collecting fees from the people.


    In one night, Qiao Mai disposed of seven pit locations, resulting in several dozens of deaths.


    She didn¡¯t bother hiding the bodies; she left them by the pits and left a message on their fee collection signs.


    ¡°Those who profit from the country¡¯s crisis shall die!¡±


    In a single night close to the New Year, many people lost their lives. This incident caused a sensation in Wei City.


    People apuded and said, ¡°Well done, they deserved to die for their greed.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng went to investigate. All of them had been cleanly killed with their throats slit. There was no sign of struggle, and it was a swift and efficient execution.


    There was no evidence at the scene, so he had the families take the bodies away and bury them. He would investigate the case once there were leads.


    Who could it be? Who can do this on such arge scale?


    The methods used are the same, and the timing of the actions is not too different. It seems like several schemes happened simultaneously.


    Ultimately, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to the matter because those who had died were local bullies and troublemakers. They had brought their fate upon themselves. These weremon urrences in the world.


    He would pass the case on to the martialmunity.


    Thanks to the example Qiao Mai set, no one dared to charge fees at the water pits anymore. People could now freely collect water, which was a relief for everyone.


    This year, it was a year of struggle for all the town¡¯s residents except the Qiao family.


    Whether they werecking money orcking water, people were all struggling.


    In any case, things weren¡¯t going very well for anyone..</font>

 Chapter 206 - 206: No Chance to Take Revenge on Her

    Chapter 206 - 206: No Chance to Take Revenge on Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of March, and the sun was scorching as ever. There was still no sign of rain, and themoners would look up at the sky every day, silently praying for rain from the heavens.


    Some even went to burn incense and kowtow, while the less fortunate ones knelt before the heavens.


    Qiao Mai would take her children to the edge of the water ponds, where they would see the local folks carrying buckets of water for irrigation.


    ¡°Look closely. Every grain of rice and every mouthful of noodles you eates from their hard work: fetching water, watering the fields, weeding, and harvesting. It allnds on our dinner tables because of their toil.¡±


    ¡°Mom, why do they have to carry water?¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Because there¡¯s no rain. They have to carry water, or the crops won¡¯t grow properly. They¡¯ll go hungry, and so will we.¡± ¡°The farmers work so hard.¡¯


    ¡°So, let¡¯s not waste a single grain of food.¡±


    The twins were now twelve years old and had grown strong due to their martial arts practice. They were almost as tall as grown men.


    ¡°Both of you, go and help those two women carry a load of water.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Despite their usual diligence in martial arts training, carrying water for the first time left them rubbing their sore shoulders.


    ¡°Mother, working in the fields is even more exhausting than our martial arts practice. ¡±


    ¡°Now you understand how hard the farmers work, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they not only work hard but also endure the scorching sun in the summer and the harsh cold in the winter. It¡¯s so tough.¡±


    ¡°Cherish what you have now. Many children from well-off families are pampered from a young age. But when they face hardships, they can¡¯t endure it, and they¡¯re worn out by life. People like the farmers, who have less material wealth, know the value of a healthy, long life. They stay active and exercise regrly. ¡±


    ¡°Mother, can we help them carry water every day after we finish our studies?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s up to you. I won¡¯t stop you. I merely want you to understand the importance of hard work and not be too spoiled. Only by experiencing difficulty can you truly appreciate happiness.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. She didn¡¯t expect that after their studies, the twin brothers started helping the local folks carry water.


    They began with one load and gradually increased their contributions. Qiao Mai was delighted to see her sons put their words into action.


    On the tenth day, Yuan Jiaqi and Qin Yide embarked on their journey to the capital for the imperial examination.


    This time, they were apanied by Old Master Wang, who not only taught Yuan Jiaqi but also provided guidance to Qin Yide.


    Qin Yide had been attending school in the county town. But after passing the imperial examination for Elementary Schrs, he had been self-studying at home.


    This was mainly because his family had been providing for him, and life was financially tight, especially with his nephew to take care of. He voluntarily returned home to continue his studies.


    His natural talent and dedicated efforts enabled him to achieve thirty-sixth ce in the examination. Old Master Wang was impressed by him and was willing to mentor him.


    He would be apanying them for several reasons. First, he would guide them in their studies. Second, they were preparing for the imperial examination, and both the preparation process and the post-examination period required guidance and exnation.


    Thirdly, he was concerned about their safety and wanted to protect them throughout the journey, ensuring they had the best conditions for sess.


    Upon hearing of his father¡¯s trip to the capital, Wang Zongsheng secretly dispatched a team to protect them.


    Unknown to anyone, Old Master Wang wanted to prevent them from witnessing the marriage tradition of ¡°picking sons-inw¡± in the capital, which could lead to unnecessary trouble.


    With Old Master Wang apanying them, Qiao Mai had peace of mind.


    Her task was to ensure the safety of her children and minimize any unexpected incidents.


    Coincidentally, Tian Sanzhuang returned home ahead of schedule. His family prepared a feast to wee him.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ve been unfilial for not serving you both in my absence.¡± Madam Tian held his hand, and tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°Son, it¡¯s great to have you back. You have no idea how much we¡¯ve missed you.¡±


    Old Tian¡¯s eyes were also filled with tears. ¡°You came back. You¡¯ve been away for five years and didn¡¯t even send a letter, so we¡¯ve been worried.¡±


    ¡°Every day was full of training. We worked like dogs, and there was no time for anything else.¡±


    ¡°Son, now that you¡¯re back, you won¡¯t go away again, will you?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go back. Nobody wants to go back. I¡¯m lucky because there was no war these years. Otherwise, my life would have ended on the battlefield.¡±


    ¡°Sanzhuang, all the other soldiers send their pay home to their families. What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m keeping mine for now.¡±


    ¡°What are you nning to do?¡±


    ¡°I want to find a government job. I can¡¯t return to farming after being a soldier for five years.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang wasn¡¯t pleased with his parents¡¯ focus on his finances, so he changed the topic.


    ¡°What about my wife?¡±


    The moment he mentioned Qiao Mai, his parents¡¯ expressions darkened.


    ¡°What about my wife?¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang asked again. Old Tian¡¯s face turned gloomy.


    ¡°As soon as you left, she became wild, demanded a separation, and went to town to live a better life.¡¯


    ¡°What? It can¡¯t be true! How could you allow her to request a separation? She¡¯s my wife, so she belongs to this family. Why did you let her go?¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang gritted his teeth and red at his parents. His five years in the military had honed his presence, and he wasn¡¯t one to be trifled with.


    Seeing their son in such an aggressive state, his parents felt a bit afraid and exined the situation in detail.


    They exined how Tian Sanzhuang left, and Qiao Mai had a miscarriage and threatened to sue them. She got the separation papers and moved to the town, eventually establishing herself as a wealthy woman with a husband.


    At this moment, Tian Sanzhuang had lost his imposing presence. ¡°She married a high-ranking official?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Even the town¡¯s mayor supports her in everything. She¡¯s now the wife of a schr about to take the imperial examination. It¡¯s said that her husband has gone to the capital. If he passes, she¡¯ll be an official¡¯s wife.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang clenched his fist. ¡°That b*tch!¡±


    He realized that with her current status and achievements, he had no chance of taking revenge.


    Now that he was home, the Tian family had prepared a table, and the three sat in the main room, drinking and discussing Qiao Mai¡¯s situation.


    ¡°She has a little girl by her side, about five years old, who looks exactly like you.¡±


    ¡°But I heard the child didn¡¯t survive?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She did bury the child in the wilderness, and we watched her leave the vige empty-handed. We haven¡¯t seen her with a child in town for six months.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a blood test to determine the parentage. If she is indeed your child, we must take her. We¡¯ve heard that Qiao Mai treats the child very well. With the child in hand, we can order her to do anything.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang downed the cup of wine. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter myself. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    The Tian family had expected their son¡¯s return to bring them a sense of pride, but they hadn¡¯t anticipated his subdued manner.


    He kept a low profile despite his daily early departures andte returns.


    It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t want to stand out but because he wasn¡¯t foolish. Even though he knew Qiao Mai was doing well and wanted to share in her sess, he wouldn¡¯t easily provoke her. He understood that the people behind her were not to be trifled with.


    He was out every day, visiting contacts to secure a government job.


    After serving in the military, his wit sharpened, realizing that a lifetime of farming wouldn¡¯t lead to sess.


    Fortunately, he was well-regarded in the army and secured a minor official position with a rmendation letter and some money upon his return.


    Just at the right time, the local government was recruiting due to the previous official¡¯s disgrace.


    The new official, a recent Imperial Schr, was known for his upright character, meticulous attention to detail, and strong dedication to his duties.


    He even supervised the recruitment of court runners, with no tolerance for thosecking qualifications or relying on bribery.


    Fortunately, having served as a soldier for five years, Tian Sanzhuang had gained valuablebat experience, which made him confident even when facing strong men. As a result, he was lucky enough to be selected for the position.


    With this achievement, the Tian family began to show off their pride across the street from Lucky Garden..</font>

 Chapter 207 - 207: Give Up Early

    Chapter 207 - 207: Give Up Early


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Qiao and Yuan old couple reacted with disdain upon hearing this. ¡°He¡¯s just a low-ranking court officer. The woman opposite houses the magistrate¡¯s father. I heard he even held office in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Bah, it¡¯s not about the current office; it¡¯s about having influence. When there¡¯s a problem, my son would have to step in, wouldn¡¯t he?¡±


    The conversation made it sound like the court office had only their son as an official.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s resolve the matter with the girl first.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯ll have answers soon.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    The news about Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s return quickly reached Qiao Mai¡¯s ears.


    Qiao Mai suddenly stood up, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. Tian Sanzhuang is back? That¡¯s great!


    If he stays out of trouble, that¡¯s fine, but if he dares to cause any problems, don¡¯t me her for dealing with him with those old folks. They¡¯ve been jumping around for far too long.


    Finally, the long-awaited day arrived.


    Tian Sanzhuang stood at the entrance of Lucky Garden. He was dressed in official attire with a sword hanging at his waist.


    He stared at the courtyard gate with aplex expression, ground his teeth, and finally knocked on the gate.


    A maid opened the door and saw him in official uniform. She didn¡¯t appear afraid but asked coldly, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I am Tian Sanzhuang from Peach Blossom Vige, the former husband of yourdy. I need to see her.¡±


    ¡°Wait here.¡±


    The maid closed the door and went inside to inform her.


    Tian Sanzhuang felt a surge of anger. He was an official now and should be shown some respect, offered tea, and given a ce to sit inside.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that he wasn¡¯t even allowed inside the door. If there was an opportunity, he vowed to settle the score with this b*tch.


    After a while, the door opened, and Qiao Mai walked out, her hands behind her back. It was only then that Tian Sanzhuang got a clear look at her.


    She had grown taller, herplexion was fairer, and she was more beautiful than before. She exuded an air of authority.


    Qiao Mai looked at him. The man from her memories had matured somewhat, but little else had changed.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it and asked, ¡°Are you Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you recognize me? I¡¯m Sanzhuang.¡± ¡°I forgot. But seeing you again, I can remember.¡±


    ¡°Mai Mai?¡±


    ¡°Stop. I¡¯m married now, and that¡¯s not how you should address me.¡±


    ¡°Right, I¡¯m sorry. I came to verify something.¡±


    ¡°Is it about the child?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Okay, we can verify it now.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the three old geezers across from them and said, ¡°Go find them. I¡¯ll bring my daughter out in a while.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Seeing her like this, Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s heart raced.


    Qiao Mai turned and walked into the courtyard. Tian Sanzhuang gazed at her retreating figure. If she had been like this in the past, would he have found fault with her?


    Back then, he had settled for less, marrying her to leave his seed in case he didn¡¯t return from the army.


    He never expected his parents to kick his child to death. If he had been there, they wouldn¡¯t have treated her that way while she was pregnant.


    But he didn¡¯t feel any guilt because it was a girl.


    He turned to the Tian family couple and asked, ¡°Mom and Dad, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing to do at home, soing here, talking to people, and enjoying the sun is nice.¡±


    He nced at the couple from the Qiao family and didn¡¯t greet them. Since Qiao Mai didn¡¯t recognize them, they held no value in his eyes.


    Likewise, the Qiao and Yuan families didn¡¯t greet him. After all, he was just a minor official, while their son was already a Rmended Schr and soon to be a Tribute Schr.


    It didn¡¯t take long before Qiao Mai walked out of Lucky Garden with Yue Hong and Yue Xia.


    When Tian Sanzhuang saw Ling¡¯er, he felt a sudden brightness in his eyes. He was sure she was his daughter.


    She looked just like him, but he noticed something else.


    She was dressed in fine clothes, worth more than he earned in a month in the military.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°Stop staring. Even if you look at her, she won¡¯t be your daughter. Let¡¯s hurry up and get this over with so you can ept the truth.¡±


    Ling¡¯er, behind them, couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying. She looked at Tian Sanzhuang, feeling like she had seen him before. But she didn¡¯t say anything.


    Yue Xia called for someone from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery to bring a table and ced three bowls on it.


    Without any expression on her face, Qiao Mai pointed to the three bowls and said, ¡°Mr. Official, fetch some water for these yourself. We don¡¯t want you using us of cheating. There are already too manyplications.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang nodded. He understood that he couldn¡¯t ask the Liu family or Qiao family¡¯s snack shop, as both were rted to Qiao Mai.


    He found a cloth shop and asked for a dipper of water, which he poured into the three bowls.


    Yue Hong held Ling¡¯er and took her hand.


    ¡°Be good. It¡¯s just a small prick.¡±


    ¡°Mom, why do I need to get pricked?¡± Ling¡¯er asked with confused eyes.


    ¡°Because this man here ims that you¡¯re his child. So, we need to do a blood test to find out if he¡¯s telling the truth and let everyone see.¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked at Tian Sanzhuang and then nodded silently. Qiao Mai gently touched her head.


    She took an embroidery needle from her purse and washed it with alcohol. Then, she quickly pricked Ling¡¯er¡¯s finger. Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t feel any pain as the blood flowed out.


    Three bowls of water were prepared. A drop of Ling¡¯er¡¯s blood was added to one, and Tian Sanzhuang added his blood.


    Some bystanders watched with great interest, debating whether the blood would mix.


    The Tian family was almost hoarse from shouting. However, when the blood was examined, none of them mixed.


    Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s face turned dark. He was hoping they would mix so that he could establish a connection with Qiao¡¯s family. Even if he couldn¡¯t win the child¡¯s custody, he could extract some money from Qiao Mai.


    He had learned about the profitability of Qiao¡¯s shop these days. Even though it appeared to be just a stall, it was equivalent to several shops owned by others.


    He couldn¡¯t help but be envious. He hoped that all the wealth and sess would be his.


    However, he was disappointed. Those three bowls of blood, no matter how much he wished for it, wouldn¡¯t mix. He couldn¡¯t believe it. He emptied the bowls, washed them with clean water, and filled them again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it again. If it doesn¡¯t work this time, I¡¯ll give up. I won¡¯te back for the child or anything else..¡± ¡°Do you promise, Mr. Official?¡± ¡°A gentleman¡¯s word!¡±


    ¡°Very well, then.¡±


    Qiao Mai remainedposed, pricked the child¡¯s finger again, and added a drop of blood to each bowl.


    The result was still no mixing. After serving in the military for several years, Tian Sanzhuang had be shrewd.


    Fearing that Qiao Mai might have a trick up her sleeve, he looked at her and said, ¡°Your blood should also be dripped into it.¡± ¡°Are you trying to test if the child is rted to me?¡±


    ¡°You can think of it that way!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go along with it!¡±


    Qiao Mai pricked her finger and let a drop of her blood fall into the bowl. Everyone watched as that blood carefully avoided contact with the other two.


    Many people shouted, ¡°No, no, the blood of Qiao Mai and these two people won¡¯t mix. Miss Ling¡¯er was indeed adopted by Qiao Mai.¡±


    Qiao Mai wiped her hands and politely bowed to the crowd.


    ¡°I appreciate everyone witnessing this. The Tian family of Peach Blossom Vige once thought my daughter looked like their own and imed her as theirs. But this blood test has proven otherwise. I hope the Tian family won¡¯te looking for trouble again. Otherwise, we will go to court.¡±


    After saying this, she turned and led Ling¡¯er and the others back home.


    Meanwhile, the Tian family and the Qiao and Yuan families who were there to watch, were left with sour expressions.


    The townsDe0Dle of Tianshui were not afraid of minor officials like Tian Sanzhuang. Their mayor had connections with even higher-ranking officials, and Qiao Mai had even more powerful backers.


    They gathered around the members of the Tian family, pointing fingers. ¡°The Tian family is really something. You tormented a pregnantdy, causing her to have a miscarriage, and now they imed that Miss Ling¡¯er is their child..¡±</font>

 Chapter 208 - 208: Am I Not Your Biological Child?

    Chapter 208: Am I Not Your Biological Child?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Indeed, seeing a chance to benefit from Madam Qiao, they want to use their child to gain an advantage. People should be honest.¡±


    ¡°Why do you suddenly care about a girl? You just want to cause trouble for


    Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang clenched his hand on the hilt of his sword, seemingly contemting using it to threaten the townspeople. However, they weren¡¯t afraid of him.


    ¡°Oh, you just became an official and want to threaten usmoners? If you darey a finger on us, we¡¯ll all go to the court and report you together.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Furious, Tian Sanzhuang bit his teeth and walked away with his parents.


    Back at home, he went to the courtyard and started smashing things.


    Afterward, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s split up the family.¡±


    ¡°What? Why do you want to split the family? Yaohui is still at school, and our family isn¡¯t wealthy. We¡¯re counting on him to be a schr.¡±


    ¡°With his potential, at most, he¡¯ll be an Elementary Schr. What can he


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being an Elementary Schr? Everywhere he goes, people will respect him. Besides, an Elementary Schr can open a private school and teach. That way, our family¡¯s children can study without paying fees.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait that long. You got rid of Madam Qiao, so you must give me a new one.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll find a matchmaker for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not. I don¡¯t want to marry a cheap woman you¡¯ve picked for me. You don¡¯t even appreciate the value.¡±


    ¡°Then who do you want to marry?¡±


    ¡°The governor¡¯s daughter, who is eighteen this year. Although she¡¯s a bit older, it¡¯s not easy to marry with my qualifications.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang had nned to remarry when he returned, but he had no intention of divorcing his current wife. Compared to the older couple from the Tian family, he wasn¡¯t much better. He wanted to kill Madam Qiao to marry another woman, but his parents had eased the process.


    ¡°Ah, the governor¡¯s daughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why we need to split up this family. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to give me a bethrotal gift. Without at least two hundred taels of silver, I can¡¯t show my face.¡±


    The old couple were distressed, ¡°We don¡¯t have two hundred taels of silver!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I suggested splitting the family. I¡¯ll find a wife for myself. It¡¯s good that Qiao Mai¡¯s daughter is not mine. If I have a child, perhaps they won¡¯t agree. I don¡¯t want my parents to hold me back. Isn¡¯t it better to split the family early?¡±


    ¡°Then you leave on your own!¡±


    ¡°That works ! ¡±


    The first and second branches were at home. Neither would tolerate it. They had worked and suffered for five years while he was away; he couldn¡¯t juste back and live an easy life.


    During the five years he was away, the first and second branches of the family went through many hardships and struggles. But now that he¡¯s back, he wants to split off and live separately. Why should he be entitled to that?


    The first branch dared not say anything because the family¡¯s money had been used to support their children.


    If the family were to split, who would continue supporting them?


    However, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to speak up. Firstly, they couldn¡¯t afford to provoke their third brother, who had be an official. Secondly, Tian Sanzhuang had gone to serve as a soldier in ce of the eldest brother, so they owed him.


    In the end, under Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s insistence, the Tian family quickly split up.


    He was clever. Since he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke Qiao Mai, he might as well focus on himself. There was no need to go through the trouble and gain nothing in the end.


    If the Tian family didn¡¯t bother her, Qiao Mai would drop the idea of getting rid of them.


    However, Ling¡¯er was beginning to understand something.


    ¡°Mother, am I not your biological child?¡±


    ¡°Is that important? Look at your three brothers; don¡¯t they treat you like their real sister?¡±


    ¡°But I want to be your child.¡±


    ¡°You are, dear. In fact, all mothers consider their children to be just like you.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡¯


    ¡°But what if Ling¡¯er wants to meet my real parents?¡±


    ¡°Then you have to eat well, grow up well, and learn many skills. When you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll help you find them, okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay! Then I¡¯ll have two mothers and two fathers!¡±


    ¡°Such a greedy little one!¡±


    ¡°Hehe!¡±


    Qiao Mai pinched her nose. She decided to share the secret of her birth when Ling¡¯er grew older, as she would need to understand it properly. Until then, she would keep it a secret.


    Until Ling¡¯er is ready and able to ept it, she won¡¯t reveal the truth for her entire life.


    As long as the Tian family didn¡¯t cause trouble for her, she would act as if they were invisible.


    These days, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t see the Tian couplee to her house. She thought they had given up and no longer intended to target Ling¡¯er.


    Drought conditions persisted, with no rain in sight. Even a single drop of rain would quickly evaporate.


    It was already mid-April, yet Yuan Jiaqi hadn¡¯t returned, most likely due to their sess in the imperial exams.


    If one became a Tribute Schr, they might remain in the capital for further selection, and it could be a while before they returned.


    On April 18th, Qin Yide came back, escorted by two guards.


    As soon as he arrived in Tianshui Town, he went to Lucky Garden and delivered a letter to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Master, this is a letter from your husband.¡±


    ¡°Did you not seed this time?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, but I¡¯ve learned much from Old Master Wang and gained something from this examination. I will be more confident next time.¡±


    ¡°Good. Keep it up. I believe in you. As long as Old Master Wang stays with us, feel free toe to our house for advice. With another attempt, you¡¯ll surely seed.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the letter and read its contents. A smile crept across her lips.


    Yes, Yuan Jiaqi had done it again, achieving the top score and earning its title. He would remain in the capital awaiting his appointment.


    ¡°Your husband is quite impressive.¡±


    ¡°You must be tired from your journey. Go to see your wife and child. They¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Qin Yide left, and Qiao Mai took a deep breath. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s life in officialdom was about to begin, and he wouldn¡¯t have to study so hard anymore.


    Now, it was time for the twin brothers to make their mark. She had asked the broker center to look for Ling¡¯er¡¯s female teacher, so it shouldn¡¯t be long before they received some news.


    But with the drought in the north, it remained uncertain whether she would be willing toe.


    All the townspeople were closely watching the results of this examination, particrly Yuan Jiaqi from the Qiao family.


    Many asked Qin Yide. Upon learning that Yuan Jiaqi had been sessful and was even the top scorer, they were all ecstatic.


    People visited every day, and Qiao Mai instructed her servants to keep the gate closed.


    She didn¡¯t want to entertain these guests until Yuan Jiaqi returned. Those who tried to win her favor should wait.


    The Qiao family in Peach Blossom Vige and the Yuans in Apricot Blossom Vige were inplete panic. Their son-inw and son had be an official, a far more prestigious achievement than passing the imperial examination. Oh dear, would he leave this ce?


    They fear they might never see Yuan Jiaqi again and would no longer share in his sess.


    It seemed as if they were basking in the glory at the moment. Not only were they anxious, but the head of the Yuan family was also worried. The vige chief on the Qiao family¡¯s side was anxious, and they didn¡¯t know what to do either.


    In the past, when Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were mistreated, these people turned a blind eye to it and watched indifferently.


    They feared that Yuan Jiaqi woulde back to settle old scores.


    Especially the people of Peach Blossom Vige, no one had supported Qiao Mai in her time of need; they had all stood by and watched. They were genuinely concerned that once she became an official¡¯s wife, she might make things difficult for them.


    Each of them was panicking, wanting to win her over, but Lucky Garden¡¯s gate remained closed.


    The people of the Tian family now realized that they couldn¡¯t keep up with the rapid rise of Yuan Jiaqi.


    No matter how hard they tried to nurture their own talents, it was impossible to surpass him. Especially now that they had split the family, it was challenging for the eldest son¡¯s family to produce a schr. In no time, Tian Yaohui would stop his studies and not even be an exam candidate.


    Tian Yaozu heard about this and couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased with the situation.


    His hand had regained mobility, although he still couldn¡¯t handle heavy objects, especially when it came to writing.


    The younger generation of the Tian family would not produce schrs, and this thought finally allowed Old Tian to put his long-standing ambitions to rest.


    They could only watch in envy and resentment as they heard about all the good fortunes befalling the Qiao family in town, which caused them immeasurable frustration and difort..

 Chapter 209 - 209: Don’t Be Ungrateful

    Chapter 209: Don¡¯t Be Ungrateful


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi was at Bichun Garden in the capital, ying chess with Old Master Wang.


    ¡°Old Master Wang, we¡¯ve been staying in the capital for quite some time now. Isn¡¯t that an issue?¡±


    ¡°The Emperor¡¯s intentions are inscrutable. He values you. Perhaps he has some tasks in mind for you. Don¡¯t be hasty.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to take on significant responsibilities. I only want to start as a small county governor and do practical work for the people.¡±


    ¡°Practical work? Not to undermine you, but do you have the wealth for that?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any influence? If you be a governor all on your own, without power, local people will take advantage of you. You won¡¯t have any means to counter them.¡±


    ¡°Do they dare to disrespect a royal appointee?¡±


    ¡°Respect? They haven¡¯t broken anyws. For instance, in case of a disaster, if you need relief and they refuse to provide it, what can you do? Or if there are robbers, and you need their cooperation to catch them, but they act foolishly, what can you do?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi suddenly felt that the court was like a battlefield. He furrowed his brows.


    ¡°So, what should I do?¡±


    ¡°You need to cultivate your people, make them follow you devotedly, obey yourmands, and always act on your behalf, facing any danger.¡± ¡°Bodyguards?¡±


    ¡°And advisers, those who can offer strategies and counsel.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded. Just then, a eunuch came from the pce. The Emperor wanted to meet him.


    Old Master Wang¡¯s expression soured, unable to fathom the Emperor¡¯s intentions for dying Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s official assignment.


    This was an unprecedented situation, leaving him somewhat bewildered.


    Yuan Jiaqi followed the eunuch to the pce and entered the imperial study. The Emperor was there, reviewing memorials.


    Upon hearing the eunuch¡¯s report, the Emperor didn¡¯t raise his head.


    ¡°Let him in.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi slightly bowed his head without nervousness and entered the room.


    He had never aspired to wealth and had no intentions of ingratiating himself with the powerful. He had reached this point with the support of his wife and his efforts.


    He had no reason to fear anything, especially since he had nothing to hide.


    He paid his respects, ¡°Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Rise. I¡¯ve called you here today to discuss something.¡±


    The Emperor said, still not looking up, his eyes on the memorials.


    ¡°Please, Your Majesty, let me know.¡±


    ¡°You must have a family by now, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I have a family with three sons and one daughter.¡±


    ¡°Only one of them is your biological child, right? The other two are adopted, and one is your wife¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s response wasposed. It was clear that the Emperor had investigated him before summoning him.


    ¡°My wife is kind-hearted and treats my sons as her own. I must reciprocate her kindness.¡±


    ¡°I heard that you and your wife live in harmony?¡±


    The Emperor even knew that they slept in separate rooms. Astonishing!


    ¡°My wife and I respect each other. We refrain from intimacy to prevent disrupting my studies until I pass the imperial examination. It¡¯s a mutual choice.¡±


    Every word Yuan Jiaqi spoke was well-considered.


    ¡°I see. My daughter was attracted to you when she saw you riding through the streets. She came to me and begged for a favor, wanting you to be her husband. I¡¯m not a foolish man, so I wanted your opinion on this matter.¡± Yuan Jiaqi knelt immediately after hearing that.


    ¡°Your Majesty, my affection for my wife is profound. I would never consider divorcing her.¡±


    ¡°What if I let my daughter be your second wife?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Your Majesty. You might have examined my past and know the hardship I faced when I raised my son. Were it not for my wife¡¯s care and support, I wouldn¡¯t be here today. I would nevermit the ungrateful act of abandoning her, especially when my heart is filled with love for her, and there¡¯s no room for anyone else.¡±


    The Emperor finally raised his head, giving Yuan Jiaqi a deep and meaningful look.


    ¡°If you are unwilling, I won¡¯t force you. However, you can¡¯t remain in the capital any longer.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, please send me to a distant ce to serve as a county governor.


    I want to make a real difference for the people.¡±


    ¡°Distant?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The Emperor raised an eyebrow. ¡°Your family resides in Tianshui Town in Wei City, right? It¡¯s close to the northern border. How about you go to County She to the north?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Very well, you may leave. In a couple of days, you¡¯ll receive your official appointment, and you can take up your position.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi left the pce and wiped the sweat from his brow. He wasn¡¯t afraid of anything except this. Old Master Wang had warned him not to betray Madam Qiao.


    Back in Bichun Garden, Old Master Wang was anxiously waiting.


    ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°Good. I should receive my official appointment in the next few days.¡±


    ¡°Where will you be going?¡± ¡°She County to the north.¡±


    ¡°Why there?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi exined his discussion with the Emperor.


    ¡°I see. You refused a marriage, and it irritated the Emperor. But he¡¯s a wise ruler; he won¡¯t issue an edict to force the marriage. I must say, young man, you¡¯ve earned my respect.¡±


    ¡°Teacher, I have no intention of being ungrateful. Besides, I genuinely care for Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Well, no more studying. Focus on being a governor from now on. With the support of your wife, you¡¯ll do an excellent job. Also, invest more effort in your rtionship. Don¡¯t be a bookworm the moment you see books.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Teacher. I¡¯m not very good at that. I don¡¯t know how to get along with my wife.¡±


    Old Master Wang blushed, ¡°I can¡¯t teach you that, but I¡¯ll have my wife do so.¡±


    And so, in mid-May, Yuan Jiaqi and Old Master Wang returned to Tianshui Town.


    Upon hearing that Yuan Jiaqi was assigned to She County in the north, Qiao Mai was delighted. She prepared a sumptuous feast.


    Because it was summer, she didn¡¯t prepare heavy meat or fish dishes and instead ordered everything from the online tform.


    There were delicious, canned dishes like spicy deboned chicken ws, crispy and garlic-vored water chestnuts, beef luncheon meat, deep-fried small yellow croakers, spicy hairy crabs, and more. The table was filled to the brim, and everyone enjoyed the feast.


    Old Master Wang was content. ¡°There¡¯s nothing better than being at home. I¡¯ve had enough of staying in the capital; I longed to return every day.¡± ¡°Jiaqi¡¯s new assignment is close to home, so he cane back frequently.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I particrly look forward to the delicious food you make, my dear,¡± He said, blushing.


    Old Master Wang whispered a few words in his wife¡¯s ear, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile, nodding repeatedly.


    Yuan Jiaqi spent afortable three days at home before setting off to take up his post in She County. To ensure he had some assistance, Old Master Wang arranged for six bodyguards to apany him.


    Before leaving, Qiao Mai generously handed him ten thousand taels of silver to help with his preparations.


    Yuan Jiaqi epted it as he needed the money.


    Mayor Qian didn¡¯te to join the celebration. He wasn¡¯t in town as he had to return to his hometown for his father¡¯s funeral.


    Upon hearing that Yuan Jiaqi had passed the imperial examination, Lu Sanniang prepared a gift as a gesture of congrattions.


    Qin Yide and Ruyi found time in their schedules to visit on the eve of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s departure.


    Other well-wishers came either early in the morning or evening, taking advantage of the cooler times of the day.


    Yuan Jiaqi was now an official appointed by the court, and while it was eptable for people toe and congratte him, he refused to ept any gifts or offerings. In fact, when Lu Sanniang sent a gift, Qiao Mai had it returned.


    Qiao Mai had considered having Old Master Wang apany her husband to his new post.


    However, Old Master Wang firmly refused to leave Lucky Garden. He also didn¡¯t want to act as Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s advisor. He had already given him extensive guidance on his new role and responsibilities.


    Given this level of preparation and advice, it would be unbing for Yuan Jiaqi to still require Old Master Wang to apany him.


    However, Old Mistress Wang had different ns. She insisted that Yuan Jiaqi take Qiao Mai with him to She County.


    What kind of joke is this? Wei City is facing a drought. If she leaves, what will happen to the home? How will they manage the water supply? She can¡¯t handle all the affairs and care for the city¡¯s residents. It¡¯s too exhausting.


    Old Master Wang and his wife exchanged a knowing look and decided not to push the matter any further. They couldn¡¯t force Qiao Mai to leave..

 Chapter 210 - 210: Making It Real

    Chapter 210 - 210: Making It Real


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At the most, he would have Yuan Jiaqie home often. After all, they are trying to match this pair and hopefully turn a fake bond into a real one.


    She County also falls under the jurisdiction of Wei City, just closer to the North Gate.


    Winter here seems particrly long, as Tianhe Town marks the turning point in temperature.


    To the north, it starts getting cold by October, while in the south, it doesn¡¯t get cold until November. There¡¯s a month of difference.


    In the north, there are only five months of spring, summer, and autumnbined, yielding one harvest season per year. In the south, there are seven months, allowing two harvests.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    The court only collects taxes for one harvest in the southern region. Yet the people there still struggle to have enough to eat and wear.


    The Emperor assigned him to this ce for two reasons. First, he wanted his daughter to forget about him. Second, he wanted to test the abilities of the new top schr.


    Upon arrival in She County, the old governor handed over the duties to Yuan Jiaqi, quickly packed up, and left without any attachment.


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at the shabby county court and his mansion and didn¡¯t feel discouraged. Instead, he felt filled with determination.


    The more challenging the situation, the more he wanted to achieve something.


    Fortunately, he had the money his wife gave him and the assistance Old Master Wang sent. His first step was to dismiss all the officials.


    He then publicly recruited new court clerks. Those who had resigned could reapply, but they had to have good conduct, be respected among the people, and possess the ability.


    Furthermore, he used his money to start the repairs of the county court and his mansion. All the funds came from his pocket and didn¡¯t touch the collected taxes.


    All the workers were paid daily, ensuring they didn¡¯t owe anything to the townspeople.


    This action made the people realize that Governor Yuan was a good official.


    He kept his word and acted promptly. He took charge right away, creating a sense of order in the county, unlike the previous chaos.


    The situation in Shexian County was even worse than in the south. To support Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s efforts, Qiao Mai dug many pits around She County overnight to store extra water.


    This immediately improved his reputation, and the people felt he brought hope.


    The sight of people lining up to collect water and their respectful gestures when passing by him made Yuan Jiaqi realize he couldn¡¯t disappoint the people of this ce.


    He took office inte May. In early June, he recruited twenty police, organizing them into ten groups with a leader for each.


    The creation of these teams helped straighten out the thugs, ruffians, and bullies.


    Want to report a case to the higher authorities? They needed to consider whether the county governor would give them a chance. There was a good chance they¡¯d receive a thrashing instead.


    Within a month of taking office, the county was tidied up, and the town was no longer as chaotic as it used to be.


    As Yuan Jiaqi and his men patrolled the county, he sighed repeatedly, realizing that the city gates, walls, and the people¡¯s lives all needed improvement. Thinking of the ten thousand taels Qiao Mai gave, he felt it was just a drop in the bucket.


    However, he knew that transforming She County wouldn¡¯t happen overnight.


    Standing on the city tower, Yuan Jiaqi looked south toward the official road. It had been a month since hest visited home, and he missed his family.


    Through continuous effort, Tian Sanzhuang had finally won the favor of Yi County¡¯s governor¡¯s daughter.


    The two secretly agreed to marry, but aside from the two hundred taels he received upon discharge from the army, he had no other financial assets.


    It was challenging to buy a house in the county town.


    Under his sweet words and appealing looks, the girl secretly gave him two hundred taels. With that and his savings, he bought a smaller house in the county town.


    He then used the girl¡¯s secret funds to arrange a matchmaker and propose.


    In truth, the county governor was unsatisfied with this match, but his daughter was getting older and wasn¡¯t particrly attractive. Since few offered proposals, and this one was to her liking, he reluctantly approved the marriage.


    The wedding was scheduled for the end of June. Tian Sanzhuang had no means to provide a betrothal gift, so he persuaded the girl to use half of her dowry as the betrothal gift, which he sent to the county governor¡¯s house.


    Qiao Mai strolled outside her shop and overheard Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s parents across the street.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you. My son is handsome, has a sweet tongue, and is capable. The county governor¡¯s daughter has set her sights on him, and they¡¯ve already set the date for this month, the 26th, an auspicious day.¡±


    Qiao Mai munched on some melon seeds, watching the scene with relish.


    ¡°I heard the county governor¡¯s daughter is already eighteen.¡± ¡°Who cares? She has high standards; she chose a guy of this age.¡±


    ¡°Aunty, stop bragging,¡± Someone in the know remarked disdainfully.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I? She even bought a house in the county for my son. Our family is poor, but she used her dowry as a betrothal gift. Isn¡¯t this girl wonderful?¡±


    ¡°Ugh, what¡¯s good about it? Who would willingly pay their way in like that? I heard that the girl is not only unattractive but also quite chubby and idle. She doesn¡¯t do any housework at all.¡±


    Madam Tian sneered, ¡°So what? As long as the county governor can help my son, I¡¯d marry him a sow.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t hold back a burst ofughter.


    The Tian family was bold. While it wasmon knowledge, no one dared to


    say the girl looked like a sow. Instead, it was the Tian family who risked


    offending others with their sharp tongues.


    Because of this mouth, the Tian family won¡¯t have a bright future.


    Just then, Tian Sanzhuang arrived on horseback, kicking up a cloud of dust as he passed. Seeing his parents gossiping at this ce, he furrowed his brow.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, please don¡¯t gossip around town anymore. I¡¯m an official now, and it¡¯s not a good influence.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    His parents immediately closed their mouths, but Tian Sanzhuang noticed Qiao Mai.


    She sat straight in front of her shop, exuding the air of a wealthydy.


    Even though her appearance was ordinary, her skin was quite fair, especially her neck, hands, and wrists.


    The more he thought about her, the hotter his body became. After being a monk for five years, he had longed for a woman to the point of madness.


    Unintentionally, he dismounted and walked over to her, sitting across from her, gazing at her with fascination. ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡¯m getting married.¡±


    ¡°Congrattions!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not as good as you.¡±


    ¡°No one¡¯s forcing you to marry her.¡±


    ¡°As long as you agree to reconcile with me, I¡¯ll cancel this wedding!¡± Qiao Mai¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Officer Tian, mind your words!¡± Her stern voice quickly sobered Tian Sanzhuang.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just remembered our past, and I couldn¡¯t hold back.¡±


    ¡°I warn you; I have a man. My man is an imperial official, a hundred and a thousand times better than you. What past? My past with you was eaten by dogs. You¡¯re unqualified to talk about our past. Get away from me right now!¡± ¡°Are you so unfeeling? We used to be husband and wife.¡±


    Qiao Mai red at him, and her eyes exuded a sense of danger. Tian Sanzhuang saw her gaze, and it felt like he had witnessed a mountain of corpses and an ocean of blood. It sent a shiver down his spine, and he immediately stood up, running to his horse, drenched in cold sweat.


    It was too frightening. How did she be like this? What did she experience in those five years?


    He swallowed and took another look at Qiao Mai. She appeared to be a regr woman, sipping tea leisurely outside her shop without abnormalities. Tian Sanzhuang mounted his horse and nced back at his parents. ¡°Mom, Dad, go back home. I need to handle official business.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure!¡±


    As he left, the Tian couple resumed their boasting.


    A roll of thunder echoed in the sky. The people nced at the sky and continued chatting, seemingly undisturbed by the thunder without rain.


    They had grown ustomed to such situations.


    Suddenly, a cloud of dust rose on the official road to the south. Several guards led the way, and in the middle was a luxurious carriage. A few more guards followed, headed in their direction.


    Although there were no other people on the road, the guards at the front were still shouting.


    ¡°Clear the way, make way!¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, realizing someone important sat in that carriage. The situation appeared even grander than the magistrate¡¯s. It seemed unwise to provoke them..</font>

 Chapter 211 - 211: What Is She Doing Here?

    Chapter 211 - 211: What Is She Doing Here?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The convoy stopped abruptly at the entrance of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. The guards dismounted and vigntly surveyed their surroundings, protecting the horse-drawn carriage on both sides.


    Two young maids, an olddy, and a delicately dressed, beautiful young girl alighted from the carriage.


    In this remote northern region, such a youngdy was a rare sight, especially considering her attire and demeanor. Could she havee from the capital?


    The youngdy, assisted by the two maids, approached Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    The olddy carefully wiped a chair and invited the youngdy to sit.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    A staff approached, keeping a certain distance from them, as they were women.


    ¡°Deardies, what would you like to order?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any beverages?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We have iced milk tea, fruit juice, boiled peanuts, boiled edamame, boiled corn, boiled eggs, popcorn, crispy rice, fruits, and various other snacks.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s like a grocery store.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The staff concurred.


    ¡°In that case, bring us a few cups of fruit juice and serve one to the guards over


    there.¡±


    ¡°Very well. Please wait a moment.¡±


    The staff entered the shop and returned with a tray carrying the cups and straws shortly.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°These are straws. It is used for sipping your drink.¡±


    ¡°They seem convenient.¡±


    The two maids each took a cup and tried sipping through the straws. Their eyes lit up with delight.


    ¡°Mistress, it¡¯s delicious. Are you not thirsty? Please drink. It¡¯s safe.¡±


    ¡°Serve one cup to each of the guards.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    The elegantly dressed youngdy took a sip. The beverage was refreshing and sweet. She drank severalrge gulps and felt morefortable as the heat inside her subsided.


    Qiao Mai observed all this casually. They were already quite far north, and it seemed they were heading even further. She wondered whether they were going to see Yuan Jiaqi.


    The elderly woman asked the staff, ¡°How far is it to She County from here?¡±


    The staff quickly bowed and replied, ¡°To go north from here, it¡¯s about a hundred miles.¡¯


    ¡°Thanks. How much do we owe?¡±


    ¡°For sixteen cups at fifty coins each, it¡¯s nine hundred coins.¡±


    Without hesitation, the youngdy handed over a couple of silver taels. After finishing their fruit juice, they returned to the carriage and continued northward.


    Qiao Mai clicked her fingernails, tossed the melon seeds onto the table, stood up, and walked into Lucky Garden. She proceeded directly to the courtyard where the elderly couple resided.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang sat in a shaded area, sipping on iced tea and chatting. When they saw Qiao Mai approaching, they were taken aback.


    ¡°Is there something wrong at home?¡±


    ¡°No, I came to ask about the recent events in the capital. What has been happening with Jiaqi?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking this?¡±


    ¡°Just now, I saw a luxurious carriage on the road. It seemed far grander than ordinary officials¡¯, with six guards in the front and six in the back. They were escorting an elegantly dresseddy to She County. Doesn¡¯t it seem unusual?¡±


    Old Master Wang¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°It should be a family visit.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I have a hunch that she¡¯s here to find Jiaqi. Tell me, what exactly happened in the capital? The top schr was transferred here to be a county governor. There must be a reason.¡±


    Old Master Wang looked at her, unsure of how to respond. He carefully chose his words, knowing that this youngdy was too clever to be deceived.


    ¡°Well, Jiaqi was the top schr, and the Emperor appointed him the champion. He even paraded through the streets on a horse, catching a princess¡¯s attention. But after that, Jiaqi refused to marry her. The Emperor punished him by sending him to this remote ce as a county governor. The matter ends there, so I didn¡¯t mention it earlier when I returned.¡±


    ¡°You mean the elegantly dressed youngdy might be the princess, and she¡¯s here to find Jiaqi?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I believe Jiaqi can handle it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried about him. I fear this might disrupt things at home.¡±


    ¡°Girl, Jiaqi genuinely cares about you. He¡¯s not greedy for wealth, and he doesn¡¯t seek power. Such men are a rarity. You should be more forgiving and not dwell on trivial matters.¡±


    Qiao Mai cast a disdainful nce at the old man, who made her appear petty.


    ¡°I understand all of that. It¡¯s just that, have you considered what would happen if this princess refuses to let him go? Do you think our limited power could challenge the might of the royal family?¡±


    At this point, both Mr. Wang and his wife fell silent.


    Indeed, under the heavens, allnds belong to the Emperor. Although he seemed wise and just, there was always the possibility that the princess would resort to using her life as leverage. In such a situation, would he stand by and watch his daughter suffer?


    History has shown that such cases were not umon. When an Emperor¡¯s daughter wanted to marry someone, it was considered an honor.


    Refusing this offer was considered a grave offense, and defying the imperial decree was a crime.


    Looking at the old couple¡¯s silence, Qiao Mai sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it to fate.¡± Then she got up and left. Old Mistress Wang wiped a tear.


    ¡°She has had a hard life. Just as she finally got out of a difficult situation, she was at risk of her husband being snatched. If it were anyone else, we could help, but with a princess involved, we¡¯re powerless. It¡¯s a sad situation.¡±


    Old Master Wang watched Qiao Mai¡¯sposed departure. ¡°We should wait and see. It¡¯s too early to make judgments right now. Nothing is certain.¡±


    He had great confidence in Qiao Mai. Even the water pit that had suddenly appeared seemed to be her doing, but she didn¡¯t want anyone to know.


    Yuan Jiaqi was currently patrolling the outskirts of She County with his bailiffs. Thend here consisted of barren soil, sand, and stone, making it impossible to grow crops. They would need to develop alternative sources of ie.


    If only his wife were here. She had many ideas. They could establish workshops to create jobs and utilize idlebor. She could also advise him on suitable crops for cultivation in this region. She was an expert in this area, knowing what to nt and how to achieve the best results.


    During this period, Yuan Jiaqi had been busy and hadn¡¯t had the chance to return home.


    However, he remembered Old Master Wang¡¯s words, who had encouraged him to invite Qiao Mai to stay in She County for some time, strengthen their rtionship, and seek her advice on improving the lives of the local people.


    As he contemted this, a horse came galloping toward them from a distance.


    ¡°Sir, sir!¡±


    ¡°Why are you so agitated?¡± ¡°Princess Heyi has arrived.¡±


    ¡°Princess Heyi? Why is she here?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was somewhat bewildered. Suddenly, he clenched his fists as he remembered the Emperor¡¯s words in the study.


    Could it be her, the princess who had taken an interest in him?


    ¡°My goodness, why is she here? Doesn¡¯t she know I have a wife and child?


    It¡¯s shameless! Is she so ignorant that she can¡¯t find anyone else to pursue? She¡¯s relentless, even after knowing about my background,¡± He thought.


    A young maiden behaved so recklessly, although she was fully aware of his situation.


    Thinking about it, his anger began to rise. He didn¡¯t have to focus on his studies anymore and had the time and energy to spend with the person he cared about. He was about to build their rtionship, and now this unexpected situation had arisen.


    In his heart, Yuan Jiaqi had scolded this unseen princess many times. He looked down upon her even before meeting her.


    But he remembered that she was a princess, so he suppressed his anger and returned to his mansion with his entourage. At this moment, Princess Heyi was sitting in the living room.


    She was the same elegant young woman enjoying fruit juice at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    ¡°Nanny, She County is so poor and deste. To prevent me from seeing him, Father actually sent him to this ce as the county governor.¡±


    ¡°This area is in the northernmost region, extremely cold in winter, and only produces one season of crops per year. Naturally, it¡¯s impoverished.¡±


    ¡°Nanny, do you think Yuan Jiaqi might be angry with me foring here recklessly?¡±


    ¡°You are a princess. Your willingness to visit him in this manner is an honor for him. He should be delighted.¡±


    ¡°Nanny, I¡¯m feeling a bit nervous.¡±


    ¡°Princess, I honestly don¡¯t think he¡¯s anything special.¡±


    ¡°Quiet! The man I¡¯ve set my eyes on is the best in the world. You¡¯re not allowed to speak ill of him.¡±


    At this point, Yuan Jiaqi arrived outside the room. Princess Heyi was indeed a princess. She was not only beautiful, but also exuded an air of elegance and


    grace..</font>

 Chapter 212 - 212: I Only Have One Wife In My Heart

    Chapter 212 - 212: I Only Have One Wife In My Heart


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    No matter how he looked at it, he felt they weren¡¯t a good match and found her unpleasant.


    He took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and slowly walked into the living room, stopping about five steps away from the princess, then knelt.


    ¡°I pay my respects to Princess Heyi!¡±


    The princess looked at the man she had been pining for, her eyes filled with affection and a hint of shyness.


    ¡°County Governor Yuan, please rise!¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Yuan Jiaqi sat in the ce farthest from the princess, putting some distance between them. The princess gazed at him intently.


    From a distance, he exuded a spirited and handsome aura, but up close, he had a warm and gentle demeanor, his schrly air unmistakable. This only made her like him even more. Her husband should be like him.


    ¡°Princess? Princess?¡± Yuan Jiaqi called out impatiently, snapping her back to reality.


    ¡°County Governor Yuan, when you rode through the streets that day, I was greatly moved. I thought¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Yuan Jiaqi immediately knelt.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t mention this, Your Highness. I am already a married man, deeply in love with my wife. I implore you to reconsider. There are many good men in the world. Please choose another husband.¡±


    With that one statement, the affection the princess had harbored for so long shattered into nothingness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to hear my feelings for you?¡±


    ¡°Princess, please respect yourself. I am a married man. I won¡¯t betray my wife. I will continue to love her even after death. Please, take your affection elsewhere. I cannot ept it.¡±


    ¡°Y-you¡­¡±


    The princess covered her face and began to cry. Her maid scolded sharply.


    ¡°How dare you? Who do you think you are to speak to our princess like that?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi let out a coldugh. ¡°If she weren¡¯t a princess, her behavior would already have resulted in disgrace in the eyes of the world. You should reflect on your actions. You¡¯ve tarnished your own reputation. What do you expect me to say?


    ¡°You! You!¡±


    ¡°If the princess is angry, she can report me to the emperor in the capital. As for me, I will say it once more: in my heart, there is only one wife, and that is my current wife. This will not change for the rest of my life unless I¡¯m reborn after death. ¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi said this with an expression of disgust.


    Are all the men in the world dead? A decent girl, let alone a princess, insisted on marrying a married man, trying to snatch someone else¡¯s husband and break up a family. It was utterly shameless. He didn¡¯t even scold her; that was being lenient. With such vulgar and corrupt behavior, she should be grateful he didn¡¯t say worse. If she were an ordinary girl, she would have been drowned in the spit of themoners a long time ago.


    Princess Heyi got up and pped Yuan Jiaqi.


    He knelt on the ground, maintaining hisposure with an unwavering expression, calmly receiving the princess¡¯s p.


    ¡°Please leave She County immediately and return to the capital as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how hard it was for me toe find you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m already married. I don¡¯t want you to trouble yourself bying to see me.¡± ¡°Is it wrong for me to pursue the one I like?¡±


    ¡°But, Princess, the person you¡¯re pursuing is already married, which affects the harmony of someone else¡¯s family. Most importantly, I do not love you. I won¡¯t sacrifice my family for wealth and power. I loved my wife while she was alive, and I will continue to love her even in death. Please, give your love to someone else. I am not worthy of it.¡±


    If he had expressed himself like this to Qiao Mai, he might have won her heart long ago and wouldn¡¯t be sleeping alone.


    ¡°I want to see what kind of woman your beloved wife is like.¡±


    The princess stormed out of the room, instructing her guards to prepare a carriage as she intended to visit Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s wife.


    Yuan Jiaqi also left, taking advantage of the opportunity to return and confess to his wife. He brought along the six guards Old Master Wang had sent and returned to Lucky Garden ahead of the princess.


    By now, it was already dark outside. They traveled alone on horseback while the princess was in a carriage, so they naturally arrived faster. As soon as he arrived home, he headed straight to the backyard.


    ¡°Wife, wife?¡±


    In fact, Qiao Mai had considered visiting She County when it grewte. This man was someone she had painstakingly raised, and she wasn¡¯t ready to let him go.


    Little did she know he had already returned. What had happened?


    She rushed out of the house upon seeing Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s anxious expression. He grabbed her hand.


    ¡°Wife, I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. Had he been unfaithful and confessed after sumbing to temptation?


    Her face darkened, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Wife, I¡­ I offended the princess.¡±


    ¡°How did you offend her?¡±


    ¡°I scolded her!¡±


    So that¡¯s what happened, huh?¡± Her heart rxed upon hearing this. ¡°What did you say to her?¡±


    ¡°I told her she had no shame and ordered her to return to the capital. She pped me and is now on her way to our house. I came back to let you know before she arrives.¡¯


    Qiao Mai suddenly smiled, ¡°You¡¯vemitted a grave crime.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. Being able to die with you is enough for me.¡±


    Was he indirectly confessing his feelings for her?


    Qiao Mai looked at him, and Yuan Jiaqi dared not meet her eyes, his face blushing crimson.


    ¡°What should we do? She¡¯s about to arrive. I¡¯m not afraid of death; I¡¯m just afraid of implicating you and the children. I can¡¯t lie to myself. I feel disgust and dislike when I see her.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Have you met her before?¡±


    ¡°She was at my shop drinking juice. She exudes an air of elegance and beauty.¡±


    ¡°Compared to you, no one else can make me feel asfortable. I¡¯ve thought about it; if you grow tired of me and kick me out, it would break my heart. I can¡¯t live without you for the rest of my life.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned red all of a sudden. Did he take some medicine? His words were so affectionate. She wondered why she hadn¡¯t noticed this side of him before.


    ¡°Well, I admit that my cooking has attracted you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not just your cooking. It¡¯s your attitude towards life, your approach to things, your every move, your words ¨C all of it has deeply attracted me.¡± Qiao Mai touched his forehead to see if he had a fever, but he didn¡¯t.


    Yuan Jiaqi held her hands and looked at her affectionately.


    ¡°I might have offended the princess, and there¡¯s a possibility I could be used of a crime. That¡¯s why I need to say this today. Even if I end up being executed, I won¡¯t regret it.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? The emperor is a just ruler; he wouldn¡¯t execute you for a few words. Don¡¯t overthink it. If there¡¯s a problem, we¡¯ll face it together.¡± ¡°Wife, 1¡­


    Yuan Jiaqi gathered the courage to hug her. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to do this for a long time, but I was afraid you¡¯d scold or hit me. I can¡¯t win against you, and I didn¡¯t dare to embrace you like this. But now, I¡¯ve finally gathered the courage. Can I hold you for a while?¡±


    Qiao Mai was dumbfounded by this sudden confession. Her face turned bright red, but she allowed him to hold her.


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face was red as a beet. Perhaps it was the first time he had embraced her like this, and he was incredibly nervous.


    The two of them continued embracing in the courtyard. Their housekeeper was standing at the courtyard¡¯s entrance, but she couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly under her breath.


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s a beautiful girl outside. She entered the house without permission and seems quite angry.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the maid. ¡°Got it. Stay away. Don¡¯te near the living room unless I call for you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Qiao Mai gently patted Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s back. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go meet her first.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed and took her hand. ¡°Wife, do you understand what¡¯s in my heart?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s deal with the immediate matter first.


    ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you to meet her. I would rather give everything and not betray you.¡±


    Every word he spoke today made Qiao Mai feel cherished.


    If only he had expressed himself like this to her earlier, she might have had a kid with him.


    However, Qiao Mai felt like the roles had been reversed. She now felt like the man, and Yuan Jiaqi acted like the wife..</font>

 Chapter 213 - 213: Yuan Jiaqi’s Last Hit

    Chapter 213 - 213: Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s Last Hit


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The two walked side by side into the living room. When Princess Heyi saw them so intimate, anger burned in her eyes. She wished she could chop off the hands they were holding.


    ¡°I know you. You¡¯re that woman sitting in the shed in the front yard before.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Princess Heyi examined her up and down. ¡°Based on your looks and family background, you are not worthy of County Governor Yuan.¡±


    ¡°But back then, he had nothing and even had a child. He begged me, and that¡¯s why I took him in. I allowed him to be my live-in husband. What you said almost sounds like you want him to be ungrateful.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°You let him go, give him a divorce, and I canpensate you.¡±


    ¡°I might be just a woman, but I never force anyone. As long as my husband wants to leave, I will let him go.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi added, ¡°Wife, even if you divorce me, my heart would still belong to you. I would remain faithful to you, and if anyone dared to touch me, I would end my life. At that time, you¡¯d only need to take care of our son.¡±


    Princess Heyi was fuming. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯ve offended?¡±


    Looking at her, Qiao Mai continued, ¡°You are a princess, I know. My husband has already informed me of the situation. I don¡¯t understand, though. You¡¯re a prominent princess, and it¡¯s natural to be interested in a man. However, shouldn¡¯t you find out more? Why do you insist on breaking up someone else¡¯s family? With your status, can¡¯t you find a man? Why do you have to covet someone else¡¯s husband?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Princess Heyi was speechless, feeling humiliated. It seemed that this married couple didn¡¯t hold back when they spoke.


    Her maid shouted, ¡°You¡¯re bold to show such disrespect to the princess!¡±


    Qiao Mai gave her a sharp look. ¡°Is it considered disrespectful if we speak the truth? Isn¡¯t it the case that she¡¯s interested in my husband? Isn¡¯t it the case that she can¡¯t live without someone else¡¯s husband? I¡¯ve never heard of a princess so desperate for a man. Do other men not smell as sweet?¡±


    ¡°You impertinent people!¡±


    ¡°Princess, return to the capital. Don¡¯te back here. Otherwise, the whole Ming Dynasty will know you¡¯ve set your sights on a married man. If he doesn¡¯t yield, you want to use your power to press him down.¡±


    ¡°I am the Ming Dynasty¡¯s princess. Choosing him is his good fortune. You two dared to insult me like this. Guards!¡±


    Twelve guards stormed in. ¡°Your Highness, what is it?¡± ¡°Take them away and bring them back to the capital!¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stood in front of Qiao Mai. ¡°Who dares? I am a court official appointed by the emperor. I am the emperor¡¯s appointed top schr. Without the emperor¡¯s order or an official decree, who dares to act against me?¡± The guards hesitated, looking at the princess.


    Qiao Mai said, ¡°You are a princess, but you don¡¯t have the right to arrest people.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re ying with fire. If I don¡¯t handle this, I will no longer be a princess.


    Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Princess Heyi finally left, leaving the house quiet.


    She hade from the capital, thinking her beauty and status would surely make County Governor Yuan fall in love with her. She couldn¡¯t have imagined this oue.


    The emperor had warned her, but she didn¡¯t believe it. She hade anyway and had been humiliated before returning home.


    She was determined to take revenge.


    The more she couldn¡¯t have him, the more she wanted him. She was obsessed with taking Yuan Jiaqi away from that woman, even if it meant killing his wife. Bing his wife has be her obsession.


    She wouldn¡¯t believe that, with her status, she couldn¡¯t handle them.


    She was unwilling to ept that, as a princess, she had lost to a vige woman.


    Yuan Jiaqi held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand and escorted her back to the courtyard.


    ¡°Wife, may I stay here for a while?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Sit down and have some water. You must be thirsty after your journey.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    They sat in the courtyard, facing each other. At that moment, Yuan Jiaqi was no longer the young boy he seemed. He looked at her with a grim expression.


    ¡°We¡¯vepletely offended the princess.¡±


    ¡°Focus on your duties, and nothing will happen at home. My words might have only angered her.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve already considered the worst-case scenario. If something happens to Chuan¡¯er, I¡¯ll go with him. But I will never be a viin. ¡±


    ¡°Even if you agreed to the princess¡¯s request, it wouldn¡¯t make you a viin.


    After all, we had a business arrangement.¡±


    ¡°No, it may have started that way, but it¡¯s not like that anymore. I¡¯ve gradually fallen in love with you. All those things you¡¯ve done for me and Chuan¡¯er, we couldn¡¯t repay you even if we staked our lives. So, I¡¯ve studied hard, trying to bring honor and contribute to you, to this family.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and felt happy.


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard. It¡¯s harder for you at home. I can¡¯t help you much, but I¡¯ll do my best. I caused you trouble this time.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no trouble I can¡¯t handle in this world. Just rx and be a good governor for the people.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held her hand. ¡°You¡¯re the best thing that has ever happened to me in this world. I¡¯m willing to protect you with my life, even though I may be weak. No matter what authority we face, my heart for you remains unchanged. I¡­ I hope that we can make our rtionship real. Can we?¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°We can. If you can truly trade your faithfulness to me for your life, then I am willing to use my life to protect you and this family.¡±


    ¡°Wife!¡±


    ¡°Stay with me tonight?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face turned bright red. Qiao Mai was straightforward, agreeing to let him move in right away. He hadn¡¯t even prepared for this.


    Qiao Mai nced at him and said, ¡°Move in first and get used to it. How can we be a real couple otherwise?¡±


    ¡°But what about Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Move in with the twin brothers. The three of them can share a bed. Isn¡¯t that fine?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was overwhelmed with anxiety. ¡°Let me go and pack and arrange for Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qiao Mai remained calm. Her personality was like this¡ªonce she decided, she epted it boldly.


    It was just sharing a bed; she wasn¡¯t a sheltered flower.


    In the previous life, she was a virgin. This time around, she wasn¡¯t. With thirty years in both lifetimes, she still hadn¡¯t experienced the taste of a man.


    She decided to try it out. After all, she sometimes wondered, watching romantic movies, what the fuss was all about.


    There was so much passion. It was her turn now. It felt like she was treating herself and trying to see if it was really that exciting.


    The incident with the princess¡¯s visit was known by Old Master and Mistress Wang. They didn¡¯t expect that this married couple would chase away the princess.


    They were worried, but the housekeeper came in with a smug smile.


    ¡°Old Master and Mistress Wang, guess how Mistress and her husband will handle this after everything that¡¯s happened?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang impatiently said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush. Tell us. We¡¯re already anxious.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve received a message. Mistress asked Mr. Yuan to go back and pack up, and he would move to the rear courtyard. Young Master Chuan will move to Young Master Feng and Yun¡¯s side. Mr. Yuan just went to pack up.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was bbergasted. ¡°Oh my God, it¡¯s a crisis. They¡¯re about to face a huge problem, and they¡¯re still messing around?¡±


    Old Master Wang gave his wife a stern look. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. They¡¯ve been together for several years, yet they¡¯ve never lived together. Maybe that girl wants to be a true couple in their final days.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was furious and gave him a shove. ¡°Save them!¡±


    Old Master Wang blinked. ¡°What can I do? She¡¯s a princess, after all. She¡¯s practically ruling the world.¡±


    ¡°What should we do? What should we do? They¡¯re so determined to face life and death?¡±</font>

 Chapter 214 - 214: A Warrior Can Be Killed But Not Humiliated

    Chapter 214 - 214: A Warrior Can Be Killed But Not Humiliated


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be so bad. Even if we¡¯ve offended the princess, she¡¯s not Jiaqi¡¯s superior or an official. She couldn¡¯t harm others. This matter will have to go through the Emperor. It depends on what our Emperor decides to do.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang wiped away a tear, ¡°If something happens to them, I won¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll stay home to take care of this family and the children.¡±


    ¡°Why are you crying? The situation isn¡¯t clear yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably going to end badly.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when the timees.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    As the elderly couple worried, Yuan Jiaqi arranged everything for Chuan¡¯er. With his sharp, wise eyes, Chuan¡¯er looked mature beyond his years.


    ¡°Father, have you finally made it out? Will Mother allow you to sleep in her room?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi patted Chuan¡¯er¡¯s little head and said, ¡°You¡¯ll sleep with your brother tonight, but don¡¯t sleep like a log. Keep your senses sharp.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Father. You don¡¯t need to worry about me. Just take care of yourself. ¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi, face red with embarrassment, carried his luggage and went to the backyard. Meanwhile, Qiao Mai was in the small kitchen, busy preparing a meal.


    He ced his luggage on Qiao Mai¡¯s bed, tidying it up as he contemted the evening, unable to contain his excitement.


    In the courtyard were four dishes and a pot of wine, all of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s favorite dishes.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia took Ling¡¯er and went to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s ce to create a conducive atmosphere for the two.


    Qiao Mai served him a portion of the dish. ¡°Come, it¡¯s quitete, and you must be hungry.¡±


    ¡°A bit, yes.¡±


    His anxiety was evident in his slightly stuttering speech.


    ¡°No need to be nervous. You need some time to adjust. We won¡¯t do anything tonight; we¡¯ll wait until you¡¯ve adapted before engaging in the marital ceremony.¡±


    Her straightforwardness surprised Yuan Jiaqi. He was, after all, a man from ancient times, and such directness caught him off guard.


    ¡°A-anything you say, wife.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll drink to your courage today, defying the royal authority for me.¡± The couple exchanged cups, and Yuan Jiaqi soon felt a little lightheaded.


    ¡°Wife, I don¡¯t intend to defy the imperial authority. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t stand that princess. She has no shame. She¡¯s a young woman; she could have found an unmarried young man. Instead, she¡¯s set her sights on a married man with a child. Do you think her conduct is improper?¡±


    ¡°If she were to change her ways, it might be tolerable.¡±


    ¡°The problem is that she wants to separate us. I¡¯ve endured a lot all because she¡¯s a princess. I haven¡¯t spoken out against her to avoid trouble.¡±


    With the aid of alcohol, Yuan Jiaqi poured out his heart, much like a child who had been wronged and returned home to confide in his family.


    ¡°You spoke out against the princess because you couldn¡¯t stand her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that. I love you, and I can¡¯t imagine a life without you. No one shoulde between us or tarnish your reputation. In my heart, you are like a heavenly fairy. ¡±


    Qiao Mai watched him with a dreamy look in his eyes, knowing he had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and was speaking drunkenly.


    ¡°What if they threaten you with Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er has also received your kindness. My son and I are willing to repay it with our lives. Please, wife, don¡¯t abandon the two of us.


    ¡°If you hadn¡¯t scolded her, I wouldn¡¯t have said those things today. Some matters need to be handled with more tact.¡±


    ¡°She told me to divorce you. I can¡¯t be subtle when she¡¯s so brazen. I, Yuan Jiaqi, am an upright man.¡±


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll help you back to bed. You¡¯ve had quite a bit to drink.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi wobbled as he stood up, and after a few unsteady steps, he plopped down. His face was flushed.


    ¡°Wife, I¡¯m a bit nervous. I drank quite a bit of wine to bolster my courage. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Once on the brick bed, he flopped down and fell fast asleep.


    Qiao Mai shook her head helplessly. He spoke as if she were a wild beast and needed alcohol to bolster his courage.


    She undressed him, took off his shoes and outer clothing, and guided him inside.


    From the doorway, she observed Yue Hong and Yue Xia tidying up the table while Ling¡¯er yed on the floor. She gave them some instructions and then closed the door behind her.


    While they were drinking, she had already considered that violence couldn¡¯t be the solution to quell this matter. She wasn¡¯t afraid of it, but life wouldn¡¯t be peaceful after that.


    To maintain peace and harmony, she needed to use something from the world of immortals ¨C elixirs.


    In her collection of elixir recipes, there was a third-grade elixir called ¡°Forget


    Dust Elixir,¡± which was different from the ¡°Forget Love Elixir.¡±


    Thetter would make you forget your emotions, while the ¡°Forget Dust Elixir¡± would erase a segment of one¡¯s memory. For cultivators, taking it would make them forget the past year. For regr people, it would erase memories from two to three years ago. The higher the grade of the elixir, the more memories it could erase, and the longer the duration.


    To regain those memories would require several years. Even if she woke up and remembered everything, so much time would have passed. Who would believe her words?


    She decided to let the princess taste the effects of this elixir, which would be a bargain for her.


    After ncing at Yuan Jiaqi, she blinked and entered her space.


    Qiao Mai had the recipe but no elixir, so she needed to refine a batch. This was a bit time-sensitive, so she sat by herputer and searched on the tform.


    Using her barter ability, she exchanged twenty third-grade elixirs for twenty ¡°Forget Dust Elixirs¡± and paid a nominal handling fee.


    She put the vials in her pocket, checked the time, and found it was still early. She walked out of her room.


    Greeny had taken care of her domain quite well, naming it ¡°Wheat Residence.¡± It had turned the surrounding shelves into antique-looking curio cabs, with modern items on disy, along with some elixirs Qiao Mai had refined and various items she had obtained on the tform.


    ¡°Greeny?¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m here,¡± Greeny appeared in a sh.


    ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    ¡°Farming.¡±


    ¡°Are you tired?¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m not tired. I¡¯m a spirit of the space, so I don¡¯t need to do things like regr farmers. I nt and harvest with my thoughts.¡±


    Qiao Mai closed her eyes and checked her space. ¡°It¡¯s Level Seven now?¡±


    ¡°Yes. There are currently three hundred million acres ofnd.¡±


    ¡°Almost catching up to Earth where I lived my previous life?¡±


    Greeny pursed her lips in disdain. ¡°I couldn¡¯t speak before, but I knew everything. The ce you lived was the smallest star in the gxy. You don¡¯t know that in the vastness of the universe, there are stars ten, twenty times, even a hundred times bigger than Earth.¡±


    ¡°Wow, too bad I¡¯m not an astronaut. I can only listen to you talk about it.¡±


    ¡°You should focus on your cultivation. If you have the chance, you can tear through the void and explore the outside world.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about itter. I don¡¯t have such high aspirations. All I want is a peaceful and happy life.¡±


    Qiao Mai reached into the void and pulled out arge strawberry, which she held while eating.


    ¡°Mmm, the fruit from my space tastes much better than outside.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s enriched with spiritual energy, big in size, sweet in taste, and good for your body. Master, you are now a cultivator, so you should avoid eating too many external things with impurities.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s a human world outside with vors I like.¡¯


    Qiao Mai chatted with Greeny in her space for a while before changing into her night robes.


    Yuan Jiaqi was sleeping soundly, still snoring gently. The surroundings were quiet. Earlier, she had ced a trace of her consciousness on the princess. Following this thread of consciousness, she traveled fifty miles to the south to find her and her attendants.


    Qiao Mai pressed their sleeping acupoints and unceremoniously ced a ¡°Forget Dust Elixir¡± into each of their mouths.


    She couldn¡¯t let just the princess take it; they had to consume it together. Sixteen elixirs were wasted: twelve guards, two maids, and one servant, in addition to the princess.


    All of this couldn¡¯t be bought with money. Qiao Mai felt heartbroken, so she pinched the princess¡¯s cheek.


    She was even of noble blood, but her skin was so rough. The ancient skincare techniques were simply insufficient.


    Even if she had natural smooth skin, it had been overshadowed by their backward practices..</font>

 Chapter 215 - 215: A Reason to Claim Her

    Chapter 215 - 215: A Reason to im Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She sighed, but the ancient times had their merits. Everything was natural, unlike Earth, where changing one¡¯s appearance might make them look good. But when they had children, people might think they were adopted.


    With her current abilities, making some changes here was not impossible.


    But she loved the ancient times. If she changed too much, it wouldn¡¯t feel like that anymore.


    Qiao Mai stared at the princess¡¯s face for a while, then jumped out of the window and walked along the official road alone.


    When Yuan Jiaqi woke up the next day, he opened his eyes and saw his forehead covered in sweat. He stared nkly at the ceiling.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    He didn¡¯t dare to move and waited in silence, noticing no movement inside the room. He slowly turned his head to the side. The bed was neatly made with no sign of Qiao Mai.


    Yuan Jiaqi let out a relieved sigh, sat up slowly, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and checked his clothes.


    He was disappointed to see that his inner clothes were in perfect order.


    Why didn¡¯t she ravage him? It was such a waste. If she had, he would have belonged to her, and he would have had a reason to im herter.


    What should he do now? He was intact.


    He smacked his face suddenly as if to clear his mind. What was he thinking? He quickly got up, dressed, and went out.


    There was no one in the backyard. Yuan Jiaqi habitually looked at the sky before heading straight to the martial arts field.


    Qiao Mai was teaching the children martial arts. She supervised them, correcting their movements as they practiced seriously.


    When he arrived, none of the children paid any attention to him, and he awkwardly sat to the side.


    He was not cut out for martial arts, so he could only follow along with the movements, although he wasn¡¯t very good at it.


    After a while, Qiao Mai walked over, drenched in sweat. Yuan Jiaqi quickly poured her a ss of water.


    ¡°Did my snoringst night bother you?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. Qiao Mai finished the ss of water.


    ¡°I wonder if the princess went to Lord Wang or back to the capital to report?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just focus on being the county governor.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t youe with me to She County for a while?¡±


    ¡°No. You can return yourself.¡±


    ¡°Why not? It¡¯s so close to home, and you cane home anytime you want.¡± ¡°Why should I go there?¡±


    ¡°Thend is infertile there. I was hoping you could help me think of solutions. Maybe we could diversify the economy a bit. People can¡¯t rely on one season¡¯s harvest a year. We can¡¯t leave them starving.¡±


    ¡°This problem isn¡¯t unique to She County. The whole Wei City is facing it.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any good ideas?¡±


    ¡°nt trees. Transform the barrennds into forests.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°nting trees may face some challenges. There¡¯s a saying: ¡®If you want to get rich, first nt trees.¡¯ The roots can reduce soil erosion and change soil desertification.


    ¡°So, what kind of trees should we nt?¡±


    ¡°Pine and fir trees that can withstand the cold are essential. They can grow even at temperatures as low as minus fifty degrees in winter. Once they mature, they can be used to make furniture and fuel. The pine cones can be roasted and sold. Pine nuts have a great vor and can be used in dishes or snacks. This can also create an additional source of ie for the people.¡±


    ¡°Pine nuts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve observed that the Ming Dynasty has not recognized this yet. No one is eating pine nuts.¡±


    ¡°Have we tried them?¡± ¡°Not yet, but I can let you taste them in advance.¡± ¡°Can I taste them now?¡±


    ¡°Of course, let¡¯s go. The kids can practice here.¡±


    In the backyard, Qiao Mai asked him to sit while she went inside to change her clothes. She retrieved a pinecone from her space and brought a bag of roasted pine nuts.


    She ced them on a tray and brought it to the table.


    ¡°Take a look.¡±


    ¡°Is this the pinecone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the bag next to it contains pine nuts. Try some. Roasted pine nuts taste great. ¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi opened the paper bag and saw golden kernels with a seam in the middle.


    ¡°Are these ripe?¡±


    ¡°No, those seams are pre-scored for easy shelling.¡±


    He picked a nut, ced it in his mouth, and chewed. ¡°Yum, it¡¯s delicious. It tastes somewhat like¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing topare it to; its vor is unique.¡±


    ¡°If I nt these trees, how many years until they mature?¡±


    ¡°Pine nuts will start to grow in four to five years. As the pine trees get older, the amount of nuts will increase. The main benefit is that nting these trees will help prevent further desertification of thend, retain moisture in the soil, and reduce drought in your region. Moreover, you can set up a small paper mill. Pine trees and even waste wood and branches can be used to make paper.


    You can even use grass.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was left utterly stunned by this revtion. ¡°Papermaking is a technology controlled by powerful families. How could you know about them, Wife?¡±


    ¡°In this world, there¡¯s nothing that can¡¯t be conquered if one sets their heart on it. This challenge is no match for me.¡±


    ¡°But running such an operation doese with risks.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you should start by focusing on nting trees. Take it slow, and remember that growing trees requiresbor, resources, and financial investment. Even just the saplings will cost quite a bit, not to mention the cost of nting them.¡±


    ¡°Wife, can you help me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll provide you with the seedlings and some silver. Everything else is up to you.¡±


    ¡°Sure, from now on, apart from handling legal cases and disputes, I¡¯ll also take people to nt trees. We¡¯ll post notices to inform the people. Anyone who dares to cut down trees on fallownd will face a month in jail and a fine of ten taels of silver.¡¯


    ¡°That¡¯s your business. I¡¯m not going to manage it. Remember, one person¡¯s power is limited. You need to learn how to manage people.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Wife.¡¯


    At this point, Yuan Jiaqi had forgotten what happened in their bedroom and his earlier shyness.


    He stood up and said, ¡°Wife, I have to go now.¡±


    ¡°Take your guards with you.¡±


    Yuan Jiagi suddenly remembered something and hesitated. ¡°I¡¯lle back in a few days.¡±


    Qiao Mai took several silver notes from her sleeve and handed them to him. ¡°Use these for now. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll give you more. Don¡¯t use the county treasury¡¯s silver. Make sure to keep ounts; you¡¯ll need to rifyter.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve hired an ountant and a steward. All the officials in the court are newly appointed and have signed written agreements. I don¡¯t think they dare to engage in corrupt practices.¡±


    ¡°Go on and get busy. The tree seedlings should be delivered to our home every ten days. Each time, I¡¯ll give you a thousand saplings.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Wife!¡± ¡°I support you in doing the right thing.¡±


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi put away the silver notes and looked at her deeply before taking a step forward and hugging her.


    ¡°When I¡¯ve achieved something, can we¡­ Can we have our own child?¡± Qiao Mai was momentarily surprised. ¡°Are you prepared for that?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m waiting for you to make the first move. I¡¯m too nervous and dare not take any initiative.¡±


    After saying that, Yuan Jiaqi let her go and rushed to the courtyard. He was too embarrassed.


    Qiao Mai looked at the courtyard gate. At that moment, a maid entered.


    ¡°Mistress, Old Mistress Wang would like to see you.¡±


    Qiao Mai followed her into the courtyard and saw that they were having breakfast. The olddy waved her over.


    ¡°Girl,e and have breakfast with us. I have something to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    She wiped her hands, sat beside the olddy, and was served a bowl of porridge. Old Mistress Wang handed her a thin pancake.


    ¡°Go on and eat. Where¡¯s Jiaqi?


    ¡°He went back to the court.¡±


    ¡°Is it true that you n to be a real couple now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he told me he can¡¯t live without me. I¡¯m not a prudish person, so I agreed.¡±


    ¡°Are you not nning to hold a ceremony or anything?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary. We¡¯re married and have children. Moving in together is enough.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang nced at her with a smile. ¡°Is the issue with the princess resolved?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I took care of it. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡±


    Old Master Wang dismissed the servants and asked in a low voice, ¡°Did you kill</font>

 Chapter 216 - 216: Make Her Belong To Him

    Chapter 216 - 216: Make Her Belong To Him


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°How could it be? Am I so bloodthirsty?¡±


    Old Master Wang thought, ¡°Nonsense! If you aren¡¯t responsible for the lives beside the water pits, I¡¯ll eat this te.¡±


    ¡°How did you resolve it?¡±


    ¡°I used a drug.¡±


    ¡°But using a drug is essentially killing.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°I never said it was poison!¡±


    As they interrogated her, Qiao Mai continued to eat.


    ¡°Then what did you use?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s something called ¡®Forget Dust Pill.¡¯ When you take it, you forget the whole thing. However, this medicine also has a time limit. In five or six years, the memoryes back. By then, even if she mentioned something, nobody would believe her. They¡¯d all think she¡¯s crazy. Moreover, she¡¯ll be married, and this matter will be forgotten. She¡¯ll only suffer silently if she tries to bring it up.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll seek revenge in secret?¡±


    ¡°Revenge?¡±


    Qiao Mai scoffed. ¡°Forget about me not being afraid of her right now. In five or six years, I¡¯ll have grown stronger. It¡¯s them who should be afraid of me. I won¡¯t kill her because I don¡¯t want to cause trouble for my family. Her continued existence is entirely for my family¡¯s reputation.¡±


    She spoke so casually that it sent shivers down Old Master and Mistress Wang¡¯s spines.


    ¡°Are your martial arts invincible?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the two astonished elders and suddenly realized she had been too straightforward.


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s probably because my body is suitable for martial arts training. Eat, eat. Just remember that I can protect you.¡±


    The old couple swallowed hard and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. After finishing the meal, Qiao Mai left.


    Meanwhile, on the official road, a horse-drawn carriage traveled from north to south leisurely. A nobledy rested her chin on her hand, gazing into the distance.


    ¡°Nanny, I feel like I¡¯ve forgotten a lot of things. No matter how hard I try, I can¡¯t remember.¡±


    The nanny looked at two other maids and said, ¡°Princess, this old servant feels the same way.¡± ¡°Me too!¡±


    ¡°Did you also forget?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I keep hearing a voice, telling me to bring the princess back to the capital.¡±


    ¡°I feel the same way. The voice is neither male nor female, urging me to return to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Princess, if you can¡¯t remember, don¡¯t think about it. As long as you¡¯re safe, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    This was Princess Heyi and her entourage, but they had all forgotten something important. They could only follow the voice in their hearts toward the direction of the capital.


    In the Imperial Study, the Emperor was busy reviewing memorials. He was aware of Princess Heyi¡¯s departure from the capital.


    He didn¡¯t stop her or order her to return. He hoped she would see Yuan Jiaqi and get a definite answer so her heart could be at ease.


    Although the Emperor was somewhat annoyed, he appreciated Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s integrity. He didn¡¯t bow for wealth, bend for power, or forsake the woman he loved because of her beauty. That was a real man!


    The Emperor was curious about the kind of woman who could make a man like Yuan Jiaqi wholeheartedly devoted.


    When Yuan Jiaqi obtained a higher official position, the Emperor nned to summon him to the pce to have a closer look.


    As he was contemting this, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Your Majesty, there¡¯s news about Princess Heyi.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    A figure dressed in ck walked in, half kneeling before the Emperor.


    ¡°Princess Heyi is on her way back to the capital.¡±


    ¡°She was rejected?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Very well. If she¡¯s given up, I must find a suitable husband for her. You may leave.¡±


    With the Emperor¡¯s words, this chapter of Princess Heyi¡¯s journey came to a close.


    In Lucky Garden, life returned to normal. Tian Sanzhuang had settled down in the county. On their wedding day, he invited his extended family and some colleagues.


    Initially, they intended to invite the county governor, but unfortunately, the governor of Yi County didn¡¯t allow anyone to tter him. As soon as he heard about it, he promptly declined the invitation.


    The county deputy governor, however, came and visited Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s house. Although Tian Sanzhuang was not pleased, he didn¡¯t dare to show it.


    The wedding went smoothly, but his parents insisted on staying at his house.


    They stubbornly refused to leave. He would have kicked them out if it weren¡¯t


    for the other guests.


    Thinking about the tea ceremony the next morning, he reluctantly allowed them to stay one more night.


    The new bride served tea the next day, but the old couple put on airs. A stern look from Tian Sanzhuang made them reconsider.


    After the tea ceremony and breakfast, Tian Sanzhuang asked his colleagues to help him forcefully send his parents back to Peach Blossom Vige.


    This incident became a talking point in Tianshui Town. During this time, the Tian couple wouldn¡¯t have dared to show their faces, fearing the townsfolk¡¯s ridicule.


    The weather was hot and dry. After Yuan Jiaqi returned to She County, he immediately started nning. Based on the suggestions from his wife and the current situation in She County, he used the money she provided to purchase all the barrennd.


    He then publicly recruitedbor from the county, hiring specialized tree-nting workers who were paid daily wages. Payments were made immediately.


    Many people signed up for work. The line outside the government office stretched beyond the city gates. While it was a slight exaggeration, many people were interested.


    Ten dayster, Yuan Jiaqi returned home with the workers. By then, Qiao Mai had prepared the saplings for him.


    Qiao Mai gave him arge bucket of nutrient solution, essentially water infused with spiritual energy. She was worried the workers would sneakily drink it, so she added some coloring.


    ¡°Wife, do you have any books on nting trees? I¡¯d like to read one.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Qiao Mai brought him a book and asked, ¡°Are you staying?


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. ¡°I won¡¯t stay. I need to nt the saplings quickly for my peace of mind. But can you send me a thousand saplings every ten days?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m used to living at home. I can¡¯t stay elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll finish the work as soon as possible ande home.¡±


    ¡°Yes, remember to nt the trees with a ten-meter spacing. After nting each tree, water it with a small bowl of the colored water I gave you. You must water them as this helps their roots grow well.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯m going now.¡±


    As Yuan Jiaqi was about to leave, Qiao Mai had the staff pack some food and dishes she had made, loading it onto a wagon for him.


    She also saw him off on the main road. Yuan Jiaqi kept turning back to look at her, reluctant to leave.


    But there would be more opportunities in the future. When winter came in the north, there would be no more nting. At that time, he would return home to stay, and by then, he must make her his so he wouldn¡¯t be tormented by uncertainty.


    Every ten days, he returned to take a thousand saplings Qiao Mai had prepared for him.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang, in an attempt to bring the couple closer together, insisted on dragging Qiao Mai to She County, saying her husband had taken up this post and they had to visit. It was improper not to.


    Qiao Mai was forcefully brought along. The entire family traveled to She County with her.


    Yuan Jiaqi was ecstatic and immediately had the steward prepare various supplies. He also booked arge feast at a restaurant.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you came.¡±


    ¡°It was me and the old man who dragged her here.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi expressed gratitude towards the old couple with a warm look, and the family gathered around the table, eating and chatting.


    ¡°It¡¯s August already, but it¡¯s still so dry. We need some rain; the ground is parched.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thankfully, some mysterious benefactor dug many pits and stored water.


    Otherwise, our people would have fled to the south.¡±


    ¡°The court has dug half of the river channels, and they are nearing our area.¡±


    ¡°As long as those pits have water, the north will be stable. But it¡¯s hard work for themoners to carry water for irrigation.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your tree-nting project going?¡±


    ¡°I bought all the barrennd around the county. I¡¯ve nted many trees, with one pine tree every ten meters. Would you like to see themter?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re too tired to go. You and your wife can go. Let here back and tell us.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    ¡°Mom, can we ride ponies with you?¡±


    Smiling, Qiao Mai said, ¡°Sure!¡±


    She was saying that, but she couldn¡¯t help but grumble internally. Riding out in this zing sun? It¡¯s notfortable at all.


    Despite her thoughts, she agreed to take the kids because it made them happy.


    After lunch, Qiao Mai purchased several hats from her space and gave one to each person. Then, she rode her horse with the children and followed Yuan


    Jiaqi to the barrennd..</font>

 Chapter 217 - 217: Is There Anything You Can’t Say?

    Chapter 217 - 217: Is There Anything You Can¡¯t Say?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At this moment, the workers were all busy, each with a shovel, digging holes and nting trees on the barrennd.


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why don¡¯t we provide them with some water?¡±


    ¡°We do have water. A water cartes every hour to bring water here. When they get thirsty, they boil it and let it cool down before drinking. The remaining water is used for watering the trees.¡±


    ¡°Oh. How long will it take to nt the one thousand saplings?¡±


    ¡°Five days with fifty workers.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°The efficiency seems a bit low.¡±


    ¡°The soil here has lots of rocks, making it difficult to dig.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home every five days to get more saplings? You don¡¯t need toe every time. After all, you¡¯re not staying at home. You can send someone instead.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do that. I¡¯m noting back just for the saplings; I¡¯m there for you. But it seems you don¡¯t want toe to my ce.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at his blushing face and smiled without further objections.


    In the evening, the old couple decided to stay for the night. Qiao Mai and the children had no choice but to stay.


    However, staying here was not asfortable as being at home. Especially at night, she felt uneasy with Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s watchful eyes.


    If he wanted to consummate their marriage, he could say it. Does he think he¡¯ll achieve anything while staring at her?


    What¡¯s going on? Is he trying to create some mood here?


    ¡°Wife?¡±


    ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been with a woman for almost ten years. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to control myself.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to turn into a wolf? Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m not afraid of passionate men. Juste boldly.¡±


    ¡°No, no. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to control myself properly. What if you say


    I¡¯m no goodter?¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, making Yuan Jiaqi even redder.


    ¡°Don¡¯tugh, Wife. I genuinely have not much interest in sex. If it weren¡¯t for you, I could live without women for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°Then, should we sleep separately?¡±


    ¡°No, I have to make you mine; only then will I feel at ease.¡±


    Qiao Mai frowned, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. Even if we sleep together, I will still be myself if you betray me. I don¡¯t belong to anyone; I¡¯m not an object. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°I understand. I belong to you, and you belong to yourself. Is that eptable?¡±


    ¡°Why are you dragging your feet? It¡¯s almost morning!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath, turned his head, blew out themp, and closed his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then pounced toward Qiao Mai.


    It was already morning. Yuan Jiaqi, ustomed to getting up early, saw Qiao Mai¡¯s exposed fair chest. His mind went nk.


    He immediately remembered the events ofst night, and his face turned bright red, fearing Qiao Mai might be dissatisfied.


    ¡°Wife? 1¡­ 1¡­


    ¡°Go ahead, say whatever you want. We¡¯ve alreadye this far; there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t discuss.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and looked at him with a seductive expression, making his heart race even more. He dared not speak.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the court, okay?¡± He finally blurted out after hesitating for a while.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll take the children back home today. I¡¯m ufortable here. It¡¯s better at home.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be back home in five days.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    After exchanging a few words, Yuan Jiaqi mustered his courage and leaned closer to her.


    ¡°The weather is too hot. I won¡¯t hold you, and I won¡¯t see you off.¡±


    ¡°Off to work with you. If you stay any longer, someone wille looking for you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly dressed, washed up and left the room. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh. He seemed like he was running away.


    How can someone be so shy, especially after having been married once before? She should be the shy one.


    Ancient men were even shy about matters in this area, which she found particrly intriguing, and she liked it a lot.


    Unbeknownst to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi, the night¡¯s events were known to Old Mistress Wang.


    When Yue Hong and Yue Xia went to y with Ling¡¯er, they spilled the beans about them, leading to heartyughter from the olddy.


    ¡°I told you so. To break that final barrier, someone has to push them.


    Otherwise, how could they take that step?¡±


    Old Master Wang stroked his beard with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re quite clever.¡±


    ¡°Of course, from now on, they are like two peas in a pod, working together for the good of the family. Shouldn¡¯t we celebrate this?¡±


    ¡°Or we could return home. I¡¯ve had enough of staying here for a night.¡±


    ¡°Me too. It¡¯s easy to go from simplicity toplexity, but difficult to do the opposite.¡±


    At that moment, Qiao Mai arrived. She hadn¡¯t seen Ling¡¯er when she woke up, so she came looking for her and found the three of them chatting andughing. She realized they were making fun of her again.


    ¡°Grandmother, I¡¯ve arranged for a carriage. Shall we return to Tianshui Town?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great. Let¡¯s get ready. I haven¡¯t wanted to stay here. I¡¯m notfortable here. I¡¯m even thinking about my chicks and deer back home.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for putting you through this for Jiaqi and me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing at all. In fact, it¡¯s worth it. Make sure to have a few children with Jiaqi while I¡¯m still young enough to help take care of them.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang considered herself Qiao Mai¡¯s real grandmother. Her words were filled with care, warming Qiao Mai¡¯s heart.


    The family had breakfast and headed back to Tianshui Town. Yuan Jiaqi stood on the city gate tower, watching their carriage until it disappeared.


    September soon came. After three years of drought, the townspeople rejoiced when torrential rain finally arrived in mid-September. They rushed outside, tears streaming down their faces, kneeling and thanking the heavens for showing mercy and ending their punishment.


    From that day on, Qiao Mai¡¯s work of transporting water was done.


    She could now focus on managing her household, reading books when she had free time, practicing her skills in the space at night, and reuniting with her husband a few times.


    Life wasfortable and fulfilling.


    On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi remained quite busy. He not only handled official duties but also worked on his purchasednd of over ten thousand acres.


    With many people migrating south to escape the drought, there was a lot of avablend.


    However, he was concerned that people would recklessly cut down trees before the winter arrived without proper regtions. He ordered the construction of a wall and fences around the area, with signs prohibiting unauthorized logging.


    Even with these measures, people were still trying to exploit the situation by sneaking into the area for illegal logging.


    When caught, they were immediately sent to the local prison for a one-year sentence.


    With full support from Qiao Mai, Yuan Jiaqi managed to transform over ten thousand acres of barrennd into lush forests within a few months. He was now wrapping up this project, and his next n was to purchase more barrennd for reforestation.


    Since no one is reiming thend, he, as the county governor, has taken it upon himself to do so. After all, there¡¯s no tax to be paid for ten years, so he¡¯s nting trees first.


    Within five years, the trees in these forests would start to bear nuts. Yuan Jiaqi intended to establish a pine nut processing workshop and ask Qiao Mai for a recipe to roast them.


    The proceeds from the pine nuts will be sold by his wife, as she is more business-savvy than him. She can surely fetch a good price for them..</font>

 Chapter 218 - 218: Liu Ye’s Marriage

    Chapter 218 - 218: Liu Ye¡¯s Marriage


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Themoners happily harvested the autumn crops. Just as they sowed the seeds, it seemed the heavens werepensating for the people, letting a good rain shower fall.


    In a matter of days, the wheat sprouted, lush and beautiful.


    The weather finally returned to normal. In early November, snowkes began to fall to the north of Wei City.


    When it¡¯s not snowing, people hope for snow. When it snowed, people were afraid of it.


    Yuan Jiaqi had convened meetings with vige heads and town leaders to prepare for snow-rted disasters. Dpidated houses had to be addressed in advance. Viges and towns without the capability had to raise funds collectively to resolve these issues.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Those facing difficulties could apply to the county government, and officials would verify house by house.


    The money collected from various households was recorded. With the remaining funds, they purchased food and firewood to distribute to each family. Anyone caught embezzling even a single copper coin would be severely punished.


    With these two measures, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s reputation as a fair and upright official spread far and wide.


    Upon hearing this, the county governor of Yi County rolled his eyes. ¡°Your wife can make money, and you are certainly not short of silver. You can help themoners in any way you like. Not to mention, you have the support of the Wang family. Without them, you¡¯d have a hard time.¡±


    He sighed, recalling that when Yuan Jiaqi wasn¡¯t the county governor of County Shu, he could still bask in their glory. At the very least, he didn¡¯t have to worry about the people in Tianshui Town with Mayor Qian and the Qiao family behind them.


    But now, the Qiao family seems to be in two ces at once, and he doesn¡¯t know if they will still help this year.


    Mayor Qian returned to town in October but became thin due to his mourning period. He had been staying at home to recover. Lu Sanniang was taking care of him daily.


    Qiao Mai visited him once. Despite the anger he had previously felt, he couldn¡¯t forget about his father. It was hard not to be saddened by losing him.


    Seeing his haggard appearance and the swollen eyes of Lu Sanniang, Qiao Mai¡¯s heart softened.


    She brewed two batches of low-grade elixirs and gave them to Mayor Qian.


    ¡°These are spiritual herbs I acquired with the help of a friend overseas. Take one every three days. Here are two boxes, a three-month supply. After taking them, your health will improve.¡±


    Lu Sanniang wiped away tears and said, ¡°Sister, thank you!¡±


    Mayor Qiany on the bed, managing a forced smile. ¡°Thank you, I know my condition. There might not be much time left. If something happens to me, can you look after Sanniang for me?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°You can¡¯t have anything happen to you. Otherwise, what will happen to Sanniang? You¡¯re still nning to marry her, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Mayor Qian nced at Lu Sanniang and said, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll disappoint her¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t bear to see this and handed him a pill.


    ¡°Take one first and see the effect.¡±


    She knew that spiritual pills rarely disappointed. Lu Sanniang kept a close eye on Mayor Qian. She watched his lips regain some color, and hisplexion became healthier.


    Excitedly, she eximed, ¡°Sister, it works! This medicine works! He¡¯s been taking medicine from the clinic for over a month with no improvement. I didn¡¯t expect your pill to have such a significant effect.¡±


    ¡°Trust me. Take one pill every three days, and I guarantee he¡¯ll be even livelier than ever. Maybe after you two get married, you¡¯ll even have a chubby little boy for Mayor Qian.¡±


    Lu Sanniang gently tapped her and said, ¡°Stop talking nonsense. I¡¯m getting old.¡±


    ¡°If I say you can have a child, you can have one. Just like I said Mayor Qian would get better, and he definitely will.¡±


    Mayor Qian felt his body bing morefortable. He let Lu Sanniang support him as he leaned on the raised bed.


    ¡°Can I really get better?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    ¡°If I do get better, we¡¯ll have our wedding next spring. How about being our matchmaker then?¡±


    ¡°Sure, that¡¯s a deal.¡±


    With no bright sunshine, no people were sunbathing across from Lucky Garden in the middle of winter.


    The Liu family¡¯s shop had almost been trampled to the ground by matchmakers. Madam Liu Qiao was worried, so she went to find Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mai Mai.¡±


    ¡°Aunt, it¡¯s a rare visit.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid of bothering you. Otherwise, I woulde to your house several times a day.¡±


    ¡°Can you bear to stop doing business?¡±


    ¡°Liu Hai hired two assistants for the winter, and they sleep in the shop at night.


    I¡¯m not that busy now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! You¡¯re managing people now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to what I learned from you.¡± ¡°Aunt came this time to ask for your advice.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Qiao Mai poured her a cup of tea. Madam Liu Qiao was delighted as she held the cup with both hands.


    Now, Qiao Mai was not only wealthy but also the wife of the county governor. With severalyers of status, pouring a cup of tea for someone was seen as a sign of respect.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Liu Ye¡¯s marriage.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. You¡¯ve been here for several years. Liu Ye is about sixteen, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to pursue wealth or prestige, but I want Liu Ye to find a good family. However, several families are aiming for you.¡±


    ¡°Aiming for me?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, understanding Madam Liu Qiao¡¯s meaning.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid they¡¯re not sincere about Liu Ye and are only trying to please me, which is why they¡¯re discussing this marriage, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°In matters of fate, it¡¯s hard for me to advise. My former disciple made a poor choice in a marriage, and it ended in separation.¡±


    ¡°What should I do then?¡±


    ¡°Go to the ces where the prospective groom¡¯s families are and inquire personally. Some families may appear good on the surface but have issues behind closed doors. Character is most important. As long as his character is good, it won¡¯t matter if they want to bask in my influence.¡±


    ¡°So I shouldn¡¯t just rely on the matchmaker¡¯s words.¡±


    ¡°In the matchmaker¡¯s mouth, they can turn the short into the tall and the thin into the plump just to make a match. You can¡¯t hear the truth. It¡¯s better to investigate personally. Your family is well-off now, and with me behind you, there¡¯s no need to tter others. Strive to find a respectable family for Liu Ye.¡±


    ¡°With your advice, I feel more assured. I haven¡¯t been doing anything these days. I¡¯ll take Liu Ye to inquire about the families the matchmakers mentioned. They all sound good, but I need to investigate further.¡±


    ¡°Good. How is Liu Mei doing?¡±


    ¡°Her husband¡¯s family is fine, just not wealthy. But we can support them asionally. They¡¯re livingfortably now.¡±


    ¡°Has she visited you during the New Year in the past couple of years?¡±


    ¡°She has!¡±


    ¡°This year, have here to my house on the second day of the New Year. Let¡¯s have a meal together.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao hesitated and then said with excitement, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s have a meal together.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, your family should buy a house in town. Don¡¯t keep squeezing into the shop. It would sound better for Liu Ye when she gets married.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to your blessings, we¡¯ve earned quite a bit these past years. We can afford a decent house in town.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re buying one, get a good one. Don¡¯t skimp.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao saw Qiao Mai pick up a book to read and stand up.


    ¡°You read your book; I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t send you off.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao left. Qiao Mai lowered her head to look at the book in her hands. She had read all theprehensive guides on herbs, the alchemy manual, and all the pill forms.


    She realized she needed to continue learning. To create a good pill and refine excellent elixirs, she needed to remember the names and properties of herbs and their interactions and effects whenbined.


    So, she purchased essential books for pharmacists on the tform.


    She didn¡¯t know that she was gradually bing a physician. Once she mastered the knowledge of herbs and medicines, she would need to delve into medical theory because the more advanced elixirs contained intricate medical concepts.


    In the future, she wouldn¡¯t only have to learn medicine but also study poisons and even explore unusual and bizarre subjects.


    She never thought she would be a physician. In her view, she wasn¡¯t cut out for it.


    Going from a special agent to a cold-blooded killer to a physician seemed ridiculous.


    But what she was doing now was gradually leading her down the path of a physician.


    She was even surpassing that path, thanks to her enhanced memory and perception since her cultivation began. While it might take others five years to be a physician, it might take her only a year or maybe even less..</font>

 Chapter 219 - 219: I Don’t Want You to Die!

    Chapter 219 - 219: I Don¡¯t Want You to Die!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the first day of the twelfth month, Tianshui Town was nketed inrge


    snowkes.


    The second snow of the winter arrived, and people weed it joyfully.


    Even the ones worried about drought were relieved, as they would rather have more snow than suffer from water shortages.


    The county under Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s jurisdiction had fewer disputes during the winter due to its vastnd and fewer people. This gave him more time to spend at home.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    When he returned, he enjoyed being with his wife. He would make tea for her while watching her read.


    He handled all the household matters, allowing her to rx.


    He embraced the role of an exemry husband. This made Qiao Mai content. Naturally, when her husband had needs at night, she would satisfy him.


    Yuan Jiaqi constantly chastised himself, as he had promised not to be captivated by the allure of women. While marital intimacy was normal between a husband and wife, he could not control himself when he approached Qiao Mai.


    He did not realize he was falling deeply in love.


    Only when he likes something or someone so much would he be unable to resist wanting it repeatedly, as if wanting to incorporate it into his very being.


    Just like a beloved pet, when you love it, you can¡¯t help but shower it with affection, wanting to kiss and cuddle it as if you wish to embed it deep into your very being.


    During the day, when he watched Qiao Mai read earnestly, he couldn¡¯t help but think about their intimate moments.


    So, he often found excuses to go outside and avoid turning into a lustful tiger, wanting to satisfy himself without end.


    Qiao Mai saw through him but didn¡¯t expose him. She waited until he escaped before indulging in gentleughter.


    In the middle of December, Mayor Qian¡¯s health had recovered. To express his gratitude to Qiao Mai, he prepared many gifts and personally visited Lucky Garden.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I must sincerely thank you!¡±


    ¡°No need to be so polite. Our families have had a good rtionship for so many years. Having you as the mayor is much better than anyone else. I wouldn¡¯t want you to suffer because of your illness!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll take your good wishes. I must live to be eighty.¡±


    ¡°Better prepare for your wedding soon. This way, Sanniang won¡¯t be lonely by herself at home.¡¯


    ¡°It must be done. I¡¯ve waited for her so many years.¡±


    ¡°Do you need any help?¡±


    ¡°You just have to prepare for the wedding. When the timees, you can attend.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the pile of gifts in the living room and pointed at them.


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like your style. Is something going on?¡±


    Mayor Qian chuckled and handed over a few sheets of paper from his sleeve. Qiao Mai looked at him and took them.


    ¡°Oh, ten thousand taels of silver notes, and ten of them at once. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like two boxes of the pill you gave me. Do you have it?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s it for?¡±


    ¡°My older brother. He¡¯s like me. After the funeral, he¡¯s on the brink. My older brother is the head of our Qian family, and we can¡¯t do without him.¡±


    ¡°How old is he?¡± ¡°Almost sixty.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment!¡±


    Qiao Mai returned to her room, entered the space, refined a few more pills simr to the one, ced them in a jade box, and handed them to him when she returned. ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s simr to you?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    ¡°Then give it a try. It won¡¯t harm him; it can only bring benefits.¡±


    ¡°If his condition improves, I¡¯ll give you another hundred thousand taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Stop talking about money. Your one hundred thousand taels of silver wouldn¡¯t even cover the cost of one pill. If I didn¡¯t consider you a friend, I wouldn¡¯t have given you this pill.¡±


    Mayor Qian took a sharp breath, ¡°Is this medicine that expensive?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a lifesaving medicine. There¡¯s only one in the world, and you think it shouldn¡¯t be expensive?¡±


    ¡°It should be expensive.¡±


    ¡°Also, I want a peaceful life. I don¡¯t want others to know about this pill.¡±


    ¡°I understand. Rest assured; I¡¯ll only save my older brother with it. As long as he gets better, I won¡¯t tell anyone, no matter what they ask.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a sensible person.¡±


    After seeing off Mayor Qian, Qiao Mai had her servants move the gifts into her room.


    She selected a few to give to Old Mistress Wang and put some in the space for Greeny to take care of. She kept a set of red-gold jewelry and stored the rest in the warehouse.


    She would pass the silver to Yuan Jiaqi.


    Holding the jewelry set, she put on her coat and went to the front store. Madam Liu Qiao was sitting there talking to the matchmaker.


    ¡°The family you mentioned, the Dong family, I¡¯ve inquired about them. They look decent, have good character, and my daughter is happy with them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sister, you¡¯ve set your sights on this family?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Their family is the worst-off among the ones I mentioned. Why are you interested in them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of their good character.¡±


    ¡°True, when marrying into a family, it¡¯s not just about their social status; character matters. Alright, since you¡¯ve chosen the Dong family, I¡¯ll make sure to match it properly. Do you have any requests?¡±


    ¡°As long as their family is genuinely interested in marrying, we can negotiate everything. ¡±


    Just as they were talking, Qiao Mai called from the doorway.


    ¡°Aunt, are you inside?¡±


    When Madam Liu Qiao heard Qiao Mai¡¯s voice, she happily rushed out and grabbed her hand to bring her inside.


    ¡°If you have something to tell me, you can have someone ry it. It¡¯s so cold, but you still came here.¡±


    ¡°I was free and wanted to take a walk.¡¯


    When the matchmaker saw Qiao Mai, she instantly smiled brightly.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, hello.¡±


    ¡°Please have a seat. Is it for my sister¡¯s marriage proposal?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡±


    Qiao Mai gave the gift box from her arms to Madam Liu Qiao. ¡°This is a set of red-gold jewelry I thought looked nice. You can give it to Liu Ye as a dowry; it¡¯s not an additional charge.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao joyfully epted it. ¡°Thank you, Mai.¡±


    ¡°Are you satisfied with it?¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao opened the box, almost drooling. It was a set of red-gold jewelry, glittering with golden radiance.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too valuable?¡± ¡°Just take it; you don¡¯t have to be polite with me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not being polite at all!¡±


    At this moment, Liu Ye came in. She had heard Qiao Mai¡¯s voice and immediately embraced her arm affectionately.


    ¡°Cousin!¡±


    ¡°I came to see if you have a family in mind.¡±


    Liu Ye blushed. Madam Liu Qiao hurriedly closed the gift box lid.


    ¡°In Tianhe Town, there is a family surnamed Dong. They run a grocery store, and there are two brothers in the family with a younger sister. The one we are considering is the second son. He¡¯s upright, has studied, and knows how to read. The younger sister isn¡¯t married yet, but she will be soon. The family gets along well. The older brother manages the shop, and he is the ountant. The family has never had a conflict and are easy to get along with.¡±


    ¡°You investigated them?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t interfere in your family matters. If you think they are suitable, then they are.¡±


    She had learned her lesson from the incident with Lu Ruxin. She spoke out of turn a few times, and it ended up causing trouble. It seemed like she had done something bad.


    Qiao Mai only stayed for a short while before leaving. The matchmaker left soon after. Madam Liu Qiao happily handed the gift box to Liu Ye.


    ¡°Your cousin gave you this as a dowry, so keep it in reserve. This set of jewelry is valuable.¡±


    ¡°Cousin is so good to our family.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao pursed her lips. ¡°If our family were like your uncle¡¯s, she would have severed ties long ago. Mother has seen it. She only interacts with kind-hearted families. You¡¯ve been in town for so long; didn¡¯t you notice?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed it long ago. Everyone who interacts with cousin¡¯s family would subsidize themoners.¡±


    ¡°When our family buys a house and doesn¡¯t need to worry about money, we should also set up a charity. You must remember to interact more with your cousin and let her guide you. You mustn¡¯t be as obstinate as the older child from the Lu family.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Mother!¡±


    Lu Ruxin hadn¡¯t been seen for a long time. Since leaving the Lu family, she bought a house in the capital.


    The three years of drought hurt her small business. The cost of water in the city was incredibly high, and the amount of water she used in her shops was significant. This increased her water expenses, evident in the store selling cold noodles. If she didn¡¯t raise the prices, her profits would be meager. Unfortunately, fewer people could afford them during those times.


    Her customer base gradually dwindled. Few people had the luxury of eating cold noodles when they couldn¡¯t even ess clean drinking water.


    Those who could still afford were from wealthy families. Now that the water supply was more stable, her prices had returned to before.


    Her business had improved, but it hadn¡¯t returned to its peak. She was making money, but not as much as before..</font>

 Chapter 220 - 220: But She’s Still a Young Woman

    Chapter 220 - 220: But She¡¯s Still a Young Woman


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Over the past few years, she has managed to save a few tens of thousands of silver.


    Life has been good, but she feels somewhat lonely.


    However, she soon met a handsome man in the capital who also came from a merchant family.


    The only downside is that he¡¯s already married and has a son and a daughter.


    At first, Lu Ruxin didn¡¯t want to get involved with someone in this situation. But she couldn¡¯t resist his persistent pursuit. Eventually, they started living together.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    And it all happened in her house, making it seem as though she was this man¡¯s kept woman.


    Lu Ruxin wasn¡¯t naive. She took the advice of her maids. After each intimate encounter, she would drink a contraceptive potion, which prevented her from getting pregnant. She always kept a tight grip on her finances.


    She pretended to be poor in front of the man, constantly asking him for money to spend.


    She had been through so much deception and was afraid of being cheated again. Even if she met a man she liked, she wouldn¡¯t give her heart away easily.


    If she did, it would be after ensuring she could gain some money in return. She now ced a high value on money.


    Lu Sanniang naturally knew about her situation. When Mayor Qian¡¯s illness improved, she had someone investigate it.


    Hearing that Lu Ruxin had been intimately involved with that man without marriage, she was furious and wanted to confront her. However, Mayor Qian stopped her.


    ¡°That girl has her ideas. If you could persuade her, it wouldn¡¯t have ended up like that in the first ce. She¡¯s as stubborn as a mule. Fortunately, she doesn¡¯t have children, and her money is still in her hands. You don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s still so young.¡±


    ¡°In the people¡¯s eyes, she¡¯s already a divorced woman. She¡¯s not a young maiden anymore.¡±


    ¡°So, as her mother, I just have to watch her suffer?¡±


    ¡°It hase to this point. Let her struggle on her own. When it reaches a point where it can¡¯t be controlled, we¡¯ll step in for her.¡±


    Mayor Qian was also at a loss about this girl. She didn¡¯t listen to advice. Even if he tried to intervene now, it would be in vain and might make her resent them more.


    ¡°Can you handle that man?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, but the Qian family can. I saved my elder brother this time. If there¡¯s trouble, they will help.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Sanniang, I¡¯ll visit your house for a marriage proposal after the New Year.


    March 28th is an auspicious day. Can we get married?¡±


    When Lu Sanniang heard this, she immediately lowered her head and nodded gently.


    ¡°In the future, you can run your shop if you want or help me manage the household. I won¡¯t interfere with your freedom, and you won¡¯t need to pay attention to the Qian family. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say.¡±


    Mayor Qian hugged her. ¡°Finally, the day hase. Madam Qiao is a capable person. I¡¯ll go to her to request some medicine. Let¡¯s take good care of ourselves and try to have a child. Our long wait will be worth it.¡±


    ¡°We owe her so much. I feel ashamed to face her.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, my dear. I¡¯ve got a thick skin. From now on, I¡¯ll handle any requests to her and make sure to repay her kindness.¡±


    ¡°Old Qian, you¡¯re wonderful!¡±


    ¡°You, with your heavy heart. Don¡¯t feel like you owe her too much. Between friends, it¡¯s natural to help each other.¡±


    ¡°I still feel guilty.¡±


    ¡°Then be good to her. Treat her with sincerity and kindness. Madam Qiao is a good person. She¡¯ll understand your intentions.¡±


    ¡°My main concern is still with our eldest daughter. The things she¡¯s done make it hard for me to face Sister Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Wherever you go, I¡¯ll be right there with you. Don¡¯t be afraid; as long as I¡¯m around, we can handle anything.¡±


    Finally, the two lovers were about to be a couple. They spent almost all their time together except for sleeping separately at night.


    Chinese New Year was approaching. Ruyi sent over two sets of winter clothes along with matching boots.


    Qiao Mai gifted her a set of hair care products and skincare, which made Ruyi incredibly happy.


    It was customary for her master to gift such rare items only to the most beloved people. This indicated she had be one of the dearest people to Qiao Mai.


    Since bing a Rmended Schr, Qin Yide¡¯s monthly sry has increased from 10 taels to 50 taels of silver. The school also gained more recognition due to his achievements.


    The number of students had increased from a dozen to around thirty. Two storefronts were merged to amodate up to fifty students.


    The Lucky Star Academy had a one-in, one-out policy for students. It didn¡¯t admit students yearly, as it would be too much for Qin Yide to handle.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the year-end break arrived. Qin Yide conducted exams for the students. Outstanding students would receive rewards from Qiao Mai.


    The top student would receive 100 pounds of white flour, the second 50 pounds, and the third 50 pounds of whole wheat flour.


    Students who showed improvement would receive 10 pounds of whole wheat flour each.


    Those who attended school to freeload wouldn¡¯t be allowed back after the break.


    When the word got out that some students wouldn¡¯t return, a few troublemakers tried to create problems at the school. When Mayor Qian heard about this, he was furious and immediately went there with his guards. He had those causing trouble arrested and thrown into the county jail.


    He was so angry that he vented at the school gate, which attracted a crowd of onlookers.


    ¡°Sir, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m cursing those good-for-nothings.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t pretend to be clueless! For heaven¡¯s sake, establishing a school isn¡¯t easy for a woman. She not only manages to teach their children but also provides them with lunch. These folkse to the school not to study but simply for the free meal. If you¡¯re not learning anything, whye to the school? It¡¯s been a year, and they can¡¯t recognize basic letters. If you¡¯re not returning home to work, why should she feed you? How dare theye here and cause trouble! I could deal with them once and for all.¡±


    ¡°This is their fault then.


    ¡°I¡¯ve tied them up and thrown them in the county jail. Anyone who dares to mess around and take advantage of the situation will have a miserable time. These folks are ungrateful. They¡¯ve forgotten what they owe to Madam Qiao. She¡¯s the great benefactor of our town. Disaster struck not too long ago, yet they¡¯ve forgotten her kindness. Shameless scoundrels.¡±


    Qian Zhenlong¡¯s voice was raised while he vented his anger. It made him feel somewhat better.


    What a group of shameless troublemakers. No wonder they say good people are often taken advantage of. Madam Qiao¡¯s good deeds umte, but these people think it¡¯s her obligation. They¡¯d better starve themselves.


    Since Qiao Mai saved his life, his protection of her exceeded that of his wife.


    It¡¯s not because he has ulterior motives toward Madam Qiao; it¡¯s because he values the life she saved. He guards her.


    Qiao Mai sat in front of Qiao¡¯s Store when he came out, and she waved him over.


    ¡°Sir,e, have a cup of warm milk tea. I¡¯m not mad. Why should you be?¡± The worker promptly served two cups of milk tea, and Mayor Qian sat across from her.


    ¡°They see your kindness and deliberately take advantage of you. Damn it, it¡¯s infuriating. They don¡¯t study bute to the school for free meals and cause trouble. Such people should be expelled, yet they dare to cause problems. I¡¯ve thrown them into the county jail.¡±


    ¡°Forget about them. Have you set the date for your wedding with Sanniang?


    ¡°After the New Year, I¡¯ll propose. There should be a process, but I won¡¯t skimp on anything. March 28th is a good day for the wedding. I¡¯ll post an announcement for you when the timees.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a real man.¡±


    Mayor Qian nodded firmly, ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°Is there something you¡¯d like as a gift? I¡¯ll grant you one request as long as it¡¯s something I can do.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I think your medicine is quite effective. Help me regte Sanniang¡¯s body to increase the chances of her giving birth to a son and a daughter.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, ¡°Considering her age, she¡¯s at higher risk of pregnancy. Are you willing to let her endure the hardships at this stage of her


    ¡°In my eyes, she¡¯s still quite young. It¡¯s good to have children, and we¡¯ve waited so long; it¡¯s not in vain.¡±


    Seeing that Mayor Qian¡¯s eyes were getting red, Qiao Mai knew it was best not to continue the topic.


    ¡°I¡¯ll look for a suitable pill for her body.¡±


    ¡°Then I entrust her health to you?¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±</font>

 Chapter 221 - 221: I Am Not Lustful

    Chapter 221 - 221: I Am Not Lustful


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Inte December, all the families had their New Year¡¯s gifts ready. Qiao Mai also prepared her return gifts for them to take back.


    When Magistrate Wang, his wife, and Zihan came to pick the old couple up, they brought several carriages filled with gifts and gave Qiao Mai her year-end bonus.


    They stayed at Lucky Garden for one night, where Qiao Mai had prepared a table full of delicious dishes.


    ¡°No wonder my parents didn¡¯t want to go back. It¡¯s sofortable here. We can have anything we want to eat, and it¡¯s so warm inside the house.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved to Zihan, and he shyly came over to her. ¡°Big sister!¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Let me check if your head is okay.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Qiao Mai gently ced her hand on his forehead and closed her eyes, using her spiritual awareness to examine his brain.


    She found it clean, indicating the blood stasis had dissipated, and the elixir had purified his brain.


    ¡°Have you been studyingtely?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been attending school in the county.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re going to school?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow morning, when we leave, I¡¯ll give you a set of gifts. Make sure to study hard.¡±


    Madam Wang watched this scene with a smile. Thanks to Qiao Mai, her son had returned to normal.


    Although he started schoolte, his teacher said he was intelligent and predicted he would shine within three years.


    All of this was thanks to the mysterious Qiao Mai. So, their family business gave her a 20% share, and Madam Wang had no objections.


    Every year, when they brought their New Year¡¯s gifts, Qiao Mai received a separate gift ofparable value to their year-end bonus.


    Like his father, Wang Zongsheng didn¡¯t see Qiao Mai as his junior. She was too mysterious. He was willing to befriend, protect, and respect her, even if she were younger than him.


    The family enjoyed a satisfying meal at Lucky Garden and went to rest early.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t return home, so she could practice in the space at night and prepare the return gifts.


    While Zihan was at the dining table, he mentioned many snacks. Qiao Mai bought all of them on the tform, such as canned luncheon meat, canned peaches, ham, spicy deboned chicken feet, egg tarts, and sushi.


    She also bought a set of expensive inkstones, brushes, ink, ink sticks, and ten excellent sheets of paper for Zihan.


    Since Magistrate Wang loved meat, she packed a box of homemade cured meats, sausages, preserved meat, and a cured ham leg.


    Madam Wang liked the hair care and skin care products she provided, including the goat milk soap she gave to Old Mistress Wang. She purchased arge box of these items for her.


    She had already sent the annual gifts to Old Master and Mistress Wang, which they would take when they left.


    Of course, she also filled the gift boxes with many fruits from her space.


    The family of three came together, drawn by the rare treasures avable at her ce.


    Her gifts always brought joy to Magistrate Wang.


    As the year-end approached, her house had everything others didn¡¯t, and whatever others had, they weren¡¯t interested.


    Over the past few years, Wang Jiaru had not returned. Her asional letters were mainly requests for food.


    After so many years, was she still the same innocent girl?


    Qiao Mai hoped not to be disappointed when she saw her again. On December 26th, the Wang family, having spent time together at Lucky Garden, headed back to the county to celebrate the New Year.


    Thinking about the uing New Year, Yuan Jiaqi would be busy. After seeing off the Wang family, Qiao Mai immediately hired several mule carts.


    The carts were parked in front of her house, and the maids kept loading them with goods.


    She wanted to visit Yuan Jiaqi and bring some local products to his subordinates. It had been a year. She couldn¡¯t let the people who followed Yuan Jiaqi feel disappointed.


    In addition to the goods, she also brought silver ingots, each weighing ten taels, which she packed in several boxes.


    She called Dong Zhao from her space and, riding her horse, led the way with the five carts following behind.


    In the town, people were willing to work for the Qiao family. They paid well, and as long as you did a good job, you¡¯d even get a little extra.


    Within one hour, they had reached a hundred miles.


    Qiao Mai had been to the county governor¡¯s residence once before. She found her way to the entrance without difficulty.


    The gate was open, and the gatekeeper saw hering. He quickly ran over.


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Mm, where¡¯s the master?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s receiving guests in the hall.¡±


    ¡°Tell the servants to start unloading the cart and ce everything in the front yard near the hall.¡±


    Qiao Mai turned to look at the cart drivers and said, ¡°Go back and settle the bill with Shopkeeper Niu.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Qiao Mai got off her horse, leading Dong Zhao inside. The servants didn¡¯t go in to announce her arrival; there was no need for thedy of the house to announce herself in her husband¡¯s home.


    She patted the horse¡¯s butt and said, ¡°Go y by yourself for a while. We¡¯ll return shortly.¡±


    Afterward, she headed for the living room. Before reaching the living room, she heard a man speaking inside.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, I heard your wife has nevere to the county. With no woman around, isn¡¯t that inconvenient?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at the man at the bottom and frowned.


    ¡°This is my family affair. Besides, the county is only a hundred miles from my house. I can return in a hurry if I need to. It¡¯s not inconvenient at all.¡±


    ¡°I meant at night. Isn¡¯t it lonely without a woman?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fullymitted to serving the people. After working all day, I only want a good night¡¯s sleep. Besides, I am not a lustful man. If you have anything to say, please speak up. If not, please leave. I have other matters to attend to.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, my little sister is here. If you don¡¯t mind, she can warm your bed at night.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi thought, ¡°Do they want me to die?¡± His expression darkened, and he pointed to the door.


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    ¡°I am dedicated to serving the people. I spend all my time on the welfare of the citizens while you only seek to curry favor. Leave immediately. My home will not wee you in the future.¡±


    The man, though angry, dared not react. At that moment, a girl¡¯s voice chimed in.


    ¡°Sir, my brother meant well. After all, which man doesn¡¯t have multiple wives or concubines?¡±


    ¡°I will never have multiple wives or concubines. I hold those who eagerly offer themselves to others in contempt. They have no shame.¡±


    ¡°How could my man have multiple wives or concubines? If he dares, I¡¯ll give him a hard time.¡±


    The girl¡¯s face turned pale, and she anxiously nced at her brother.


    The couple¡¯s voices resonated simultaneously. Upon hearing Qiao Mai, Yuan Jiaqi looked joyfully towards the entrance, taking a few steps forward to hold her hand.


    ¡°Wife, why did youe in such cold weather?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I missed you? I came to bring you some New Year¡¯s gifts. I didn¡¯t expect someone else to bring you gifts, and it¡¯s a living creature.


    Shouldn¡¯t you introduce them?¡±


    ¡°Introduce what? I don¡¯t want to see them at all. I thought they came with official matters, but they came to deliver a woman. I have no interest in women. My only love is my wife.¡±


    Qiao Mai assessed the young man and woman in the living room. The young man appeared to be in his twenties, while the girl was about sixteen or seventeen. Based on their appearances, they looked like viins.


    The siblings were extremely nervous. They had intended to tter the county governor but ended up facing his wrath. Wasn¡¯t it said that the county governor¡¯s wife never visited this ce?


    ¡°Hmph, they didn¡¯t even deliver a good gift. Even if my husband doesn¡¯t need it, it could still be pleasing to the eye. This gift isn¡¯t up to standard.¡±


    The girl, feeling insulted, couldn¡¯t hold back and retorted, ¡°You¡¯re not good -looking either.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m a wife, the one who manages the household. I don¡¯t need to be beautiful. On the other hand, concubines must use their looks to serve. You don¡¯t even have looks; how could you dare to offer yourself for such a purpose? I wonder if your brains have been kicked.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand and said, ¡°My wife, let¡¯s not talk to these idiots. ¡±


    Qiao Mai red at him, resembling a mother tiger protecting her cubs. ¡°If you dare to take a concubine, I¡¯ll break your legs.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I only want you as my wife. I won¡¯t want anyone else, no matter how good they are..¡±</font>

 Chapter 222 - 222: If Something Doesn’t Feel Right, I’ll Eat

    Chapter 222 - 222: If Something Doesn¡¯t Feel Right, I¡¯ll Eat


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The siblings in the living room couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. No wonder they were married; both were harsh with their words.


    As they left the county governor¡¯s residence, they slipped and fell face-first into the mud.


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°You just became a county governor, and people are already falling over themselves to get close to you?¡±


    ¡°Wife, I can handle it. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t me me for not telling you. In the past, I might have let you go if you were interested in other women. But now, you and I are together. You belong to me. I¡¯m a bit of a neat freak. If you even touch another woman, I won¡¯t forgive you, no matter whether it¡¯s consensual.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Honey, I swear. I won¡¯te within three meters of any other woman except for you.¡±


    ¡°Swear? ns can change. Your oaths are useless. Some people can be persuasive.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I have your pills. If something isn¡¯t right, I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    Qiao Mai snorted, ¡°These are the New Year¡¯s gifts I brought for you. Give them to your subordinates. Go check it.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held her hand and said, ¡°My wife, you are the best thing that ever happened to me in this world. I can never repay you in this lifetime. I¡¯m moved.¡±


    ¡°The best repayment is your unwavering love andpanionship for me.¡±


    ¡°If I ever do anything wrong, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    ¡°Remember what you just said.¡±


    They left the living room and saw the mountain of gifts in the courtyard. Yuan Jiaqi quickly summoned the house steward and the ountants to count the items.


    ¡°When does the court have a holiday?¡±


    ¡°We have a holiday on the 30th. I¡¯ll return home the afternoon before. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, I¡¯ll leave after the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Do you have an escort?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Old Master Wang provided six guards who have always been with me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to reward them.¡±


    ¡°They will all be rewarded.¡±


    Once the steward and ountants had finished counting the items, Yuan Jiaqi called for all the official attendants.


    County She was poor and couldn¡¯t afford a county deputy governor and county lieutenant, so Yuan Jiaqi could make decisions in this area without consulting anyone.


    Twenty court runners and six clerks stood neatly lined up at the door.


    Yuan Jiaqi directed the servants, ¡°Bring several baskets. Each person gets five apples, five pears, twenty oranges, one banana, one honeydew, one piece of preserved meat, five sausages, and twenty taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir!¡±


    Hearing that the governor had provided them with New Year¡¯s goods, they shouted excitedly.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve all done well this year. Work even harder next year, and my wife will provide rewards during the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sir, this is from your wife.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi red at them and said, ¡°What else do you expect? My sry is so low; it wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy all these things.¡± ¡°These things are valuable. Thank you, Madam!¡±


    Madam Qiao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you all know about Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town, right?¡±


    ¡°Wow, you are thedy of that ce? We all know about it. We¡¯ve even secretly bought things from there. Your snacks are delicious!¡±


    ¡°Stick with my husband. I won¡¯t mistreat you, and during the New Year, you¡¯re wee to visit our home.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam, we will work hard with the governor.¡±


    They were deeply moved. The governor and his wife were so approachable. They¡¯d never seen a county governor like this before.


    ¡°Go on, everyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The officials happily carried the baskets and left. Next, it was the turn of the household servants. Yuan Jiaqi went through another round of rewards for them.


    Each received two apples, two pears, five oranges, half a banana, and ten taels of silver.


    The servants almost knelt in gratitude. In County She, it was not easy to find a job, let alone get rewarded. It was tough to find such an amodating family. They cherished it deeply.


    Lastly, it was the guards¡¯ turn. Qiao Mai pointed at the remaining goods.


    ¡°Take a basket each. Choose whatever you like, and each of you gets a hundred taels of silver. Get the money from the chest yourself. You¡¯ve all worked hard this past half-year.¡±


    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s our duty.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and take what you like. When we return to Tianshui Town, let me know what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll arrange it for you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, thank you.¡±


    These guards had always followed Yuan Jiaqi, and they enjoyed their time at


    Lucky Garden. Every time they went there, it was like entering heaven.


    They relished the food and lodging.


    Once they had picked out their items, they were sent to the warehouse.


    ¡°I have to go now.¡±


    ¡°Wife, please stay the night.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not used to this ce. If you ask me to stay, I won¡¯t be able to sleep all night.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try toe home as early as possible.¡±


    Qiao Mai whistled. Dong Zhao came trotting up with rhythmic hoofbeats. She mounted her horse. Yuan Jiaqi watched his wife¡¯s graceful figure with envy.


    ¡°Wife¡­


    Just as he was about to speak, someone arrived at the door. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s expression darkened.


    He roared, ¡°Close the gate. In the future, if a womanes to visit, tell her I¡¯m not here. If it¡¯s not official business, drive her away. Let them handle official matters at the court.¡±


    Seeing this, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Your admirers are quite persistent, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°They are only interested in my status as a county governor.¡±


    ¡°Who said that? That princess was interested in you.¡±


    ¡°Wife? Can we not talk about this? Even if the Heavenly Empress came down from the heavens, my eyes would only see you.¡±


    Qiao Mai pouted, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I notice you were so good at sweet talk before?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it to make my wife happy? I learned a bit from books.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Qiao Mai was in a good mood. The house servants opened a side door, and she rode out. When she saw the girl standing there, staring nkly at the gate, she asked, ¡°Miss, have you fallen in love?¡±


    The girl blushed and quickly looked down, not saying anything.


    ¡°Is it County Governor Yuan that has captured your heart?¡±


    The girl remained silent. ¡°Well, it¡¯s no surprise. My husband is good-looking, talented, and, most importantly, the county governor. Many women admire him. But admiration is one thing, and acting on it is another.¡±


    The girl finally looked up, shocked by the woman in front of her.


    In addition to her appearance, Qiao Mai¡¯s demeanor made her iparable.


    ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to admire my husband. People naturally appreciate beautiful things. However, you must maintain your integrity. My husband and I are deeply in love, and you shouldn¡¯t interfere. Otherwise, I hold grudges. If you annoy me, I will help him cut off the women around him.¡± Qiao Mai smiled and looked back at Yuan Jiaqi at the gate.


    ¡°The next time Ie, I hope not to encounter this situation.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi felt like crying. ¡°Wife, I¡¯m innocent. The legs are attached to them. I can¡¯t just break them, can I?¡±


    Qiao Mai patted Dong Zhao¡¯s head. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re going home. It¡¯s morefortable at home without all this hassle.¡¯


    Watching Qiao Mai ride away swiftly, Yuan Jiaqi shot a fierce re at the girl standing at the door, then turned and headed towards the government office.


    The girl hurriedly followed him, ¡°Sir?¡±


    He turned around abruptly, ¡°Do you have a grievance to report?¡±


    The girl shook her head. ¡°Are you going to file aint then?¡± She shook her head again.


    ¡°In that case, get lost! I¡¯ve finally managed to woo my wife, and you people can¡¯t see how happy I am. You don¡¯t want single guys; you insist on chasing married men. Have you lost all sense of shame?¡± Yuan Jiaqi yelled, feeling a weight lifted from his heart. He nced at the girl, ¡°Are you mute?¡±


    The girl shook her head. ¡°Sir, I genuinely admire you.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath, ¡°I love my wife deeply. I will only treat her well for the rest of my life and never take a concubine. Even if she were to pass away, I would remain chaste for her. Understand? Tsk, my wife won¡¯t die..¡±</font>

 Chapter 223 - 223: He Deserves Better

    Chapter 223 - 223: He Deserves Better


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The girl began to cry. Yuan Jiaqi said what needed to be said before hurriedly heading to the government office without showing anypassion. Ady nearby approached and helped the girl up from her crouched position.


    ¡°Have you given up?¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t given up. I want to marry him. If he can¡¯t get through this, I¡¯ll go to his house and talk to his wife.


    ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn. You¡¯ll regret it one day.¡±


    ¡°I may have had some reservations, but when I saw his wife, I knew my chance hade. She doesn¡¯t deserve him. He deserves someone better.¡± My goodness, if Qiao Mai were here, she would burst intoughter.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    She¡¯s not good enough for him? What about you, girl?


    It¡¯s funny; why do people always look for bnce in appearances?


    Qiao Mai might have an average appearance, but she has exceptional skin. Who among the girls canpare to her in that regard?


    Furthermore, does she make money?


    Does she have her space?


    Does she know martial arts? Unless an immortal appears, Qiao Mai¡¯s the belle of this ce.


    Even in areas like the arts, calligraphy, music, or painting, she¡¯s not afraid of anyone. In her past life, she loved ssical culture. She dabbled in calligraphy, musical instruments, and other things. How can you say she¡¯s not good enough for him?


    Qiao Mai excels in every aspect. If anyone¡¯s not good enough, it¡¯s him, Yuan Jiaqi. Hmph!


    Moreover, between spouses, there¡¯s no need for discussions of ¡°worthy¡± or ¡°unworthy.¡± What matters is that they love each other, get alongfortably, and work together to build a happy life. There¡¯s no need forplications.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t go straight home; she headed to the mansion and found Old Mistress Wang to share her grievances.


    ¡°Grandmother, can you believe it? Right after I arrived, I saw two women. He sure knows how to attract attention. Back when he wasn¡¯t an official, there was Widow Chen from the neighborhood and a chubby girl from Tiannan Town, but now that he¡¯s an official, they¡¯ve alle flocking.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi is not that kind of person. You should put this matter behind you. Besides, which official doesn¡¯t have women sent to them? If he doesn¡¯t ept them, that¡¯s the end.¡±


    ¡°I also know he¡¯s not that kind of person, but it still gets tiresome. Those youngdies are quite something. They know he has a family with children, but they still flock to him. How can they have so little shame?¡±


    ¡°People are like that. The more something is out of reach, the more they desire it. And some people will do anything for their own gain. He can¡¯t control their actions. You can¡¯t me him for it. ¡°I don¡¯t me him; I¡¯m just frustrated.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re jealous.¡±


    Looking at the sky outside, she got up and prepared to leave. Olf Mistress Wang trusted her to go home on her own but was wary of her issue with Yuan Jiaqi.


    She didn¡¯t want to return, and now she had a reason to stay with Qiao Mai. She insisted on going to Lucky Garden, leaving Old Master Wang behind in the city.


    Qiao Mai had to put away Dong Zhao in her space. She acted as a carriage driver, taking the olddy back to Lucky Garden. What a hassle!


    As soon as they arrived home, Assistant Qiu from the broker center came over. Qiao Mai had someone bring him to the olddy¡¯s residence.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    ¡°What brings you here at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao asked me to look for Ling¡¯er¡¯s teacher.¡±


    ¡°Tell me more.¡±


    ¡°She used to be a nanny in the pce. As she got older, she left the pce and wanted to join her rtives in the north. However, she found out her rtives were no longer there, so now she¡¯s got nowhere to go. She didn¡¯t want to be a ve or maid in a wealthy household and wanted to find a suitable ce, so she came to inquire at our firm.¡±


    ¡°How old is she?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s in her mid-thirties. She¡¯s gentle and virtuous in appearance but assertive in her actions. She used to be a disciplinary nanny in the pce.¡± ¡°Has she been married?¡±


    ¡°No, and she doesn¡¯t want to get married. She hopes to find a family that can care for her in her old age.¡± ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s at our firm.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s go and see her.¡±


    ¡°I want to go too!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang wanted to go as well. Qiao Mai had to bring her along.


    Inside the center, ady dressed modestly in in clothing sat in a chair. She remained motionless from the moment Assistant Qiu left until they returned.


    Old Mistress Wang cried softly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Nanny Jin, who served Concubine


    Yuan?¡±


    Recognizing an acquaintance, thedy approached and greeted the olddy with a deep bow.


    ¡°This servant pays her respects to Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I heard you were from the pce and thought I might know you. How have you ended up here?¡±


    She whispered to Old Mistress Wang, ¡°You know they say that serving a prince is like serving a tiger. Serving a concubine is the same. I¡¯m getting old. I don¡¯t want to live in fear anymore. Do you have something for me in your household?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for my granddaughter. She¡¯s six years old. We want to hire someone to teach her to read and write, as well as various other skills. If you agree to teach her, I will be relieved.¡±


    Nanny Jin bowed to Qiao Mai, ¡°Greetings to you, madam.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too polite. With your knowledge of reading and writing, you muste from a family of schrs, right?¡±


    ¡°Well, you could say that. My family¡¯s fortunes declined, and I happened to be chosen as a pce maid when the pce was recruiting youngdies. I spent twenty years there, and everything changed when I returned home. I decided not to stay there and came out into the world.¡±


    Qiao Mai assessed her and was satisfied.


    ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re a familiar acquaintance of my grandmother,e back with us. We can discuss the details at home. If you¡¯re dissatisfied, you can leave.¡±


    Qiao Mai turned to Assistant Qiu and handed him a silver ingot. ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡±


    Upon returning home, Qiao Mai had someone call for Ling¡¯er, and she entertained Nanny Jin in the living room.


    ¡°I imagine you¡¯ve heard about our family¡¯s situation from the agency?¡±


    ¡°Well, Assistant Qiu briefly mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°Good. We have one daughter at home and raised her rather delicately. But she still needs to learn proper manners and etiquette. Even though women don¡¯t take the imperial exams, they must still acquire essential knowledge.¡±


    ¡°I can do that.¡±


    ¡°I hope she develops good daily habits, sharp discernment, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.¡±


    Nanny Jin shook her head, ¡°Some children can be molded into better people, while some have a natural disposition. Some are receptive to advice, while others may appear agreeable but feel uneasy. Some children believe they¡¯re always right. These can be guided to a certain extent, but teaching¡­ well, it varies. Some can be taught, and some can¡¯t.¡±


    Thinking about Lu Ruxin, Qiao Mai sighed, ¡°I see. Let¡¯s start with meeting the child. ¡±


    Ling¡¯er was summoned. She didn¡¯t want anyone to carry her; she ran to the olddy. Upon entering the room, Nanny Jin took a liking to her instantly.


    What a spirited child. She¡¯s a delight to be around.


    ¡°Mother, did you need me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you wanted to learn to read and write, right? Mother has hired a teacher for you.¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked around the living room. Besides her mother and great-grandmother, she spotted a stranger. She walked over to Nanny Jin.


    ¡°Excuse me, are you the teacher my mother hired?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What can you teach me?¡±


    ¡°Everything except martial arts.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! Ling¡¯er pays her respects to you!¡±


    As long as it¡¯s not martial arts, she¡¯s willing to learn anything.


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s fated for you to be her teacher. Nanny Jin, why don¡¯t you stay?¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal!¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°Now, let¡¯s discuss your treatment at my home. You¡¯ll receive fifty taels monthly, two sets of clothes for each season, and all other expenses the same as ours. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Could you add one more thing?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°A retirement n.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. As long as you¡¯re willing to stay in my home, your terms won¡¯t change.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    There were no formal contracts or documents, only trust between the parties..</font>

 Chapter 224 - 224: Your Mother Is Amazing

    Chapter 224: Your Mother Is Amazing


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Immediately, Qiao Mai had someone prepare a courtyard for Nanny Jin. To avoid making Ling¡¯er run back and forth, she had Ling¡¯er, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia move to the same ce. This arrangement was for Ling¡¯er¡¯s convenience and also for taking care of Nanny Jin.


    Nanny Jin stayed in the main building, while Ling¡¯er and the two others resided in the east wing rooms. Qiao Mai also added two maidservants to Nanny Jin¡¯s courtyard.


    Since it was Nanny Jin¡¯s courtyard, it was named Jin Garden.


    There were six subsidiary courtyards: the three brothers had one, Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er had one, Old Mistress Wang had one, the guards had one, and two were used as storage.


    Nanny Jin didn¡¯t feel like a stranger when she first arrived, and Ling¡¯er also liked her. Ling¡¯er guided her around the house.


    ¡°Teacher Jin, look; this is the yground my mother had built for me and my brothers. I usually y here, even in the rain and snow. There¡¯s a transparent canopy above; it¡¯s really nice!¡±


    Nanny Jin couldn¡¯t help but admire Qiao Mai¡¯s humility. Ordinary families wouldn¡¯t have such facilities.


    Even the pce itself didn¡¯t have them. She nced up at the canopy; it was as transparent as a ss bottle. Providing shelter from the wind and rain was a grand gesture.


    Honestly, it didn¡¯t cost much; it was transparent corrugated steel Qiao Mai had bought on the tform.


    She couldn¡¯t buy it before because her space was too low-level Now that it was at Level Seven, she could purchase items up to five square meters in size. When it rained or snowed, the children didn¡¯t have to stay indoors.


    She bought it and had it installed, adding several amusement features inside.


    These included a trampoline, an air mattress, a Lego kingdom, a small maze, and other recreational facilities for the children to enjoy.


    All the children loved to y there and would gather whenever they had free time.


    Seeing all these educational facilities, Nanny Jin was deeply impressed.


    Next, Ling¡¯er took her to the back to see the greenhouse. ¡°Look, these were nted by my mother. While other families have no vegetables in winter, we do. Isn¡¯t my mother amazing?¡±


    Nanny Jin was impressed. Ling¡¯er handed her a cucumber.


    ¡°Teacher Jin, try this. These cucumbers are clean and insect-free. Feel free to eat; I eat them this way.¡±


    Nanny Jin epted the cucumber, ¡°Your mother is truly amazing!¡±


    She took a bite. The cucumber was crisp, sweet, and fragrant, which immediately won her over.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡±


    ¡°Of course. We nted five types of vegetables this year. We didn¡¯t nt fruit, but if we wanted to eat fruit, it depended on my mother¡¯s mood. Sometimes, when she¡¯s in a good mood, she¡¯ll nt a couple of varieties. We never run out of fruit.


    ¡°I see. Your ce is well-stocked. I¡¯ve seen quite a few things on your table.¡± Ling¡¯er held her hand and took her to the cowshed and horse stable.


    ¡°These are dairy cows, specifically for our family¡¯s milk consumption. We sell any surplus. When we first arrived, there was one pair, but now there are five. They¡¯re all producing milk. Have you ever tried milk tea?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to try itter; it¡¯s delicious. My mother says there¡¯s tea in it, so I¡¯m not allowed to drink too much. These horses are our family¡¯s. The big ones pull carts, and the small ones are our riding animals. If we get permission from Mother, we take them out for a ride.¡¯


    Nanny Jin was slightly overwhelmed by all the new information and listened as they walked.


    ¡°Madam, this is our deer park.¡±


    ¡°You keep deer here too?¡±


    ¡°We keep a lot of things. These deer are raised for their musk. We don¡¯t ughter poultry at home. Look, right next to it is a musk deer.¡±


    ¡°The ones that produce musk?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My mother says musk and musk deer are valuable, and much of our iees from them, along with our snack shop.¡±


    The more Nanny Jin saw, the more amazed she felt. This seemingly unremarkable woman had done so many impressive things.


    Ling¡¯er led her to the chicken and quail coops. ¡°These two buildings are for raising chickens and quails. In the winter, they stay inside but roam outside in the summer.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of raising them in the winter?¡±


    ¡°My mother says they¡¯re like crops. When the weather is warm and they have plenty to eat, theyy eggs even in the winter. Our family¡¯s eggs are expensive, but people buy them daily.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, who would spend money to let chickens sleep indoors in the winter?


    When chickens don¡¯ty eggs in the winter, eggs be scarce.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but not in our house!¡±


    ¡°You know a lot for someone so young.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of my mother teaching me.¡±


    Ling¡¯er introduced things like a little adult while they walked.


    ¡°Over there is the kitchen. If you want to eat something, tell the maids in our courtyard or the butler, and they will take care of it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re smart!¡±


    ¡°See, other people grow flowers and such in their backyards, but my mother nts fruit trees and medicinal herbs in our open space. Everything is a valuable item, so our family is rich.¡±


    ¡°Right, efficient use of space is more cost-effective than buyingnd for farming. Your mother is indeed resourceful. What about thoserge tubs along the walls?¡±


    Nanny Jin had got the wrong idea. These were just distractions Qiao Mai had set up to show the world where her wealth came from. The source of ie was something else entirely.


    ¡°They are for pickling vegetables during the winter. We have pickled cabbage, spicy pickles, and pickled meat in there. We don¡¯t pickle anything during the summer but fill them with water to prepare for droughts.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, your mother is an extraordinary woman. She ns so thoughtfully!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why our family hasn¡¯t suffered from disasters in recent years.¡±


    Unknowingly, they came to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. The staff rarely saw the young miss.


    ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er, why have youe?¡±


    Ling¡¯er squinted and smiled, ¡°Look, I have a teacher now. I¡¯m taking her out to get familiar with the ce and try some of our snacks. Bring a little of everything from here, not too much, or it will go to waste. Also, bring us two cups of milk tea. Mine should be half a cup, and my teacher¡¯s should be a full cup.¡±


    Nanny Jin took a loving to this little adult, feeling that Madam Qiao had raised her daughter excellently.


    She didn¡¯t need to teach her in terms of conduct, just useful knowledge.


    The teacher and student entered the shop. Nanny Jin was blown away. The ce was full of counters and shelves, neatly filled with various pots and containers of fruits and vegetables. In the middle was arge open area with tables and chairs.


    When they entered, there were already several people eating snacks at the tables.


    The two found a corner to sit down, and the waiter brought a variety of snacks on small tes.


    The milk tea was served. Ling¡¯er was attentive in taking care of her guest. She lightly pushed the cup of milk tea toward Nanny Jin.


    ¡°Teacher Jin, be careful; the milk tea is hot. Here¡¯s a straw. When you sip, try a little bit first. Once it¡¯s warm, you can sip harder. Like this.¡±


    Ling¡¯er demonstrated for her. Nanny Jinughed and pinched her cheek.


    ¡°Teacher Jin, try this; it¡¯s sticky corn. The waiter has cut it into small pieces for you. It¡¯s soft, chewy, and sweet. This is five-spice boiled peanuts, this is five-spice quail eggs, this is five-spice tea eggs, this is popcorn, and this is crispy rice.¡±


    The variety of snacks was overwhelming. Nanny Jin tasted each one in turn.


    She was genuinely surprised. Why weren¡¯t these delicacies avable in the capital? Why did they appear in such a small town?


    The milk tea was just like those from the northern pastoral tribes, yet it was even better,cking the strange taste and only filled with fragrance.


    Ling¡¯er introduced everything to her one by one, and soon the two were patting their bellies and looking at each other with understanding.


    ¡°I¡¯m full. I can¡¯t eat anymore.¡±


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m eating my fill for the first time. Haha!¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to eat the cold noodles from the Liu family, spicy and sour noodles, instant noodles, deep-fried pancakes, and spicy mixed noodles. I sneak out to eat them sometimes. They¡¯re so delicious. My mother taught them the recipe.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back; it¡¯s good to walk off some of the food on the way.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Teacher Jin!¡±


    The two got up, and Ling¡¯er waved to Shopkeeper Niu.


    ¡°Uncle Niu, my teacher and I are full. Please put the bill on my mother¡¯s ount.¡±


    ¡°Sure, little miss, take care!¡±

 Chapter 225 - 225: Not Simple From Top To Bottom

    Chapter 225: Not Simple From Top To Bottom


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Nanny Jin became more pleased with this young apprentice. She picked Ling¡¯er up directly. The first day without sses was over.


    Realizing this, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh. She believed it wouldn¡¯t be long before Nanny Jin became a foodie under Ling¡¯er¡¯s guidance.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had dozens of varieties, so there was no way to taste them all at once; they had just started.


    Regarding teaching, Qiao Mai never interfered or questioned. Everything was up to Nanny Jin. She only cared about the results.


    Nanny Jin arrivedte, and the steward hadn¡¯t prepared any New Year¡¯s clothing for her.


    Qiao Mai took note of her measurements and ordered two sets of new clothes with matching boots, which she had delivered to her by Yue Hong.


    In two days of being with the Qiao family, Nanni Jin felt the warmth and extraordinary nature of its members.


    It went without saying about Old Mistress Wang, who not only took Qiao Mai as a granddaughter but treated her so well, which was even more unusual.


    With her household running smoothly, the servants actively took on tasks. There was a great sense of unity, making this a truly rare household.


    She felt that her choice was right; this family was not ordinary from top to bottom. And so, Nanny Jin¡¯s heart was settled.


    As the New Year approached, she didn¡¯t start teaching Ling¡¯er.


    She had made a pact with Ling¡¯er to wait until after the New Year before starting her education. For now, she would spend time with Ling¡¯er, getting to know each other better and making their future lessons more convenient.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned on the morning of the 29th. He arranged matters at the court and the official residence before hurrying home.


    Upon arriving home and changing his clothes, he paid respects to Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    When he saw only Old Mistress Wang present, he was puzzled. Upon inquiring, he found that Old Mistress Wang, despite her age, had run back from the city within just a few days due to Qiao Mai¡¯s affairs.


    Yuan Jiaqi was delighted to hear that Ling¡¯er had found a teacher, but he had not met Nanny Jin because he was a man.


    At noon, Qiao Mai had the kitchen prepare a sumptuous meal for two reasons:


    to wee Yuan Jiaqi, to wee Jinmama, and to celebrate Ling¡¯er having found a teacher.


    The twin brothers and Chuan¡¯er arrived at this time to pay their respects to Nanny Jin and brought her gifts. They all hoped Ling¡¯er¡¯s teacher would treat her well and pass on all their knowledge to her.


    Even Qiao Mai, Yuan Jiaqi, and Old Mistress Wang did note empty-handed. They also brought many gifts for her.


    In this family, Nanny Jin felt the strongest sense of warmth.


    The warmth was not only in the house but also in the hearts of the people. Their words and actions exuded warmth.


    On the thirtieth, all households hung up couplets and set off firecrackers to wee the New Year.


    The old couple from the Qiao family came over to Lucky Garden again, but this time, they knelt at the gate, crying their hearts out. Their cries attracted the local onlookers and the old Yuan couple.


    The old Yuan couple hade to see if there were any leftovers they could get a piece of. Seeing the Qiao couple, they felt they might be able to get something.


    So, these four elderly knelt at the front gate, hoping their children would soften their hearts upon seeing them kneel and maybe give them a few taels of silver for the New Year.


    The Yuan family wasn¡¯t short of money or food, but the Qiao family was. This year, they hadn¡¯t faced any disasters or hardships. Yet when the New Year approached, they felt financially strained.


    Looking at how their daughter¡¯s family was eating well and livingfortably, even giving away good food to others, the Qiao couple couldn¡¯t stand it


    anymore.


    They didn¡¯t knock on the door; they knelt in front of the gate. If their daughter¡¯s family didn¡¯t acknowledge them, then they, as parents, would kneel and let them decide.


    This was a stubborn matter. Without Qiao Mai intervening, Mayor Qian sent guards to arrest all four of them and immediately brought them to county court, throwing them into the prison.


    Inside the prison, they didn¡¯tck food and drink; they could manage and save some resources for their family. It was a bit worse than being at home, especially during the winter, but the food was still edible and didn¡¯t go rotten.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t care about their reputations. If they did, they would havepromised a long time ago during all the previous troubles.


    However, Nanny Jin felt something was amiss when she heard about this incident. She didn¡¯t discuss it with others but raised it with Old Mistress Wang.


    Old Mistress Wang thought that if Nanny Jin was to live in the Qiao family for her whole life, some matters needed to be rified to avoid misunderstandings. She then revealed the background of both sides.


    Nanny Jin was shocked after hearing it. ¡°Goodness, someone who could haggle over silver, mistreat their son, torment their daughter-inw to death, and then sell their son to make money, they¡¯re truly ruthless!¡±


    ¡°Yes, even so, Jiaqi was not unkind to them. When he cut ties with them, he gave them a hundred taels of silver. You know, the old-age relief fund in the vige is just a bit over a tael per year. With that hundred taels of silver, they could have livedfortably for the rest of their lives. Moreover, the Yuan family has two elders and four sons, which means they received over a hundred taels after dividing it among themselves. There was no need to cause trouble. It serves them right.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao has it hard. Her parents can¡¯t dictate her marriage after she married and left her parents¡¯ home.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the first time they sold her, it gave the Qiao family a hundred catties of grain. She didn¡¯t owe the Qiao family anything anymore. The second time, she had just escaped from the Tian family and owed a lot of money to Shopkeeper Lu, and her health hadn¡¯t even recovered. Yet her parents wanted to sell her again. She gritted her teeth and borrowed money from Shopkeeper Lu to cut ties with them. Her parents took the money without a second thought and signed the papers. It didn¡¯t take long for them to return and make trouble for her again.¡±


    ¡°These two are unlucky to have parents like that.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t get involved in her family¡¯s matters. Don¡¯t talk about it with others either. Just focus on teaching Ling¡¯er well.¡±


    ¡°You are right. I was meddling too much.¡±


    ¡°Even the officials find it hard to decide family affairs. Legally speaking, once you¡¯ve cut ties, that¡¯s it. But in reality, they¡¯re still their parents. Which parents don¡¯t want their child to do well? They¡¯re like that, alwaysing to make trouble, one for their own sake and the other for their two sons.¡¯


    ¡°Women have it hard. They¡¯ll stop bothering her only when they die. Otherwise, it will never end.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at her, noticing the profound sadness in her eyes.


    ¡°Did you encounter unpleasant things after returning home from the pce?¡± Nanny Jin nodded and wiped her red eyes with a handkerchief.


    ¡°I stayed in the pce for several decades and saved some money. When I returned home, my parents were no longer in this world, and my three brothers had already started their families.¡±


    ¡°So, who did you live with?¡±


    ¡°I felt that living with anyone was inconvenient. I wanted to buy my house and live alone, but my sisters-inw were insistent. They persuaded me to stay with them, but I wouldn¡¯t have refused if they were sincere. I spent so many years in the pce; I can easily see through people, and they were only after the money I had.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve had it quite tough.¡±


    ¡°My three brothers looked at me with no familial affection at all. How could I get along with such rtives? So, I inquired at the broker center if there were any good families. I¡¯d rather teach someone else¡¯s child than return home and see their faces.¡¯


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯vee to the right ce here; just stayfortably.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that Madam Qiao is a capable person. If I follow her, I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t go wrong.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She looks at Ling¡¯er like the apple of her eye. The fact that she entrusts Ling¡¯er to you means she values you. You should teach her well.¡±


    ¡°I like that girl too. She¡¯s exceptionally clever. I heard the kids in the house aren¡¯t her biological children?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. But she treats them like they¡¯re her own. If you show her genuine care and affection, she¡¯ll treat you like family.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your advice, Old Mistress Wang.¡±


    However, the governor of County Yi was startled when he heard about this matter.


    ¡°Good heavens, County Governor Yuan is ruthless; he actually sent his parents to the prison. Haha! This is going to be the talk of the town.¡±


    His mentor muttered something in his ear, and County Governor Zhu rolled his eyes..

 Chapter 226 - 226: Blinded By Money!

    Chapter 226: Blinded By Money!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Go find people to catch a few mice and throw them into the cell. I can¡¯t stand this. If it were me, I¡¯d have their legs broken if they kept making a fuss like this. It¡¯s so annoying.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you and Sir Yuan are on the same page. Do you want to be friends?¡±


    ¡°I heard their family¡¯s food is exceptional.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t the magistrate¡¯s parents return home and stay there? I heard the magistrate goes to invite them every year. Otherwise, the old folks won¡¯t go home.¡±


    ¡°Then prepare a gift that is nothing fancy. I¡¯m not trying to tter him, just trying to be friends with him.¡±


    ¡°However generous your gift is, they won¡¯t care. I heard Madam Qiao gets twenty percent of the profits from the Wang family¡¯s business yearly.¡±


    ¡°Gosh, she must make several thousand taels of silver a year, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t underestimate her snack shop; I did the ounting for her. With that shop, she makes fifty to sixty thousand taels of silver a year. Not to mention she also raises deer and musk deer; their deer antler and musk can fetch a good amount of silver.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I underestimated Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Yes, she grows valuable medicinal herbs in her garden, which also bring in quite a bit of silver.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking down on her.¡±


    ¡°Arge family like hers has to rely on her to make a living. Don¡¯t forget that although Sir Yuan is an official, he still relies on her for support. With his sry, he can barely support himself.¡±


    ¡°I heard that after he took office, Madam Qiao contributed quite some silver?¡±


    His mentor raised his hand and gestured, ¡°How much do you think she gave him?¡±


    ¡°Fifty thousand taels?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that amount alone was spent on buying wastnd outside the county, not to mention the expenses for repairing the city wall, the county court and hiring workers to nt trees. Look at how the governor operates, and look at the other county officials in different ces. The officials in other ces fill their pockets, while Sir Yuan and his family are the opposite. They are rare in this world.¡±


    County Governor Zhu nced at his mentor, wondering if he needed to boast so much about another man, which might undermine his authority.


    ¡°Hmph, with such a wife as his backing, he might as well go home and nt sweet potatoes if he doesn¡¯t perform well in his official duties.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you are the head of County Yi. If you sincerely befriend the Qiao family, she is so wealthy that she will surely support you when you need it.¡±


    ¡°Of course. I must use my thick skin to get closer to her and leech some food and drink if I can¡¯t get any silver. I can¡¯t afford to lose.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    The master and servantughed heartily. For nothing else, they were a pair of mischievous fellows.


    In the cell, the two pairs of old couple kept ncing at each other. They were like wilted eggnts with no spirit left.


    To get a little something from their son and daughter¡¯s families, they entered the cell, which made peopleugh at them.


    But did they care about these things? As long as they could get money, they didn¡¯t care about their reputation.


    But this New Year¡¯s Day, while people enjoyed delicious food and drinks, they were stuck in a cell eating dry steamed buns. At least they saved money for their sons and daughters. It wasn¡¯t a total waste of their efforts.


    Although Governor Zhu had sent someone to give them some ¡°special care,¡± it wasn¡¯t excessive. In terms of food, they had upgraded from the unappetizing steamed buns to soft steamed buns.


    As long as their bodies were healthy, they could stay there as long as they wanted.


    It was just four people; Governor Zhu could afford them.


    During this New Year¡¯s celebration, Old Master and Mistress Wang separated. One was in the county, and the other was in the Qiao family.


    Qiao Mai felt a little sorry for Old Mistress Wang. If she hadn¡¯t gone to the county to talk to her, they wouldn¡¯t have been separated.


    After New Year¡¯s Eve, she waited for Yuan Jiaqi to fall asleep and entered the space.


    Sitting by theputer, she took a deep breath, opened the tform, and searched for something.


    The olddy loved animals, so why not get her an adorable one? She immediately thought of getting a cat.


    Dogs were cute, but she couldn¡¯t carry them around all day and night.


    There were already two shy and cute dogs at home. So why not change it up a bit and go with something fresh?


    Dogs could guard, and cats could catch mice; they had different roles.


    She started browsing through various types of cats on the tform. Eventually, she chose a short-haired, reddish cat with a gentle temperament, was affectionate, and highly intelligent.


    Thinking of Ling¡¯er, she decided to buy two. She got in touch with the customer service.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Hello, distinguished customer.¡±


    Qiao Mai was now a diamond-level customer on the tform. Each seller treated her with great respect.


    ¡°I¡¯m interested in a cat from your collection. I want to buy two. Do you have them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have them. In fact, we have plenty.¡±


    ¡°Is this a spiritual beast or just a regr cat?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a regr cat, but we also have spiritual beast-level cats.¡±


    Greeny suddenly appeared by her side. ¡°Wow, Master, this cat is so beautiful.¡± ¡°Yes. Do you have any suggestions?¡±


    ¡°Why not take advantage of our space and get a variety of cats? I can take care of them. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°The space doesn¡¯t have rats.¡±


    ¡°Master, why is your thinking so narrow?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Cats don¡¯t just eat rats. Don¡¯t forget that our pond is overflowing with fish and shrimp. With these cats, they will be continuously captured. Our space needs ecological bnce.¡±


    ¡°Did you sneak in so many of them without my notice?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s barely anything there.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go ahead and choose as you see fit.¡±


    Under Greeny¡¯s guidance, Qiao Mai purchased several pairs of cats, all of which were unrted. That way, they could grow up and interbreed.


    She also bought several pairs of dogs. Greeny had the time to take care of them, so she would let it take charge.


    After buying what she wanted, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t interfere anymore. ¡°Greeny, feel free to choose whatever you like if it benefits our space.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your trust, Master.¡±


    With the owner¡¯s permission, Greeny became bolder.


    Qiao Mai came out of the space with a pair of cats. These two kittens were just two months old and were a little scared when they suddenly found themselves in a new environment.


    They kept meowing. Qiao Mai quickly fetched a piece of ham, broke it into small pieces, and put them in front of the cats. She also provided a small bowl of spiritual river water.


    The two clever kittens immediately ignored the ham and went straight to drink the water, filling their little tummies in no time.


    She smiled and petted their tiny heads. Then, she remembered something and went back into the space. She purchased cat food, a litter box, cat bowls, and a cat bed for them.


    After setting up the litter box and putting food in one bowl and water in the other, she ced the kittens inside the bed.


    ¡°Time to sleep. We¡¯ll introduce you to your new owner tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°Meow.¡±


    The kittens licked each other¡¯s fur and snuggled up together. Qiao Mai nced at the sleeping Yuan Jiaqi and thenid down herself.


    It was still dark outside when Yuan Jiaqi was awakened by the kittens¡¯ meowing.


    Hey on the bed and was startled to see two little creatures running around on the floor.


    ¡°Wife, wife?¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t open her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°When did we have two little fellows in our room? And what¡¯s with the pile on the floor?¡±


    Qiao Mai rubbed her eyes and calmly lied.


    ¡°Last night, I couldn¡¯t sleep, so I went for a walk and found these two little things. I brought them back. Aren¡¯t they cute?¡±


    ¡°Are they foxes?¡±


    ¡°No, they¡¯re cats.¡±


    ¡°Cats? Cats with reddish fur? Why do they look like red foxes?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hear their meowing?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I forgot about that. They have such short fur, and it¡¯s so cold in winter.


    If you hadn¡¯t saved them, they might have frozen to death.¡±


    ¡°Yes,st night, I dewormed them. I n to give one to Grandmother and one to Ling¡¯er. As for those rascals, forget it. They have Wu Zhui and Sai Xue and the horses.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t like boys raising such cute animals; it makes them look girly..¡±

 Chapter 227 - 227: She Would Not Share Dong Zhao

    Chapter 227: She Would Not Share Dong Zhao


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After Qiao Mai red at him, Yuan Jiaqi quickly changed his words. ¡°As long as they like it, we¡¯ll keep them. I don¡¯t care. I was only joking.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Interrupted by him, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t continue sleeping. Considering it was the first day of the lunar year, she didn¡¯t want to bezy in bed. Yuan Jiaqi followed her as they both got out of bed.


    In their backyard, it was only the two of them with no need for servants.


    They had finished their morning routines, and the couple visited Old Mistress Wang with the kittens.


    When they met, they paid their respects to Old Mistress Wang and offered New Year¡¯s greetings.


    True to form, the olddy fell in love with the cute kittens, holding them affectionately.


    ¡°Did you get these for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, these are a New Year¡¯s gift for you. Do you like them?¡±


    ¡°I love them. I¡¯ve never seen cats like these before.


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but wonder. The version he heard in the bedroom was that the cats were rescued, but now, they were presented as a special New Year¡¯s gift for Old Mistress Wang.


    He decided not to say anything as long as his wife was happy.


    When Qiao Mai mentioned that one of these kittens was meant for Ling¡¯er, Old Mistress Wang felt a pang of sympathy.


    ¡°Separating them at such a young age is quite cruel. Why don¡¯t you let me raise them both? Once Ling¡¯er is older, she can have one.¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. She understood that Old Mistress Wang felt Ling¡¯er was too young and might not be able to take care of the kittens properly.


    ¡°Alright, you can raise them. I¡¯ll get another pair for her.¡±


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re capable. Get her another pair.¡±


    It appears that Old Mistress Wang truly adores them and is protecting them like precious treasures.


    Feng¡¯er, Yun¡¯er, and Chuan¡¯er arrived shortly after. The three paid their respects to Old Mistress Wang and their parents.


    After that, Nanny Jin brought Ling¡¯er into the room.


    However, surprisingly, when Ling¡¯er saw the little cats, she liked them but didn¡¯t express a desire to keep them. She caressed them briefly, and that was it.


    On the other hand, the three brothers were quite taken by these cats. They found them incredibly beautiful and thought it was astonishing that cats like these existed. Everything from their mother was rare.


    Qiao Mai quietly asked Ling¡¯er, ¡°Sweetheart, you don¡¯t seem overly fond of these kittens. What type of pet do you like?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, big, grand, and majestic!¡±


    The six-year-old had an unexpectedly extravagant taste.


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Something like Dong Zhao. I really, really like it. If you can give it to me, I¡¯ll bow to you every day.¡±


    She must be kidding. Dong Zhao belonged to her, and she wouldn¡¯t be sharing it.


    Nevertheless, she kept her daughter¡¯s request in her heart. If Ling¡¯er liked something big, she would find something suitable in her tform. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a few extra things to y with, and it would keep her daughter entertained.


    Old Mistress Wang truly adored these two kittens. During the meal, she couldn¡¯t help but nce back at them frequently.


    She felt like embracing Qiao Mai, expressing her gratitude for bringing these two little bundles of joy into her life. The gift was perfectly to her liking.


    After breakfast, nobody left as they nned to receive guests in the front hall shortly. However, Old Mistress Wang was adamant about not joining them, waving them off as they went.


    ¡°Your affairs, your social duties. I won¡¯t go. I want to stay with my little darlings.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but shake her head, wondering if she had done something wrong. Old Mistress Wang was mesmerized by these cats.


    If her husband returned and saw this scene, he might challenge her to a duel.


    ording to tradition, everyone had breakfast before visiting Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard to offer New Year¡¯s greetings.


    Due to the end of the drought, they decided to celebrate, and the red envelopes were exceptionallyrge ¨C each person received ten taels of silver.


    The year-end red envelopes each contained ten taels of silver, making the servants ecstatic.


    With their household chores taken care of, the gates of Lucky Garden opened.


    The steward, along with the maids, set off a few firecrackers at the entrance to wee the guests.


    Most of the visitors were familiar faces from the town. In previous years, Qiao Mai had only given New Year¡¯s greetings to the mayor.


    This year, she was feelingzy and decided not to go.


    So, they waited for the guests toe to them. The number of visitors was small. The first to arrive were the Liu family, who had received great kindness from their niece, Qiao Mai.


    Madam Liu Qiao was the first to give red envelopes to the children. Qiao Mai nced at them, noticing they contained silver.


    Qiao Mai had several children, while the Liu family only had one beloved child. To ensure her children didn¡¯t feel slighted, Qiao Mai immediately took a 100-tael silver note and handed it to Liu Bao.


    This surprised Madam Liu Qiao, who tried to decline.


    ¡°It¡¯s New Year¡¯s, and giving red envelopes is for celebrating. Declining would be denying our blessings.¡±


    Reluctantly, Madam Liu Sun allowed Liu Bao to ept the red envelope. Qiao Mai looked at her and decided that her sister-inw was a good person, hardworking, and thoughtful. She made a mental note to gift her a set of jewelry after the Lunar New Year.


    The Liu family didn¡¯t stay long in the living room. They excused themselves as more people were arriving. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t stop them and let them go.


    The second group of visitors was the Qin family. Over the past years, they had benefited greatly from Qiao Mai¡¯s kindness, and their business had thrived.


    In addition, with the presence of Yuan Jiaqi, an official, they had to exchange New Year¡¯s greetings regardless of seniority.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t put on airs, and they exchanged New Year¡¯s greetings with warmth.


    They gave red envelopes to each other¡¯s children, adding to the lively atmosphere. They chatted for a while, then took their leave when more guests arrived.


    The third group of visitors was Shopkeeper Tong and his family. These past three years of drought had been tough on him, and he had benefited from his association with the Qiao family. Without their help, his inn might have gone out of business.


    The fourth group of visitors was Assistant Qiu from the broker center. He only stayed briefly, departing after a short visit.


    The fifth group was led by Mayor Qian. He arrived with Lu Sanniang, followed by Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯vee to wish you all a Happy New Year!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re ttering us!.¡±


    ¡°No, no! We¡¯re all peers. From now on, you must call me ¡®brother-inw.¡±¡® ¡°Alright, Brother-inw Qian! Sister Lu, Happy New Year!¡±


    ¡°Happy New Year! We came over today and won¡¯t be leaving until the afternoon.¡¯


    ¡°Great! Let¡¯s have a lively time together.¡±


    Lu Sanniang gave red envelopes to Qiao Mai¡¯s children and joined her husband in the adjoining hall, where they snacked on melon seeds and sipped tea. Who would want to stay home when there were so many delicious treats in the Qiao family home? Mayor Qian couldn¡¯t resist offering some tasty snacks to Lu Sanniang.


    She gave him an annoyed look and said, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten these treats at my sister¡¯s house many times. I¡¯m not deprived!¡±


    ¡°Eat them! These are high-quality items. A good diet is essential for your health and fertility.¡±


    Lu Sanniang blushed slightly and yfully pinched Mayor Qian, causing him to exim. They were indeed a lively and affectionate couple.


    Qiao Mai shook her head, noticing the nces she and Yuan Jiaqi exchanged.


    She chuckled, ¡°Are you envious?¡±


    ¡°My wife, I¡¯m not Mayor Qian, and he¡¯s not me. We have our way of getting along.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave him a teasing look, which instantly made Yuan Jiaqi feel warm and aroused.


    ¡°Can¡¯t resist temptation, can you?¡±


    ¡°My wife, I can¡¯t resist your temptation!¡±


    Qiao Mai covered her mouth, smiling. Just then, another group of visitors arrived at the courtyard entrance, but Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t recognize them.


    They went to wee the new arrivals and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s Brother Yuan and sister-inw, right? It¡¯s our first meeting. I didn¡¯t expect it to be on the first day of the Lunar New Year.¡±


    County Governor Yi followed with a courteous bow, ¡°I¡¯m the governor of Yi


    County, Zhu Zhengfang. I should havee to pay my respects earlier.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a local official visiting! My apologies, pleasee in!¡±


    ¡°Please, no need for formalities, Brother Yuan. We¡¯re all officials here.¡¯


    Governor Zhu¡¯s mentor and his entourage followed him into the living room, where Governor Zhu introduced them to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi..

 Chapter 228 - 228: This Guy Came for Food

    Chapter 228 - 228: This Guy Came for Food


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°This is mv subordinate. Mentor Liu!¡±


    ¡°This subordinate pays respects to Master Yuan and Madam Yuan.¡±


    He then ced the gift box he held on the table at the head of the room.


    Qiao Mai smirked, ¡°Just call me Madam Qiao. It¡¯s more fitting. My husband married into my family, so he should take my family name, not the other way around.¡±


    County Governor Zhu had to cover his mouth to suppress augh; Madam Qiao was entertaining. Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t seem offended either.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°My wife is correct. ording to Ming Dynastyws, it should be this way. I willingly married into the family.¡±


    They exined it formally, making County Governor Zhu a bit awkward. ¡°Alright, Mentor Liu, please give red envelopes to the children.¡±


    The children immediately stepped forward and bowed. ¡°Happy New Year, uncles!¡±


    ¡°Oh, your children are all so handsome and charming, especially this little girl. She¡¯s like a fairy. Their future is limitless.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes; County Governor Zhu was so generous he seemed to be throwing money around.


    Yuan Jiaqi courteously suggested, ¡°Since Governor Zhu is here, would you like to stay for lunch?¡±


    Governor Zhu chuckled, ¡°Sure, sure. I¡¯ve heard your meals are better than the wealthy households in the capital. I¡¯d be foolish to refuse.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi exchanged nces, their lips twitching. Governor Zhu seemed to be more interested in the food than anything else.


    As the flow of guests continued, County Governor Zhu took the initiative to leave for another room to greet Mayor Qian. They couldn¡¯t avoid some additional pleasantries.


    The Qiao residence was buzzing with activity, with almost everyone from the towning to pay their respects.


    Luckily, Qiao Mai had prepared plenty of red envelopes, and the children received as much as they gave.


    Thest group of visitors consisted of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s subordinates from the nearby county who served under him.


    They were visiting for the first time and were amazed by the Qiao residence.


    It wasparable to the houses in the county town and even some of the wealthier ones in the capital.


    ¡°We pay our respects to Mr. Yuan and his wife, wishing you a happy New Year filled with joy, health, and prosperity.¡±


    They greeted formally, demonstrating their preparations for the asion.


    Qiao Mai responded graciously, ¡°Happy New Year to all of you! You¡¯re wee to visit our home. Why not stay for lunch?¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the invitation, but we came here today to pay our respects. We must return home; we¡¯re on duty during the New Year. The more festive the season, the more trouble we encounter.¡±


    Understanding their situation, Qiao Mai instructed the housekeeper to fetch several baskets of food from the pantry and offered it to them to take home. This gesture left the subordinates feeling grateful and embarrassed.


    After these visitors left, the maids in the Qiao residence wanted to close the main gate, thinking the guests were finished for the day. However, an unexpected guest arrived.


    A carriage pulled to the gate, and a youngdy and two maids stepped out.


    The gatekeepers frowned, wondering, ¡°Could this be one of the master¡¯s romantic interests? There seem to be plenty of them these days. The boss will surely be upset.¡±


    One of the gatekeepers inquired, ¡°May I ask who you are looking for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯vee to pay my respects to Mr. Yuan and his wife.¡±


    ¡°May I ask who you are?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a local affluent figure from County She, and I have a good rtionship with Mr. Yuan.¡±


    With most of the guests havinge and gone, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi instructed the maids to prepare lunch in the kitchen.


    As they walked away, a servant came rushing. ¡°Master, Mistress, there¡¯s a youngdy at the gate who insists on paying her respects. She seems determined to meet you.¡±


    Qiao Mai red at Yuan Jiaqi and said, ¡°Please let her in!¡±


    They returned to their seats. Qiao Mai took a sip of tea to clear her throat.


    On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi had an annoyed expression as he red at the approaching guest, curious to know who dared to disrupt his time with his wife.


    When the couple saw the guest, Yuan Jiaqi lost hisposure, standing up and pointing at her angrily.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I made it clear? You¡¯re not wee here. Why do you persist in bothering me?¡±


    The youngdy smiled and lowered her head respectfully. ¡°Qu Rui pays her respects to Mr. and Mrs. Yuan. I wish you both a Happy New Year.¡±


    ¡°Miss Qu, Happy New Year. Please have a seat,¡± Qiao Mai said, showing no signs of pressure.


    ¡°Mrs. Yuan, you¡¯re much better!¡±


    Qu Rui sat in a guest chair, maintaining a polite smile throughout the exchange.


    Yuan Jiaqi was puzzled by the situation. Qiao Mai gestured toward the main seat.


    ¡°Husband, please, sit. I¡¯m sure Miss Qu has something to say, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°In that case, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of Mr. Yuan!¡±


    ¡°Many people have said I¡¯m not worthy of him, but he¡¯s so fond of me. I can¡¯t help it. I also wanted to live freely, but he keeps clinging to me, right, husband?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded in agreement, ¡°My wife, you¡¯re absolutely right. Without you, I can¡¯t go on with my life.¡±


    The two continued their affectionate disy of a married couple¡¯s love in front of Qu Rui, who was nearly biting her lip in frustration.


    ¡°For his sake, you should leave him. My family in the capital has connections that will greatly benefit his future career.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m doing it for his sake. If I were to leave him, what if he dies of lovesickness? Then his prospects of promotion and wealth would be gone. Isn¡¯t that right, husband?¡±


    Qiao Mai gave Yuan Jiaqi a flirtatious look, and he quickly nodded in agreement.


    ¡°My dear, a day without you feels like a year. I belong to you in life and death.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. They had taken their act so far that, if Qu Rui had self-awareness, she would have left in tears. Yet here she was, still sitting there with such thick-skinned audacity.


    Qu Rui could barely contain her frustration and anger, ¡°You two can continue pretending. I¡¯m not afraid. From the moment Iid eyes on Mr. Yuan, I¡¯ve been captivated. I will only marry him in this lifetime.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded, ¡°After I pass away, you can marry him.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held her hand and said, ¡°Mydy, when you leave this world, I¡¯ll follow you. I can¡¯t live without you.¡±


    As this drama unfolded before her, Qu Rui seethed in anger and stood up.


    ¡°You have gone overboard!¡±


    Qiao Mai snorted coldly, ¡°Overboard? I think it¡¯s Miss Qu, an unmarried woman who has set her sights on a married man. We¡¯re living happily together, but you insist on interfering.¡±


    ¡°In this world, it¡¯smon for men to have multiple wives and concubines. My family holds influence. You, an inept vige woman with neither beauty nor virtue, should quickly roll off your position as the rightful wife. Otherwise¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s hand swiftly moved through the air, delivering a resounding p that sent Qu Rui flying into the courtyard like a pancake. Shended with a thud.


    Two maids rushed over, ¡°Miss!¡±


    Qu Rui struggled to get up from the ground, ¡°Go and teach that vige woman a lesson!¡±


    The maids thought, ¡°You¡¯re truly possessed. This is someone else¡¯s territory, and you¡¯re causing a scene. Do you want us to be the ones to start a fight? We¡¯re not foolish enough to seek our death.¡±


    Qiao Mai emerged from the house, drawing the attention of everyone in the vicinity.


    What¡¯s going on here?


    Qiao Mai looked down at Qu Rui, who was ring at her. ¡°Look at you, with


    skin as rough as dough. I feel like I¡¯m hurting my hand just pping you. What do you think you are? The Emperor wanted to appoint my husband as a marquis, and he didn¡¯t agree. Yet, you dare to utter such arrogant words. Who do you think you are? A noble princess or a pcedy? Sinking so low as to be this shameless.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Just wait for it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting. As long as my man doesn¡¯t desire to leave, I won¡¯t let him go. And anyone who tries to harm him will meet their end at my hands. Go home and take a good look in the mirror. Your shoulders can¡¯t bear any burden, and your hands can¡¯t carry any weight. You can¡¯t make any contribution to the country or benefit the people. Someone like you, who merely knows a bit of poetry and songs and thinks you can reach the heavens, my husband won¡¯t even spare you a nce. Get lost!¡±


    ¡°You, you, you wicked woman! I¡¯ll settle this with you!¡±</font>

 Chapter 229 - 229: The Tigress Is Too Scary

    Chapter 229 - 229: The Tigress Is Too Scary


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Miss Qu was hurt by her words. After days of lovesickness and her weak physical condition, she coughed up blood and fainted.


    Mayor Qian and others gulped but didn¡¯t intervene.


    Qiao Mai pointed at the door. ¡°Take your mistress away. If you dare to show up at my home again and engage in such behavior, I¡¯ll treat her as a bandit and deal with her.¡±


    The two maids, one carrying Miss Qu and the other assisting, left the courtyard and quickly departed in a horse-drawn carriage.


    Qiao Mai shouted, ¡°Close the door. If she dares toe again, give her a good beating. What a shameless person, daring to ruin my day during the New Year.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Mayor Qian and County Governor Zhu witnessed Qiao Mai¡¯s fierceness and spoke with trembling voices, realizing a tigress like her was truly fearsome.


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Humph, what happened? Ask him!¡±


    Qiao Mai was irritated and went to the kitchen, leaving Yuan Jiaqi to exin the situation.


    ¡°Brother Yuan, it seems your romantic life is quite lively.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because she saw my potential. I hold an official position now. When I was a poor guy with a child, girls from wealthy families like her wouldn¡¯t even nce at me.¡±


    ¡°Thatdy has quite the courage to break into the lion¡¯s den for you.¡±


    ¡°Stop teasing me. My wife is upset!¡± ¡°Your wife is indeed something.¡±


    ¡°I like her the way she is, feisty and adorable.¡±


    When Yuan Jiaqi mentioned this, the others almost choked, and it was only now that Lu Sanniang realized what true formidable was.


    This made her develop a deeper understanding of Qiao Mai, and they all sat down to ask more about her.


    ¡°Who is that youngdy?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°She¡¯s a famous youngdy from the local gentry in She


    County.¡±


    ¡°Just a businessperson, nothing special.¡±


    ¡°She has a rtive in the capital, a third-ranking official.¡±


    Governor Zhu chuckled, ¡°The capital is teeming with officials. There¡¯s a saying ¨C what was it again? In the capital, influential people, big and small, are asmon as dirt.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Brother Zhu, you¡¯re quite humorous!¡±


    ¡°My family is from the capital too. I naturally know.¡±


    ¡°Do you have high-ranking officials in your family?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my father, a Grand Academician in the Imperial Academy. Impressive, right? He keeps a low profile in the capital. But this Qu family dares to unt their power as a third-ranking official in this remote area. They even wanted to snatch a man, which is uneptable. I¡¯ll write a letter to have my father investigate this.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realize you had such a family background.¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t all of you? Just look at Mayor Qian here; his older brother is a prominent figure in the capital. And you, County Governor Yuan, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know. The olddy in your house here holds a first-rank noble title, and her maternal family, the Pang n, is powerful.¡±


    ¡°I serve the people with all my heart. I don¡¯t care about background.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯m telling you, good officials won¡¯tst without influence. You need connections to do actual good for the people and the country. Otherwise, it¡¯s all talk.¡± ¡°I mean not to abuse power. Influence? Of course, it¡¯s necessary.¡±


    ¡°Wise move!¡±


    As they conversed, the maids started arranging dishes in the main hall. Governor Zhu got up and stood at the doorway, watching them with hungry eyes.


    ¡°I have to say, Brother Yuan, your family¡¯s food is amazing. You can¡¯t find these dishes in the north.¡±


    ¡°Of course, our cook was trained by my wife. If you want to eat, Brother Zhu, drop by. But don¡¯te empty-handed.¡±


    Governor Zhu smiled. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry. I have some manners. I won¡¯t ept a free meal.


    ¡°Hehe, my family can enjoy a free meal,¡± Mayor Qian teased.


    Governor Zhu red, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know how much you have secretly given to Madam Qiao?¡±


    Mayor Qian was afraid Lu Sanniang would misunderstand. ¡°It¡¯s a token of gratitude since Madam Qiao saved my life.¡±


    ¡°She seemed to have saved your big brother¡¯s life too, didn¡¯t she? I heard he was sick at home for a long time. You sent medicine that helped him recover, right?¡±


    ¡°Your sources are quite reliable.¡±


    ¡°Of course, a county governor must have good information. In my jurisdiction, I know everything about people¡¯s secrets. Know thyself, know the enemy, and win a hundred battles.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve learned something!¡±


    Just as they chatted, Qiao Mai arrived, ¡°Please be seated, everyone.¡±


    Governor Zhu immediately said, ¡°Yes, yes, please be seated. Let¡¯s eat. The food is incredibly delicious; I can¡¯t resist.¡±


    Seeing him salivating, the others couldn¡¯t help but tease him.


    Governor Zhu was quite adaptable and didn¡¯t mind. He took a seat at the table and picked up the wine jug, passing it to Mentor Liu.


    ¡°You¡¯re catching a break by following me. You¡¯re in charge of pouring the wine!¡±


    ¡°Of course, my lord!¡±


    Mentor Liu felt he was catching a significant break, as such a grand feast was rare even in the capital city.


    While pouring the wine, the aroma wafted toward him, almost causing him to drool into the wine cup. Governor Zhu looked at him disdainfully. He quickly wiped his mouth with his sleeve.


    Dishes were served, sses were filled, and Governor Zhu asked, ¡°Where is Old Mistress Wang?¡±


    Qiao Mai waved and said, ¡°She¡¯s decided not toe for lunch and will have it sent to her from the kitchen.


    ¡°Right, when you get old, you don¡¯t like mixing with the younger generation.¡±


    Mayor Qian scolded, ¡°Mind your words!¡±


    ¡°Haha, I forgot about you. You¡¯re still young and not old at all.¡±


    Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu ate in the kitchen. At the dining table were Governor Zhu and his mentor, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang, and six members of the Qiao family.


    There were ten people and sixteen dishes. Seafood, meat, and vegetables were artfully presented, with red representing seafood, green for vegetables, and golden dishes for meat.


    Governor Zhu was so engrossed in his meal that he barely had time to clink sses with others.


    He used his chopsticks deftly and efficiently, eating quickly while still


    maintaining an air of elegance.


    On one side, Mayor Qian peeled shrimps and crabs for Lu Sanniang. On the other side, Yuan Jiaqi did the same for Qiao Mai. Governor Zhu observed this scene and decided to bring his wife next time.


    But it was his wife serving him, a task he had never done before. He used to think that men serving women was beneath him, but now, looking at the affection between these couples, there was nothing crude about it. In fact, it made their love even more apparent.


    As Governor Zhu continued to enjoy his meal, he couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration, ¡°Sister, your family¡¯s food is not avable to the public, is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unavable to the public; we keep it for ourselves. The recipes have already been sold to the Wang family, so don¡¯t think about it.¡±


    ¡°No wonder the Wang family is making so much money; They¡¯ve benefited from your recipes.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled withoutmenting. Governor Zhu, tilting his head, posed a question to Mayor Qian.


    ¡°What about the pastry recipes from your family? Did you get some from her as well?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you asking too many questions? Eat your food, or you can leave if that¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be!¡±


    Mayor Qian rolled his eyes. Governor Zhu chuckled, quickly stuffing his mouth with food. Then, he loudly slurped white wine.


    ¡°This wine is fragrant, my dear friend. How about giving me two bottles when we leave?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you a five-pound jar, but I might wonder if it¡¯s considered bribery or corruption for my fine wine?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t just buy it?¡± ¡°A thousand taels per jar!¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to rob me?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t buy it, forget it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll buy. I can¡¯t believe how generous you are.¡±


    Mayor Qian gave him a disdainful look, ¡°You should be content; the price of her wine is fifteen hundred taels. Selling it to you for a thousand taels is a great deal. ¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Humph!¡±


    As the children silently ate their food, they cast nces at the county governor, who seemed like a country bumpkin. They quickly finished the food in their bowls.


    ¡°Mother, Father, we¡¯re full.¡¯ ¡°Go y by yourselves!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    As the children left, they nced at the county governor with a look that left


    him uneasy.


    He immediately slowed his pace, signaling he had seen much more in life and didn¡¯t need their sympathy..</font>

 Chapter 230 - 230: You Can’t Hold It Against Him

    Chapter 230 - 230: You Can¡¯t Hold It Against Him


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the hall, only six of them remained. Governor Zhu enjoyed his meal, Mentor Liu was satisfied, and Mayor Qian apanied Lu Sanniang in a joyful meal.


    Even Qiao Mai didn¡¯t hold a grudge against Yuan Jiaqi for what had happened before.


    After they had eaten and drunk to their satisfaction, the six of them were resting in the living room when they heard a knock on the door. Qiao Mai red at Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Go and handle this. It¡¯s your business!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi gave a wry smile, got up, and walked out. Governor Zhu and Mayor Qian followed him while Lu Sanniang tugged on Qiao Mai¡¯s sleeve.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    ¡°Although it was his admirer, it¡¯s not entirely his fault. You can¡¯t hold it against him.¡±


    ¡°I just felt angry that they had to cause trouble on New Year¡¯s Day.¡±


    The maid saw the mastersing outside, so she opened the door. There was a horse carriage parked outside with a middle-aged couple standing at the door. They looked dark-faced and seemed hesitant when they saw Yuan Jiaqi and the others. The man bowed to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan!¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s Lord Qu and Lady Qu. Did youe here to demand an exnation for your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Before Yuan Jiaqi could speak, Qiao Mai strode forward and pointed at Lord Qu.


    ¡°Our gatekeeper had her eye on you and wanted to marry you. You should divorce your wife right away, or else¡­¡±


    Lady Qu¡¯s face turned red as she interrupted, ¡°How can you be so shameless?


    Coming here and asking my Lord to divorce his wife is outrageous! Don¡¯t you have any shame or respect?¡±


    ¡°So, Lady Qu knows about shame and respect? Yet this morning, your noble daughter came to our house and said these exact words. Why, just because your family has a third-ranking official as a rtive in the capital, do you think you can trample on thew and oppress themoners?¡±


    Lady Qu was at a loss for words. The couple looked embarrassed. Their daughter had a different story when she returned home.


    ¡°My daughter is a properdy; she would never say such things.¡±


    Governor Zhu smirked and stepped forward, saying, ¡°I¡¯m the governor of


    County Yi. I can testify to the words your daughter used.¡±


    Mayor Qian stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m the Mayor of Tianshui Town. We were present when the incident happened. We can testify on behalf of Madam Qiao. Your daughter spoke rudely; she insulted Madam Qiao the moment she arrived. Is she really considered a youngdy of a respectable family? The vige girls are more dignified inparison.¡±


    The Qu couple turned red with embarrassment. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t justify hitting her, does it?¡±


    Qiao Mai clenched her teeth. ¡°I did well not to have beaten her to death. She¡¯s shameless, bullying people with her family¡¯s influence. It¡¯s as if this world belongs to her, and she can have anyone she wants.¡±


    The Qu couple shivered, about to make excuses, when Old Mistress Wang suddenly appeared behind Qiao Mai, wrapped in thick clothing.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been wronged, my dear. Why didn¡¯t youe to tell Grandmother?¡±


    Qiao Mai turned quickly and supported the olddy. ¡°Why did youe out, Grandmother?¡±


    ¡°Just taking a stroll, checking on my little chicks and deer.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang stood tall, staring coldly at the Qu couple.


    ¡°You scoundrels, how dare you bully my granddaughter? Do you think my granddaughter should step aside for your daughter? Who do you think you


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only because you¡¯ve managed to gather some wealth that you think you¡¯re something. If you want to continue living, you¡¯d better behave. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make your heads roll.¡±


    ¡°And who are you?¡± The Qu couple asked nervously.


    Governor Zhu spat at them. ¡°This is a First-ss Royal Decree Lady as appointed by the current Emperor. She¡¯s also the sister of Grand Master Pang. Do you think your third-ss official rtive can save you?¡±


    Lord Qu immediately knelt in front of the olddy.


    ¡°I apologize, Old Mistress Wang. I didn¡¯t raise my daughter well. I will reprimand her severely. We didn¡¯t mean to cause any trouble here. We just wanted to understand the situation.¡±


    He turned to his wife and scolded her. Stunned, Lady Qu also knelt.


    ¡°A third-ranking official¡¯s daughter dares to threaten an imperial official? I will report this matter to the Emperor. He¡¯s currently investigating corrupt officials, bullies, and thugs. I wonder if you fall into one of these categories.¡±


    ¡°Old Mistress Wang, spare us! We were wrong!¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang took Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    The Qu couple left, and Yuan Jiaqi looked at them.


    ¡°Good riddance, they didn¡¯t listen to reason. Had to turn things ugly! ¡±


    Governor Zhu extended a friendly gesture toward Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll take my leave now. Let¡¯s sit down properly another day?¡±


    ¡°Sounds good!¡±


    Mayor Qian patted Yuan Jiaqi on the shoulder. ¡°Families like theirs are not worth having any dealings with.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded in agreement, watching Mayor Qian leave with Lu Sanniang.


    He then turned around and walked back without ncing at the couple outside. The maid grunted with disdain, closed the courtyard gate, and barred it. ¡°These people are so useless, yet they want to bully others!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Whichever rtive they bring to our house can¡¯tpare to ours.


    They only want to show off.¡±


    Outside, Lord Qu, who had knelt on the ground, quickly got up and shouted at


    Lady Qu.


    ¡°Indulge her more! Look at the trouble she¡¯s caused.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s seeking death. What should I do? How can I bear to watch her die? She¡¯s my daughter, conceived and born over nine months. I told her that forced love is bitter and that Governor Yuan is an efficient man who wouldn¡¯t divorce his wife for her. But she didn¡¯t listen and came here on her own.¡¯


    Lord Qu clenched his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll go back and break her legs if she doesn¡¯t stop.¡± He got on the carriage and yelled at Lady Qu, who was still in a daze.


    ¡°Get on the carriage. If she wants to die, let her die. It¡¯s better than our whole family dying.¡±


    On the first day of the lunar year, there were morning and afternoon celebrations. Qiao Mai and Old Mistress Wang sat on the warm bed, discussing their grievances.


    Old Mistress Wang cradled the kittens in her arms. ¡°You¡¯re such a straightforward girl, but you can¡¯t be petty because of this.¡±


    ¡°I just felt it was repulsive!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I will definitely have Zongsheng write a letter to report this to the Emperor, submitting an officialint against the Qu family.¡± ¡°Let it go as long as she doesn¡¯te to create trouble in the future.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let them off lightly! Otherwise, everyone will think they can behave like this.¡±


    ¡°If she causes trouble again, I have ways to deal with her!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang smiled warmly at her. ¡°I know you¡¯re capable. If my husband knew you got me two little darlings, do you think he¡¯d be upset?¡± ¡°He probably won¡¯t. He¡¯ll likely ask me for pets too.¡±


    ¡°He only likes to read books. He¡¯s not interested in these things. But these two darlings are lovely. They have beautiful colors and are cute. When they make noises, my heart melts.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, don¡¯t be biased. You might only love them and forget about our poultry.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. I remember them as well.¡±


    ¡°On the second day of the lunar year, I will invite the Liu family to dinner. Will youe?¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re all family. It¡¯ll be fun to get to know each other.¡±


    Qiao Mai took some red envelopes from her pocket and ced them on the table. ¡°I have plenty left. You can have some. You can give them to the Liu family kidster.¡±


    ¡°I already have some here.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I prepared too many.¡±


    The maid beside them looked at the red envelopes with envious eyes. The olddy had never been so affectionate with anyone, not even her granddaughter, Jiaru.


    Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t let such small matters agitate her; these actions were only meant to show her as a normal person.


    At night, the coupley on the bed. Yuan Jiaqi turned his head to look at her.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯re not angry, are you?¡±


    ¡°No, I was upset at the time, but it was fine. I¡¯m not ming you.. Why would I be angry?¡±</font>

 Chapter 231 - 231: Old Master Wang Is Back

    Chapter 231 - 231: Old Master Wang Is Back


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The man approached cautiously and embraced her tenderly. The fragrance of her body made his heart race every time he smelled it.


    ¡°After the second day of the new year, I must leave.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, my aunt¡¯s family ising for dinner tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I will host them well!¡±


    ¡°Alright, tonight, I¡¯ll take good care of you.¡±<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    When she gave him a seductive look, it would set the zing fire inside him aze.


    The next day, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi visited Old Mistress Wang in the early morning.


    These days, they had been having meals at the olddy¡¯s ce to keep herpany and let the kids y with the cats.


    In two days, the cats had gotten used to everyone and were jumping around Old Mistress Wang¡¯s room. She allowed them to frolic as they pleased.


    For lunch on New Year¡¯s Day, they had dumplings. On the second day, they made various types of noodle dishes.


    There were tomato and egg noodles, spare rib noodles, chicken soup noodles, diced beef noodles, and spicy sauce noodles. Qiao Mai put her favorite egg noodles in front of Old Mistress Wang, and the others chose a bowl of their preference.


    In the middle of the round table, there were several delicious cold dishes. They had just taken a bite when there was a knock on the gates.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Old Master Wang to push aside the curtain and rush in.


    ¡°Ah, you probably didn¡¯t expect me to be back!¡±


    This statement left everyone at a loss, but since Old Mistress Wang made noise abouting back, he didn¡¯t want to stay there either. After receiving the necessary guests on New Year¡¯s Day, he had a horse-drawn carriage prepared early in the morning. He even had the city gates opened ahead of time to rush back to Lucky Garden.


    Everyone quickly found a seat for him. Qiao Mai made him hot milk tea to dispel the cold.


    Old Master Wang sat at the table. ¡°Being at home is so much better.¡±


    Qiao Mai ced a bowl of noodles in front of him. ¡°Here, it¡¯s your favorite spare rib noodles.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I can¡¯t get used to the food there. But I could eat as much of your food as you serve me.¡±


    ¡°That means the food in our house is good.¡±


    Old Master Wang took several sips of milk tea and picked up his chopsticks to eat. Hearing the rustling noises from the room, he looked in that direction.


    ¡°Who¡¯s raising them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    Old Master Wang instantly lost his temper. ¡°What are those?!¡±


    ¡°Cats!¡±


    ¡°You are wasting your life, you know?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. I¡¯m almost pushing up daisies. What¡¯s it to me if I waste my life? What¡¯s it got to do with me?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang scolded him angrily in front of many people, but the old master didn¡¯t get angry. He just chuckled continuously.


    After breakfast, Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai took the children and left.


    The Liu family wasing, and they needed to wee them.


    The kitchen would also be prepared. Old Master and Mistress Wangy on the bedfortably.


    ¡°Being at this girl¡¯s ce is better. Next year, no matter what, I won¡¯t go back.


    I¡¯m getting old. I really can¡¯t be bothered to move around.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang ced the two cats on the bed. Surprisingly, the old master extended his hand and petted them a few times.


    ¡°These cats are good-looking. Are they expensive?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. My granddaughter got them for me, so I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so considerate!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. From now on, we¡¯ll grow old here, not going anywhere else!¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh!¡±


    ¡°By the way, the Liu family ising at noon, and I promised to go over and support Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too!¡±


    Now, the old couple each had a cat in their hands, spending their days petting them.


    Liu Mei¡¯er was the eldest daughter of the Liu family. She married into a family close to She County. She had two sons and a daughter. Her husband¡¯s brothers separated their households early on due to their tough lives. Her inws lived in the main branch, and her family was in the third branch.


    These three brothers got along rtively well and never had any disputes.


    They had a tough life, but Madam Liu Qiao subsidized her after they had the financial means.


    She often sent various things and helped them ovee their difficulties. It was through these actions that Liu Mei¡¯er and her family started to get better.


    In the past two years, she returned to her hometown on the second day of the New Year, but her family didn¡¯t dare to visit Qiao Mai. One reason was that they felt embarrassed, and the other was that they didn¡¯t want Qiao Mai to feel ashamed of her family¡¯s circumstances.


    This year, Qiao Mai invited them to her family as guests.


    Liu Mei¡¯er was naturally happy, and she made two new outfits for her family to wear on New Year¡¯s Day to ensure her cousin wouldn¡¯t look down on them.


    Her mother-inw was also pleased and even lent her some jewelry she had hidden away. She hoped her daughter-inw wouldn¡¯t disgrace their family.


    Liu Mei¡¯er didn¡¯t ept the jewelry, as her family had given her many things over the years, including jewelry. She didn¡¯t want to let her sisters-inw be jealous and gossip.


    People in the vige were like that. When you¡¯re poor, they don¡¯t bother you, but when you¡¯re well-off, they envy and talk behind your back.


    The Liu family hired a cart for five people and set off from home early in the morning. On the way, Liu Mei¡¯er put on the silver bracelet, hairpin, and earrings she had kept hidden in her bosom.


    She wasn¡¯t the type of woman with no insight. She constantly taught her three children along the way.


    Her husband had a simple and honest appearance and didn¡¯t talk much. He just did what his wife told him. However, he was pretty nervous inside.


    His wife¡¯s cousin was a prominent figure in Tianshui Town, and her husband was a governor. He feared they would look down on their family and kick them out.


    Madam Liu Qiao had her breakfast and anxiously awaited the guests at the front of their shop. ¡°It¡¯s about time, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    They anxiously observed each vehicle that passed by and were on edge.


    Finally, Liu Mei¡¯er waved her hand to them from the distance.


    ¡°Dad, Mom! ¡±


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve finally arrived! Are you cold? Come inside to warm up.¡±


    Liu Hai helped unload the cart,den with New Year¡¯s gifts. Liu Dashan went to pay the cart fee.


    They didn¡¯t have the heart to let their daughter pay for it.


    Once inside the house, Madam Liu Sun hurried to prepare tea and provide hand warmers for the children.


    ¡°Have you had your breakfast?¡±


    Liu Mei shook her head, feeling embarrassed. Liu Hai quickly cooked arge bowl of instant noodles for them.


    He was genuinely concerned for his eldest sister. Despite the precious nature of the meal, adults and children receivedrge servings.


    They all enjoyed the noodles. It brought tears to Madam Liu Qiao¡¯s eyes due to her heartfelt concern.


    ¡°We will go to your cousin¡¯s house soon.¡±


    ¡°Mom, have we dressed appropriately like this?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Your cousin isn¡¯t one to judge; she¡¯s nice. You¡¯ll see when you meet her.¡±


    ¡°Should we bring a gift or something?¡±


    ¡°I have prepared everything. No need for you to worry.¡±


    On the other side, Qiao Mai had made all the necessary arrangements. She asked the kids to take care of the children they had invited to y at home.


    She instructed the maids to set up a table with plenty of snacks and even prepared gifts to take when they left.


    As the couple sat in the living room, Old Master and Mistress Wang arrived.


    Just as they were about to inquire about something, the doorbell rang. Yuan Jiaqi supported Old Master Wang while Qiao Mai held Old Mistress Wang out of the room,ing to the front door to wee the guests.


    They were trying to respect the Liu family as they couldn¡¯t afford to let anything tarnish their daughter-inw¡¯s reputation within her husband¡¯s family.


    As the courtyard gate opened, Madam Liu Qiao saw Old Mistress Wang and was overjoyed. She led her family to pay their respects to the old couple.


    ¡°Greetings to Old Master and Mistress Wang!¡±


    ¡°We are all family, no need for formalities. Come inside; it¡¯s cold out here.¡± Once inside, Madam Liu Qiao introduced her daughter¡¯s family to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°This is my eldest daughter, Liu Mei¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Liu Mei¡¯er greets Old Master and Mistress Wang and my cousin!¡±


    She was still pretty nervous, and her words were a bit stuttered.


    Qiao Mai sized her up and said, ¡°We are meeting for the first time. As we get to know each other better, feel free to visit more often. If you encounter any difficulties, don¡¯t hesitate to let us know.¡±


    ¡°Yes, cousin!¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao then introduced Liu Mei¡¯er¡¯s husband. ¡°This is your cousin-inw, Yang Shulin. He¡¯s not much of a talker, so please don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Shulin greets everyone for a Happy New Year!¡±


    He was about to kneel, but Yuan Jiaqi promptly helped him up..</font>

 Chapter 232 - 232: She Divided It Fairly

    Chapter 232 - 232: She Divided It Fairly


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Family doesn¡¯t do this!¡±


    ¡°These are their children, two sons and one daughter, Yang Hua, Yang Yun, and Yang Liu. Eight, seven, and five.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang took out red envelopes and handed them to the children, who were too frightened to speak.


    ¡°They are quite shy. Let Feng¡¯er and the others take them outside to y for a while. The rest of us can talk.¡±


    The children were taken away by Feng¡¯er and the others. The living room became quiet.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    Qiao Mai looked at Liu Mei and Madam Liu Sun, then took out a gift box prepared in advance from a nearby table.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already given one to Liu Ye. This one is for you!¡±


    Liu Mei and Madam Liu Sun quickly received the gift and opened it, looking amazed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too valuable?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that extravagant. It¡¯s silver jewelry with some pearls. Enjoy it, and don¡¯t deprive yourself too much as the days go by.¡±


    The two women¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Thank you, cousin.¡±


    On the men¡¯s side, Yuan Jiaqi asked Yang Shulin, ¡°Where is your family from?¡± ¡°Pan Zigou!¡± ¡°That¡¯s within the jurisdiction of County She and not too far from the city!¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. We¡¯re rtives. How muchnd do you have?¡±


    ¡°Ten acres ofnd, all cleared from the wilderness.¡¯


    ¡°How¡¯s the harvest?¡±


    ¡°We get about two to three hundred catties of grain per acre. The government takes a hundred catties. It¡¯s not enough for our family.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, I¡¯ll have some work at my ce. Would you be willing toe to work with us?¡±


    Yang Shulin eagerly nodded. ¡°I¡¯m willing. I¡¯m strong and can do any work. Can I bring my older and younger brothers? They are good workers.¡±


    ¡°After the fifteenth,e to the court to find me. I¡¯ll take you to register.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, brother-inw!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi thought, ¡°You¡¯re much older than me, yet you call me brother-inw so fluently.¡±


    In fact, Liu Mei¡¯er was not much younger than Qiao Mai, being born a few monthster.


    Yuan Jiaqi inquired about Yang Shulin¡¯s situation and asked about Liu Hai and Liu Dashan. The three of them were overjoyed. If it weren¡¯t for these family ties, they wouldn¡¯t have had the opportunity to sit here and converse with the county governor.


    The Liu family enjoyed a happy lunch at Lucky Garden. Afterward, Old Master and Mistress Wang returned to their courtyard.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi apanied them and didn¡¯t find it bothersome.


    Upon leaving, they had their cart filled with various goods ¨C grains, meat, and snacks for the children. Qiao Mai also gave Liu Mei¡¯er one hundred taels of silver.


    Not only Qiao Mai but even Madam Liu Qiao secretly gave her eldest daughter one hundred taels of silver.


    With this money, whether they engaged in small trade or bought some farnd, Liu Mei¡¯er¡¯s life wouldn¡¯t be as challenging in the next ten years.


    When it came to helping people in need, it wasn¡¯t just about temporary relief. To escape poverty, they needed to address the root causes.


    Liu Mei¡¯er¡¯s family returned to their home on a carriage provided by the Qiao family with a cart following behind, full of goods.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s provisions were even more generous than the Liu family¡¯s.


    Upon entering the vige, they caused quite amotion. Liu Mei¡¯er didn¡¯t like to show off, so once the two carriages had delivered the goods to her doorstep, they quickly began unloading them. Liu Mei knew the ropes and took several taels of silver from her pocket to share with Qiao Mai¡¯s servants.


    While they might not have appreciated it, it was still a token of her gratitude.


    Seeing a courtyard full of goods, Liu Mei had her children call her inws and her brothers¡¯ families.


    Previously, they had treated her well. She wanted to share the goods with them.


    When the Yang family arrived, Liu Mei blocked the courtyard gate. The vigers outside began to gather and watch the spectacle.


    After splitting up the family, Liu Mei took charge of the household. ¡°Dad, Mom, these items were given to me by my mother and cousin. You guys treated me well, so I wanted us all to share and have a good year together.¡±


    The Yang couple wiped away tears. ¡°Mei¡¯er, you¡¯re considerate. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite. Even if we¡¯re separate households, we¡¯re still one family..¡±


    So Liu Mei distributed the items fairly among everyone, reserving only a slightlyrger share for her own family, which wasn¡¯t significantly more.


    The other two families quickly retrieved two pieces of meat from their share, saying, ¡°This is for your family. It shouldn¡¯t belong to us, so this can¡¯t be divided equally.¡±


    Liu Mei felt particrly relieved. ¡°Take it; my mother also gave me some silver.


    I won¡¯t split it with you.¡±


    She put the meat back in their pile, and the two families happily epted it.


    Afterward, Liu Mei took her mother-inw inside and handed her ten taels of silver.


    ¡°Mother, you can use this money to buy whatever you like. Don¡¯t be reluctant.


    In the future, our family will get better.¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you!¡±


    People gathered outside the walls looked at the family¡¯s warmth and couldn¡¯t help but be touched.


    If their own families were as united as this and shared both good and bad times, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?


    After the Yang family left, Qiao Mai finally breathed a sigh of relief, took off her shoes, andy down on the bed.


    ¡°Hosting guests is exhausting, even more than practicing martial arts!¡± Yuan Jiaqi brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for her. ¡°My dear, care for some tea?¡±


    ¡°No thanks; I need to lie down for a bit!¡±


    As he sipped his tea, he looked at Qiao Mai. They had been together for a long time, but why hadn¡¯t she shown any signs of pregnancy yet?


    He longed for a child with her ¡ª she was skilled in martial arts, and he was knowledgeable. A child who excelled in both would be perfect.


    Unlike Chuan¡¯er, who had a good mouth but was average at martial arts.


    As for the twin brothers, he saw all their efforts. However, he knew Feng¡¯er leaned towards martial skills while Yun¡¯er was more inclined towards schrly pursuits. Ling¡¯er was a girl, and neither path seemed quite suitable.


    It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t like them. It¡¯s just that in his mind, he yearned for the fruit of his love with his wife, a child thatbined their shared essence.


    Qiao Mai was eager to have a child. She had stopped taking contraceptives, yet she hadn¡¯t conceived. It wasn¡¯t her fault.


    She wondered if she had been injured when she gave birth to the previous host¡¯s child. She needed to find a reputable doctor for a thorough examination.


    Although she didn¡¯t mind, having a child would be ideal to bring them even closer during their time together.


    At this moment, the children were riding ponies on the official road. Despite the cold weather, the sun was shining, and there was little wind.


    From time to time, carriages and horses passed by, and people couldn¡¯t help but look at them.


    They were a rare sight in terms of attire and appearance, whether in this small town, the county city, or even the capital.


    Feng¡¯er and the others had been traveling from south to north. Along the way, they had a string of candied hawthorns to enjoy.


    Behind them were Yue Hong and Yue Xia, who had learned to ride horses for the sake of the young masters. Several guards followed.


    They didn¡¯t have much to do at home, so they apanied them on this outing.


    Tian Sanzhuang was riding a tall horse from north to south. When he saw them, especially Ling¡¯er, he felt she was his daughter.


    There was a voice inside him constantly shouting that.


    His horse slowed down, standing still, with his eyes fixed intently on Ling¡¯er.


    Ling also noticed him. Her mother had mentioned that this man was once her ex-husband. He had always believed she was his child. A blood test was even done, which confirmed they weren¡¯t biologically rted. Hence, there was no need for greetings and no reason to get close, especially since her mother didn¡¯t like him.


    She nced at him and then turned away to chat andugh with her brothers.


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia red at him fiercely. Even the guards behind cast a disapproving look.


    Though they were guards, who they served made all the difference. These guards were sent by the magistrate.


    For someone like Tian Sanzhuang, a minor official, they would not hesitate to take action if he dared to act inappropriately.


    Tian Sanzhuang had some sense and knew it wasn¡¯t wise to provoke these men. He looked back, raised his whip, and rode away on his horse.


    He often traveled this official road and frequently passed by Lucky Garden. However, he rarely saw Ling¡¯er.


    Every time he did, he felt she was his flesh and blood..</font>

 Chapter 233 - 233: How Do I Prove It?

    Chapter 233 - 233: How Do I Prove It?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion | Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    However, he had a family now, and his wife was already five months pregnant. After thest ordeal, he lost hope for Qiao Mai.


    However, if Ling¡¯er was indeed his daughter, he could still make use of her. The most important thing now was to prove that she was his daughter.


    As long as Qiao Mai was willing to admit it, it would not be up to her then.


    Tian Sanzhuang returned home and chatted with his wife for a while before pretending to be tired and lying down.


    How could he prove it? He had asked around as much as he could. Not to mention the vige, he had secretly investigated all the townsfolk and Lucky Garden.<div>


    <font <="" div="">


    He had even checked Qiao Mai¡¯s original residence and neighbors. There was no trace of a w.


    Especially the blood test at the end, proving that this child was not fated to be with him.


    He scratched his head in frustration. How good would it be if they had a rtionship? With the child, he and Qiao Mai would be involved. He could legitimately use the child to squeeze money out of her.


    As long as she wanted that child, she had to pay the price!


    His monthly sry was only a few dozen taels a year. How long would it take for him to live the life he wanted?


    Although the military camp paid a lot, it was tough. He could lose his life at any time. He was afraid, so no matter how much his superior thought of him, he didn¡¯t want to stay there.


    After all, he had been in the army before, so his temperament was more ruthless than others. Not to mention Yuan Jiaqi, a county governor, even the forces around Qiao Mai were not people themoners could afford to provoke.


    He was the only one who dared to have designs on her. He wanted to get money from her and the promotion he wanted.


    He had seen through Qiao Mai¡¯s backer, which was why he dared to scheme on her. Otherwise, he could only be a minor official for the rest of his life.


    No matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn¡¯t think of a solution. This matter could only be resolved if Qiao Mai admitted it personally.


    Tian Sanzhuang could not help but clench his teeth. His parents had gone overboard. It would be strange if Qiao Mai did not hate his entire family. She would never admit it even if she died. He could only think of another way.


    The children yed until the fifth day of the new year before ss started. Nanny Jin was strict and loving to Ling¡¯er.


    There was no conflict between the two. She was strict in ss and loving after ss. She did not want the child to be afraid of her from a young age. That would not be good.


    As a qualified teacher, she must let knowledge enter the hearts of her students and let herself in as well.


    Lucky Garden was a peaceful ce. The night before Yuan Jiaqi returned to County She, he handed over the title deed to the 10,000 acres of wastnd he had bought to Qiao Mai.


    Her name was written on it. He said he would buynd, nt trees after the new year, and wait for her name.


    Qiao Mai was worried. This silly boy had put thend under her name. Wasn¡¯t it obvious she had no choice but to get involved? The family had enough to make a living. He had given her so muchnd.


    What was the use of not paying taxes for ten years? If she didn¡¯t have her methods, it would be good enough for those trees to grow in that ce.


    Once it was fully grown, 10,000 acres ofnd and 100 catties of grain tax per acre ofnd would be over a million catties of grain a year.


    Who could take it? It was so annoying!


    Qiao Mai had to use the resources on hand to make these trees mature as soon as possible. Only then could it start to produce benefits.


    Qiao Mai looked it up on the Inte. Pine needles, pine pollen, pine bark, turpentine, and pine oil could all be used as medicine. It had to be said that pine trees were treasures.


    The medicinal value was high. She even went to the medical center to ask around. They also epted this, but the price was not high.


    There were many pine trees in the surrounding mountains. When there were no valuable medicinal herbs to pick, some herb collectors would sell them.


    Therefore, there was no shortage of pines. The price would not go up.


    However, it didn¡¯t matter. It would only be sold along the way. There was also pine oil and pine resin that could be extracted. The most important thing was pine nuts. The pine forest of tens of thousands of acres would bear pine cones in five years.


    A pine tree could produce about a few hundred catties of pine nuts a year. After being processed by humans, they would be delicious pine nuts.


    When the time came, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery would sell them at a high price. She was not afraid that she could not sell so many pine nuts. At most, she would sell them wholesale.


    Besides, pine oil and turpentine had great uses. Pinewood could also be used to make furniture. It tasted good and was pursued by many people.


    In short, she would make the best use of the pine forest. Five years?


    She thought for a moment. No, it didn¡¯t need five years. Two or three years would be enough. She would let them all be pine cones.


    There was one more thing she had to prepare for ¨C The marriage between Lu Sanniang and Mayor Qian.


    Although she didn¡¯t need to get involved, she still had to give gifts to both sides. That old money-grubber, Mayor Qian, had given her so much silver. He always wanted to use this wedding to get it back.


    She still hadn¡¯t thought of what to give him. It was too vulgar to give him notes, but Mayor Qian had specifically asked for rare items.


    She sighed and searched the tform.


    Jade was better than anything else. In the past, she still had some jade. Later, she changed her cultivation technique and pills. The shelves were then all empty.


    Qiao Mai could only buy it online. Fortunately, the tform here did not sell fakes. She could buy it with ease.


    She did not look at the ancient gemstones because they were not rare. She looked at dozens of modern versions of jade jewelry and chose a set of emerald gems with bright colors.


    Coupled with the sparkling diamonds, the bright green gemstones were even more vibrant.


    This set consisted of a ne, a ring, earrings, hair essories, a bracelet, a jade pendant, and a safety buckle. The entire set cost her 20,000 gold taels.


    This set of jewelry was worth this price even here. It was equivalent to returning the silver Mayor Qian had given her.


    No wonder they said that one should not owe a favor easily. Once they owed it, they would never be able to repay it.


    Lu Sanniang had done her a favor. Not only had Qiao Mai taught her two daughters double-sided embroidery, but she had also given each of her daughters a generous dowry to repay her kindness.


    As for Mayor Qian, she had prepared a set of pills for him and Lu Sanniang to have a baby in the future. The man had already told her about it a long time ago.


    Since she had agreed, she would prepare it.


    Two exquisite boxes, one big and one small, were ced by the bed.


    Although she had many things to do, she did not dy her cultivation. Her current cultivation was already at the eighth level of the Foundation


    Establishment Realm. She could prepare to form her core with one more level.


    She didn¡¯t have a master. She only had cultivation technique books and instruction manuals. She had fumbled through everything.


    There was nothing written in other books about how the time inside the space was many times faster than outside.


    The time outside was the same as the time inside.


    A cultivator like her could already be considered a genius.


    As for being a monster, she was still a littlecking. After all, she had only started cultivating halfway. She had to deal with matters outside during the day and only returned to the space at night.


    As the days passed, the weather gradually warmed up. The bone-chilling cold of winter had passed.


    In the farnd, the diligent farmers were loosening the soil.


    The betrothal gifts that Mayor Qian had prepared for Lu Sanniang had been done many years ago. There were a total of 60 carts.


    Lu Sanniang had also prepared thirty carts for herself. On March 8th, Mayor Qian invited a matchmaker to propose marriage. The engagement and


    betrothal gifts were all done together.


    The wedding was set for March 28th. Three dayster, the invitation card was sent to Lucky Garden.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t go to the engagement ceremony, and they didn¡¯t invite her either. She wasn¡¯t too excited when she received the post.


    Instead, she calmly brought the two gift boxes to Lu Sanniang¡¯s ce.


    ¡°Congrattions!¡±


    Lu Sanniang smiled shyly. ¡°It was a rush, so we didn¡¯t invite anyone. Please don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like crowds. You know that. Isn¡¯t this what I want?¡±


    Lu Sanniang knew she was in the wrong and did not know what to say. Qiao Mai ced the gift box in her hand.


    ¡°This is a set of jewelry. My friend brought it back from overseas. I saw it was beautiful, so I kept it for you..¡±</font>

 Chapter 234 - 234: Had to Endure It

    Chapter 234 - 234: Had to Endure It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Lu Sanniang knew Qiao Mai¡¯s character ¨C she didn¡¯t easily part with things, but they were good stuff when she did. She opened the gift box and started crying when she saw the items inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s so valuable. I¡¯ll never be able to repay you for this in my lifetime.¡±


    ¡°If you consider me a friend, this is all a part of our friendship. If you don¡¯t treat me as a friend, then the concept of ¡®debt¡¯ will never be fulfilled. Take it; I still need to get gifts for your man. He¡¯s been eyeing me; if I don¡¯t give him something, he probably won¡¯t even sleep well.¡±


    Qiao Mai gently patted her hand and left while Lu Sanniang hugged the box and cried even more intensely.


    Upon receiving Qiao Mai¡¯s gift, Mayor Qian was delighted like a child.


    ¡°So, following your method, she can conceive after half a year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s best to get married and consummate the marriage half a year from now!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mayor Qian¡¯s face turned unsightly. How could he, after marrying her, abstain from conjugal rtions? That would be unbearable. But for the sake of having their child, he had to endure it.


    Receiving this gift was a mixture of pain and happiness.


    Meanwhile, the Liu and the Dong family in Tianhe Town had almost settled things under the matchmaking of their go-betweens. They set the engagement date for March 16th. Madam Liu Qiao personally came to Lucky Garden due to this marriage arrangement.


    ¡°Mai?¡±


    ¡°Aunt, if you have something to say, go ahead.¡± ¡°When Liu Ye gets engaged, will youe?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll see her off when she gets married. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. What about your husband?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a government official. It¡¯s unsuitable for him to participate in such matters; it could affect his reputation.¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re wee.¡±


    ¡°Let me know the date when it¡¯s finalized.¡¯


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Since Madam Liu Qiao is here, Qiao Mai saved herself from another trip and handed her a box.


    ¡°This is the dowry I prepared for Liu Ye.¡±


    Madam Liu Qiao took it with a sly smile and looked at it. ¡°Oh my, this is too precious; she won¡¯t be able to wear it out in her whole life.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not expensive jade. Since she¡¯s marrying into the town, not staying in the vige, she can wear it.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, thank you on Liu Ye¡¯s behalf!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too greedy; it¡¯s for her!¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± The aunt and niece exchanged a smile.


    On this sunny day, the Dong family came to propose a marriage!


    Madam Liu Qiao bought a house at the broker center after the new year. It was a 70% new three-section courtyard house. Due to Liu Ye¡¯s marriage, she had it renovated again, and all the furniture inside was brand new.


    By the time she was done, it was around mid-March. Qiao Mai heard the engagement went smoothly, and both families were satisfied.


    They set the engagement date for June 1st and the wedding date for October 19th, both considered good dates.


    After confirming the dates, Madam Liu Qiao came to report to Qiao Mai. ¡°Mai, I¡¯ve prepared twenty carts for your cousin. Do you think it¡¯s sufficient?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem with that. It¡¯s already quite generous in the town. What about the other side?¡± ¡°Thirty carts!¡±


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s great.¡±


    ¡°However, I also bought a shop and a four-section courtyard house in Tianhe Town for Liu Ye. I told her that if she ever faces trouble at the Dong¡¯s, she can move there and live alone.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve given so much to Liu Ye. What about your eldest daughter?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m considering that. I¡¯ll see which town she¡¯s closer to and get her a house, courtyard, and shop. I can¡¯t treat my eldest daughter unfairly.¡±


    ¡°Are Liu Hai and the others okay with it?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there for him to be unhappy about? He only had two sisters. After settling them, everything else belonged to him. He has no objections. I¡¯ve asked him.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s still good to treat them simrly.¡±


    ¡°Haha, understood. By the way, I wanted to ask about those three recipes you taught our family. Can I teach them to my daughter?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait until they have their house and shop.¡±


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine,¡± Madam Liu QIao said, smiling cheerfully. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you anymore; you can continue with your business.¡±


    She left considerately. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t see her off.


    However, County Governor Zhu sent someone to inquire whether she wanted to release the Yuan and Qiao old couple.


    Qiao Mai thought for a while, finding herself with not much to dotely, so she decided to release them. It would also provide her entertainment to see them chatting in front of her house, boasting about various things.


    She had her messenger convey that they could be released.


    When the Yuan and Qiao old couple returned home, they sat on the heated brick bed, shedding tears, as they had been eating nothing but tbread for three months.


    Without pickles, they had to eat it dry. Not eating meant going hungry, and eating it made them feel like vomiting; it was incredibly ufortable.


    Their sons would visit them only to deliver meals. When they saw it was still tbread, they couldn¡¯t help but feel irritated.


    They took some money they had kept secretly, went to town, and bought buns. Sitting opposite Lucky Garden, they started eating.


    Some idle elderly who hadn¡¯t seen them for a long time came over and teased them.


    ¡°Hey, long time no see! Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°None of your business!¡±


    ¡°Could you adapt to life in the jail?¡±


    ¡°The county governor knew about our rtionship with the Qiao family and wouldn¡¯t dare to mistreat us. Look, we¡¯ve even gained weight.¡±


    ¡°True, haha!¡±


    Three months of prison life made them gain weight. They ate and slept every day and didn¡¯t have to work.


    Not only had they gained weight, but they had also be fairer. After all, there was no sunlight in the dungeon.


    The feeling of returning was wonderful. Now, they were basking in the sun, eating white bread, and thought they wouldn¡¯t cause any more trouble for Qiao Mai.


    If Qiao Mai knew what they were thinking, she would surely intervene. Life was bing dull, and she expected them to stir up trouble!


    On March 28, Tianshui Town was bustling, with firecrackers going off early in the morning, waking the sleepy residents.


    Everyone knew it was the Mayor¡¯s big day. After having breakfast, people rushed to his house.


    The residents of Tianshui Town, Tianhe Town and Tiannan Town¡¯s mayor, County Governor Zhu, and Mayor Qian¡¯s friends and rtives came flooding into Tianshui Town.


    Old Master Wang had taken the twins to the capital for the imperial examination, so only Qiao Mai, Old Mistress Wang, Nanny Jin, Ling¡¯er, and


    Chuan¡¯er were left in Lucky Garden.


    After breakfast, they discussed the mayor¡¯s wedding. ¡°Grandmother, Nanny Jin, are we going to the wedding banquet?¡±


    ¡°No. It¡¯s too crowded, so why don¡¯t you go instead!¡± ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t go either. After all, the gifts have already been delivered.¡±


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s too chaotic out there; staying home is better.¡±


    ¡°But the lively atmosphere could be fun. I suppose my shop will do great business today. I¡¯ll go and bring some fresh goods.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What kind of new products are you bringing? We¡¯d like some too!¡±


    ¡°You can visit the shopter.¡±


    After breakfast, Qiao Mai sent someone to summon Shopkeeper Niu. She asked him to bring someone to the backyard and start moving goods.


    It seemed that the mayor¡¯s wedding was doing wonders for Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery; anyone from afar would undoubtedly stop by to see what they had to offer. The shop had gained quite a reputation, and people wereing from far and wide. Everyone felt the need to take a look and buy something.


    Shopkeeper Niu arrived with ten assistants and left a few of them to manage the store.


    Qiao Mai opened the storeroom and pointed, ¡°Move everything. Today, sell as much as you can. You can set the prices, but don¡¯t undervalue the goods.¡± Shopkeeper Niu grinned, ¡°Your wish is mymand.¡±


    As the employees carried the baskets into the shop, filled with bright red apples and luscious pears, Shopkeeper Niu couldn¡¯t help but drool in anticipation.


    Then came the grapes, strawberries, cherries, cantaloupes, sweet melons, watermelons, bananas, and peaches.


    Upon seeing the array of goods, Shopkeeper Niu wiped his eyes. He was crying tears of joy.


    The high-quality and delicious fruits were beyond his expectations, and he was impressed with his boss¡¯s resourcefulness in making money.


    There were even some rare nuts, such as creamy walnuts, fried watermelon seeds, fried pumpkin seeds, cashews, and pistachios. They made at least three or four trips to bring everything out.


    It appeared Qiao Mai had made ample preparations for the Qian family¡¯s wedding.


    After all, it was a great opportunity to profit by selling various goods, although she did not attend the wedding..

 Chapter 235 - 235: Her Eldest Daughter Didn’t Come

    Chapter 235 - 235: Her Eldest Daughter Didn¡¯t Come


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Although he was selling goods, working at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery was an eye-opener. You can find almost all types of foods and ingredients there.


    It was an experience of learning the unheard and seeing the unseen!


    Shopkeeper Niu had a deep understanding of this. He followed the staff, holding a notebook in one hand, a pen in the other, and humming a song. His mouth couldn¡¯t help but curve into a smile. He was genuinely delighted.


    Qiao Mai locked the storeroom¡¯s door and joined them in the front.


    Tianshui Town was bustling with activity. A significant portion of the crowd had gathered for the wedding, while others were there to disy their merchandise, buy goods, or be passersby.


    People assumed it was a local market day and were surprised to learn that it was the wedding day of the town mayor.


    ¡°Wow, the town mayor is finally getting married; that¡¯s quite an achievement. It¡¯s not easy.¡±


    When they found out the bride was the embroidery shop¡¯s owner, they were even more surprised.


    ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s the big deal? They¡¯ve been close for a while.¡±


    ¡°Tell us more about it!¡±


    People gathered and began discussing, revealing details from the young days of Lu Sanniang and Mayor Qian.


    Qiao Mai sat in front of her shop, eating sunflower seeds, listening intently.


    As the people talked, they noticed that Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had stocked new items, and they all rushed into the shop. Meanwhile, the staff was busy addingbels to the goods on the shelves.


    Several dozen baskets of goods from Lucky Garden had been ced in the backyard. The staff used exquisite bamboo baskets to pack fruits and nuts and then arranged them on the shelves.


    Each basket was neat and well-organized with price tags.


    Inside the shop, the sunshine was abundant. In the center were fruits, on the left were nuts, and on the right were various snacks.


    Some customers marveled, ¡°Shopkeeper Niu, it seems your boss wants to make a fortune from Mayor Qian¡¯s wedding!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why not? It¡¯s a rare asion for the mayor to get married. Everyone¡¯s gathering here, and you should take some snacks home, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I¡¯ve noticed many unfamiliar items here.¡±


    ¡°No problem, as long as you want to buy, you can taste them. If you don¡¯t like them, you don¡¯t have to buy them.¡±


    ¡°Haha, everyone has their preferences. Oh, I can¡¯t resist the look of those fresh peaches. Are they expensive?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still in the process of pricing them; we¡¯ll start selling them shortly.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu set the prices and answered the customers with a cheerful attitude.


    Since he hade to the snack shop, he had never argued with a customer. He


    was always smiling, and his happiness was genuine.


    With such an owner, working was a pleasure.


    With Qiao Mai¡¯s backing, most people didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble. The shop was getting numerous customers, and the boss would reward them asionally. Who wouldn¡¯t be happy?


    There were customers inside the shop, some sitting and some standing.


    Some could have visited Mayor Qian¡¯s residence, but until the bride was received and the banquet started, they felt that staying in the shop was a better choice.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had more to offer than Mayor Qian¡¯s house, and it was aesthetically pleasing. The most important thing was the fragrance of the fruits that greeted them as soon as they entered the shop.


    Shortly after, there was a loud firework outside Mayor Qian¡¯s house. Mayor Qian, dressed in red, stood at the front door with matchmakers and guests following him.


    It was time to receive the bride. Since the bride¡¯s house was nearby, they hadn¡¯t prepared a sedan chair. Instead, Mayor Qian would escort her back.


    A red carpet wasid from Mayor Qian¡¯s house to Lu Sanniang¡¯s. It was clear that Mayor Qian had gone to great lengths for this wedding.


    With her hands behind her back, Qiao Mai followed the bridal party. She was there to show her appreciation.


    Meanwhile, Lu Sanniang had long prepared eighty dowry carts. They were guarded by Mayor Qian¡¯s security personnel.


    Xiu Hong and Xiu Yu guarded the veiled Lu Sanniang, and Ruyi wiped away tears quietly. They looked as if today was their daughter¡¯s wedding.


    In reality, she was crying tears of joy. Her mother had finally found a man who genuinely loved and cared for her. Now, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her.


    Qiao Mai watched Mayor Qian as he weed his bride, holding her hand, and walked down the red carpet into the Qian residence.


    She sighed in relief. Lu Sanniang was now in good hands with Mayor Qian, and she didn¡¯t have to worry anymore.


    However, there was one regret on this joyous day Her eldest daughter hadn¡¯te.


    It was probably not because Ruxin didn¡¯t want toe; Shopkeeper Lu was upset with her and hadn¡¯t told her about the wedding.


    Afterpleting the weing and seeing-off duties, Qiao Mai returned to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. Her grandmother had just sat down.


    ¡°So many people. There are as many guests as in weddings of wealthy families in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mayor Qian is well-liked, upright, and kind-hearted. Naturally, he has many friends.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved to her staff outside and called them over. ¡°Take some of the new items and set up a few on the table for Grandma to taste.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    There weren¡¯t many customers in the shop at this moment. Most had gone to Mayor Qian¡¯s house, and even if they were tempted, they knew they should visit Mayor Qian¡¯s wedding at least for a while.


    Despite following along with themotion at the groom and bride¡¯s procession, they couldn¡¯t help but think about Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. They worried the snacks might be sold out if they arrived toote.


    The staff prepared a te with umon fruits and nuts and brought it over.


    Old Mistress Wang immediately reached for the strawberries and cherries. ¡°I love these.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much of them.¡±


    ¡°Understood, housekeeper. By the way, why don¡¯t you show your face?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go; there are too many people, and it¡¯s chaotic.¡±


    As they talked, they saw some peopleing out of Mayor Qian¡¯s house, wiping their mouths.


    When they spotted Qiao Mai, they felt a little embarrassed.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, why didn¡¯t you go?¡±


    ¡°Watching the shop. I¡¯m close to the bride and groom, so it doesn¡¯t matter whether I go or not. What¡¯s up with you? I guess the wedding banquet has started?¡±


    ¡°Eating is enough. I was thinking about your goods; otherwise, they might get sold out.¡±


    ¡°Oh, pleasee in. If it¡¯ste, they might run out!¡±


    The customers entered the shop and saw some people making purchases, so they immediately joined in the frenzy.


    ¡°I want that one, that one, and that one!¡±


    ¡°Cream strawberries are five taels of silver per catty, big cherries are five taels of silver per catty, and peaches are one tael of silver per catty. How many catties would you like?¡±


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s so expensive!¡±


    ¡°The cost price is high, plus transportation andbor costs. Besides, it¡¯s not even April yet. To be able to eat such fruits is like a unique opportunity.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take ten catties of peaches and five catties of others.¡±


    ¡°Great choice!¡±


    Watching from behind the window, Qiao Mai could see the customers with pained expressions. These men didn¡¯t mind spending on expensive drinks but hesitated when buying snacks for their families.


    Old Mistress Wang, sitting by the side, was amused. Among the customers inside the shop were both wealthy and ordinary people.


    They bought these treats for their children, who loved the snacks here. Even though they usually refrain from indulging, they let their children enjoy today because of the joyful asion of the mayor¡¯s wedding.


    For customers like these, the shop assistants often provided a bit more than what they paid for.


    They wanted them to feel satisfied and not regret their purchases.


    Qiao Mai had instructed her shop assistants to treat customers who could save money for their shop purchases with generosity.


    Several customers inside the shopmented, ¡°Shopkeeper Niu, these prices you set are quite expensive! My family will go bankrupt with one purchase.¡±


    ¡°Bah! Let¡¯s not talk about inauspicious things. These prices are much cheaper than in the capital. If the shop isn¡¯t located in this small town, you wouldn¡¯t have the chance to taste these. The wealthy families don¡¯t even mind paying ten taels per catty for what they want. Take these peaches, for instance. Even if they cost one tael of silver per catty, you¡¯d still think they¡¯re expensive. If that¡¯s the case, my boss will take them home to enjoy.¡±


    ¡°Not expensive, it¡¯s not expensive! I¡¯ll buy it. I can¡¯t win against your mouth..


    Haha!¡±

 Chapter 236 - 236: Everyone Has Worked Hard Today

    Chapter 236: Everyone Has Worked Hard Today


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In any case, the prices set by Shopkeeper Niu were not low, but they were pretty reasonable. Even the lowest-grade roasted pumpkin seeds were sold for one hundred coins per catty.


    Despite this, buyers still lined up to make their purchases.


    There was only a limited amount of these items. Once they were sold out, there was no telling when they would be avable again.


    For food enthusiasts, being able to enjoy these rare treats was better than anything else. It would be something they could boast about for a lifetime.


    As for the Qian family, they were currently worried. The dishes prepared today were all made by the Jingtai Restaurant¡¯s chefs. They were not only delicious but also beautifully presented.


    Why had so few tables been touched? It would be a shame to waste these dishes.


    The steward sought Mayor Qian¡¯s approval as he was toasting the guests.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the food on the tables. Once most guests leave, we¡¯ll invite the poor people and beggars from outside to finish it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Qiao Mai and Old Mistress Wang didn¡¯t return to Lucky Garden for lunch. Instead, they ordered two bowls of instant noodles from Liu Hai.


    As they watched the guests leaving Mayor Qian¡¯s house and rushing to their shop, they noticed the shop had be so crowded that people were lining up outside.


    Qiao Mai was puzzled and said, ¡°Mayor Qian ordered a great feast, but why isn¡¯t anyone eating it?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, it¡¯s all because they¡¯re eyeing the goods in your shop. Rich families don¡¯t care for such feasts.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s so much food on those tables.¡±


    Just then, the steward brought some guards and began calling people from outside. They were all from impoverished families, wearing tattered clothing, and even beggars.


    ¡°See, I told you, Old Qian won¡¯t waste that food. Look!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a cunning old fox!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just that some of them might not be clean. With so many people around today, who knows if they might have diseases?¡±


    ¡°No, the more delicate a person, the weaker their body. The poorer ones tend to have stronger resistance.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed, ¡°I can¡¯t restrict them. Some may want to eat, so let them.¡±


    ¡°What? Do you want to stop them?¡±


    This was the first time Old Mistress Wang had dined in front of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. She found it quite refreshing and enjoyable.


    After finishing her meal and sitting for a while, she returned to Lucky Garden to rest.


    Qiao Mai sat in front of the shop, and byte afternoon, all the goods she had moved over had been sold out. The shop was nearly empty, and even the items in stock were almost gone.


    Shopkeeper Niu and the assistants didn¡¯t have time to eat lunch. Seeing the goods were all sold out and the customers had left, Qiao Mai asked him to take money from the ounts and send the assistants to buy arge bowl of cold noodles and deep-fried sesame cakes from Liu Hai.


    Shopkeeper Niu provided the money to the assistants and then approached Qiao Mai with the ount book.


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve made over six thousand taels of silver today.¡±


    ¡°So much?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the goods sold outpletely. After having their meal, I¡¯ll ask them to replenish the stock.¡± ¡°The weather is getting warmer. It¡¯s important to have fresh food.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Everyone worked hard today. Give each of them five taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Boss!¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up and returned to Lucky Garden while the shop assistants inside the shop burst into cheers upon hearing that each of them would receive five taels of silver.


    The surrounding shop assistants couldn¡¯t help but envy them, and many wished they could sell themselves to Lucky Garden and be part of the Qiao family¡¯s staff.


    People might disdain serving others or feel it¡¯s beneath them, but when they saw how well the servants of Lucky Garden were treated, they couldn¡¯t help but envy their lives. They received three proper meals a day with meat and vegetables, their monthly wages were higher than those of other families, and they were even given rewards from time to time.


    How envious!


    Some even inquired, ¡°Shopkeeper Niu, do you need more people here?¡±


    ¡°What for?¡± ¡°I want to sell myself to your family.¡±


    ¡°Sell yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Even selling your kidneys wouldn¡¯t work. We have enough staff. We don¡¯t need more assistants!¡±


    ¡°Then how about your assistants? Are they getting married or not?¡±


    Upon hearing this, the shop assistants allughed. ¡°None of us are getting married now. Even if we do, we¡¯ll have to ask our boss for permission. If she allows us to get married, we will; otherwise, we¡¯ll be bachelors forever! ¡± This was just a joke, but it was taken seriously by some.


    Thinking about the treatment of the servants in the Qiao family. some people were indeed tempted. What did it matter if they married a servant as long as they led a good life and were no longer suffering?


    Under the Ming Dynastyws, a servant who married another servant would have children who were also servants.


    If a servant married amoner, their children would bemoners. However, even in the poorest families, they wouldn¡¯t marry their daughters to servants.


    But the servants in the Qiao family were different. As long as they worked diligently for their boss, they would be freed and given a deed when they got old.


    With the savings they had from their time at their boss¡¯s, they could buy a house andnd. This was much better than what regr people could hope for.


    Some people were tempted, while others had their minds set on it.


    They consider the male servants and even the Qiao family¡¯s maids like Yue Hong and Yue Xia. Some even contemted marrying the old maids.


    Of course, Qiao Mai had no idea. She had spent a day outside and returned home to rest.


    Tomorrow, Old Master Wang and the others wouldn¡¯t return, but they would be back the day after. She didn¡¯t know how well Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er had performed in the first round.


    This was their first time on such a stage, so it should be decent. Otherwise, Old Master Wang wouldn¡¯t have sent them, as he never fought without certainty.


    As for Ling¡¯er, she had be more polite and diligent in her studies since following Nanny Jin. She was also learning how to do needlework, doing great with her embroidery.


    Nanny Jin had mentioned to Qiao Mai that she should buy a long zither for her daughter.


    Since she had some free time, Qiao Mai entered the space and searched for a long zither on the tform.


    In the meantime, at Mayor Qian¡¯s ce, the guests had left. The dishes at each table had been cleaned up by poor families and beggars.


    Lu Sanniang had changed into a new outfit and was having a meal with him.


    ¡°Old Qian?¡±


    ¡°Yes? If you have something to say, we¡¯re married now.¡± ¡°Did Sister Qiao give you that medicine?¡±


    ¡°She did. Starting today, we¡¯ll take it. After six months, we¡¯ll¡­¡±


    Lu Sanniang¡¯s face reddened, and she reached for a box and showed it to Mayor


    Qian.


    ¡°Take a look.¡±


    Mayor Qian was taken aback when he saw what was inside the box. ¡°Madam Qiao gave you this?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°This woman is quite something. She¡¯s unwilling to owe a debt to anyone. I only gave her a few banknotes, and it¡¯s only because she gave my eldest brother and me the pills for treatment.¡±


    ¡°Let it be. If she has any trouble in the future, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to protect her.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°The only thing is that Ruxin didn¡¯te today. I feel uneasy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you didn¡¯t tell her. You can¡¯t me her for noting. Over there, I have people keeping an eye on her. If anything happens, they¡¯ll notify us. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    At that moment, a young servant gasping for breath arrived at the gate. ¡°Master, Miss Ruxin was beaten in the prefectural city!¡±


    Mayor Qian stood up abruptly, and Lu Sanniang¡¯s face turned grim. It was supposed to be a joyous asion, but she was causing trouble.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and take a look. You stay at home, alright?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going too.¡±


    They changed into regr clothing and quickly boarded a carriage to the prefectural city.


    Upon arrival, they went straight to Ruxin¡¯s residence, where a que reading ¡°Xin Garden¡± hung.


    The maid guarding the entrance had dark bruises on her face. She had been assaulted numerous times in a whole year.


    ¡°Where is your madam?¡±


    ¡°They took her to the prefectural court.¡±


    ¡°Tell me. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure. All I know is that the man who had a good rtionship with the madam, his wife found our house. She beat up the madam and said she had a condition, but the madam disagree. So thatdy dragged our madam to the prefectural court, saying she would use our madam of premarital sex or something like that.¡±


    The maid¡¯s voice grew quieter as she spoke, and Mayor Qian¡¯s expression turned dark..

 Chapter 237 - 237: Playing With Fire

    Chapter 237: ying With Fire


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Without seeing Ruxin, they were unaware of the specifics. Naturally, they couldn¡¯t take action. Lu Sanniang bit her lip, her face turning blue with anger.


    She had known that this day woulde. Her eldest daughter was ying with fire and would get burned.


    Mayor Qian patted her hand in the carriage. ¡°I¡¯m here. Let¡¯s go to the prefectural court.¡±


    They rushed to the court in the carriage. Wang Zongsheng raised an eyebrow and looked at the intiffs and defendants in the hall.


    The intiff was arrogant and domineering. The defendant, Ruxin, was on her knees, looking disheveled and visibly injured. Her face was almost bruised beyond recognition.


    The intiff was the Chen family¡¯s eldest young madam, Madam Chen Jia. Her husband, Chen Kai, was handsome and well-educated but a bit too flirtatious.


    It goes without saying that the defendant couldn¡¯t resist the temptations of her man and followed him.


    However, Madam Chen Jia insisted loudly that they had an unwed rtionship and demanded the magistrate punish Lu Ruxin for this crime. But until now, her man has not shown up, and Ruxin steadfastly denies it, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.


    At this point, Wang Zongsheng sent people to look for Chen Kai.


    Wang Zongsheng wasn¡¯t afraid of the Chen family; they were merely local wealthy people with connections in the capital.


    With his daughter married to a prince, he already had a strong background and didn¡¯t need the Chen family¡¯s support.


    The Chen family did not dare to act recklessly before him, but he was a good official, and some matters needed to be rified. He felt that this case was not as straightforward as it seemed.


    Madam Chen Jia¡¯s words implied that she was trying to force this youngdy into bing a concubine, but Ruxin repeatedly asserted that she was not Chen Kai¡¯s concubine and would not be one. It seemed that her judgment had not been clouded by love.


    At this moment, Wang Zongsheng sent someone to find Chen Kai.


    While this was happening, a crowd had gathered outside the courtroom.


    Suddenly, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang arrived, trying to rush in. Wang Zongsheng quickly ordered his officials not to stop them.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Mayor Qian pointed to Ruxin on the ground. ¡°This is my daughter. If she¡¯s in trouble, how can I, as her father, note?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng was taken aback. This meant that Mayor Qian and his beloved one were married.


    ¡°She is?¡±


    Lu Sanniang quickly greeted Wang Zongsheng. ¡°I am the proprietress of Ruyi


    Embroidery Manor in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I understand now. You¡¯re the sister mentioned by Madam Qiao.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Although I don¡¯t often visit the Qiao family, I¡¯ve heard of you.¡±


    Below, Madam Chen Jia was somewhat bewildered. How was it possible that her husband¡¯s mistress had such a powerful and wealthy background, even associating with the magistrate? She began to worry about her situation.


    She had thoroughly investigated Ruxin¡¯s background and found that her family owned an embroidery shop with no notable ancestors or connections. Her maternal family consisted of a poor schr.


    So, what exactly was going on here?


    Ruxin felt scared and decided that today was a make-or-break moment. She couldn¡¯t let the Chen family have their way. She started to miss Lu Sanniang.


    But when she saw her mother, she felt ashamed and kept her head down.


    At this moment, Chen Kai arrived. As soon as he entered the courtroom, he bowed to Wang Zongsheng and saluted.


    ¡°Student pays his respects to Sir Magistrate!¡±


    ¡°My subordinates were looking for you because your wife used Ruxin of premarital sex. What¡¯s your side of the story?¡±


    Chen Kai saw Ruxin and immediately walked over to her.


    He asked gently, ¡°Xin¡¯er, are you alright?¡±


    Ruxin didn¡¯t respond. Chen Kai pursed his lips and continued, ¡°Sir, the truth is,


    Xin¡¯er and I share a mutual affection.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng mmed his desk. ¡°Madam Chen Jia?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡±


    ¡°When you visited Lu Ruxin¡¯s house today, did you see your husband, Chen


    Kai?¡±


    ¡°I did not.¡±


    ¡°Is it just hearsay? Do you have no concrete evidence? Is that correct?¡± ¡°My husband had this woman¡¯s innerwear and handkerchief.¡±


    ¡°Regarding the incident of you going to her house and causing trouble, did you catch the adulterer and the woman in the act?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°So you dared to intrude into someone¡¯s residence without evidence? Who gave you the audacity?¡±


    Madam Chen Jia turned pale and signaled to Chen Kai, whose smiling face suddenly stiffened.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m truly infatuated with Lu Ruxin. We often meet at the Xin Garden, and I have the undergarments and jewelry she gave me as tokens of our affection.¡±


    Upon hearing that Ruxin was Mayor Qian¡¯s daughter, Wang Zongsheng knew how to handle the case.


    He pounded the gavel. ¡°Lu Ruxin, is what this man is saying true?¡±


    ¡°No, he is a lecher. He often tried to seduce me because I lived alone.


    Unfortunately, I¡¯m just a woman trying to make ends meet.¡±


    ¡°So it was out of necessity.¡±


    Chen Kai pointed to Lu Ruxin. ¡°Xin¡¯er, how can you say that? You told me justst night that you would only marry me. Why are you saying this now?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng was disgusted. Chen Kai was faking it. He exchanged a nce with Mayor Qian, assuring him.


    Lu Sanniang rushed forward and pped Chen Kai hard.


    ¡°Who do you think you are? You dare to have designs on my daughter?¡±


    Chen Kai held his face, but he wasn¡¯t angry. Instead, he smiled at Lu Sanniang.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s my mother-inw. Xin¡¯er and I fell in love at first sight. Since things havee to this, why not let us marry and send Xin¡¯er into my home?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ruxin immediately knelt in front of Wang Zongsheng.


    ¡°Sir, I refuse. The Chen family has their eyes on my shop, and they¡¯re after my money. That¡¯s why this woman came to my house to cause trouble, damaging my reputation. I implore Sir to intervene on my behalf.¡±


    Madam Chen Jia spat at her. She was about to curse, but Wang Zongsheng interrupted her.


    ¡°Silence! This is a public courtroom. Be quiet and listen. I have a question for you, Madam Chen Jia. When you went to Ruxin¡¯s house today, did you catch her alleged lover?¡±


    ¡°Master, have her sign and seal it!¡±


    ¡°Chen Kai, you imed to have personal items given to you by Ruxin, but thisdy denies it. Do you have evidence to prove that these items were given willingly by her?¡±


    ¡°Sir, she really gave these to me.¡±


    ¡°I uphold the principle of evidence. These items could have been acquired by other means besides her willingly giving them to you, so they don¡¯t constitute definitive proof.¡±


    Chen Kai nced at Lu Ruxin. Since she never met him publicly and only interacted with him privately, he can¡¯t prove her intentions. He reluctantly replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°If there is no evidence, the case filed by Madam Chen Jia against Lu Ruxin is unfounded. Madam Chen Jia, for barging into someone¡¯s house and causing injuries, you will face further judgment when the victim returns home. Take Madam Chen Jia to the prison!¡±


    ¡°But, Sir, this is unfair!¡±


    Chen Kai and Madam Chen Jia knelt on the ground, protesting, but Wang Zongsheng coldly sneered.


    ¡°Unfair? ording to thews of the Ming Dynasty, catching a thief involves catching both the thief and the adulterer. Where¡¯s your adulterer? That house belongs to Lu Ruxin. It has nothing to do with your man supporting her, let alone calling her an adulteress. Lu Ruxin is aw-abiding citizen of the Great Ming Dynasty with her property. On the other hand, you, with your underhanded connections to the Chen family, thought you could bully her?¡±


    The crowd of onlookers chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s clear they wanted to take a woman with some money and confiscate her property.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. With her appearance, why would the Chen family¡¯s young master be interested in her? Isn¡¯t his mistress typically beautiful?¡±


    Listening to the hushed conversations of the bystanders, Ruxin blushed with embarrassment. She had long known she couldn¡¯t have attracted Chen Kai¡¯s attention with her looks.


    Without her property and the small shop, she never would have been involved with Chen Kai.


    Knowing it was one thing, but hearing it from others was another.


    She acted as if she didn¡¯t understand, reluctant to let the handsome Chen Kai go.


    Without Mayor Qian and Lu Sannianging to her rescue today, the Chen family might have had their way with her..

 Chapter 238 - 238: You’re Something Else!

    Chapter 238 - 238: You¡¯re Something Else!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Once she became a concubine of the Chen family, everything would be over for her. She would be a part of the Chen family, lose her reputation, and all her money would belong to them.


    She and Chen Kai were not married through proper channels. ording to the rural customs, they were supposed to be drowned.


    She was neither an official concubine nor a wife; they were having an affair.


    However, things were different now. Mayor Qian appeared. Wang Zongsheng recognized Lu Ruxin and knew she was the disciple expelled by Madam Qiao. He did a favor to Mayor Qian and Madam Qiao.


    Otherwise, Lu Ruxin would be in a miserable situation.


    Magistrate Wang focused on the evidence presented by Chen Kai and ruled against the Chen family.


    Madam Chen Jia was taken away by the officials while Chen Kai looked displeased. He went to Lu Ruxin and surprisingly put on a caring act.


    ¡°Xin¡¯er, do you have to do this?¡±


    Lu Sanniang stared at him and pped him across the face once again.


    ¡°Keep your distance from my daughter from now on. She¡¯s living in the city alone but still has her family!¡±


    Holding his face, Chen Kai gnashed his teeth, ¡°Humph, you dare to mess with my Chen family¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Mayor Qian rushed over and pped him. Today, he received three ps in public court.


    ¡°Fine! Fine!¡±


    Chen Kai, who was pped three times, had no moreposure and looked ferocious.


    ¡°You guys are really something!¡±


    Mayor Qian looked at him coldly. ¡°You are also quite something, daring to use such tricks to smear my daughter¡¯s reputation and even trying to seize her property. Your Chen family is truly outstanding!¡±


    ¡°Humph, who are you to meddle in our affairs?¡± Chen Kai scrutinized Mayor Qian.


    ¡°I am Qian, Lu Ruxin¡¯s father. The Qian family in Tianshui Town, to be precise.


    What, do you want topare your family background with mine?¡±


    Chen Kai arrivedter and wasn¡¯t present when Mayor Qian greeted Magistrate Wang, so he didn¡¯t know their rtionship.


    However, the Chen family knew who they should avoid in the city¡¯s jurisdiction. First, it was the Wang family, and next was the Qian family. When he heard this, Chen Kai¡¯s face turned gray. ¡°You, you¡¯re from the Qian


    family in the capital?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my big brother¡¯s family.¡±


    Chen Kai was so scared that he knelt with a thud. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t recognize you.¡±


    ¡°Humph, we¡¯re not finished with today.¡±


    Mayor Qian looked at Wang Zongsheng. ¡°I¡¯ll take my daughter home first. We can discuss this another time.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The two exchanged polite greetings, and then Qian Zhenchang looked at Lu


    Ruxin.


    ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lu Sanniang helped her up, and the three of them left the courtroom and got on a carriage, heading straight for Xin Garden.


    In the living room, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang sat at the head of the table while Lu Ruxin knelt on the floor.


    With a stern face, Lu Sanniang pointed her trembling fingers at her daughter.


    ¡°It¡¯s incredible, my daughter. I never thought you would do something so outrageous.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I was wrong. I won¡¯t do it again!¡±


    ¡°Humph, look at your mansion. Are you learning these things from your master? Do you have that ability? Do you know how much effort she put into her family? Are you worthy?¡±


    ¡°She transformed from someone who couldn¡¯t read a single word into a literate person and from someone who knew nothing into a martial arts expert who could handle three to five men.


    ¡°She could do double-sided embroidery, run a business, and clearly distinguish right from wrong in the ck-and-white world, never engaging in actions like yours. Are you even qualified?¡±


    ¡°She wholeheartedly worked for the sake of her family, disying great skill and rarely seeking the limelight. She willingly stayed in Tianshui Town, never engaging in actions that would harm her family¡¯s reputation.¡±


    ¡°She always protected her family¡¯s honor and dignity. But look at the things you¡¯ve done. Why didn¡¯t you learn from her? Xin Garden? Haha, are you even worthy?¡±


    Lu Sanniang spoke in a harsh and loud tone. Her daughter was overwhelmed, breaking into tears.


    ¡°Mother, I know I was wrong! Please, don¡¯t say any more!¡±


    ¡°Today, we came here early. If we were a littlete, you would have be the


    Chen family¡¯s concubine. Do you even know what a concubine is?¡± ¡°Mother, I know I was wrong!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, thinking you¡¯re all that just because you¡¯ve opened numerous businesses with your master¡¯s recipes, you¡¯ve be arrogant and even considered keeping a lover in luxury. Ask yourself, do you even possess such skills?¡±


    Lu Sanniang yelled as she spoke, her anger towards her eldest daughter palpable. Her head must have been struck by a door, kicked by a mule, and had dung thrown at it, for she wanted to give her a thrashing.


    Mayor Qian felt it was enough. ¡°Sanniang, that¡¯s enough scolding. She¡¯s suffered enough.¡±


    ¡°Not enough! She still doesn¡¯t understand where she went wrong.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I know I was wrong. I was arrogant, self-important, looked down on others, and didn¡¯t listen to advice. My stubbornness led to the current situation. I¡¯m sorry, Mother!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, a child who has ventured far makes their mother worry. Have you ever considered me?¡±


    ¡°Today is the day of your Uncle Qian¡¯s and my grand wedding!¡±


    Lu Sanniang shouted at her daughter. It was then that Lu Ruxin realized why, during the court hearing, Mayor Qian kept emphasizing she was his daughter.


    When she got into trouble, her mother and stepfather came immediately. But she was unaware of the grand wedding.


    In her moment of disgrace, she had disrupted their joyous asion. The magnitude of her fault was indeed significant. This was the result of caring versus not caring.


    ¡°Enough, Sanniang. That¡¯s it!¡±


    Mayor Qian looked at Lu Ruxin. ¡°Since you used to address me as ¡®Uncle,¡¯ you should now call me ¡®Father.¡±


    ¡°Father!¡±


    ¡°Well then, since you call me ¡®Father,¡¯ I have to n for you. You can¡¯t continue living in the provincial capital. The Chen family will keep causing trouble, especially now that your reputation is tarnished. For now, return to Tianshui Town?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow Father¡¯s arrangements for everything! ¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good girl, but some things have blinded you and made your heart narrow. Learn from your mistakes, listen to your elders more, and never act recklessly again.¡±


    ¡°I understand!¡±


    ¡°Pack your things and take whatever you can. I¡¯ll take care of this house for you. I have plenty of space. I¡¯ll provide you with a separate residence. Settle your ounts and send everything to the Qian family in Tianshui Town. Don¡¯t leave your new ce and stay at home. When the dust settles, I¡¯ll find a good match for you through a matchmaker. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lu Ruxin obediently followed Mayor Qian and his wife back to Tianshui Town.


    They returned in the middle of the night, and the townspeople didn¡¯t know about the incident. Mayor Qian gave instructions not to let anyone utter a word about it.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t know about the incident because the next afternoon, Old Master Wang returned home with the twin brothers. The whole family gathered around them, asking about the exam. ¡°How did you


    ¡°We did quite well and answered all the questions.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t stress yourselves too much. Do your best!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯tpare to father.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a bookworm; of course, you can¡¯tpare. I didn¡¯t expect much from your exams as long as you pass.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, then it should be fine!¡±


    ¡°Hey, my little Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er are about to be schrs, huh?¡±


    ¡°The teacher said we should participate in the next imperial exam tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Then we should listen to the teacher.¡±


    ¡°Mother, why doesn¡¯t the Ming Dynasty have a martial exam?¡±


    ¡°The Ming Dynasty values literature over martial arts. The main reason is that there are no wars to fight. However, you should still learn martial arts because it will allow you to serve your country, keep you healthy, and protect your family.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we will.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er raised his little hand. ¡°Mother, I will learn too.¡±


    Qiao Mai flicked his nose. ¡°You, with yourzy ways. When ites to martial arts, you ck off.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I might not be cut out for it, but I have a good physique.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. With all the food you eat, you better have a good physique.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    The next day, Yuan Jiaqi returned on time. He came back to hear that the children did well in their exams and was pretty happy about it.


    When the weather got warmer, tree nting began again on the outskirts of


    County She..

 Chapter 239 - 239: Disappeared

    Chapter 239 - 239: Disappeared


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He was still the same as before. Every time he brought people back, he would take saplings from Qiao Mai. But this year, he had twice as many asst year.


    One could only me Qiao Mai for being careless. After the New Year, she went to County She and gave him a hundred thousand silver.


    With money in his hands, he had the energy to do anything.


    He bought all thend in the county which is more than 50 acres in area.


    He gathered the poor families of every vige, including Liu Mei¡¯s husband. Each person received 30 coins a day. Where else could they find such a good job?


    Digging holes to nt pine trees was not a difficult job. She County had been bustling ever since the new year.


    The county governor was capable. Other than trying cases, he also wanted the people to have work and earn money.


    When County Governor Zhu heard this, his heart ached again.


    Who would give him so much money every year? He could also let the people have work and money to earn. Not everyone has such a capable wife.


    County She had set off a tree-nting frenzy. Themoners could always see the county governor patrolling with officials.


    He had to check whether the saplings were up to standard and whether they used the water provided by Qiao Mai. They had to check everything carefully. No one dared to cut corners.


    He found that as long as one watered the nutrient solution his wife gave him, the sapling could be uprooted in three days. Therefore, he could tell at a nce whether it had been watered.


    For those who werezy and cunning, they would never be hired again once discovered.


    He divided the workers into groups of ten. Each group had a foreman who was in charge of a ce. If they did well, they would be rewarded.


    This motivated the workers even more. He asked them to move some stones in the field to the periphery and build a wall with mud. Before the trees became mature, they had to be protected.


    Some unconsciously wanted to reap without sowing, even cking off while chopping firewood.


    However, pine trees were different from other trees. They were green all year round. Few people used their branches as firewood, but pine needles dried in the sun were fine.


    Qiao Mai had nned to build a few workshops in County She two yearster to specialize in processing pine oil and pine nuts.


    All of them were manually operated, which could solve a portion of thebor force employment.


    She still had to study some of the tools. She couldn¡¯t let the workers dig with their hands, right?


    In addition, she had to start nning now. Qiao Mai had to write down the blueprints of the workshop and calcte the manpower.


    She sighed. Yuan Jiaqi was always looking for trouble for her. Did he think it would be over once he nted the tree?


    Ever since the beginning of spring, she would secretly go to County She to check and use the spatial cheat device to water the trees.


    The pine trees ntedst year were already three meters tall. The workers trimmed the branches at the bottom. When they grew to five meters tall, they cut the branches at the top and let them grow wider.


    If it were too high, it would not be easy to pick fruits. If it were too low, it would not be suitable forter use as wood.


    She wrote some notes on the maintenance of pine trees for Yuan Jiaqi and asked him to form a forest ranger to trim the pine trees yearly.


    From now on, he would have to train more people.


    She did some calctions. There were at least 200 to 300 people in the tens of thousands of acres of pine forest.


    Each of these workers was paid a tael of silver. Three hundred people would be three hundred taels of silver, which is nearly four thousand taels of silver a year.


    In the early stages, she had already spent 50,000 taels of silver to buy the wastnd. There were also three years ofbor costs. Her saplings were not even counted. She had spent 70,000 to 80,000 taels of silver. How could she leave it alone?


    When she set up a workshop, she would have more people to raise. Qiao Mai scratched her head in frustration. She wanted to grab Yuan Jiaqi and give him a good beating.


    At night, Qiao Mai was frustrated and had nothing better to do. She visited the Qian family and wanted to see how the couple was doing. She did not expect to see Lu Ruxin at the Qian family¡¯s house.


    Did something happen to Lu Ruxin while she was busy?


    She learned about the situation from the conversation between Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang. She was speechless.


    Lu Ruxin was really daring. It was one thing for her to support a poor lover, but she entangled herself with someone she could not afford to offend. She even asked Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang to clean up her mess.


    When she arrived, Mayor Qian wasforting Lu Sanniang,


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I¡¯ve sent people to investigate the Chen family. Once I find out their unspeakable secrets, I¡¯ll take care of them.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t cause you trouble, right?¡±


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t look at the ten thousand taels of silver that they paid. They won¡¯t let this matter go. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m secretly doing this; they won¡¯t know.¡±


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips. This was all ordinary people could do. How slow was that? She would have finished it long ago.


    At this moment, Mayor Qian took out the pill and handed it to Lu Sanniang.


    ¡°Come and take your medicine. Madam Qiao got this with great difficulty. It is great for recuperating your body so we can have a son and a daughter.¡±


    Lu Sanniang leaned into his arms gently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you wait for so many years.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s my family¡¯s fault. Now, it¡¯s finally okay. We can finally be together.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t bear to watch them being so intimate and loving.


    She stood on the roof of the Qian family¡¯s house and looked at Wei City. ¡°The Chen family of the prefecture, the eldest young master Chen Kai? Casanova by nature? Very good. In a while, I will make you lose your lust.¡±


    She disappeared in a sh. After fifteen minutes, she appeared above the Chen family in Wei City and looked down.


    ¡°The Chen family seems to be the only one, right?¡±


    Thus, she wandered around the Chen family¡¯s backyard. At this hour, most people were asleep. Only one or two courtyards were lit up.


    She looked at a courtyard and saw a few servant girls sitting around drinking and chatting. She then went to another courtyard.


    The lights in the upper bedroom were on. She didn¡¯t need to poke the window paper to see the scene and sound inside clearly.


    ¡°Wife, I¡¯ve made you suffer this time!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I didn¡¯t expect that b*tch to have something to do with the Qian family. She got off easy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it either. I put in a lot of effort on her. Other than getting her body, I didn¡¯t get anything. This woman is always on guard against me.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that she loved you to death?¡±


    ¡°When she got wild, she kept asking for it. At that time, she would nod at whatever I said. Once it was over, she wouldn¡¯t admit anything. It was difficult to get any money from her.¡±


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ve lost ten thousand taels of silver. My dowry is almost empty. If this continues, we¡¯ll not make ends meet.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Lu Ruxin can¡¯t escape from me. She¡¯ll submit obediently sooner orter.¡±


    Qiao Mai blinked when she heard Lu Ruxin¡¯s name. She did note here today to avenge Lu Ruxin.


    She was willing to solve such a small matter for Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang.


    Moreover, she was not at a disadvantage.


    That night, not only was the Chen family in the prefecture robbed, but Chen Kai¡¯s manly part was also missing.


    It doesn¡¯t hurt or itch. It¡¯s gone just like that. Isn¡¯t it strange?


    There was no movement throughout the night. In the morning, when the servant girl was helping the master wash up, she realized the essories on her head, ears, and wrists were gone.


    It was clean. In other words, as long as it was silver, gold, banknotes, or something valuable, it was all gone.


    Even the blue and white porcin vases in the living room that the Chen family used as a status symbol were gone.


    Qiao Mai had to support a bunch of people now, and there would be more and more. She needed money. A family like this should be poor.


    Therefore, she found an excuse to rob them.


    The Chen family was in great trouble. Magistrate Wang had brought officials to their house. This was the strangest case he had seen since he became a magistrate.


    There was no movement, no detection, and no clues. Even Chen Kai¡¯s manly part was the same. How was he supposed to investigate?


    Could it be attributed to demons and ghosts? He felt that it was inappropriate.


    If they were to say it was done by their enemies, it didn¡¯t seem like it. If their enemies were so vicious, their family would have lost their lives long ago..

 Chapter 240 - 240: Who Is So Kind?

    Chapter 240 - 240: Who Is So Kind?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the town, streets and alleys were abuzz with discussions. Fortunately, the Chen family had more than one string to their bow, including their shops and properties, not to mention rtives and friends.


    Life could still go on. Cases like this were reported directly to the magistrate.


    Mayor Qian was well-informed and got wind of it in the afternoon.


    Well, without having to take matters into his own hands, that person has met hiseuppance.


    Who was so kind-hearted to know that he wanted to take care of their family and take the initiative to resolve it? He¡¯s thankful.


    Mayor Qian wanted to have a small celebratory drink, but he remembered what Qiao Mai had told him ¨C no alcohol for six months while taking this medicine. It was best not to drink for a year, even if they were intimate.


    He had to endure it and sent someone to the embroidery shop to bring back his wife, informing her of the news.


    ¡°Sanniang, the Chen family has suffered retribution. They lost all their wealth, and Chen Kai¡¯s¡­ that thing is gone.¡±


    Lu Sanniang widened her eyes. ¡°Did he deceive more than one girl?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. I can¡¯t be sure which deity didn¡¯t take a liking to him. I heard that when Chen Kai was preparing to be intimate with his wife, he realized it was gone when he reached for it. Haha!¡±


    Lu Sanniang blushed and lightly scolded him, ¡°You¡¯re so irreverent! All you know is to tell me these things.¡±


    ¡°Now, I don¡¯t even need to find someone in the capital.¡±


    ¡°He deserves to lose it; he brought it upon himself. This vile thing harmed my daughter¡¯s reputation, and we¡¯ll never know how many others have been victimized using these methods.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. It takes two to tango. Our daughter is also responsible. Now that he has lost that thing, he won¡¯t be able to harm others in the future.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope she has learned her lesson this time!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve asked the best matchmaker to propose a marriage to Ruxin.¡±


    ¡°Better not mess it up.¡±


    ¡°It absolutely won¡¯t! ¡±


    Although the Chen family¡¯s trouble had spread to Tianshui Town, the issue regarding Lu Ruxin was kept strictly confidential and hadn¡¯t caused much of a stir. People discussed it as an ordinary matter.


    Qiao Mai had earned some money and was in a good mood. She had an early meal and nned to visit her shop.


    As soon as she reached the courtyard gate, she saw an official riding a horse, wearing a diagonally slung red silk sash and carrying a congrattory announcement.


    ¡°Oh, Madam Qiao, we meet again, don¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I forgot today is the day the exam results are posted.¡±


    ¡°Yes, indeed. Congrattions to you, Madam Qiao. Your eldest son, Qiao


    Yunfeng, and your second son, Qiao Fengyun, have passed the schr exam!¡±


    Qiao Mai handed him a silver note. ¡°Take this for tea, and please wait for a moment.¡±


    The maids quickly went off, some to invite others and some to fetch firecrackers.


    Old Master Wang was teaching the three children at the time. Upon seeing the maids rush in, he was about to scold them.


    ¡°Old Master Wang, please take the young master and the second young master to see the announcement. The official said they have seeded.¡±


    His mouth widened into a smile, and he immediately waved his hands towards the three children.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll collect our result notice today, and you can have a day off.¡±


    ¡°Great!¡±


    At the gate, a considerable crowd had gathered. The official saw that the main characters had arrived, pulled out the announcement, dismounted, and handed it over.


    ¡°Congrattions to Qiao Yunfeng, third ce in the provincial exam, and Qiao


    Fengyun, sixth ce.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a good ranking!¡±


    Old Master Wang was very pleased. Both sons received their notices, and he took a big silver coin from his purse, handing it to the official.


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Take this and go have some tea!¡±


    ¡°Congrattions. May you perform even better in the future!¡±


    The official was delighted to receive a note of 100 taels from the Qiao family. Even Old Master and Mistress Wang added to this by giving him money. This job was indeed a good one.


    As soon as the official left, the onlookers gathered around.


    ¡°Congrattions, Madam Qiao! Your family is full of good news. With Lord Yuan just bing an official and your two sons passing the schr exam, you¡¯re lucky and blessed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    The servants came out with tworge trays of candy and melon seeds. ¡°Come, have some candy today, everyone!¡±


    The townspeople enjoyed the candy and melon seeds while asking questions. ¡°Madam Qiao, congrattions. Both of your sons passed the exam. Are you going to host a banquet?¡±


    ¡°No. I want them to focus on their studies. Bing a schr is just one step on their journey.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it seems like Madam Qiao has high expectations for them.¡± ¡°Of course. My sons can¡¯t be inferior. They have to be Tribute Schrs.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled happily. ¡°You can all disperse now. Go home.¡±


    Just then, firecrackers went off across the street. The townspeople hurried to see, snacking on the candy and melon seeds while discussing the Qiao family¡¯s joyful events.


    Qiao Mai turned to her two sons. ¡°Don¡¯t get too proud. Study hard and aim for the top in the provincial exams next year.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Despite her advice, she still rewarded her sons. Each received a silver note of 100 taels. Chuan¡¯er blinked.


    ¡°Mother, if I pass the exam next year, will there be a reward too?¡± ¡°Of course. If you study diligently, you¡¯ll receive rewards from me.¡±


    ¡°Wow, thank you, Mother!¡±


    ¡°Off you go. Do what you need to do. For lunch, I¡¯ll have the kitchen prepare something special for you.¡±


    Old Master Wang led the three children away, leaving Qiao Mai and Old Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s sit in front of the shop for a while.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    Although it was morning, there was a continuous stream of people on the main road. Qiao Mai and Old Mistress Wang sat in front of the shop.


    A shop assistant came closer and asked, ¡°Boss, would you like something to drink?¡±


    ¡°Would you like something to drink, Grandmother?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t we have any fresh drinks?¡±


    ¡°At the moment, we only have milk tea. Passion fruit won¡¯t be avable until May, but let me think.¡±


    Qiao Mai considered all the fruit juices she could offer, like mango and coconut. Mango with milk was excellent; it was suitable for people of all ages and had a rich, creamy taste.


    ¡°Grandmother, please wait a moment.¡±


    She hurried back to Lucky Garden, entered her space, and purchased one hundred boxes of mango milk.


    She then took a clean jar and filled it with mango milk, bringing it to the front of the shop.


    ¡°Did you go back to prepare some drinks?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She asked the shop assistant to bring two clean cups and straws.


    Using a spoon, she scooped the drink from the jar into the two cups. Old Mistress Wang swallowed.


    ¡°It looks like milk, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Give it a try; I guarantee it tastes nothing like milk tea.¡± She took a sip, her eyes lighting up. ¡°It has fruit bits inside?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there are mango bits, coconut bits, and other fruit bits.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s delicious. The milkbined with these fruit bits is surprisingly good. Why haven¡¯t you made this before?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask, did you?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang enjoyed the drink so much that she finished a whole cup and asked for another one.


    Unbeknownst to them, more than a dozen people around them were also salivating.


    With a big smile, Shopkeeper Niu walked out and curried favor with Qiao Mai. ¡°Boss, do we have a new product to offer in our shop?¡±


    Qiao Mai was taken aback. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys busy enough? Do we need a new product now? Maybe we can consider it in a couple of years?¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not a problem. It¡¯s just some extra work in the background. We¡¯re not busy at all.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he meant.


    ¡°Get a cup for each person and let them taste it.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, thank you, Boss, thank you!¡±


    As soon as they had a chance to taste this new creation, they all got excited and approached Qiao Mai, each holding a cup.


    She had no choice but to use a spoon to scoop and distribute the fruit bits of yogurt from the jar to each of them.


    Taking a sip of such a delicious beverage, Shopkeeper Niu felt like he was on cloud nine.


    ¡°Master, I can assure you that if we have this in our shop, we can make a fortune year-round.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, thinking, ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that. This is a good drink suitable for people of all ages.¡±


    ¡°How much do you think we should sell it for?¡±


    ¡°Five hundred coins a cup?¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu hesitated, and Qiao Mai pondered for a moment. ¡°Well, that price seems fair for now. Once I write down the recipe and test if it can be produced, we can reassess.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±

 Chapter 241 - 241: One Tael of Silver For A Cup

    Chapter 241 - 241: One Tael of Silver For A Cup


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Old Mistress Wang had two cups of the drink while Qiao Mai only had one. The entire jar was emptied.


    ¡°Is there any more?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s in my room. Do you want more?¡±


    ¡°I want to give some to my husband and the kids, and also Nanny Jin and


    Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll have some during lunch!¡±


    ¡°This drink is good. I bet people would even pay a tael for it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go with your suggestion. Sell it for one or two silver taels per cup.¡±


    Just then, the sop started to fill with customers. Old Mistress Wang and Qiao Mai prepared to leave for Lucky Garden.


    Shopkeeper Niu followed them and asked, ¡°When will you teach us how to make this?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡±


    ¡°Good things should be shared. It¡¯s urgent to sell it.¡±


    ¡°Alright,e to my ce to get some first. Sell it for one silver tael per cup for now. Rmend it to the wealthier customers first and see how it goes.¡±


    ¡°A tael of silver?¡±


    ¡°Yes, rmend it to the wealthy customers first. Let them taste it before they decide to buy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu eagerly followed Qiao Mai to her quarters, where she filled a big jar for him.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai researched the recipe for the fruit yogurt online and tried making it herself in her small kitchen.


    On the third day of her dedicated efforts to develop the fruit yogurt, a messenger arrived at Lucky Garden.


    Qiao Mai frowned as she listened to the maid¡¯s report.


    ¡°Who are these people who havee?¡±


    ¡°They are a few vige women. They im to be the grandmother and aunt of the young masters.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve learned their lesson now, haven¡¯t they? They brought a group of women this time. Tell the young masters and let them deal with it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±


    Qiao Mai continued to prepare the fruit yogurt in the porcin basin. After the New Year, the two children had already turned fourteen.


    Time passed quickly. They had arrived at the Qiao household when they were just seven, and seven years had passed.


    In the future, situations like this would be left for the two to handle on their own. Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t force them; it would be their choice.


    In the living room, the two maids from the Qiao household stood on the side, their eyes sharply fixed on the women sitting in the chairs.


    Among them, one elderly woman and three younger women behaved properly.


    The twin brothers were in the middle of their lessons and immediately excused themselves and came to the front upon hearing the report.


    Seeing the people in the room, the brothers exchanged a nce and then walked in.


    The leading olddy immediately observed them.


    ¡°You look so much like your mother!¡±


    Saying this, she tried to approach and hug the brothers, but they took a few steps back and regarded her with a distant look. ¡°Olddy, who are you? Why are you looking for us?¡±


    ¡°I, I am your grandmother!¡±


    The brothers shook their heads simultaneously. Feng¡¯er gave her a cold stare.


    ¡°We never saw you when we were young. We didn¡¯t see you when our parents died, and we didn¡¯t see you when our family¡¯s wealth was seized. Do you onlye now because you¡¯ve heard that we¡¯ve be schrs?¡±


    ¡°I, it¡¯s all because of your grandmother¡¯s shorings. At that time, I was unwell, and we didn¡¯t go to your family because your grandfather¡¯s family was too cruel. They wouldn¡¯t let us in. Although we never visited your family, your mother did borrow money from us to build a house. We were the ones who lent her the money. You can¡¯t say your grandmother is heartless, can you?¡±


    Feng¡¯er pursed his lips. His mother had mentioned this incident. At that time, his parents had left with no money, and it was true that they had borrowed money from various sources to build the house, including from their grandmother¡¯s family. It was an undeniable fact.


    ¡°We repaid the moneyter, didn¡¯t we?¡±


    The olddy was poorly dressed, and the three women with her didn¡¯t seem well off either.


    She hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°I just wanted to see you. There¡¯s no ulterior motive. We didn¡¯t visit back then because your grandmother was ill, and your grandfather¡¯s family was cruel. Though we never visited, your mother borrowed money from us when building your house. We helped your family.


    You can¡¯t call your grandmother heartless, can you?¡±


    Feng Er pursed his lips. He vaguely remembered his mother mentioning this. When their parents left with nothing, they borrowed money from the grandmother¡¯s family to build their new home. This couldn¡¯t be denied.


    They took off their pouches and handed them to the olddy. ¡°These are our allowances. They contain a good amount of silver. We¡¯re grateful for your help in the past, but now we¡¯re the sons of the Qiao family. We haven¡¯t contributed anything to Mother, so please ept this as a token of our gratitude. We don¡¯t want you to visit us anymore.¡±


    ¡°Grandma just wanted toe and see you two.¡±


    The old woman held the purse in her hand, and her mouth kept watering, showing a strong desire for the money, yet she couldn¡¯t ept it.


    The brothers stepped back. ¡°Take it. This should be enough for you for a few years. Please don¡¯te back.¡±


    Without waiting for the old woman to respond, they turned and walked away. The woman quickly stuffed the purse into her bosom and then scolded the three young women.


    ¡°You just know how to sit there. Utterly useless, a bunch of rubbish.¡±


    She thought of the people in the living room and quickly nodded to the nearby servants, trying to appease them.


    ¡°Do you have any unwanted clothes or leftover food at home that you can give


    The servant snorted, ¡°No, you should leave quickly. If you linger, I might have to call someone to use a broom to chase you away.¡±


    The old woman had no choice but to lead the three young women out. As they walked, she kept looking around, her eyes filled with greed.


    Once they were gone, the maid closed the courtyard gate and had the living room cleaned up before reporting to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mistress, as soon as they entered the living room, those women were looking around. They didn¡¯t cause any trouble, but they kept staring at the young masters¡¯ clothes and couldn¡¯t stop salivating.¡±


    ¡°What else did they say?¡±


    ¡°They mentioned they had lent money to the young masters¡¯ family to build a house in the past.¡±


    ¡°What did the young masters say and do?¡±


    ¡°They gave them their pouches and told them not toe again. They also said they wouldn¡¯t recognize them.¡±


    ¡°Not to return? Well, they will return if they¡¯re given money. There¡¯s always a second time after the first. The boys are too kind-hearted.¡±


    With that, Qiao Mai sent the maid on her way.


    The Qiao family had be like a tempting cake, with everyone wanting a piece. It¡¯s unclear if Chuan¡¯er has any rtives from outside, but rumors said that his maternal family is quite reputable.


    Chuan¡¯er just turned eleven this year, and he¡¯ll be twelve next year. Old Master Wang has allowed him to participate in the exams. This child has better talent than the Fengyun brothers.


    Qiao Mai scooped a spoonful of yogurt into a bowl and tasted it. She finally managed to create a taste almost as good as the boxed ones.


    She quickly took a piece of paper and wrote down the recipe and proportions.


    Then, holding a jar of the prepared yogurt, she went to the front of the shop. At this time, many people were inside and outside the shop. As soon as Qiao Mai entered, Shopkeeper Niu quickly ran over.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve finallye!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Look inside and outside, all the customers are waiting to drink that thing you called yogurt.¡±


    ¡°They are still so eager to drink it at one tael of silver per cup?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just too delicious. The day we tried selling it, the customers went crazy. Some people drank five cups in one go and still wanted more. Some even inquired about the recipe.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not selling the recipe!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I told them, but they said they have toe all this way to drink it.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s a good way to take a stroll and exercise!¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu pointed to the jar. ¡°Is this the yogurt?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is the recipe. Give it to a trustworthy assistant to do this. Remember, it has to be someone trustworthy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu took the recipe and carefully tucked it into his chest. Then, he took the jar and called the assistants to sell it.


    When the customers in the shop heard they had yogurt, cheers erupted. Qiao Mai smiled. She was also a food lover and understood how satisfying it was to have a taste of something you liked.


    Looking at the crowd, she raised an eyebrow. The scale was about right. They couldn¡¯t expand any further. It was already attracting too much attention.


    Fortunately, they were in the northern part of the North, and they had Mayor


    Qian and the Wang family to protect them. Otherwise, someone would have


    caused trouble long ago..

 Chapter 242 - 242: Infamous Now

    Chapter 242: Infamous Now


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the blink of an eye, May arrived. The weather in the north was dry and hot.


    The two drinks at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, Passion Fruit Ice Juice and Yogurt Ice with Fruit Bits, sold like hotcakes.


    Customers who came to the shop to enjoy these two beverages were a constant stream, and selling a cup of yogurt was more profitable than selling several pounds of fruit. Gradually, yogurt became synonymous with Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    When one mentioned Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, people naturally thought of these drinks.


    When one mentioned these drinks, everyone thought of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    Since entering May, the daily turnover at the snack shop was consistently over a few hundred taels of silver. Many affluent families¡¯ sons and daughters rushed in carriages for a cup or two.


    Thanks to these drinks, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery gained a reputation in Wei City.


    It used to have some fame, but now it has a lot.


    Every time Yuan Jiaqi returned, passing by the snack shop, he felt that his wife was excellent at doing business. Their snack shop¡¯s earnings could rival those of several dozen other businesses.


    This time, he returned home and would stay for a few days, letting the official messengers take the tree seedlings back first.


    In the evening, the couple talked about Chuan¡¯er¡¯s rtives after their exercise.


    ¡°A few days ago, Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er¡¯s rtives came to visit. What about Chuan¡¯er¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re gone. They only had one daughter, who married into our family. After she died from childbirthplications, they fell ill and passed away.¡±


    Qiao Mai breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°It¡¯s good that no one from your side is looking for us.¡±


    ¡°A few of my brothers went to the county to find me, wanting a job.¡¯


    ¡°You gave it to them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I set a condition. They are not allowed to mention any rtionship with me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll fire them. And your two brothers also came to see me.¡± ¡°You hired them too?¡±


    ¡°They just want to earn a living with their hands. As long as they don¡¯t try to benefit from our reputation without working, why can¡¯t we help them?¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t grumble further, hoping that Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s good deeds would be rewarded, as not everyone was grateful.


    ¡°Don¡¯t buy more wastnd in the future,¡± she said after a pause.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. We already have a lot of uncultivatednd.¡±


    ¡°Too much is hard to manage.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve divided thend amongborers. They¡¯re all nearby, so it will be easy to manage.¡±


    ¡°How long does it take to grow the crops?¡±


    ¡°By the end of June, it should be about done.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at her belly. ¡°Did you take contraceptive measures? Why haven¡¯t there been any signs yet?¡±


    ¡°No, it should be because of theplications during my premature birth.


    Maybe I won¡¯t be able to have children anymore.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi thought about how she would never have a biological child. He hugged her, feeling sorry for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if we don¡¯t have children, I will always be devoted to you, just like now, and treat you well for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Having children is just a way to prepare for old age. We have a few children in the family; that¡¯s enough. When we have them is fate. We can¡¯t force it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    Although Yuan Jiaqi felt a little regretful, having no children together had its advantages.


    At least she wouldn¡¯t have to endure the pain of a ten-month pregnancy, the agony of childbirth, and the troubles of raising children.


    The children were growing up.


    Thinking of the brothers, Yuan Jiaqi said, ¡°They are growing up so fast. Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er are both fourteen now. In our vige, isn¡¯t it time for them to get engaged?¡±


    ¡°For boys, it¡¯s not urgent. Let them establish their careers before getting married. We can choose a good partner for them when the timees.¡±


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er is eleven, and Ling¡¯er is seven. Time flies. In a few years, we¡¯ll be inws.¡±


    Listening to this, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but think about the trouble that woulde with matchmaking, betrothal, and the dynamics between mothers-inw and daughters-inw. Just thinking about it made her feel overwhelmed.


    She closed her eyes and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest.¡±


    The next day, the couple had some free time and decided to go for a walk.


    As soon as they stepped out of the house, they saw firecrackers being set off in front of Mayor Qian¡¯s house, with red wedding banners hanging at the entrance. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Coincidentally, Liu Hai came out to serve noodles to guests and saw Qiao Mai. ¡°Cousin, cousin-inw, good morning!¡±


    ¡°Good morning. What¡¯s happening at Mayor Qian¡¯s house?¡±


    Liu Hai whispered, ¡°It¡¯s for Lu Ruxin¡¯s wedding. She¡¯s marrying into a prominent family from City Shuang down south. The groom is an aplished schr, and their rtionship with the Qian family is good. Moreover, he¡¯s a Tribute Schr. His wife just passed away not long ago, so¡­¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi went hand in hand to sit in front of their shop and were served two cups of yogurt by the staff.


    Yuan Jiaqi had a taste and liked it.


    They sat, watching the groom¡¯s wedding procession approaching. They took away Lu Ruxin, and her dowry consisted of more than ten carts.


    Lu Sanniang had just gotten married at the end of March, not even a year ago, and now Lu Ruxin was leaving the Qian family. It felt like a dream.


    When Mayor Qian and his wife came out to send her off, Lu Sanniang cried uncontrobly. But when she saw Qiao Mai, she immediately wiped away her tears and walked over with her husband.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t have anyone invite you for this. I was afraid you wouldn¡¯t be pleased.¡±


    ¡°I understand. How¡¯s the man she¡¯s marrying this time?¡±


    Mayor Qian chuckled, ¡°He¡¯s good. Although he lost his wife, he¡¯s a good-looking man with an education, a good family background, and a good character. He¡¯s also a schr, and our rtionship with his family is excellent.¡±


    ¡°That should ease Sister Lu¡¯s mind. Have you two taken the medication as instructed?¡±


    ¡°We have. We¡¯re following your instructions.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you host a banquet for your daughter¡¯s wedding?¡±


    ¡°We decided not to. I¡¯m getting old, and Sanniang is not that young anymore. We didn¡¯t want the hassle. Spending more on her dowry is better than anything else.¡±


    ¡°Are you really that open-minded?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why not? How about you two? Any developments?¡± Yuan Jiaqi blushed. ¡°Let¡¯s just go with the flow.¡±


    ¡°Have a few more children; your family can afford it anyway.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave them a sidelong nce, ¡°Don¡¯t be smug. I¡¯ll still have more children than you.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Just then, Mayor Qian and Lu Sanniang were called away by their servants. They had a few guests at home. Not having anyone for the wedding was a bit embarrassing.


    A muffled thunderp rang through the sky, and raindrops started to fall.


    The rainy season in Tianshui Town was approaching, and the crops in the fields were already well-grown. This rain was timely, saving themoners from having to water them again.


    Pedestrians on the road hurriedly ran for shelter, but the rain was not too heavy. It was a fitting day for Lu Ruxin¡¯s wedding.


    In the row of shops where Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery was located and inside the school¡¯s cool pavilion, many people sought refuge from the rain.


    Thinking about the Chen family in the capital, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but remember the Qu family in County She.


    ¡°Is Miss Qu okay?¡± she casually asked.


    Yuan Jiaqi was momentarily surprised. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not concerned about her. There are so many things to do every day. By the way, there¡¯s something important I need to talk to you about this time.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°There may be a war in the north. Supplies have been sent to County She in the middle of the night.¡¯


    ¡°A war?¡±


    ¡°The canal has just been dug to our side, and if a war breaks out, the court will prioritize the canal. If the north falls, County She will be in danger. Themoners have just started to have a slightly better life.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me around, I¡¯ll go to the enemy camp and bring back the enemy leader¡¯s head. You won¡¯t be in any danger.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi thought she wasforting him. After all, all military officers were top-notch fighters, and even though his wife had good martial arts skills, she was not the best in the world.


    ¡°What I mean is that this year, the price of grain may rise, and grain taxes will follow suit. The court will increase troops at the northern border and will pass through this official road. Please tell your people in the shop to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Although I am an official of the court, I dare not say that all the soldiers in the army are good. Wife, you should understand.¡±


    ¡°I understand. With me here, you can rest assured.¡±


    ¡°This war will be a protracted one. The court¡¯s treasury is not full to begin with. ¡±


    Qiao Mai patted his shoulder, ¡°Just do your best as a county governor. You¡¯re neither a military general nor a strategist. As long as your people are safe, you don¡¯t have to worry about the enemy troops getting out of control.¡±


    ¡°Comforted by what my wife said, I feel so much at ease!¡±

 Chapter 243 - 243: Three Little Sheep

    Chapter 243: Three Little Sheep


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai snorted. Would she let the northern gate fall?


    It was impossible, for if the northern gate fell, County She would be in trouble. What would happen to her tens of thousands of acres of pine forests, her family, and her friends?


    As long as she was around, nothing would happen to the northern gate.


    She decided to let them try to attack first. Otherwise, everything would be left for her to deal with. The emperor had never shown her any favor.


    She might be just a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator now, but when dealing with invaders on her territory, she had more than enough confidence.


    Thinking about forming her nascent soul, she decided that after this batch of pine trees was harvested, she would spend some time in seclusion to focus on her cultivation.


    Her days were busy. Qiao Mai needed someone to look after things outside.


    So, after Yuan Jiaqi returned to County She, she entered her space.


    Every time she entered the space, she had a different experience, whether it was adding something new or improving its beauty. The space was bing more organized and beautiful.


    Greeny thought of everything she did not. When Qiao Mai entered her space, the ce she lived in had transformed into a garden. Various types of flowers were in full bloom, creating a beautiful sight.


    She used her mind to examine thend, and to her astonishment, Greeny had nted vast fields of flowers.


    There were peonies, peony flowers, chrysanthemums, roses, carnations, lilies, plum blossoms, azaleas, and different flowers and nts. This fellow was truly capable.


    Delighted, she said, ¡°Greeny?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here. What can I do for you, Master?¡±


    She reached out to pat Greeny on the head. It yfully dodged her, flying into the air with a blush.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re so naughty.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just too cute; I adore you.¡±


    She even made a heart-shaped gesture to emphasize her affection, making Greeny even more embarrassed.


    ¡°This is what Greeny should do.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and look on the tform to see if there are any suitable spirit beasts for me to form contracts with.¡¯


    At the mention of her wanting to raise pets, Greeny was upset. It couldn¡¯t allow it because it was supposed to be her only one.


    ¡°Master, why do you need other beasts when you have me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to form the nascent soul and cultivate in the space. I need animals to help protect my family ande to the space to call for me in case of an emergency. ¡±


    ¡°So, your minions, Master.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Hearing this exnation, Greeny became happier. ¡°I will help you choose; I know what kind of beasts are suitable for you and are strong inbat.¡± ¡°To deal with ordinary people outside,bat strength doesn¡¯t matter much. Grass-eating spirit beasts will do just fine; otherwise, I would have to buy meat to feed them, which would be too wasteful. Fortunately, there¡¯s so much grass in the space, so there¡¯s no need to buy more.¡± ¡°Master, you¡¯re so frugal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just making good use of the space.¡±


    They searched on the tform for spirit beasts she could form contracts with, nearly getting into a fight over the ones they wanted.


    The practical ones are not good-looking, but the good-looking ones are carnivores.


    Since her cultivation level was high, good contract spirit beasts were rare toe by, and they were pretty expensive.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai could only buy spirit beasts of the fifth rank or lower. If she wanted good looks, she should choose spirit beasts; if she wanted to show off, she should choose orcs. Reluctantly, she picked a herbivore, a creature that resembled a sheep.


    This way, there would be no suspicion about the sudden appearance of the animals. No one would suspect a thing, as they would think that she had begun to raise sheep.


    After buying three, she decided to form contracts with them. It was not her first time making contracts, and she was more experienced, so she quickly established the bond.


    ¡°Master, master, baa.¡±


    It turns out that contracted spirit beastsmunicate this way. ¡°That¡¯s right, Master. Although we can¡¯t speak directly, we canmunicate with you through our thoughts.¡±


    ¡°Got it. I need three helpers. Can you help me protect my family and let me know if there¡¯s anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re herbivores, Master.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; you only need to deal with ordinary people.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s no problem, but when we are outside, we can¡¯t cultivate. Our cultivation will degrade.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make alchemical pills for you; that will ensure you don¡¯t run into any issues.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    So, Qiao Mai appeared in her courtyard with three sheep. When they smelled the air, they were displeased.


    Qiao Mai bought them a storage bag, hung it around their necks, and put the pills she had prepared for their cultivation in it.


    Once they entered the courtyard, they felt at ease. ¡°Go ahead and check out the surroundings and get familiar with my family members. As long as you are here, I can¡¯t let anything happen to them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The three little sheep frolicked around Lucky Garden, exploring every nook and cranny, familiarizing themselves with the surroundings and recognizing people.


    Their presence created quite a sensation. The family marveled at these snow-white, immacte little creatures with not a single messy hair on them. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and followed the sheep around, watching their every move.


    After their exploration, the sheep returned to Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard. She was sitting there sipping tea when she saw a crowd at her gate.


    She chuckled in embarrassment and said, ¡°Hehe, they¡¯re adorable, aren¡¯t they? That¡¯s why I bought three of them.¡±


    ¡°You bought sheep for what, to eat mutton?¡±


    The sheep shivered all over. Qiao Mai hurriedly exined, ¡°No, I just bought them for fun. I love how they look, but I don¡¯t eat their meat.¡±


    The sheep were relieved. As they were bound by a contract to serve their master, the idea of them ending up as mutton wasn¡¯t a concern anymore.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang came over, and Qiao Mai poured tea for them. The children also loved the sheep. Even Ling¡¯er, who liked badass animals, held them and didn¡¯t want to let them go.


    ¡°You got these from overseas?¡±


    ¡°No, I got them from the mountains in the northwest. They won¡¯t cause any harm.¡±


    ¡°You alwayse up with these strange things.¡±


    At this moment, the two cats in Old Mistress Wang¡¯s arms were staring at the three sheep, constantly making whimpering sounds.


    Qiao Mai red at the sheep, and they immediately restrained their aura. The cats also quieted down.


    Animals are the most sensitive. When there¡¯s something unusual, they¡¯re the first to sense it, especially cats that roam at night.


    Sometimes, they can sense spirits, so many people say they¡¯re guardian spirits of the underworld.


    In any case, since these three sheep came to the house, there was nothing unusual.


    People wondered why Qiao Mai let these sheep run around instead of keeping them fenced like the deer.


    Fortunately, the servants had never seen the sheep leaving droppings. Every time they saw them, it was like seeing three fluffy clouds floating around.


    asionally, people would also see them eating from the deer¡¯s trough. As soon as they approached, the deer would run away, seeming quite afraid of them.


    In the blink of an eye, it was July. The rain kept pouring down.


    Every night, Qiao Mai would hear official carriages¡¯ wheels rolling endlessly. It seemed that themoners were unaware of the war.


    Fortunately, the generals leading the troops were disciplined and didn¡¯t allow their soldiers to harass themoners. Otherwise, the Tianshui Town would be in chaos, and the Imperial City would be in turmoil.


    Nobody wanted war. The moment it started, everyone was concerned about the waste and suffering it would bring.


    Not to mention the heavy taxes paid by themoners. The nation was poor, and many coveted the Ming Dynasty even more.


    Nevertheless, themoners were observant. After all, the rain-soaked earth of the official road was soft, and the marks of the grain carts could not be concealed.


    Some people with free time pointed at the marks left by the tworge wheels and discussed.


    ¡°What are they transporting that¡¯s ttening the official road like this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s either iron or grain. There must be at least a thousand catties in that cart.¡±


    ¡°Why do they always transport it at night?¡± ¡°Exactly! Let¡¯s go and take a peek tonight.¡±


    ¡°Good idea.¡±


    After this observation, it turned out that it was all soldiers and grain carts. Some people were horrified, realizing that when such things happened, it meant a war was imminent.


    Good Lord, after so many years without war, it was starting again. The Ming Dynasty was going broke.


    The next day, themoners spread the news, and the grain stores and grocery shops were crowded with people.


    Every household wanted to stock up on grain because nobody knew how high the grain prices would rise with the war looming..

 Chapter 244 - 244: The Gods Are Watching

    Chapter 244: The Gods Are Watching


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Shopkeeper Niu found Qiao Mai and said, ¡°Boss, should we stock up on grain?¡±


    ¡°No need. Let¡¯s see how it goes. Those barbarians couldn¡¯t conquer the Ming


    Dynasty. They¡¯ll fail miserably! ¡±


    ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t know why, but when you speak like this, it brings peace to my heart.¡±


    ¡°Just do your business as usual. No need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    In August, the battle at the northern gate finally began. The barbarians were fierce, and they almost captured the city several times. If not for the soldiers¡¯ determined defense, the barbarians would have entered the city already.


    Since the battle began, Yuan Jiaqi hadn¡¯t returned home. He sent a letter asking Qiao Mai for some medicinal herbs. Qiao Mai raised her eyebrow as she saw that.


    She had plenty of medicinal herbs, so she hired several carts and horses, continuously transporting herbs to the north.


    As the war raged on, the wounded were taken to County She. Since Yuan Jiaqi was the county governor, he was responsible for them.


    However, in this impoverished county, procuring medicinal herbs was a significant expenditure.


    Fortunately, Qiao Mai had her ¡°cheat codes.¡± Without her, Yuan Jiaqi would have been helpless.


    One night, Qiao Mai secretly visited County She. All the herb shops and clinics had been requisitioned by the court. Even the county court and the governor¡¯s residence were full of wounded soldiers.


    The physicians were exhausted, which indicated the extent of casualties.


    Then, she visited the northern gate and was horrified by what she saw. A month into the battle, most soldiers defending the northern gate had been exhausted.


    The remaining troops were mostly elderly, weak, sick, or disabled. The war couldn¡¯t continue under these circumstances.


    She crossed the city walls and went straight to the barbarian camp.


    She found them around a campfire, eating grilled meat and drinking wine.


    When Qiao Mai appeared in front of their tent, some men brandishedrge knives and surrounded her. Qiao Mai exerted a surge of pressure, creating a powerful shockwave that sent them flying several meters away.


    The barbarian leader, who had been eating and drinking, stood up and carefully examined Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Someone who can kill you.¡±


    ¡°Hah, the one who will kill me hasn¡¯t been born yet.¡±


    Qiao Mai extended her hand and brought the barbarian leader, arge man, over to her with a wave.


    She grabbed his neck and asked, ¡°Can I kill you?¡±


    The others were sober and ready to charge, but they didn¡¯t even have the chance to get close. They were all sent flying like the first group.


    The barbarian leader looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°You came here not to kill me, right?¡±


    ¡°I can exterminate all your barbarians, making you disappear from the northern gate forever.¡±


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    ¡°I am a subject of the Ming Dynasty. I don¡¯t want to see innocent lives suffer.


    So, within the next hundred years, you shall not wage war against the Ming Dynasty again.¡±


    ¡°Why not? The position has always been for the capable. Why shouldn¡¯t I be


    able to sit there?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re unlucky, and I can ughter you all right now. Don¡¯t believe


    She pressed her hand to his neck and, with a gentle lift, slit the throat of a man who had just struggled to get up. The people on the scene were terrified. ¡°Now, do you believe what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai continued, ¡°Within a hundred years, you are not allowed to attack the Ming Dynasty again. Otherwise, I will massacre all of your barbarians. I¡¯ll keep my word. ¡±


    With a slight flick of her wrist, the barbarian leader was sent flying.


    After saying this, Qiao Mai disappeared from their sight. The barbarians stood there dumbfounded. One asked, ¡°Brother, should we still attack tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. Can any of you defeat her?¡±


    ¡°It seems she¡¯s not joking. If we had known this a few days ago, we wouldn¡¯t have to waste so much effort. Now that we¡¯re on the verge of taking the city, this happens.¡±


    ¡°Alright, bring Old San¡¯s corpse. We¡¯re withdrawing our troops now.¡±


    ¡°Are we really afraid of her?¡±


    ¡°Do you dare to gamble with the lives of our entire n?¡±


    That night, the barbarians surprisingly withdrew their troops.


    The soldiers defending the northern gate had intended to have a final battle with the enemy the next day. But when they went up to the city walls, they were astounded.


    Where had the enemy gone?


    Did they withdraw overnight? It was too incredible. They had been on the brink of victory. What caused this sudden change?


    The fighting ceased at the beginning of September magically.


    Upon learning of this, the old emperor was equally perplexed. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Could it be that immortal?


    Is she protecting the Great Ming Dynasty? The old emperor thought to himself, and his body was filled with renewed energy.


    This was excellent news! With an immortal¡¯s protection, there was no reason to worry about the prosperity and strength of the Great Ming Dynasty.


    On one hand, the old emperor arranged for the care of the wounded soldiers and continued the excavation of the riverbed. He couldn¡¯t afford to abandon this project, knowing that God was watching.


    He devoutly knelt on the ground, folding his hands and praying, expressing his gratitude.


    Qiao Mai felt a strange energy coursing through her body. It was an extraordinary sensation, bringing her immensefort and enjoyment.


    She shared this experience with Greeny, who was excited and circled her. ¡°Master, this is the power of faith. People are beginning to believe in you.¡±


    ¡°Believe in me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai pondered this and couldn¡¯t believe it was because of the bandit leader. Though she had dealt with him, he wasn¡¯t the type to inspire such faith. The only other person who knew of her existence was the old emperor. Could it be that unintentionally, she had gained his belief?


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, showing her disdain. Greeny quickly exined to her.


    ¡°The power of faith can help you progress more efficiently on your cultivation path. You should take it seriously.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go with the flow.¡±


    Since the battle was over, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t need to transport herbs anymore. The old emperor generously provided the soldiers with substantialpensation. Those who could return home were sent with silver.


    Even the families of those who had fallen in battle received support.


    Yuan Jiaqi took the initiative to help some homeless and disabled soldiers and built houses near the forest, where they would watch over the pine trees.


    This significantly increased the number of people he had to care for, and it left Qiao Mai sighing in resignation.


    Yuan Jiaqi had good intentions, but it was Qiao Mai who paid for it.


    After returning, Yuan Jiaqi felt somewhat embarrassed to talk to Qiao Mai. However, considering the responsibility of supporting several hundred people, he mustered the courage.


    ¡°Wife, I have arranged a ce for them near the forest. It didn¡¯t cost much.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t cost much? Did it not cost anything to build houses? Did it not cost anything for their food, drinks, and wages?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t bear to see them in that state, fighting for their country.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Since it¡¯s already arranged, let it be this way. Next time, inform me.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After learning about Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s financial support for the war, the old emperor felt pleased and decided to keep him in the position for a few more years.


    He promoted him to a fifth-rank official, temporarily overseeing County She.


    This meant that Yuan Jiaqi was still a county governor but with a higher rank.


    Upon hearing about these events, Tian Sanzhuang harbored a grudge for quite a while. Now, seeking revenge on the Qiao family appeared to be an even more challenging prospect.


    At the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate to return home early. Otherwise, he might have been among those who came back severely injured from the war, missing limbs, or worse.


    In March, his wife gave birth to a plump baby boy, which further diminished his status in the family. He was constantly bossed around by his wife and couldn¡¯t argue back.


    As a member of the Tian family, he had never experienced such humiliation before.


    However, now he had to endure it. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke the county governor. Witnessing the Qiao family¡¯s growing influence, he felt as if his heart was being wed at.


    In the past, when Qiao Mai had just married into the family, she was obedient and respectful, doing everything her husband asked. She never raised her voice and was a model wife.


    Yet, when he returned after his five-year service, everything changed drastically. He found himself reduced to a subordinate within the family.


    If not for the fact that his wife had given birth to a son, he might have considered resigning from his official position and returning home to work on the farm. The situation was too frustrating.


    Whenever he felt this way, he would think of Qiao Mai and how well-off her family was.


    They ate well, dressed well, and still had their social status. Now, in Wei City, they were a force not to be trifled with.


    He longed for a chance to gain power and wealth and make up for his past shame..

 Chapter 245 - 245: Reporting To The Officials Is a Waste

    Chapter 245: Reporting To The Officials Is a Waste


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Tian Sanzhuang is now treading carefully, trying not to provoke anyone.


    Apart from showing off in front of his family, he dares not cross anyone¡¯s path.


    As October arrived, with the crisp autumn air, Ling¡¯er would take her pony out for a ride every afternoon.


    Tian Sanzhuang finally saw his opportunity. This time, he brought a bowl from his home and filled it with water, which made him feel more at ease.


    He knew that Ling¡¯er enjoyed going out in nice weathers. So, he waited not far from Tianshui Town to intercept her.


    Upon seeing Tian Sanzhuang, Yue Hong and Yue Xia looked alert. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. I just felt that the blood test that day wasn¡¯t urate. I wanted to retest it.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re hiding something?¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang locked his gaze on Ling¡¯er. ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er, look at us, we look so much alike. Not recognizing me as your father doesn¡¯t sit well, especially since your mother holds a grudge against my family. What do you think?¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia quickly tried to dissuade her. ¡°Miss, don¡¯t listen to him. That day, we confirmed the parentage with a blood test. You are not his daughter.¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked at Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s face and finally relented. ¡°Alright, this is thest time. If it doesn¡¯t match again, you better stop bothering me.¡±


    ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er, you¡¯re truly just and fair.¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia concurred. As servants, they had to obey their mistress¡¯s wishes.


    Tian Sanzhuang gleefully took a needle and pricked himself and Ling¡¯er, collecting the blood in the bowl. However, he was disappointed that the blood still did not match.


    What was going on? They looked so much alike, and he felt an inexplicable closeness to her. Why was it not matching?


    No, he wasn¡¯t willing to ept it!


    In his moment of distraction, Yue Hong and Yue Xia rushed to take Ling¡¯er back home.


    As soon as they arrived home, they reported the incident to Qiao Mai in the backyard.


    ¡°Mistress, that man, Tian Sanzhuang, is relentless. He stopped Miss Ling¡¯er on the way, and they retested their blood.¡±


    Qiao Mai put down her book. ¡°He doesn¡¯t give up, but I know now. You can leave.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    After Yue Hong and Yue Xia left, Qiao Mai stood up, clenching her fists. If she didn¡¯t teach that scoundrel a lesson, he¡¯d continue to pursue Ling¡¯er.


    That very evening, she went to Peach Blossom Vige. Her hunch was correct; after his failure, Tian Sanzhuang had brought some food and wine to the Tian family.


    ¡°Father, mother, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°Did that woman meddle with it?¡±


    ¡°I tested it again, and it¡¯s still the same. It¡¯s not my child. I¡¯m troubled.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s not yours, make it so. Consult a doctor to ensure the blood matches.¡± ¡°No, if something goes wrong, I¡¯ll lose my livelihood. Better be safe than sorry.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get someone to acknowledge the parentage. I heard the girl appear before the Qiao family, and her bedding was all new. Her family seems to be doing well. Once we acknowledge her and the blood matches, we¡¯ll have her in our control. If Qiao Mai wants to keep her, she¡¯ll have to listen to us.¡±


    ¡°Father, mother, you¡¯re being too optimistic. Qiao Mai is not the same as before. She¡¯s wealthy and powerful now. And cunning. Let¡¯s think carefully.¡± Qiao Mai overheard the conversation and couldn¡¯t bear it. How could they even contemte setting up her precious child? The Tian family had worn out their wee.


    With a flick of her fingers, she extinguished the oilmp in the room. She had night vision. She could see everyone inside, even in the darkness.


    Rushing inside, she began to assault them relentlessly.


    Since they had separated households, this particr courtyard was only upied by Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s parents. He visited asionally but stayed at the main house.


    Qiao Mai began by knocking out Tian Sanzhuang, and then, using her experienced techniques, she went after Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s parents.


    She didn¡¯t spare anyone. Their screams echoed through the night, drawing the attention of the neighbors.


    When they lit oilmps, they found the three of them lying on the ground, groaning in pain.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    They were in too much pain to respond immediately. People rushed to carry them onto the bed and sent for a doctor. Even if they had a low opinion of the Tian family, they couldn¡¯t afford to underestimate them with Tian Sanzhuang being an official.


    After the doctor arrived and examined them, it turned out that Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s arm was broken, Old Tian¡¯s leg was broken, and his wife¡¯s cheek had been severely bruised because of her earlier remarks.


    ¡°Sanzhuang, did you see who it was? Did you recognize the assant?¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s face darkened, and he shook his head. ¡°The person came in and started attacking us immediately. We had no strength to resist.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we report this to the authorities?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. We didn¡¯t see who it was. It¡¯s pointless.¡±


    Vige Chief Liu hesitated. He wanted to ask if they had done anything immoral recently. Why else would karma befall them?


    In recent years, Vige Chief Liu regretted not extending a helping hand to Qiao Mai. If he had, Peach Blossom Vige might have benefited from her prosperity.


    Just as he wanted to protect the Qiao family when the Tians repeatedly harassed them, Tian Sanzhuang made another appearance, making the situation even moreplicated.


    However, he feltpelled to offer some advice to the Tian family.


    ¡°Live a peaceful life. Don¡¯t think about anything else all the time. What¡¯s meant to be yours wille to you, and what¡¯s not won¡¯t, no matter how much you scheme.¡±


    With those words, Vige Chief Liu left. Old Tian called after him, ¡°Brother, can you help us with the medical expenses? We¡¯ll repay you once we can move again. ¡±


    Vige Chief Liu was exasperated but agreed to help with the medical costs. As he was about to leave, Old Tian called out to him again.


    ¡°Brother, please deliver a message to our eldest and second sons and tell them toe and take care of us.¡¯ ¡°What if they don¡¯t want toe?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay them. Thirty coins per day.¡±


    Vige Chief Liu left the Tian family feeling quite frustrated with the situation. Qiao Mai returned home, sat in the courtyard, and sipped tea. She gave them mercy, as she intended to keep them on the bed for a month.


    The quickest solution would be to eliminate Tian Sanzhuang, but she didn¡¯t want him to find relief so easily.


    She liked to take her time to let them see how much she had improved and how far Yuan Jiaqi had risen. They couldn¡¯t do anything to her.


    When Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s wife noticed he hadn¡¯t returned for several days, she immediately brought their maidservant and returned to Peach Blossom Vige.


    When she saw his condition, she decided to stay and take care of him, ensuring that he was well-fed and well-cared for.


    Tian Sanzhuang was deeply moved. He thought she had abandoned him long ago, but it turned out he still held a ce in her heart.


    It must be said that he hit the mark on the spot. The fact that his wife coulde was thanks to her father¡¯s efforts. He had heard that his son-inw was injured, so he instructed his daughter to take good care of him.


    She wouldn¡¯t have stayed otherwise.


    Raised in luxury, she was pampered and had no experience withpassion or taking care of others.


    Lying alone in bed, Tian Sanzhuang wondered if Qiao Mai was behind this attack. He had heard she left the Tian family and had been practicing martial arts.


    He had just gone to find Ling¡¯er, and right after that, he was attacked.


    Could she have attacked him? If it were true, then Ling¡¯er¡¯s origins must indeed be questionable.


    With her reluctance to let him get close to Ling¡¯er, one could argue that Ling¡¯er might indeed be his daughter.


    But if she was Ling¡¯er¡¯s mother, why wouldn¡¯t the blood test match? It had not matched twice now, and even Qiao Mai¡¯s blood did not match. It was truly baffling.


    However, one thing was clear to Tian Sanzhuang. Ling¡¯er was his daughter, and he needed to establish control over her.


    The more Qiao Mai tried to stop him, the more determined he became to reach his goal.


    He believed that someday, Ling¡¯er would acknowledge him as her father. Time was on his side; Ling¡¯er was only seven years old. There was no need to rush.


    On the other hand, sometimes, after finishing her lessons, Ling¡¯er would fall into a daze, thinking about that man and the words he said. But she was still young, and thinking about it gave her a headache. So she decided to stop thinking about it. After all, her mother didn¡¯t like the man¡¯s family, and she


    didn¡¯t like them either..

 Chapter 246 - 246: I Just Want to Do Something For The Commoners

    Chapter 246: I Just Want to Do Something For The Commoners


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Ling¡¯er thought that when she grew up and had the ability, she would try to find her birth parents.


    But it didn¡¯t matter much to her now. She was as happy as a princess, and searching for her past had little significance.


    In the golden autumn month of October, the war and the additional tax for grain had quieted down.


    The three tenant farmers of the Qiao family had alreadye to deliver their grain. They were living quitefortably as tenants of the Qiao family.


    Besides delivering grain, they requested to meet with Qiao Mai, which puzzled her.


    She received them in the main hall and was surprised that all three tenant farmer families knelt before her. Qiao Mai quickly had them helped to their feet.


    ¡°If you have any requests, I will help as long as I can fulfill them.¡± ¡°Madam, could we follow you in nting greenhouse vegetables?¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s about this.¡±


    ¡°We want to be prosperous, have our fields, and learn from you. Can you teach us?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Why not?¡±


    The farmers were thrilled. ¡°Thank you, Madam.¡±


    ¡°Are you nning to nt vegetables on all yournd?¡±


    ¡°No, we want to start small, testing the waters. Grains are still our primary crops. We¡¯ve heard that one acre ofnd for growing vegetables has a high cost, and we don¡¯t have much extra money.¡±


    ¡°I see. It¡¯s good to be cautious about the investment.¡±


    ¡°Please, Madam, be kind to us.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll provide you with materials at cost price, but you¡¯ll have to prepare the rest yourselves. I¡¯ll send a few maids to teach you in the fields.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam. Thank you.¡±


    The first group of people to nt greenhouse vegetables with the Qiao family


    appeared. She never said anything as she wanted to see if there were any


    intelligent individuals.


    Each of the three tenant farmer families set aside five acres to grow vegetables while continuing to cultivate wheat on the rest of theirnd.


    They earnestly learned from the maids. They quickly grasped the essentials of nting winter vegetables, pest control, and various methods for dealing with insects.


    Qiao Mai provided them with high-quality seeds and allowed them to sell their produce in Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. This resolved their supply problem and saved the customer¡¯s trouble from fighting over it.


    As the weather grew colder, the vegetables in the greenhouse gardens started to sprout.


    Chinese chives grew the fastest, and the tenant farmers¡¯ crops thrived. The sight of the green and thriving vegetables gave them hope.


    These families were working hard, learning diligently from the maids. They weren¡¯t entirely unfamiliar with vegetable nting, but they realized they needed to put in effort to match the quality of the Qiao family¡¯s produce.


    They saw the sprouts growing in their fields and were ted, wiping away tears of joy.


    Thendlord is kind. Not only did Qiao Mai not keep any secrets, but she also provided them with materials to build greenhouses and allowed their vegetables to be sold at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    This solved their marketing problems, saved their effort, and they didn¡¯t have to go around shouting and selling their produce.


    However, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t do this for free. She took a 10% cut from the sales, meaning the farmers received the rest. The prices of the vegetables varied, keeping the tenants prepared for fluctuations.


    All three families were appreciative and quickly agreed to the arrangement without hesitation.


    After Yuan Jiaqi had settled the soldiers, the frequency of his visits increased. By the end of June, the pine trees were fully nted.


    Apart from the soldiers, the others also gradually returned home.


    They had to wait until the following spring to start work. Pruning, watering, and fire prevention would all be necessary.


    Yuan Jiaqi had been away from home for months, but when he returned, he spent a night intimate with his wife.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my dear. I was too busy on the other side. You¡¯ve been through a lot these past months. Without your support, I wouldn¡¯t have been promoted.¡± ¡°Even if you get promoted further, you¡¯ll still be just a county governor.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to climb the ranks further. I¡¯d like to spend my life in County She.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve achieved something there, and I don¡¯t want others to benefit without contributing.¡±


    ¡°Just so you know, if you get a higher position and have to go to the capital or elsewhere, I won¡¯t go with you. I¡¯ll stay in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯lle back to visit you. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be seduced by anyone.¡±


    Qiao Mai pouted, ¡°Not seducing others doesn¡¯t mean others won¡¯t try to seduce you. Has the Qu family contacted you?¡±


    ¡°No, they seem to have been pressured from above and haven¡¯t caused any troubletely. I haven¡¯t seen Miss Qu for months.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a thick notebook from under the mattress and ced it beside him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s deal with it when we return to County She.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a n for the workshops. We need to prepare for them now. The pine trees will be ready soon, and we¡¯ll need workshops for the fat extraction, pine resin collection, and pine nut roasting.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, my dear. I¡¯m lucky to have a wife like you. It¡¯s a blessing from my past lives.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at him. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go to sleep.¡±


    The next day, Qiao Mai had the kitchen prepare a table full of delicious dishes to celebrate Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s return. Old Master Wang sighed. ¡°Jiaqi.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I never expected you to be promoted so quickly, jumping two ranks at once.


    You¡¯ve done well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my wife¡¯s support. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have had the opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s good that you understand. There aren¡¯t many officials¡¯ spouses who do as well as your wife. Without her strong support, providing medicine and money, I doubt the Emperor would have noticed your achievements.¡±


    ¡°I only wish to do something for the people. Whether I rise in rank or not doesn¡¯t matter much to me. It¡¯s convenient to stay in the north and avoid the political maneuvering and intrigues of the court.¡±


    ¡°I agree. No matter where you are, it¡¯s good as long as you can benefit the people. Being in the capital doesn¡¯t guarantee you can do practical things for the people; it¡¯s better here.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai interrupted, ¡°Enough talk; let¡¯s finish our meal.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s not talk about it anymore. Eat your food.¡±


    After only three days at home, Yuan Jiaqi returned to County She. When he left, there was a light snowfall in the sky.


    County She had more snowpared to Tianshui Town, with snow covering everything. It had be a kingdom of snow.


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t rush back to the court. Along with six guards, he went to the forest for an inspection.


    Those pine trees stood tall in the snow, unaffected by the wind. The white snow and the green pines created a striking contrast.


    In this rare winter scenery, he could see the truth in what his wife said, that pine trees are suitable for cultivation in the north.


    Upon his return to the court, he didn¡¯t do anything else. He first reviewed the n his wife had prepared.


    As he read, he nodded in approval. The n was incredibly detailed. If executed as Qiao Mai had outlined, it could provide jobs for several hundred people in County She.


    Establishing the workshops would also boost the local economy.


    If his wife could solve the issue of the local¡¯s annual grain cultivation, it would be great. This way, there would be no need for people to migrate to the south.


    Retaining the poption would naturally boost the economy.


    He sighed. Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t a goddess; she couldn¡¯t know everything. The climate and soil here were different, and there was no way she could be knowledgeable in all these aspects.


    Having three sheep in the family, Qiao Mai frequently visited her space for cultivation.


    She was now close to reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.


    As snow fell for several days, she spent time cultivating in her space. Have you ever seen thunder during a heavy snowfall?


    The residents of Tianshui Town experienced it today. It was a rare phenomenon.


    This was because Qiao Mai was forming her nascent soul. As for what happened outside, she did not know of it. After sessfully forming her nascent soul, her aura was more ethereal than before.


    Her movements were like a fairy descending from the heavens, immacte and graceful.


    ording to the cultivation books, the life expectancy at the Foundation Establishment Realm was a hundred years, and it would extend to five hundred years at the Nascent Soul Realm.


    Thinking about living for five hundred years, she couldn¡¯t help but worry that her children would be bones by then.


    She had to raise the level of her elixirs and create high-grade longevity pills to let her children live longer and enjoy life..

 Chapter 247 - 247: They Were Not Just Friends

    Chapter 247: They Were Not Just Friends


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After leaving the space, she wandered around the house with three sheep following her.


    She first went to report to Old Mistress Wang. Old Master Wang quickly noticed the difference in Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Girl, it¡¯s been several days since west saw you. What have you been busy with?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been researching something. Is everything fine at home?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re looking after things here. That boy, Jiaqi, hasn¡¯t been back for a while.¡¯


    Qiao Mai sat by the bed, and Old Mistress Wang cheerfully poured her a cup of tea.


    ¡°If he¡¯s noting back, won¡¯t you go to see him?¡±


    ¡°Home is sofortable; I don¡¯t want to move.¡¯


    ¡°Haha, we feel the same way. We¡¯ve gotten used to being here. We don¡¯t want to go anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Are you not returning to the capital this year?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going back. We¡¯re getting old and don¡¯t want to make the trip back and forth. We¡¯ll spend the New Year here. We¡¯ve talked to Zongsheng. If there¡¯s no heavy snow this year, he¡¯lle here for the New Year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. More people make it livelier.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at Qiao Mai with gratitude. ¡°Thanks to you, Zihan has recovered. He¡¯s preparing to sit for the exam next year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! He¡¯s eighteen now, right?¡±


    ¡°Eighteen years old. Although he startedte, the teacher said he has potential.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Look at who Zihan is; whose son he is.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang were pleased andughed heartily.


    While talking, a servant reported from outside, ¡°Old Master, Old Mistress, there¡¯s a letter from the capital.¡±


    ¡°Bring it in.¡±


    The servant came in and handed the letter to Old Master Wang. After reading it, his face went from cheerful to heavy. Old Mistress Wang asked, puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, old man?¡±


    ¡°Jiaru ising with her children.¡±


    The olddy was delighted. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful. Let¡¯s pack up and go home quickly. It¡¯s been many years since I¡¯ve seen my Ruler.¡±


    ¡°Do you know why she came back?¡±


    ¡°Has something happened in the capital?¡±


    ¡°What could happen in the capital? It¡¯s because Li Longji took a new concubine, not just one, but two. Her inws haveined that she hasn¡¯t borne them any children in recent years. They want to expand the Li family, so Jiaru made a scene, took her two kids, and returned to her maternal home.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the olddy tell silent.


    ¡°Trying to stop the Li family from taking in concubines is impossible. They¡¯ve been patient with Jiaru for many years, which is a good thing. Which noble family doesn¡¯t have women like flies?¡±


    ¡°This marriage was her choice and agreement. No one forced her. Causing a fuss like this now is of no benefit.¡¯


    ¡°She cane and go as she pleases. Zongsheng¡¯s wife will advise her.¡±


    Qiao Mai listened without saying a word. Wang Jiaru had married into a noble family, and she should be prepared for such situations.


    With the weather so cold, what if something happened on the way when she brought her children home? She would regret it for the rest of her life. It was impulsive.


    But why didn¡¯t Qiao Mai ask anything about Wang Jiaru? The reason was simple. For several years, she had written a few letters to her family, mostly asking for this or that.


    After that, there was no moremunication. Qiao Mai regarded her as a friend, and anytime she needed help, she would provide it.


    But it seemed like Wang Jiaru only wanted something from her.


    At the time of her marriage, Qiao Mai had given her many precious gifts and even saved her once.


    She didn¡¯t know if Wang Jiaru considered her a friend.


    Old Master Wang noticed that Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t said a word. He looked at her as she remained silent.


    ¡°Girl, your grandmother and I want to go back to the capital.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t be back before the New Year, I assume?¡±


    ¡°If Jiaru is celebrating the New Year at home, we probably won¡¯t being back. ¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll prepare some New Year¡¯s goods for you.¡±


    She didn¡¯t mention Wang Jiaru at all. Old Master Wang sighed inwardly, fearing that Ruler had hurt her. They weren¡¯t just friends; they had sworn oaths to each other.


    It had gone to such an extent. When they met Ru¡¯er, they would have to have a good talk with her.


    On the same afternoon, Qiao Mai prepared the New Year¡¯s goods for them, five carts in total. Old Master and Mistress Wang also packed their belongings and left the next morning after having breakfast.


    From start to finish, she never mentioned Wang Jiaru.


    The old couple, with five carts of New Year¡¯s goods, left Tianshui Town and took half a day to return to the Wang residence in the capital.


    The purpose of Wang Zongsheng¡¯s letter was to ask the old couple to return.


    When they arrived home, they rested in their courtyard. After all, they were getting older, and the bumpy ride in a wooden cart all day was pretty tiring.


    Wang Zongsheng and his wife sent someone to call Wang Jiaru while the two served the old couple.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, you returned so quickly.¡±


    ¡°We received your letter, and Madam Qiao prepared New Year¡¯s goods right away. We won¡¯t be leaving this time. We¡¯ll spend the New Year with Rul er before leaving.¡±


    Mentioning Rul er made the couple feel uneasy. ¡°Dad, Mom, what do you think we should do?¡±


    ¡°What can we do? It¡¯s a matter of the royal family. Can we resist it?¡± Madam Wang wiped away her tears. ¡°Dad, Mom, but Ru¡¯er is very sad.¡±


    ¡°We told her a long time ago. She knew what she was getting into. What¡¯s the use of being sad now? Instead of feeling sad, why doesn¡¯t she think about how to manage the household and prevent those fox spirits from entrancing the prince?¡±


    ¡°Mom, I heard the women who entered the mansion are all incredibly beautiful. How can Rulerpete with them?¡±


    ¡°Beauty won¡¯tst. After all, she was the prince¡¯s first love. It¡¯s a case of love at first sight.¡¯


    The conversation in the room continued for a long time. Finally, Wang Jiaru brought her children over.


    As soon as she entered the room, she greeted Old Master and Mistress Wang with a bow but didn¡¯t act as affectionate as before.


    The old couple thought she was feeling sad and didn¡¯t mind. Her two children were like lovely porcin dolls.


    Worried that the children might get cold, they had them take off their shoes and sit around the heated brick bed. The family sat around the low table and enjoyed hot tea.


    Old Mistress Wang sized up Wang Jiaru and said, ¡°Ru¡¯er, you haven¡¯t changed a bit; you¡¯re just the same as before.¡±


    ¡°Even if I¡¯m the same as before, the prince doesn¡¯t love me anymore. What should I do?¡±


    She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief while saying this. The olddy red at her.


    ¡°You should have known when you married into his family. What¡¯s the use of crying and sobbing?¡±


    ¡°What should I do then?¡±


    ¡°Go back. Once you leave, you¡¯ll give your ce to those vixens. Over time, will the prince still recognize you?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there any other way?


    ¡°What do you suggest? We¡¯ll do as you say. Should we report to the emperor or send someone to kill the concubines?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. In the years since she had gotten married, she felt that Wang Jiaru had distanced herself from them and wasn¡¯t as close as before. Instead of learning how to be a gracious consort, she had be more petty.


    She ordered her maidservants to give the snacks she had brought for the children. But unexpectedly, Wang Jiaru stopped them.


    ¡°Grandmother, we can¡¯t let the children eat these things casually. What if they get sick? They are the future prince and princess.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang red at her. ¡°Have you ever gotten sick from eating these?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the children can¡¯t eat these.¡±


    Old Master Wang had been silently observing the situation for a while before finally asking, ¡°These are from your sister¡¯s home. You used to write letters to ask for them.¡¯


    ¡°That was in the past. The food in the mansion is exquisite, and the children have been eating it since they were born.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that your sister¡¯s home has rougher food?¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I just think the children are too young.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re quite precious. Your sister¡¯s Ling¡¯er has been eating these since she was young.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s used to it, but my children aren¡¯t.¡±


    Old Master Wang rolled his eyes. ¡°Then don¡¯t eat them; we¡¯ll keep them ourselves.¡±


    Seeing her grandparents stop speaking, Wang Jiaru secretly sighed in relief..

 Chapter 248 - 248: I Must Get The Things

    Chapter 248: I Must Get The Things


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Is Sister doing well?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember to ask now?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been good to you and our family all these years. Whenever you asked for something, she¡¯d get it for you.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t Father give her a hundred thousand taels of silver every year?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because she cured your brother¡¯s illness. Should we consider money given to someone who saved a family member as yours too?¡±


    Wang Jiaru was left speechless. Madam Wang let out a sigh.


    ¡°Father, Mother, let¡¯s not talk about this. Madam Qiao is not a petty person.¡±


    Old Master Wang clenched his teeth but didn¡¯t say anything further. He no longer paid any attention to Wang Jiaru.


    In the evening, the family gathered for dinner, and most of the dishes on the table were provided by Qiao Mai. Wang Jiaru attempted to serve herself but was stopped by Old Master Wang.


    ¡°These dishes are what ordinary folks like us eat. You and your children should eat more coarsely. If you can¡¯t get used to our family¡¯s food, you can return to your prince¡¯s mansion.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, why are you talking to me like this? I am a princess.¡±


    Old Master Wang put down his chopsticks. ¡°What? Are you trying to assert your status as a princess? Should I bow to you?¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡¯


    ¡°Your action says otherwise. After being married for several years, you¡¯ve changed so much that I hardly recognize you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, she¡¯s just amoner¡¯s daughter. How can you favor her so much? I am the princess.¡±


    Old Master Wang stood up, suppressing his anger. ¡°Back then, my grandfather was amoner too, just like you, a descendant of farmers. Let¡¯s not talk about this for now. Think back to the vows you made when you became sworn sisters. She fulfilled them. Did you?¡±


    ¡°I never expected that the innocent and lovable Jiaru would change so much after not seeing you for a few years. You¡¯ve disappointed me.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, I¡­


    ¡°If you look down on her so much, stop using the things she gave you. The jewelry you wear, the clothes you have, many of them are from her, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, our Wang family lives quietly in the capital. We have no desire for promotions and want to live in peace. From now on, you can be a princess, and we¡¯ll live our ordinary lives. Different waters shouldn¡¯t mix. We hope you¡¯ll behave ordingly.¡±


    Old Master Wang left. Old Mistress Wang also stood up, looking at Wang Jiaru with a disappointed expression.


    She shook her head, sighed, and silently walked away.


    Wang Zongsheng¡¯s face was stern. ¡°What have I been giving you 150,000 taels of silver each year for?¡±


    ¡°It went into the mansion¡¯s expenses.¡±


    ¡°The prince¡¯s mansion doesn¡¯tck silver. Why do they need your support?¡±


    ¡°Father, don¡¯t just look at the grand appearance. We have to support so many people, and I¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough. Will the people in the prince¡¯s mansion die without that silver?


    Starting from next year, I won¡¯t give you any more silver.¡±


    ¡°Father¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a fool. Whenever you have silver, you squander it everywhere, on food and clothing. Everything must be the finest. Am I right?¡±


    ¡°Father, are you investigating me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am. Consider it an investigation. Do you know that Madam Qiao hasn¡¯t spent a single coin of it on herself? Apart from helping themoners, she¡¯s supported hundreds of impoverished people and disabled soldiers for her husband. She bought all the barrennd in County She and nted trees on it.


    She and her husband have sacrificed so much. And what about you?¡±


    ¡°You squander money on indulgence. Don¡¯t forget what made your husband take notice of you. If you continue this way, you might lose your position as his wife. You married up, and there¡¯s nothing we can do. If you¡¯re only a child who cries to her parents when hurt, then we¡¯ll listen. Finishining about your grievances. It¡¯s time to return to the imperial city. You should grow up and be mature.¡±


    With that, Wang Zongsheng left the room. The table was left with Madam Wang, Wang Jiaru, and two children.


    Madam Wang didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Jiaru, your grandfather and father are right. You¡¯re already a mother of two children. You can¡¯t think about eating, drinking, and having fun every day. You need to understand that if you don¡¯t change, your children might be demoted from legitimate to illegitimate status, and you might gradually disappear from the mansion. Such things aremon in the imperial city. After all, our family is only a fourth-rank official, and we can¡¯t protect you. Don¡¯t act like a child anymore.¡±


    The family dispersed in anger. Madam Wang, who was concerned about her daughter, was now disappointed.


    From that day on, Old Master and Mistress Wang stayed in their room every day, while Wang Zongsheng had to go to the government office, and Madam Wang had to manage the family¡¯s business. Zihan had to go to school. Everyone was upied with their tasks.


    Wang Jiaru was left at home with her two children, feeling quite bored. However, the thought of Li Longji keeping concubines kept her going.


    When she thought of Qiao Mai, she believed that Qiao Mai shoulde with her grandfather to visit her upon hearing her return.


    No matter what, she is now a royal consort. Qiao Mai shoulde and visit. She won¡¯t gain or lose much, so why fuss over it?


    She wrote a letter and invited Qiao Mai to visit their family in the capital.


    Qiao Mai nced at the letter and said, ¡°Tell your mistress that due to some family matters, I can¡¯t go.¡±


    The messenger ryed Qiao Mai¡¯s message, which infuriated Wang Jiaru. She smashed her teacup.


    ¡°She is so ungrateful. If I didn¡¯t have something I wanted from her, I wouldn¡¯t bother with her.¡±


    Frustrated, she wrote another letter and sent someone to deliver it.


    This time, Yuan Jiaqi happened to be at home. The two were in the warm shed, harvesting vegetables. Around the New Year, vegetables sold quickly. Many well-off households didn¡¯te out to buy vegetables during the holiday season, so they would stock up a lot at home.


    The three tenant farmers made good profits this year because they were willing to invest and learn, not minding their pride.


    The prices for their vegetables varied, but Shopkeeper Niu kept ounts for them. They trusted the Qiao family, giving them what they asked for without much discussion.


    Qiao Mai came out of the warm shed, took the letter from the messenger, and burst intoughter upon reading its contents.


    Yuan Jiaqi took a look as well. ¡°Is she asking you for things again?


    ¡°Yes, she always asks for things for free, but I haven¡¯t had any of those for years. I don¡¯t have a single one.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the messenger. ¡°Tell your mistress that the things she¡¯s asking for have been out of stock for three years. There¡¯s been no supply.¡± ¡°How do I exin this to my mistress? She insisted on getting those items.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have them here. I can¡¯t magically produce them. Someone, please show this messenger out.¡±


    And so, the messenger was ushered out of the house in a roundabout way. When Wang Jiaru found out, she was furious.


    She was about to scold someone when Madam Wang rushed over, and she swallowed her words.


    ¡°Mother, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I heard that you got angry again. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¡°Nothing? What about sending someone to the Qiao family to deliver a letter to Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just asking for some things from her.¡±


    ¡°What? Did you dare to ask her for things again? Over these years, you¡¯ve taken more from her than our share of dividends.¡¯


    ¡°Mother, it¡¯s a sign of respect for a princess to ask her for a few things.¡±


    Madam Wang looked at Wang Jiaru in shock. Was this really her daughter? How had she changed so much over five years? She couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°What did you ask her for?¡±


    ¡°Just a few sets of shiny jewelry, a couple of horse-faced skirts, and her double-sided embroidery.¡±


    ¡°Do you know that one of her small hair ornaments can sell for ten thousand taels of silver in the capital? How much do your jewelry sets cost?¡±


    ¡°Mother, can you please stop talking about it? If she doesn¡¯t give them, it¡¯s fine.


    Why make a big deal out of it?¡±


    Madam Wang was taken aback by her daughter¡¯s words and took a few steps back, tears in her eyes. ¡°I have truly raised a fine daughter.¡± With that, she turned and left..

 Chapter 249 - 249: First Time?

    Chapter 249: First Time?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After Madam Wang left, Wang Jiaru was so mad that she swept everything off the table onto the floor.


    Early the next morning, she had a carriage prepared, left her two children home, and took two maids and guards to head straight to Tianshui Town. Yuan Jiaqi had taken a day off from his duties at the court. After making the necessary arrangements, he returned home to celebrate the New Year with his wife and children.


    At this moment, he was inside their home writing couplets while Qiao Mai was reading a book. Their children were ying happily in the garden.


    The Fengyun brothers had grown up, and they often yed with Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er.


    They felt that life was peaceful and it would be great to continue like this forever. Just then, a maidservant rushed in with a worried expression.


    ¡°Master, the princess is here.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her. ¡°Why the panic? She¡¯s just a royal consort.¡±


    She put down her book and was about to go ahead. Yuan Jiaqi put down his brush.


    ¡°Mydy, I¡¯ll go with you.¡¯


    The two arrived at the front hall and saw Wang Jiaru sitting in amanding manner in the main seat of the Qiao family¡¯s house.


    The Qiao couple stood at the hall¡¯s entrance, and they locked eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been several years. The princess is bing more and more aplished.¡±


    A maidservant stepped forward immediately and scolded, ¡°How dare you!


    Hurry up ande to pay your respects to our princess.¡±


    Qiao Mai pped the maidservant across the face, and she tumbled to the ground, unconscious.


    Yuan Jiaqi witnessed Qiao Mai¡¯s martial skills for the first time and was surprised by her prowess. Wang Jiaru red, ¡°Qiao Mai, you have quite the audacity to hit my servant.¡±


    ¡°Do you believe I would hit you too?¡±


    ¡°Get my things ready quickly. I want to take them with me. I¡¯ll let the matter of your assault on my servant slide.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have them. The Qiao family can¡¯t amodate a princess like you. I suggest you go home now.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave until I get what I want.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her, annoyed by her stubborn behavior. She regretted indulging her over the years.


    ¡°In that case, do as you wish. I haven¡¯t been out in a long time and haven¡¯t contacted my overseas friends.¡±


    After Qiao Mai turned to leave, Wang Jiaru rushed over in frustration, grabbed her by the shoulder, and shook her forcefully.


    ¡°I know you have it. Give it to me. Give it to me!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi wanted to intervene when he saw this, but Qiao Mai lightly flicked her hand. Wang Jiaru, who was behaving like a shrew, was thrown to the ground.


    Just then, someone came to the courtyard gate. The maidservant opened the door and saw it was the magistrate. She immediately stepped aside.


    Wang Zongsheng had his guards wait outside, and he hurried into the main hall.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, you¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai stared at Wang Zongsheng coldly. ¡°She used her identity as a princess to press me, demanding things. If I don¡¯t have them, she won¡¯t leave. You handle this.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng was livid. Her arrival had nearly severed the ties between the two families that had been previously harmonious.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er,e home with Father.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t leave until I get what I want.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng clenched his fists and turned to Qiao Mai. ¡°Do you really not have them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t lie. If I don¡¯t have them, I don¡¯t have them. These past two years, I¡¯ve been dealing with snow disasters and supporting my husband in his new position. I haven¡¯t had time to contact overseas merchants.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay a high price.¡±


    ¡°If you want to buy what your daughter wants, it will deplete your wealth. At the very least, it will cost a million or more taels.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng couldn¡¯t believe it. He turned around and looked at Wang Jiaru with disbelief.


    ¡°Why are you asking for so much?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Each year, you¡¯ve protected her, and my grandfather taught her husband. You¡¯ve given her a twenty percent share of your profits. With all that money, my brother and I have nothing. We don¡¯t owe anything to an outsider.¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered. ¡°Since the princess treats me as an outsider, let¡¯s end our sister rtionship here.¡±


    ¡°Who wants to be your sister?¡±


    Wang Jiaru¡¯s behavior had shaken Wang Zongsheng¡¯s worldview. He couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and pped her.


    He struck her hard across the face. ¡°You wretch. Take your children, take your servants, and get out of the Wang family. Don¡¯t evere back.¡±


    ¡°Dad, why are you treating me like this? I am a princess. I am your daughter.¡± ¡°Princess? Daughter? What ridiculous things have you done over the years? The one who¡¯s been filial by our side is Madam Qiao, not you.¡±


    ¡°Dad, you should just recognize her as your daughter. Not me. Let¡¯s see how steady your position as the magistrate is without me, the princess.¡±


    Qiao Mai listened to her and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Back when you were still a youngdy, Lord Wang was already a magistrate. You have been quite useless. We haven¡¯t relied on your reputation. After you return to the capital, you¡¯re free to spread the word that you¡¯ve cut ties with your maternal family.¡±


    ¡°Give me my things now.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to hear her shouting, so she walked up and delivered a palm strike to the back of Wang Jiaru¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Uncle, take her away.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I apologize.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng had his daughter and the unconscious maid ced in the carriage.


    They hurriedly left Lucky Garden. The Qiao family finally returned to tranquility.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t good. Yuan Jiaqi knew how much she had done for the princess over the years and treated her like a sister.


    How did they end up cutting ties like this?


    And Shopkeeper Lu, who used to have a good rtionship with Qiao Mai. How did they drift apart?


    ¡°Mydy, has she hurt your feelings?¡±


    ¡°A little. She seems to have gone mad. During her years in the imperial city, she hasn¡¯t learned anything except forparison. The things she asked for from me were meant to show off. If I were her, I¡¯d use them wisely. After all, I have these connections that others can¡¯te by.¡±


    ¡°No wonder the prince wanted to take in concubines.¡±


    ¡°In these years, the prince has probably been worn down by her character.¡±


    ¡°This big melting pot of a city can turn even the good ones into bad ones.


    Jiaru¡¯s nature was pretty good.¡±


    ¡°She can¡¯t change now. I proposed to cut ties, and she didn¡¯t even blink. She doesn¡¯t cherish our previous friendship at all.¡±


    As the couple strolled in the snow, a maidservant brought an oiled paper umbre. Yuan Jiaqi quickly opened it to shield her from the falling snow, but most of his body was still sprinkled with snowkes.


    Qiao Mai embraced his waist. ¡°This way, neither of us will get snow on us.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. Qiao Mai yfully pinched his cheek. ¡°You¡¯re so grown up, yet you¡¯re blushing. We¡¯re not young lovers in love.¡±


    ¡°Mydy, I feel like we¡¯re in love right now, strolling in the snow under an umbre. Is this the first time for us?¡±


    ¡°It seems like it.¡±


    The couple heard a rustling sound behind them. When they turned around, they saw three sheep following them. Three pairs of moist, shiny, ck eyes looked adorable.


    This made Qiao Mai¡¯s mood significantly better. The three sheep came up to her waist.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you guys?¡±


    ¡°Baa, baa, master, we ran out of pills.¡±


    ¡°Later, I¡¯ll prepare something for you to eat. There¡¯s no time right now.¡±


    ¡°Baa, baa, all right. Enjoy your walk. We¡¯re leaving.¡±


    Qiao Mai nearly swore when she heard their words. What did ¡°enjoy your walk¡± mean? Can¡¯t they speak humannguage? If not, they should stay quiet.


    It seemed that this matter had passed, and the Wang family took Wang Jiaru back. They quickly sent guards to escort her and her children back to the city, not letting her stay any longer.


    A peaceful life had been disrupted by her.


    No matter how clever Wang Jiaru had been in the past, she was now acting foolish. Her high-profile marriage had proven to be utterly useless.


    She had be greedy, selfish, arrogant, and unreasonable. It was unclear how Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion could tolerate such a daughter-inw.


    If he hadn¡¯t genuinely loved her, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible for her to be so uncontroble.


    This time, she was sent away with Wang Zongsheng escorting her. He was worried she wouldn¡¯t be manageable with her guards. After Madam Wang saw them off, she returned with tears in their eyes..

 Chapter 250 - 250: Aren’t You Thinking Too Highly of Her?

    Chapter 250 - 250: Aren¡¯t You Thinking Too Highly of Her?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Mother, how did this girl turn out like this?¡±


    ¡°She had it too easy, and we indulged her. Gave her whatever she wanted.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s still my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Zongsheng did the right thing, sending her back and letting the prince¡¯s mansion handle it. She needs to experience some hardship, or she won¡¯t remember the difficult days she used to have.¡±


    Old Master Wang rolled his eyes at Madam Wang. ¡°Hurry and prepare the New


    Year goods, five times the usual for Madam Qiao¡¯s family.¡±


    Madam Wang widened her eyes. ¡°Father, isn¡¯t that too much?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll do as I say. Madam Qiao is an extraordinary woman. She¡¯s not as simple as she appears. What Ruler did was inexcusable, and we need to show


    sincerity. ¡±


    ¡°What about the dividend?¡±


    ¡°Ru¡¯er won¡¯t get her share anymore. We¡¯ll give Madam Qiao our shares too.¡± ¡°Father, aren¡¯t you overestimating her?¡±


    ¡°Tell me, in the Ming Dynasty, who can treat Zihan? Who can provide the pills? Do you think she cares about your money? She took it to show she wants to befriend us, not because shecks it.¡¯


    ¡°But that¡¯s a lot.¡±


    Old Master Wang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I want you to give Madam Qiao all our dividends and Ru¡¯er¡¯s. I¡¯m not asking you to give up your share. Do you have a problem with that?¡± ¡°I just think it¡¯s too much. We¡¯ve had high expenses in recent years.¡±


    ¡°Prepare it right away!¡±


    It was a rare moment of the old master shouting at Madam Wang. She nodded quickly.


    ¡°Yes, Father, I¡¯ll get ready.¡±


    Once she left, Old Master Wang couldn¡¯t hide his frustration. ¡°Always focused on that little bit of silver. It¡¯s so irritating.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the best.¡± ¡°Olddy, don¡¯t tease me. I¡¯m only like this because of Madam Qiao.¡± Old Mistress Wang rolled her eyes. ¡°She does have some abilities, I admit.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong. None of you see it.¡±


    Old Master Wang exined his findings to the olddy in detail. She sucked in a breath of cold air.


    ¡°So, she has a connection with the immortals?¡±


    Old Master Wang shook his head. ¡°I think the medicine she gave Zihan is from the immortal realm. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t work so effectively. Many famous doctors couldn¡¯t do anything about his condition.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Then what Rul er did¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I say she¡¯s a fool. Don¡¯t meddle in Rul er¡¯s affairs. Zongsheng has sent people to protect her secretly. We should sincerely befriend Madam Qiao and not ruin our rtionship of so many years just because of one person.¡± ¡°Of course. Perhaps one day, Madam Qiao will be able to help us with Ruler.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t always count on her for help. The two of us living in her house have gained many benefits. Not to mention anything else, have you ever seen cats like these in the Ming Dynasty? They must be worth a lot of silver, but she didn¡¯t even blink an eye when she gave them to you. She genuinely treats you like a grandmother.¡±


    ¡°I also genuinely consider her my granddaughter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, try not to bring up Rul er too much.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Therefore, the New Year goods from the Wang family were delivered to the Qiao family. It was already the 27th of the twelfth month. Madam Wang felt the amount of silver notes was enormous, so she came to deliver them.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, Rul er has caused you a lot of trouble.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not troublesome.¡±


    ¡°My father said he wants topensate you. He¡¯s sent over his and my mother¡¯s dividends, as well as Rul er¡¯s.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her as she ced a stack of silver notes on the table. She then handed it to Zihan.


    ¡°Take it. I don¡¯t have anything to give you on ordinary days, so take this and buy some candy.¡±


    This one sentence left Madam Wang blushing.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, are you still holding a grudge over what happened before?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯tck silver. I¡¯ll keep the New Year goods, and the silver notes can go to Zihan.¡±


    ¡°Girl, this is¡­ 500,000 taels of silver notes.¡±


    ¡°In my eyes, these silver notes are only enough to buy a grain of medicine for Zihan. ¡±


    Madam Wang was shocked. ¡°One pill for Zihan is that expensive?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something you can¡¯t buy even if you have money.¡±


    Madam Wang¡¯s mouth trembled for a moment. Her son had taken several bottles of those pills. She couldn¡¯t imagine how much it must have cost.


    Zihan respectfully bowed to Qiao Mai. ¡°I¡¯ll remember this. I can¡¯t make big promises right now, but I¡¯ll treat you like a real sister.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good child. I didn¡¯t mean anything by that. I just want you to know that I don¡¯tck money. So, put it away yourselves. When there¡¯s a disaster among themon people, you can use it to help.¡±


    ¡°Girl, you¡­¡±


    Madam Wang was too moved to say anything. She nced at the weather and prepared to leave.


    Qiao Mai prepared two hot water bags filled with hot water to maintain their warmth for a long time so they didn¡¯t have to worry about spilling.


    She handed the hot water bags to them. ¡°If you¡¯re leaving, do it quickly. The weather is bad. This will keep you warm.¡±


    Zihan took one and held it against his chest. ¡°Sister, it¡¯s so warm.¡±


    ¡°After the water gets cold, you can twist the cap like this, pour the cold water, and fill it with hot water again. Twist it tight.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister. This is great; I can take it to school with me.¡±


    Madam Wang was deeply moved by Qiao Mai¡¯s thoughtfulness. As she and her son sat in the carriage, she felt sentimental. If Ruler could be half as good as Madam Qiao, she would be content.


    The parents were right; their daughter was honored to be sworn sisters with Madam Qiao.


    They wouldn¡¯t indulge their child anymore. Allowing her to develop such a free-spirited nature had only harmed her in the end.


    Wang Zongsheng arrived in the imperial city on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. On the way, Wang Jiaru had been difficult, and he had to drug her asleep most of the way.


    Once they arrived, he sent her straight to the prince¡¯s mansion, leaving her with a letter and heading back.


    The letter conveyed the message that Jiaru wascking in wisdom and hoped that the prince¡¯s parents would discipline her.


    They had intended to punish the young princess severely for her unauthorized journey with the children, but when they saw the letter from their family, their anger dissipated. They had their servants confine Jiaru, telling everyone she was sick and wouldn¡¯t take any guests, especially not her child.


    Wang Jiaru screamed and yelled in the courtyard as if she had gone mad. The Old Royal Consort had the servants put sedatives in her food.


    If she woke up and continued to cause trouble, the servants would force-feed her more medication.


    The mansion had various methods to keep the peace. In just a few days, she became obedient, not crying or making a fuss.


    This time, Wang Jiaru privately took her child out, viting a major rule of the prince¡¯s household. She should have been severely punished, but since she was still young and Wang Zongsheng provided a substantial amount of silver to the mansion yearly, they chose to confine her without taking further action.


    As for when she would be released, predictions from knowledgeable individuals indicated it would be at least half a year.


    The news of her actions had spread like wildfire throughout the imperial city, and when she returned, it became an even more sensational topic.


    Jiaru spent her days in her room, crying her heart out, while all her servants and maids were reassigned to other tasks by the Old Royal Consort.


    In cases where the master was guilty, their servants would also be punished, which was standard practice.


    Wang Zongsheng returned home on the eleventh day of the Lunar New Year. He was busy handling official business upon his return. He asionally heard about the matter concerning his daughter, but he chose to ignore it.


    However, his wife was deeply distressed by the situation. But under the watchful eyes of Old Master and Mistress Wang, she didn¡¯t dare visit the imperial city.


    If she didn¡¯t go, her daughter would receive a lighter punishment. But if she did go, her position might not be preserved.


    She was afraid of this, so she endured it.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang went back to Lucky Garden on the twelfth day, and Qiao Mai was as warm to them as ever. Old Mistress Wang held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°That foolish girl, Ruler, doesn¡¯t appreciate your kindness. She¡¯s lost such a good friend.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Out with the old, in with the new. I might make new friends one day.¡± Old Mistress Wang¡¯s heart ached. ¡°She¡¯s been punished now, locked up by the Old Royal Consort, but we won¡¯t intercede. Let her suffer a bit..¡±

 Chapter 251 - 251: It’s a Peerless Tea

    Chapter 251 - 251: It¡¯s a Peerless Tea


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai lowered her eyelids and lightly tapped her fingernails.


    ¡°She should suffer a bit. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t know how high the sky is or how deep the earth goes. She wouldn¡¯t understand how treacherous people¡¯s hearts can be. Today, she¡¯s the royal consort, but after falling out of favor, she might be nothing. With your family¡¯s background, you can¡¯t protect her. Only by making her endure hardships will she learn to cherish everything she has now.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang fell into silence. Jiaru married into a higher social ss, and indeed, their family couldn¡¯t protect her.


    From then on, both sides consciously refrained from mentioning Wang Jiaru.


    The weather gradually warmed up. The brothers immersed themselves in their studies every day, preparing for the imperial examinations at the end of March.


    Nanny Jin had been living in Lucky Garden for more than a year, and she was satisfied with her life there. She had no other aspirations except to mentor Ling¡¯er as if she were her child. She hoped Ling¡¯er would have a promising future, not be a caged bird but soar like an eagle.


    After the third day of March, Qiao Mai privately went to the forest and watered every pine tree with water from the spiritual river.


    During this time, she researched online about harvesting pine oil, how to collect pine resin, and even examined the tools for gathering oil and pressing pine nuts. She made some improvements and produced dozens of sets. She was waiting for the pine trees to mature so she could establish a workshop.


    The pine trees she had nted in the first year were already as thick as a child¡¯s leg. Even the tree caretakers found it astonishing.


    The trees were growing too quickly. They wondered if the nutrient solution the county governor rmended was this effective.


    Yuan Jiaqiughed it off and said something that dispelled their thoughts.


    ¡°That one bucket of nutrient solution can buy two acres of good farnd. How much do you want to sell an acre ofnd for? No matter how much you nurture it, it won¡¯t be enough. These pine trees were nted by my wife based on soil analysis, not randomly sown.¡±


    This response silenced them. One bucket of nutrient solution was too expensive. Using it to water crops was an extravagant waste.


    Moreover, growing the pine trees required careful attention, so it wasn¡¯t something they could use casually. Themoners had oversimplified things.


    The pine trees nted in the second year had all reached the thickness of a wrist. Thanks to Qiao Mai¡¯s secret efforts, they would be ready for the workshop next year, and she would hire workers for training.


    Now, they just had to wait for the trees to grow.


    In her free time, Qiao Mai bought a few vases and used items from her space to create many flowers. She learned flower arranging to lift her spirits.


    Old Mistress Wang didn¡¯t have much to dotely. She came over with her maids. When she saw the flowers on Qiao Mai¡¯s table, she couldn¡¯t hide her happiness.


    ¡°You know how to do this?¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, please have a seat. Spring has arrived. The sunshine is beautiful, and everyone is in a good mood. The children will take the exams in a few days, so there may be another top schr or sessful candidate in the family.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Jiaqi is so exceptional. Fengyun and Chuan¡¯er are not far behind. Ruyi¡¯s husband had already gone to the capital to take the imperial examination. I hope he passes this time. You¡¯ll need to hire more people if he does.¡±


    ¡°As soon as Fengyun and Chuan¡¯er finish their exams, they can take his ce.


    It¡¯s a way for them to gain experience.¡±


    ¡°Will the students be willing?¡±


    ¡°If they¡¯re unwilling, they can leave. They¡¯re getting it for free, so they shouldn¡¯t be too fussy.¡±


    While they were chatting and arranging flowers, one of the maids came in with a joyful expression, which made Qiao Mai feel that it was good news.


    ¡°Madam, Mayor Qian sent someone with a good message and brought many gifts. ¡±


    ¡°Is Lu Sanniang pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she didn¡¯t tell anyone before because it was too early, but now that the pregnancy is stable, she¡¯s announced it.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. ¡°Bring the things here.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    Old Mistress Wang was puzzled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send a return gift?¡±


    ¡°If I sent her a gift, she¡¯d feel uneasy keeping it, so I¡¯d rather not send it.


    Receiving it will make it feel like I¡¯m taking advantage.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, this child.¡±


    ¡°When she saved me back then, it was also for her benefit. Since she prefers this interaction, I¡¯ll go along with her wishes.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lu Sanniang was sitting in her room enjoying some fruits that Mayor Qian had obtained from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    It was discovered when she was one and a half months pregnant. For the past month, Mayor Qian had been doting on Lu Sanniang and elevating her to the heavens.


    Ruyi would visit her regrly, and she noticed Ruyi rolling her eyes.


    ¡°Mom, your child will make me have a younger brother or sister who¡¯s even younger than my son. How much younger will my son¡¯s generation be?¡± Lu Sanniang blushed at her daughter¡¯sment and scolded her with a re.


    ¡°I can¡¯t let your Father Qian have no descendants.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Father waited for so many years for you. Setting aside everything else, you made the right choice marrying him.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to reopen the embroidery shop. Why don¡¯t I give it to you?¡±


    ¡°No, wait until Yide returns from the imperial examination. We don¡¯t know how things will turn out then. If you don¡¯t want to continue, you can sell it. After all, your current condition isn¡¯t making Mayor Qian feel at ease.¡± ¡°It has been my hard work for so many years. I can¡¯t bear to just sell it.¡±


    ¡°The shop is just a tool for making money. What¡¯s more important is your health. Which one do you think is more important?¡±


    Lu Sanniang put the shop for sale at the broker center. Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai thought and had Nanny Jin go to buy the shop without bargaining, offering whatever was asked.


    She transferred it under Ling¡¯er¡¯s name, not for any other reason but because Ling¡¯er had turned eight after the New Year, and it was time for her to start getting involved.


    Nanny Jin had taught her how to manage the shop as part of her education. Now, she had a chance to practice.


    Furthermore, after Lu Sanniang sold the shop, people from the surrounding areas had to travel far to receive and send goods. Additionally, there was a need for a ce to sell Ruyi and Liu Ye¡¯s double-sided embroidery.


    The most important reason was to allow Ling¡¯er to learn and improve her skills. Qiao Mai believed that the embroidery workshop would continue to thrive with Nanny Jin¡¯s guidance.


    Nanny Jin was also pretty happy about this. In addition to mentoring Ling¡¯er, she would have something to do.


    Being in her thirties was not considered old, and the boss was rxed about her and never questioned her. If she needed something, they provided it without hesitation. She was pleased with this.


    On April 2nd, the children returned from the capital, led by Old Master Wang.


    Thanks to their childhood martial arts training, they were mentally prepared. These few days have still been exhausting.


    As soon as they arrived home, Qiao Mai told them to freshen up and rest. She quickly prepared a pot of spiritual tea for Old Master Wang, who had been the most tired during the trip.


    Old Master Wang sat cross-legged at the table and took a sip of the tea she had poured.


    ¡°Wow, this tea is delicious. You hardly ever bring out good things like this. This time, it¡¯s a reward for my hard work, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m d you know. Good things should be cherished and not consumed often.


    If they are, they cease to be good.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s reasonable. Hahaha.¡±


    Old Master Wang had several more cups of tea before he felt significantly better.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. These three children have done well in their exams. They¡¯re almost certain to pass it. Chuan¡¯er, in particr, has no problems. If he doesn¡¯t perform well in the exams, I¡¯ll discipline him.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°Then what about this tea?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you two pounds when I return.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that too little?¡±


    ¡°Two pounds per month.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s about right.¡±


    Qiao Mai left. Old Master Wang quickly poured a cup of tea for his wife. ¡°Wife, would you like to taste this tea? Even the emperor can¡¯t get his hands on such good leaves, but this girl has it.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang had just enjoyed the scent of the tea and immediately felt her fatigue disappear after taking a sip.


    ¡°It¡¯s truly an excellent tea.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I won¡¯t leave this house anymore. If she says she¡¯s caring after me in my old age, I¡¯ll take her word for it.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    On the fifth day of April, there was a rain shower, just as the saying goes,


    ¡°During Qingming season, drizzles fall.¡±


    On the tenth day of April, the good news finally arrived.


    All three of Qiao Mai¡¯s sons had passed the imperial examination. While their rankings weren¡¯t ideal, they had still passed.


    Feng¡¯er ranked eighth, Yun¡¯er ninth, and Chuan¡¯er ranked second among the children.


    Government officials loved toe to Lucky Garden and eagerlypeted for the opportunity to deliver the good news. Many wanted to cash in on the joy and earn some lucky money. It would be enough to support their families for a


    year..

 Chapter 252 - 252: A Freeloader Complaining

    Chapter 252: A Freeloader Comining


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The news of the Qiao family¡¯s three sons passing the imperial examination spread like wildfire and reached the surrounding viges on the same day.


    Some people were delighted, while others were worried. The Jiang family, seeing their glory slip away from them, felt distressed. If it were in the past, they could have mobilized their entire family¡¯s efforts to bring the brothers back.


    However, the longer they waited, the higher the price Qiao Mai would demand. They couldn¡¯t afford it.


    Upon hearing the news, the Fengyun brothers¡¯ maternal rtives visited once again. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t even allowed inside the gate. These women ended up causing a scene at the Qiao family¡¯s doorstep.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t bother to deal with these people, so she instructed her servant to report it to the authorities.


    Mayor Qian¡¯s guards immediately arrested them and took them to County Governor Zhu¡¯s office, where they were pretty adamant. ¡°Sir, we are Fengyun¡¯s maternal rtive. Can¡¯t we see them?¡±


    ¡°Maternal rtives?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao¡¯s family no longer exists. How would her son have maternal rtives?¡±


    ¡°But we are their true maternal family.¡±


    ¡°Presumptuous! ording to thews of the Ming Dynasty, the Fengyun brothers are no longer part of the Jiang family; they are now Madam Qiao¡¯s sons. Their maternal family should be the same as hers.¡±


    ¡°But, Sir, blood ties can¡¯t be changed.¡±


    ¡°Are you disregarding thew?¡±


    ¡°Sir, you and the Qiao family are in cahoots. You¡¯re biased.¡±


    County Governor Zhu was furious. He thought, ¡°I tried to exin this to them out of goodwill, yet they dared to insult me.¡± He ordered that each of these women be given twentyshes and thrown into prison.


    Their heads must have been filled with water to utter such nonsense in the courtroom.


    At the end of April, Qin Yide returned. He was assigned to Wei City, serving under Magistrate Wang.


    In May, he took Ruyi and the children to the city. Lucky Star Academy was taken over by Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er. They taught while studying under their teacher.


    After hearing that his sons had all passed the examination, Yuan Jiaqi paid a visit from County She. He celebrated with them briefly and then left.


    Before leaving, Qiao Mai gave him 50,000 taels of silver notes to start constructing the workshop.


    With Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s four consecutive championships, the results of his sons didn¡¯t garner much attention.


    However, things were different outside.


    The Jiang family sent a group of women who tried to trouble them. However, this group was quickly dealt with. The Tian family couldn¡¯t get Ling¡¯er, so they had no reason to cause trouble.


    As for the Yuan family, Yuan Jiaqi alone would arouse their jealousy.


    They didn¡¯t anticipate that at the age of eleven, Chuan¡¯er ranked second in the children¡¯s examination. In fact, if not for Old Master Wang deliberately holding him back, he would have passed even earlier.


    The father and son were so dazzling that they ate and slept poorly.


    The most ufortable ones were the matchmakers. After all, the New Year had passed, and the Fengyun brothers had turned fifteen. Good men were in demand, andpetition was fierce.


    But Qiao Mai was firm, insisting on waiting until they were eighteen.


    Can you believe it? The Fengshui at Lucky Garden is remarkable. Not only did they have a fifth-ranked official, but their sons were all so aplished.


    Some people are going mad with jealousy. However, the fact that the brothers are teaching at the school has provided an opportunity for certain individuals, but that¡¯s a story for another time.


    Before, Qin Yi used to teach here, and he had quite a reputation. Many families sent their children to him because he was a renowned schr. However, when they had to switch to two children, some parents were unhappy about it.


    They kept their kids away from school for several days in protest.


    They neither asked for leave nor provided any reasons. They simply stoppeding. Qiao Mai heard about this incident from Feng¡¯er.


    ¡°Mother, what should we do?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯reining while getting education for free. Skipping a meal can save us a lot of grain in a year. Let¡¯s expel them, and we won¡¯t ept them even if they want to return.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Can you and Yun¡¯er teach?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Whatever Old Master Wang taught us, we¡¯ll teach those children the same way.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°What do you and Yun¡¯er think about marriage?¡±


    Feng¡¯er blushed immediately and said, ¡°I think Mother is right. It¡¯s better to establish a career before getting married. I don¡¯t want to be tied down at such a young age.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s best that you both think this way. With your current achievements, you might only be able to marry the daughter of a schr. At best, someone from a family with a Rmended Schr. But if you want to marry the daughters of well-educated and high-ranking families, it might be a bit more challenging.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it matters much whether theye from a high-ranking family. It¡¯s all about the connection, personality, and character. Even if theye from a prestigious background, it won¡¯t work if their character is wed.¡± ¡°Good. As you grow up, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Go ahead and take good care of the school. Consider it part of your learning experience.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The families who didn¡¯t send their children to school regretted it not long afterward and wanted to return. However, the school refused to ept them.


    Some wanted to cause trouble, but Mayor Qian¡¯s guards were waiting at the school gate.


    When they saw the guards, they all hurried back home. This goes to show that people are never satisfied. They rejected free education at Lucky School just because the teacher wasn¡¯t a Rmended Schr. As a result, they lost out.


    At the same time, Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er¡¯s shop had also been decorated.


    However, they were short of inventory. The teacher and apprentice had to figure out a solution.


    ¡°Mother.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my dear Ling¡¯er, you rarely find time toe to the backyard.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve been busytely. I have to attend sses and manage the shop. My teacher and I have been working tirelessly.¡± ¡°Speak up, clever one. What brings you to me?¡± ¡°Nothing escapes Mother¡¯s watchful eye.¡±


    ¡°You chatterbox. Get to the point.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re running low on inventory for the shop. I was wondering if Mother could help us get some items rted to embroidery. It would help us stock the store.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and nced at Nanny Jin. ¡°You two make a list for me first.¡±


    Nanny Jin quickly produced a piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it to Qiao Mai. ¡°It¡¯s all here.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the list and examined it carefully. ¡°Alright,e to my ce to pick up the items in three days.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I noticed the exquisite embroidered screens in your room. How about letting me move them to the shop? I¡¯ll use them for disy and not sell them.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I remember you have a few pce fans you don¡¯t use. Why not give them to


    Qiao Mai yfully rubbed her nose and said, ¡°You greedy little devil. If you take all of these, it would cost a fortune.¡¯


    ¡°I won¡¯t sell them. Mother embroidered all of these. I can¡¯t bear to part with them.¡±


    ¡°Alright, choose whatever you like.¡±


    Nanny Jin only realized at that moment that the double-sided embroidery in Qiao Mai¡¯s room was her work. Who exactly was the mistress of this house?


    She was proficient in both literary and martial arts, excelled in needlework, and was remarkable.


    That evening, Qiao Mai entered her space and bought many pce fans, screens, ornaments, handkerchiefs. embroideries. clothing, and more, filling several boxes.


    Greeny watched and blinked. ¡°Master, will these items earn us money?¡±


    ¡°I bought them for her. If they bring in money, that¡¯s great. If not, it¡¯s good practice. I¡¯m not short of money.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. As a Golden Core Realm cultivator with Level 5 elixirs, a single vial could buy the entire Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Remember to buy some high-level spiritual herbs from the tform.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°In your free time, sell some Level 1 to 5 spiritual herbs. After all, our space can duplicate them infinitely.¡±


    ¡°Oh. ¡±


    Before, Qiao Mai used to work diligently in her space, but ever since she had Greeny, she has bezier. Even when she came in to cultivate, she rarely interacted with Greeny.


    They were each busy with their activities.


    Three dayster, Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er came to collect the items. When they opened the boxes and saw the exquisite things inside, they were overjoyed. ¡°Everything is so beautifully crafted; we can¡¯t bear to sell them.¡± ¡°Nanny Jin, you have a broad knowledge of the market. Please set the prices.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to set them high, but can our small town afford it?¡± ¡°Good things should not be sold cheaply. Use your discretion..¡±

 Chapter 253 - 253: The Opening of the Lucky Embroidery Manor

    Chapter 253: The Opening of the Lucky Embroidery Manor


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Nanny Jin thought of the saying, ¡°Good wine needs no bush,¡± and knew what to do. High-quality items can be sold even in remote corners.


    Seeing that she had understood, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say more.


    The teacher and apprentice brought the boxes into the shop and began setting up. Since the items were valuable, they had three maids from home stay overnight at the shop to keep an eye on them.


    They didn¡¯t have to do much; they simply slept in the shop. Nanny Jin was fair to them, and they received wages for their service.


    The maids were pleased; they earned a wage at the Qiao residence and now here as well. It added up to a decent sum.


    On May 26th, Lucky Embroidery Manor officially opened.


    They had been nning for this, and many people in the area had heard about it. They believed it was a shame that the previous embroidery shop was sold, but to their surprise, someone took over and opened another one, which raised their expectations.


    Lu Sanniang focused on taking care of herself during her pregnancy, but upon hearing that the shop had been bought and reopened, she went to take a look.


    To her surprise, she found Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er inside.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Aunt Lu, you¡¯vee. Please, take a seat.¡±


    Yue Hong and Yue Xia quickly brought chairs for her. ¡°Did your mother buy this for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my mother thought it was a pity the shop was closed. Many people in the neighborhood were depending on it. Since I¡¯vee of age at eight, she allowed me and Nanny Jin to try running it.¡±


    ¡°Your mother is generous.¡±


    ¡°My mother is great to me.¡±


    Lu Sanniang looked at the shop filled with high-quality goods and felt a bit envious. She could have done this in the past, but her shyness held her back from asking Qiao Mai.


    ¡°You two have set up the shop nicely.¡±


    ¡°My mother helped us design it. It¡¯s well-lit everywhere, and these embroidered items make the shop even more appealing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    At that moment, Nanny Jin saw it was time for the firecrackers. ¡°Yue Hong, Yue Xia, set off the firecrackers.¡¯


    Madam Lu quickly went inside; the noise from the firecrackers was not good for her baby.


    After a series of firecrackers, people starteding in. Yue Hong and Yue Xia were concerned.


    Some women appeared well-dressed but had nimble hands. When they saw something they liked, they wanted to im it as their own. They took the opportunity when no one was looking to slip the items into their bosom.


    They acted like they were introducing the items to the customers, but they were keeping a close watch.


    Nanny Jin felt that Yue Hong and Yue Xia alone wouldn¡¯t be enough. When they had some free time, she nned to visit a nearby pawnshop and hire a couple of maids to help them.


    She was more farsighted than Lu Sanniang and knew that to run an embroidery shop, they needed assistance.


    The local vigers, however, couldn¡¯t provide much financial support.


    The mistress gave them such great items to help the embroidery shop gain fame, and she didn¡¯t want to disappoint Qiao Mai.


    At that moment, Mayor Qian was worried about Lu Sanniang, so he sent a gift to the shop upon hearing that Qiao Mai had purchased it.


    Other shop owners followed suit.


    Nanny Jin didn¡¯t want the trouble and asked Yue Hong to go back and seek Qiao Mai¡¯s guidance.


    ¡°Mistress, every household in town sent gifts after they heard that the shop belongs to our family.¡±


    ¡°Just let Nanny Jin handle it. They are all familiar people. If she wants to hold a banquet at Jingtai Restaurant, go ahead. If not, give them a discount.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yue Hong quickly ran back to inform Nanny Jin. Nanny Jin then made reservations for ten tables at Jingtai Restaurant and settled the gifts. She invited them to have lunch at the restaurant.


    Mayor Qian apanied Lu Sanniang and bought two pce fans and a screen from the shop to support Ling¡¯er.


    The prices set by Nanny Jin were reasonable, and Lu Sanniang realized she had received a good deal.


    She was pretty envious of Nanny Jin; she was about the same age and chose not to marry. Yet, she found such a good family to take her in. She was fortunate.


    She left with the items. Other shop owners also entered the shop, buying one or two things each.


    It¡¯s not that they were unwilling to spend money; the goods were just too exquisite for a small town¡¯s businesses to afford.


    People bought handkerchiefs and ornaments, ensuring they didn¡¯t leave empty-handed. They wanted to show respect for Madam Qiao and Lord Yuan.


    On the first day of the shop¡¯s opening, they made quite a lot of silver. Ling¡¯er counted the money with a smug smile. Nanny red at her. ¡°Is this enough for you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better than earning nothing.¡±


    ¡°You should know we¡¯re selling everything at a friendly price. We¡¯re not making much profit. I¡¯m sure your mother¡¯s purchase prices are not low. We¡¯re not sure if we¡¯re even breaking even.¡±


    ¡°When I get more supplies from Mother, I¡¯ll inquire about the purchase prices.


    We shouldn¡¯t ride on her coattails too much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand.¡±


    From the second day, there was a continuous influx of unfamiliar people into the shop.


    Some were locals, while others were experienced merchants. Such shops were rare in the capital, and the products inside were exquisite. It was a sure way to make money if they bought these items and sold them in the capital.


    As a result, the embroidery pieces and clothing in the shop were visibly disappearing as they were purchased.


    Ling¡¯er would visit Qiao Mai every few days to ask for more supplies. The first time, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t charge them purchase prices, considering it as support. The second time, she provided them with the purchase prices.


    Each time Ling¡¯er came to get supplies, she had to settle the previous bill.


    Some women from nearby viges also starteding to receive orders. However, Nanny Jin raised her standards and didn¡¯t allow them to use the old patterns.


    They had to trace the new ones she provided.


    She also increased the deposit and required the use of provided fabric. If the work didn¡¯t meet the requirements, the deposit would be deducted.


    Hence, not many could meet the standards. Nanny Jin was strict, demanding that their skills improve. No one could afford to wait for them.


    Nanny Jin¡¯s demands were strict, but the prices she offered were high, making many idle women eager to participate.


    As a result, women from all over the town became active.


    Nanny Jin¡¯s needlework skills were excellent, seeing that she was Ling¡¯er¡¯s teacher. She was willing to teach those interested during her free time.


    It was fortunate that the weather was still warm. They set up a shade in front of the shop. Some women would bring their work to the shop and ask for


    Nanny Jin¡¯s guidance.


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s needlework sses were also conducted at the shop.


    She worked alongside the women, feeling that time passed quickly.


    The shop was flourishing. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t have to get directly involved because Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er managed it all on their own.


    In a month, business was thriving.


    Even the rainy season didn¡¯t deter thedies and young women from neighboring towns froming to Lucky Embroidery Manor.


    One day in July, a carriage stopped in front of the shop.


    Nanny Jin was teaching Ling¡¯er how to write when she saw the carriage. She squinted her eyes.


    The carriage and the coachman were of high quality, and although there were no bodyguards, Nanny Jin knew not to mess with the people inside. They were either wealthy or noble.


    As expected, an old maid got off the carriage first, followed by two maids, and finally, a well-dressed youngdy.


    The youngdy was beautiful. Every gesture of hers exuded the refinement of ady from a prominent family.


    When she stepped off the carriage, her maids ced cushions on the ground to ensure her embroidered shoes didn¡¯t get dirty.


    Ling¡¯er also noticed. Nanny Jin instructed her to continue practicing writing as she weed the guests at the door.


    ¡°Miss, pleasee in. You seem like you¡¯re not from around here, are you?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re from the capital. We heard of Lucky Embroidery Manor¡¯s reputation and came to see for ourselves.


    The youngdy entered the shop and started browsing. Her expression showed that she liked the items very much..

 Chapter 254 - 254: They’re All Cowards

    Chapter 254 - 254: They¡¯re All Cowards


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Did the horse-faced skirt originate from your shop?¡± ¡°More or less,¡± Nanny Jin replied confidently.


    ¡°Do you have those shiny hair essories?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jin Mama understood. ¡°You¡¯re from the capital, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I have rtives in the capital. I¡¯m staying there temporarily.¡± ¡°A few years ago, our family stopped selling those.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a pity. I was thinking of buying a couple of pieces to take back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    The elegantly dresseddy walked over to Yue Hong, who was busy with her embroidery, and reached for the embroidery thread beside her.


    ¡°Your embroidery thread is unique, with bright colors and a variety of types.¡±


    ¡°We get these from our supplier.¡±


    ¡°From overseas?¡±


    ¡°It seems so.¡±


    Nanny Jin noticed her inquisitiveness. She realized this visitor had a specific purpose ining to their shop.


    ¡°Can I meet your mistress?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something we can decide. I¡¯ll have to ask.¡±


    ¡°In that case, send someone to inquire. I¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    The elegantly dresseddy calmly sat down, with her maid standing respectfully behind her, fanning her with a fan.


    Helpless, Nanny Jin signaled Yue Xia and hurried back to Lucky Garden. ¡°Mistress, there¡¯s a beautiful and nobledy in the shop who wants to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t see her.¡±


    Qiao Mai rejected without even looking up. Yue Xia opened her mouth but closed it, about to turn away.


    ¡°Ask her toe to the house.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Yue Xia couldn¡¯t quite describe the impression she got from the elegantly dresseddy. It left her feeling somewhat uneasy, but she believed that such people were the ones the Mistress should handle.


    When thedy heard that the Mistress wanted to see her at her house, she left the embroidery shop, returned to her carriage, and arrived at Lucky Garden¡¯s gate.


    With the main gate open, she and her entourage entered thepound. They were impressed by the clean and elegant mansion. The elegantly dresseddy nodded in satisfaction.


    The maid led them into the living room and served tea before leaving.


    It took a while, but Qiao Mai finally came from the backyard. When she saw thedy in the elegant dress, she didn¡¯t show any surprise.


    ¡°What business do you have with me?¡±


    The elegantly dresseddy smiled and introduced herself, ¡°My name is Mu


    Xuehua. I¡¯m a noblewoman from the capital.¡¯


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of you. Just tell me why you¡¯re looking for me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard your name for a long time and wanted to make your acquaintance.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m busy and don¡¯t have time for making friends, nor do I intend to make friends with anyone.¡±


    The elegantly dresseddy examined her, ¡°Your skin is quite good. Do you use skincare products from overseas?¡±


    Qiao Mai remained silent, looking at her until the elegantly dresseddy stopped her inquiries.


    ¡°Miss Mu, please get to the point.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to stay at your ce and be friends with you.¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up. ¡°Servant, get these madwomen out of here!¡±


    Just at that moment, the maid who had followed the elegantly dresseddy burst in and shouted, ¡°How dare you throw out our county princess, you impudent servant!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked coldly at the maid, treating her as if she were already dead.


    ¡°I dare to throw out a princess, let alone a county princess. Out!¡±


    Several servants rushed in to remove them, but the man who had driven the carriage quickly jumped, flew into the yard, and shielded them.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes finally showed a glint of interest. ¡°Your coachman is quite skilled to have such a high level of martial arts.¡±


    The elegantly dresseddy smiled wryly. ¡°Sister Qiao, I didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± ¡°Friendship should be mutual. I¡¯m not interested in making friends with you.


    You can leave. However, since he dared to fly into my yard, there must be a small punishment.¡±


    She then delivered a light palm strike, and the confident coachman, taken aback by her skills, couldn¡¯t react in time.


    The palm strike hit his chest, sending him flying backward. Hended on the ground and struggled to get up, coughing up a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Next time, if you don¡¯t enter through the main gate, I¡¯ll take your life!¡±


    Thedy had no choice but to bear this. She had genuinely intended to befriend Qiao Mai, but it seemed her approach was wrong. Just as she was considering how to turn this situation around, Old Mistress Wang hurried over.


    Seeing Miss Mu, she was immediately astonished.


    ¡°IS rms tne DUKe¡¯S aaugnter, county princess Ivnngnuaf¡±


    She felt as though she had seen a savior and immediately rushed to the olddy.


    ¡°Lady Pang, it¡¯s me, Minghua. Greetings.¡± ¡°Too many formalities. How is your grandmother¡¯s health?¡±


    ¡°Thanks to your blessings, she is well.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes and flicked her sleeve. ¡°Grandmother, I have matters to attend to in the backyard. She knows you, so it¡¯s up to you to entertain her.


    Staying in my house is impossible. Hmph.¡±


    With that, she walked away, leaving the embarrassed olddy behind. It seemed that her presence had put Qiao Mai in a difficult position.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about Madam Qiao¡¯s reputation, the Lucky Embroidery Manor, and the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, so I came to look.¡±


    ¡°I meant, how did you get here from the capital?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been stationed at the northern gate for a while as my father led the troops during the recent battle. After the victory, I came to pick him up.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang seemed pleased, ¡°So your father led the troops in this battle?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Who else would do so? They¡¯re all cowards.¡±


    ¡°Is your father okay?¡±


    ¡°He got injured, but it¡¯s not serious. He¡¯ll return to the capital after a few more days of rest.¡±


    ¡°You came to make friends with Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but she¡¯s not interested.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push her. Everything is a matter of fate.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Lady Pang. I never thought I¡¯d meet you here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good child.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was fond of Minghua. Despite her status as a nobledy, she had no airs, which was regrettable. If they had met earlier, they wouldn¡¯t have had this unpleasant confrontation.


    ¡°Since Sister Qiao doesn¡¯t wee me, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    ¡°Shall I have her send you some special products from our home?¡±


    ¡°That would be great.¡±


    The olddy arranged for her to receive a carriage full of fine products.


    Feeling somewhat puzzled, she found her way to the backyard. ¡°Is it because of


    Jiaru¡¯s situation that you refuse to make friends?¡±


    Qiao Mai shook her head. ¡°Grandmother, what are you thinking? A stranger suddenly tells you, ¡®I want to live at your house, and I want to be friends with you,¡¯ and I should ept? Do I look that foolish?¡±


    Hearing this, Old Mistress Wang couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    ¡°County Princess Minghua is indeed a good child. Despite her high status, she doesn¡¯t act pretentious and is straightforward.¡±


    ¡°Jiaru was the same back then.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s different. She was spoiled by us while Ming Hua wasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°However you put it, I don¡¯t want to make friends anymore. I have many things to handle at home, not to mention the mess Yuan Jiaqi created for me. I can¡¯t afford to befriend her.¡±


    ¡°Is the workshop in County She under construction?¡±


    ¡°Yes. When the workshop opens, I¡¯ll visit regrly and select some trustworthy people to manage it.¡±


    ¡°Understood. You can keep busy. If that girles back, don¡¯t drive her away like that.¡±


    ¡°She shouldn¡¯t act so foolishly. If she were smart and approached my daughter to befriend her, I wouldn¡¯t object.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡­¡±


    And that was the end of this episode. That evening, when Nanny Jin had free time, she sought out Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Many people have been asking if we sell our embroidery thread.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t sell it. We only provide work for our subcontractors. If anyone dares to cheat us by switching the embroidery thread, we won¡¯t give them work anymore.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡±


    ¡°In the Ming Dynasty, tea, salt, fabric, and even thread were monopolized by major merchants. If we were to sell our thread, it would be like taking a piece of meat from someone else¡¯s te. Although I¡¯m not afraid of them, I don¡¯t want to deal with the trouble. There¡¯s never enough money to earn. Living peacefully is the main thing.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I underestimated the situation.¡±


    ¡°That shop is just for Ling¡¯er to practice. You can y with it, but we¡¯re not looking for trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress..¡±

 Chapter 255 - 255: Not Even a Single Sign

    Chapter 255 - 255: Not Even a Single Sign


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After listening to Qiao Mai¡¯s words, Nanny Jin couldn¡¯t help but regard her as the mistress of the house.


    As the rainy season passed and September arrived with pleasant weather, Qiao Mai spent her days reading and asionally going for a walk.


    Most of the time, she sat in front of her family¡¯s store, observing the people of Tianshui Town and the passing merchants, listening to their conversations.


    She tilted her head and watched the business at Liu Hail s ce, but something felt amiss.


    Coincidentally, Liu Hai returned after making a food delivery and saw Qiao Mai waving at him. He quickly wiped his hands and hurried over. ¡°Cousin, is there something you need?¡±


    ¡°All those girls sitting at the school¡¯s entrance, who are they?¡±


    ¡°Oh, those girls? Hehe, they are youngdies interested in your two young schrs. Fifteen-year-old schrs are quite attractive. Many familiese to see them.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say they will not be engaged until they are eighteen?¡±


    ¡°They just want to get acquainted with the brothers. What if those brothers take an interest in them?¡±


    ¡°Such nonsense. Call my servants and have them chase those girls away. That¡¯s an academy, not a ce for romantic encounters.¡±


    Qiao Mai called a few of her employees from the store to go and remove the girls.


    However, while they were doing so, Qiao Mai noticed a familiar figure among the girls.


    Why is she here? At that moment, Miss Mu noticed her and awkwvardly smiled.


    She signaled Miss Mu toe over, and she obediently walked over, apanied by two maids, with her coachman not far behind.


    Upon seeing Qiao Mai, the coachman felt a sudden pain in his chest.


    ¡°You, a county princess, what are you doing with them? Why haven¡¯t you returned to the capital?¡±


    ¡°The capital is so boring. This ce is more interesting.¡±


    ¡°Are you pursuing my son because I won¡¯t befriend you?¡±


    ¡°Is that not allowed? I¡¯m just one year older than him. Is that not eptable?¡± ¡°Are you still a county princess?¡±


    ¡°Without a doubt, I have full authority over my marriage. I see your sons are both good. Can¡¯t I be your daughter-inw if I can¡¯t be your friend?¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. When did the Ming Dynasty be so open-minded?


    A county princess was pursuing a young schr.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I fell in love with this ce and your family. That¡¯s why I want to live here for a long time. This is the only way.¡±


    ¡°Fine, do as you wish as long as my son likes you. But don¡¯t mention your identity to them, or I¡¯ll send you back to the capital immediately.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Miss Mu sat across from her, and Qiao Mai ordered a ss of sour yogurt for her while giving her a scrutinizing look, like a mother-inw sizing up her future daughter-inw.


    ¡°Did you move here?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, nothing escapes your sharp eyes. I bought a piece ofnd here, and my house is under construction. However, I¡¯ve also rented a residence.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t oppose your pursuit of my son, but remember, they are twins. I won¡¯t tolerate any attempts toe between their brotherly rtionship.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a good woman.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t look like one. People say you have schemes, but they also say you¡¯re not that naive.¡±


    Even the maids and servants around Miss Mu remained silent, filled with respect for Qiao Mai, who had disyed her formidable qualities.


    Especially the man who served as both her coachman and protector. He bowed from a distance towards Qiao Mai, acknowledging her superiority.


    In the evening, Qiao Mai dined with her grandmother.


    ¡°Grandmother, do you remember the girl who visited our housest time?¡±


    ¡°Oh, what happened to her?¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t leave and decided to stay in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°What a stubborn girl.¡¯


    ¡°She said she wanted to be my daughter-inw.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang¡¯s mouth hung open in surprise. ¡°Is that even possible? Even if she¡¯s willing, the Duke¡¯s family won¡¯t agree.¡±


    Old Master Wang listened to the story and was puzzled. His wife quickly filled him in.


    ¡°Acting on impulse like that andpromising the reputation of the Duke¡¯s household. She even dared to confront Fengyun at the entrance. She doesn¡¯t behave like a county princess at all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She blends in with those girls. Luckily, I spotted her.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s really hard to say for the youngsters. If it were me, I would disagree. It¡¯s just too absurd. The Duke will certainly not be willing.¡±


    ¡°I think this girl is sincere. As long as she genuinely cares for my son, having a county princess as a daughter-inw wouldn¡¯t be bad. It¡¯s all up to her willingness. ¡±


    ¡°Just go along with their craziness then.¡±


    That night, Qiao Mai sat in her courtyard to enjoy the cool breeze. It had been a while since Yuan Jiaqi returned home.


    She sent someone to call the Fengyun brothers.


    Once they arrived, she served them tea.


    ¡°Please have a seat. Mother has something to discuss with you.¡±


    The two brothers sat politely in front of Qiao Mai. ¡°Please go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Lately, there have been many girls waiting for you near the academy, isn¡¯t that


    SO


    The brothers blushed. ¡°We¡¯ve been focusing on our studies and haven¡¯t paid them any attention.¡±


    ¡°Right. You are fifteen years old now. If you like someone, feel free to tell me, and we can make arrangements in advance.¡±


    ¡°No, Mother, we¡¯re still too young and not thinking about this.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Qiao Mai stared at their faces and sensed that the boys genuinely weren¡¯t interested in those girls.


    ¡°Mother will find someone to rece you as soon as possible. If you want to pass the imperial examinations, you must put in extra effort.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother, we¡¯ll work hard.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should go rest.¡±


    After sending them away, Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow and used her spiritual awareness on Feng¡¯er. In no time, there was some movement.


    ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you tell Mother about your rtionship with Miss Mu?¡±


    ¡°Everything is still in the early stages. What¡¯s the point of discussing it now? If she cares for me, she¡¯ll wait. Besides, it¡¯s not time for engagement yet. It¡¯s too early. ¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s older than you. You can¡¯t keep her waiting forever.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see after the imperial examination. We can¡¯tpete with her social status. Did you see how she dressed? She¡¯s obviously from a wealthy family. I¡¯m just a poor schr. I have no right or qualifications to pursue such a woman.¡±


    Qiao Mai realized that Miss Mu had already set her sights on her elder son, acting quickly.


    Since they¡¯re not in a hurry, there¡¯s no need for her to be in a rush either. However, should she start preparing the betrothal gifts?


    Thinking about her three sons, Qiao Mai felt a mix of headache and anxiety. While it was a happy asion, it also brought her worries. Once her three daughters-inw entered the family, dealing with the betrothal gifts would be a challenging task.


    For a woman from amoner¡¯s family, it was manageable, but for someone like Miss Mu, her betrothal gift could potentially bankrupt the family.


    It was essential to start preparing early. She sighed.


    In the blink of an eye, it was October, with clear autumn skies. Yuan Jiaqi had returned home from County She.


    ¡°Mydy, the weather is pleasant. How about we stay in County She for a few days?¡±


    ¡°Has the workshop beenpleted?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you guessed right.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry. Building it a year in advance means it will remain unused.¡±


    ¡°We can use it as a warehouse first. Next year, we can start tapping the pine trees. ¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll have to wait until the year after next to harvest pine resin.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I will tap the pine trees first. We¡¯ve invested so much silver in it, and it¡¯s time to start getting returns.¡±


    ¡°Is it too early? I want to think about how to best use the pine oil from all those forests.


    When Yuan Jiaqi returned home, he felt incrediblyfortable, as everything went his way. No wonder his wife didn¡¯t want to leave home. If he didn¡¯t want to leave, it was even more reason for her to stay.


    To check on the workshop, Qiao Mai apanied him to County She.


    The workshop was located just outside the county, on a small piece of wastnd Yuan Jiaqi had put to good use.


    All thend contracts were in Qiao Mai¡¯s name. Although it bothered her slightly, Yuan Jiaqi was an official now and couldn¡¯t have anymercial transactions in his name. So she bore this responsibility..

 Chapter 256 - 256: Karma Sooner or Later

    Chapter 256 - 256: Karma Sooner or Later


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On fifty acres ofnd, he built ten workshops, five warehouses, and some residential houses inside.


    ¡°Wife, all of these were built ording to the blueprints you provided. I took the liberty to build a row of houses at the back for the workers to stay.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s inconvenient for your county with peoplemuting daily.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they get only three days off per month.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, we should start training the resin harvesters.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s my n too. Starting work early will help the workers earn their wages sooner.¡±


    The two then rode their horses around the outskirts, inspecting the forested area and checking the first batch of nted trees.


    ¡°Give it another year, and we should be able to collect pine resin.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I hope we won¡¯t incur any losses.¡±


    Qiao Mai shook her head. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t. Thend in your county has been barren for many years. Now that it¡¯s turned into a forest, the imperial court should have a say. It can¡¯t be ssified as arablend, and you won¡¯t have to pay grain taxes. How much grain would we owe the court each year?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yuan Jiaqi felt somewhat embarrassed. He had impulsively bought several thousand acres ofnd, and if they had to pay grain taxes, it would be a huge problem.


    Even if they n to buy grain for supplementation, where can they get so much grain all at once?


    ¡°Let me draft a memorial to the emperor, seeking his approval.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you should seek approval. Otherwise, I won¡¯t manage this.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi regretted his impulsive actions, only focused on changing County She, and hadn¡¯t considered this aspect.


    Qiao Mai had researched online and found that a mature pine tree could yield about one pound of resin per month. Pine resin from this region wasn¡¯t in high demand, and setting a price was tough.


    A ten-year-old pine tree produced around two hundred pounds of pine nuts yearly.


    Looking just at the pine nuts, each tree could generate a profit of twenty taels of silver.


    One acre could amodate twenty pine trees, which was four hundred taels of silver. If they only sold the pine nuts, they could still maintain these thousands of acres of pine trees.


    The key would be selling the productster on. Rare items were precious. With tens of thousands of acres of pine trees, they would be cheap goods if they couldn¡¯t sell the products well.


    They needed to n carefully. Qiao Mai looked at the pine forest with some worry. She had only stayed in County She for two days before returning to Tian Shui town.


    Riding Dong Zao, she passed by the entrance of Embroidery Manor and saw Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia standing side by side, staring at someone.


    It turned out that after the Tian family knew Ling¡¯er had opened the Lucky Embroidery Manor, they woulde to tempt her from time to time.


    Ling¡¯er still had some feelings of kinship with the Tian family. However, seeing them repeatedly harass her, she gradually became annoyed.


    When they came, she didn¡¯t even acknowledge them, heading directly inside.


    The Tian family stood at the entrance and yed the victim. When Nanny Jin sent someone to report to the officials, they would run, bing cunning.


    Upon seeing this scene, Qiao Mai immediately wrote a letter and had someone send it to County Governor Zhu.


    When County Governor Zhu opened the letter, his brow furrowed.


    Since taking office, he had thoroughly investigated all the wealthy families within County Yi.


    Ling¡¯er was adopted, yet the Tian family repeatedly harassed her, seriously affecting her life.


    He didn¡¯t go to find Tian Sanzhuang because Tian Sanzhuang wasn¡¯t worthy of a personal visit.


    He only found his father-inw, who was the County Deputy Governor. His position was only a little lower than County Governor Zhu. However, County Governor Zhu¡¯s status made people wary, so the deputy had to listen.


    ¡°I say, Old Zhou.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal with your son-inw?


    ¡°He¡¯s been resting at home recently.¡±


    ¡°Is resting this restless? The Tian family keeps bothering the girl who looks like him. Don¡¯t me me for not reminding you; the Qiao family is a major figure in our county. They offer help to people every year. Do you want your son-inw to harrass them? If anything happens, your career will be over. Madam Qiao¡¯s man is a fifth-rank county governor. He could be transferred to the imperial capital at any time.¡±


    Deputy Governor Zhou was drenched in cold sweat. ¡°Please rest assured, Sir. I¡¯ll handle this matter properly.¡±


    The next day, Deputy Governor Zhou immediately prepared a carriage and went to Peach Blossom Vige. The Tian family thought their inw hade to help them. However, as soon as they met, they were scolded mercilessly.


    ¡°Tian Sanzhuang, I warn your family; if you ever think about bothering Miss Ling¡¯er again, you¡¯ll bear the consequences. If something happens in the future, I¡¯ll bring my daughter and grandson back home. Your family can go work the fields or whatever you want.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang was infuriated but had to force a smile. ¡°Father-inw, have they gone toin to the county?¡±


    ¡°Humph, County Governor Zhu is friends with the Qiao family. They don¡¯t need to file aint. With just a letter, they could deal with you. Do you know how much you weigh?¡±


    ¡°Father-inw, don¡¯t be angry. I won¡¯t let them go there anymore.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t me me for not warning you. With the Qiao family¡¯s influence today and the protection from County Governor Zhu, I¡¯m afraid your family will disappear silently. Hmph, you¡¯ll have no peace, always wanting to get rich.


    Some day, you might encounter retribution.¡±


    With these words, Deputy Governor Zhou left. He took his daughter and grandson back to the county town.


    Filled with anger, Tian Sanzhuang banged on the brick bed, showing his resentment. On the same evening, he broke one of his legs, and Old Tian had one of his arms broken. Madam Tian was hung up at the entrance to their house.


    At this point, the Tian family finally felt fear. Unless someone died, their insatiable greed couldn¡¯t be tamed.


    After their injuries had healed, they didn¡¯t live quietly but continued to scheme against Ling¡¯er. Qiao Mai would not let them off the hook.


    With the father and the son injured, they couldn¡¯t handle Madam Tian¡¯s funeral, so they had to ask the vige chief and their sons for help.


    Hearing about these incidents, Deputy Governor Zhou was furious. He brought his officials and returned to investigate, but they couldn¡¯t find concrete evidence. Although they knew that the Qiao family was likely involved, they couldn¡¯t find any proof.


    They had just left Peach Blossom Vige but had to return the following day to investigate the case. His daughter also had to return to observe the mourning period for her mother-inw. Deputy Governor Zhou wished he could kick Tian Sanzhuang a few times.


    The day before, he had inquired about the Qiao family and discovered they were not to be trifled with. It wasn¡¯t just because Yuan Jiaqi was a fifth-ranking officer.


    Lucky Garden was also home to two bigwigs: one was a retired Grand Minister, and the other was a first-ss decree¡¯s noblewoman appointed by the Emperor himself.


    With such prominent figures overseeing things, who would dare to provoke them?


    Unfortunately, his son-inw was driven by greed, desiring to share in the Qiao family¡¯s prosperity. To make matters worse, the magistrate of Wei City was staunchly protecting the Qiao family¡¯s interests.


    Hearing this news, Deputy Governor Zhou was so upset that he bit his lips until they bled.


    He wanted his daughter toe home after the Tian family¡¯s funeral and separate from her husband to avoid future trouble. He was genuinely concerned that, due to Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s recklessness, his position as deputy governor would be at risk.


    The murderer who killed the body¡¯s host, Madam Tian, was dead. Her death had struck fear into the hearts of Peach Blossom Vige residents.


    They had all watched how the Tian family mistreated Qiao Mai and had remained indifferent, not helping her when she needed it.


    Now, with Madam Tian dead, some residents believed Qiao Mai was responsible. As a result, they began having nightmares.


    In the beginning, humans are inherently good. As long as you carry a bit of kindness in your heart, you should never stand idly by and watch someone starve or be bullied to death without saying a word. It¡¯s difficult to exin, but some people say that giving is a matter of emotional bonds, and not giving is a matter of one¡¯s responsibility. Why obsess over it?


    If one day, you¡¯re starving or being mistreated, and someone stands there apathetically, please don¡¯t call them heartless. Also, please don¡¯t hold grudges against others because, as you¡¯ve said, no one will be there to support you.


    As the weather turned colder, the vigers prepared for winter.


    They had a stroke of luck this year. They had cleared the forest, providing an abundance of firewood by collecting branches to burn during the winter..

 Chapter 257 - 257: Can’t Be Impatient

    Chapter 257 - 257: Can¡¯t Be Impatient


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the past, firewood was in short supply during the winter, and only wealthy households could afford to make charcoal fires.


    Now, it¡¯s better;moners don¡¯t have to spend money to obtain firewood from the forest. In their free time, families gather at the forest entrance, waiting.


    Those responsible for managing the forest throw a lot of pine branches outside daily.


    Now, the people have realized the benefits of nting trees and remembered Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s words.


    ¡°nt trees; they won¡¯t take much space on your property. If you nt a few trees in front of your house, you¡¯ll have firewood for the winter. When building a house, you¡¯ll have timber and wood for the boat.¡±


    Some smart vige chiefs started nting trees with their vigers back when Yuan Jiaqi brought saplings.


    Today, several viges in the County She has nted pine trees from the saplings provided by Yuan Jiaqi.


    He said, ¡°Don¡¯t just focus on the present. Right now, it¡¯s just a sapling. Once it matures, it will bring prosperity.¡±


    If you don¡¯t nt trees and continue to wait, you¡¯ll remain impoverished for life. Some people took action and nted trees, while others are still observing.


    Yuan Jiaqi had been nting trees for three years. Some people followed his example, while others just watched for three years.


    Leaving aside everything else, just this year¡¯s firewood stock shows the significance of trees in County She.


    Yuan Jiaqi adopted Qiao Mai¡¯s slogan and dered to all the people of County She.


    ¡°If you want to be prosperous, start by nting trees.¡±


    Having spent so much silver, it¡¯s time to see some results. When winter¡¯s first chill arrived, Qiao Mai went to take a look.


    The field had improved considerablypared to the barrennd it once was.


    County Governor Zhu also took a trip to inspect it and suggested that County Yi could learn from She County in nting trees with Madam Qiao¡¯s assistance.


    However, there was no movement from her side. He could only wait until the New Year to contact Qiao Mai and see if she could provide some tree saplings to support his work.


    Being an official, he needs to have some achievements, whether it¡¯s for the people or himself.


    Seeing that Yuan Jiaqi had achieved so much in just three years in office,


    County Governor Zhu couldn¡¯t stand aside. He had to get some of the glory!


    Miss Mu returned to the imperial capital as soon as December began. Before leaving, she bought out all the snacks from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and everything from the Lucky Embroidery Manor, leaving contentedly.


    The moment she left, Qiao Mai noticed that Yunfeng¡¯s spirits dimmed.


    This troublesome girl who lit the fire and ran away really vexed her.


    People in love, especially Yunfeng, a passionate young man, couldn¡¯tpete with Miss Mu, a year older.


    Watching her son bing visibly thinner, Qiao Mai wished she could fly to the imperial capital immediately and bring Miss Mu back.


    When the two brothers were studying together at night, Fengyun tried to advise him.


    ¡°Brother, what are you doing? She¡¯s just gone back to celebrate New Year with her family. She¡¯s not gone forever. Look at how you¡¯ve changed in her absence.¡± ¡°I just miss her.¡±


    ¡°Good men aspire to great things, but you¡¯re acting like you can¡¯t live without her. You¡¯re too attached.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t control myself. She¡¯s too outstanding. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not worthy of her.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re Mother¡¯s children. How can you say you¡¯re not worthy? Our father ranked fourth in the imperial examination, our mother is excellent in civil and military affairs, and our grandma holds the title of first-decree nobledy. They are all well-regarded figures.¡±


    ¡°Her family is in the imperial capital, and their social status is high. I heard they are noble. A family like ours wouldn¡¯t even be noticed.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying you want to marry into a better family?¡±


    Fengyun began to get anxious. Yunfeng quickly waved his hand. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean that. I¡¯m just afraid her family won¡¯t approve of us. Our marriage hasn¡¯t even been proposed yet.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something for the future. We¡¯re still young. Why are you thinking so far ahead? Our most important focus right now should be studying diligently. After the New Year, achieve good grades so the Mu family sees your excellence. Worrying constantly will only disappoint Mother.¡±


    Yunfeng suddenly buried his head and started crying. ¡°I know, but I can¡¯t control missing her.¡±


    Yunfeng sighed, ¡°Missing her won¡¯t solve the problem. If you can¡¯t even be a Rmended Schr next year, you won¡¯t even think about missing her. It might be over before you know it.¡±


    ¡°Brother, calm down and study hard. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to keep anything in the end. Only when you excel will you have a chance with her.¡±


    At that moment, Qiao Mai, who had been listening to their conversation, sighed.


    She nced at Yuan Jiaqi, who was studying with his head down, and asked,


    ¡°Husband?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my wife. What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever been in love?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi raised his head and thought seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve loved you and no one else.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever had a broken heart?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Should I dump you and let you taste that feeling?¡±


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯re the water, and I¡¯m the fish. I can¡¯t survive without you. Please don¡¯t tease your husband like this. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Our eldest son might be in love. The girl¡¯s family has a high status. We might be climbing up a bit.¡± ¡°From the imperial capital?¡± ¡°Whose family is the girl from?¡± ¡°From the Duke of Zhenguo.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    At this point, Yuan Jiaqi had also stopped reading. ¡°The Duke of Zhenguo?


    That¡¯s quite a prestigious family. We might not be able topete.¡±


    ¡°As long as Feng¡¯er doesn¡¯t disappoint me, even if she¡¯s the moon in the sky, we will marry her. The key is that he¡¯s depressed, and it¡¯s difficult for him to muster any enthusiasm. As soon as she left, he fell ill with lovesickness.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll check on him.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was gone for a while and returned when it was prettyte.


    ¡°Wife, it¡¯s settled!¡±


    ¡°I exined the pros and cons to him. If he studies hard, he still has a chance, but if he doesn¡¯t, there¡¯s no opportunity between them. It all depends on his choices.¡±


    ¡°Is that it?¡±


    ¡°Well, if he wants to be with her, he must make an effort. No one can help him. Feng¡¯er also expressed his determination. By the way, speaking of this, I¡¯d like to set up a school in County She, offering it for free. How does that sound?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I have a lot of money?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    ¡°The timbend hasn¡¯t generated any ie yet, and you¡¯re already thinking about this. If you have money, do it yourself. I¡¯m out of money.¡±


    ¡°Then we can wait until the timbend starts generating ie. County She is too poor. The children are idle at home.¡±


    ¡°You said you wanted to repay me and it would be better once you were in office. Now that you are, I spend more money than before.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi lowered his head apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wife. It¡¯s my fault. I was too eager for quick sess.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, in the past few years, the Wang family used to send us ten thousand taels of silver annually. But I won¡¯t use it this year, so don¡¯t think about this anymore.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nervously ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°I understand, wife. We¡¯ll wait until the timbend generates ie.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t rush things. I see you¡¯re so eager to use the national treasury to fill the hole in County She.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my wife is right. I was indeed impatient.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stayed home for two days and then returned to County She. Yunfeng¡¯s condition had improved significantly, showing that the counseling had been effective.


    Qiao Mai felt it was necessary to visit the imperial capital. So, on the same evening that Yuan Jiaqi left, she went alone.


    Previously, it would take her two hours to travel from Tianshui Town to the imperial capital. However, due to her increased cultivation, it took only an hour that night.


    Qiao Mai went straight to the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s mansion.


    She wanted to see how the girl treated Yunfeng and whether the Duke¡¯s family was aware of the situation.


    As it turned out, she stumbled upon a scene.


    ¡°Princess, you should rest.¡±


    Miss Mu sat by the window, gazing at the moon in the sky.


    ¡°I wonder how Yunfeng is doing.¡±


    ¡°Princess, he just turned sixteen after the New Year. If you privately promise to marry him now, the Duke will be furious once he finds out.¡±


    ¡°As long as we don¡¯t tell anyone, who will know?¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes; she knew the Duke¡¯s family was unaware of it. This girl had quite the audacity..

 Chapter 258 - 258: Which Family Has This Type of Daughter?

    Chapter 258 - 258: Which Family Has This Type of Daughter?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Miss Mu sighed, ¡°I think he¡¯s quite good. We should set it in motion. Can¡¯t you see how many girls are interested in him?¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re a princess. How can anyonepare to you? If he chose one of thosedies in bad taste, wouldn¡¯t you be wrong to choose him?¡± ¡°Feng¡¯er should give up studying and focus on martial skills.¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯re not at war anymore.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not fighting in the north, but there are still battles in the east, south, and west. Gold always shines. You saw that. With a wave of my future mother-inw¡¯s hand, it could block thousands and break the defense.


    ¡°Hmm, thatdy from the Qiao family is enigmatic.¡±


    Miss Mu grinned with pride, ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s not just about that; it¡¯s also about her


    family¡¯s food and the exotic goods from the embroidery workshop. I won¡¯t


    marry anyone other than Yunfeng.¡±


    Qiao Mai made a disapproving face. She was a princess, yet she had put herself in this situation for food and clothing. She found it amusing.


    ¡°Princess, you should think twice. Our side won¡¯t approve of this marriage.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll cross that bridge when wee to it. Once I decide on a man, even the emperor won¡¯t question it. Unless my parents don¡¯t care about me.¡±


    Despite the advice from her close attendants and nanny, Princess Mu was determined. It seemed she was dead set on her decision.


    ¡°You¡¯d better keep this secret tightly. I have a private arrangement with him. He¡¯s still young and needs to follow the path of the imperial examination. In any case, I returned to pave the way for him. I want him to achieve great sess at a young age. Only then will my family look at him differently.¡± ¡°Sigh, it sounds great. I hope everything goes your way.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow and went to another part of the mansion. She happened to overhear the Duke of Zhenguo and his wife discussing their daughter¡¯s matters.


    ¡°You¡¯ve pampered her too much. She¡¯s already at marriageable age, and matchmakers are almost knocking down our door, yet she refuses to agree to any of them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she¡¯s already found someone she likes.¡±


    ¡°Who? Who has she set her eyes on? It¡¯d be great if she had found someone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to let her choose her husband. Even the emperor won¡¯t interfere.


    We shouldn¡¯t meddle either.¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t interfere, she¡¯ll end up an old maid. Who will she marry? All the good ones will be taken by then.¡±


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t force her into something she doesn¡¯t want.¡±


    Qiao Mai listened and smirked. One side wanted a private arrangement, and the other was eager to arrange a marriage for her. Let¡¯s see how this girl would handle it.


    She took on the responsibility herself. If it weren¡¯t for her, Qiao Mai¡¯s son wouldn¡¯t have fallen lovesick at such a young age.


    That night, she slept in her space and didn¡¯t go anywhere. She only emerged when it was morning.


    The Duke of Zhenguo was one of the pirs of the Ming Dynasty. In his old age, he was resting on his countryside estate. His wife stayed with him.


    Princess Mu had three older brothers and two younger ones. Her two eldest brothers died on the battlefield, leaving only one brother and two younger ones, all talented in civil and military matters.


    The current Duke of Zhenguo was in his forties. His wife, despite her middle age, must have been beautiful in her youth, considering the stunning appearance of their daughter.


    Qiao Mai watched the family having a meal in the dining room. Their manners and conversation revealed their breeding.


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re not young anymore. We should set a date for your marriage.¡±


    ¡°No, let¡¯s wait a couple more years.¡± ¡°In a couple of years, you¡¯ll be eighteen and be an old maid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There will be suitors.¡±


    A single sentence caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°You already have someone in mind?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s still young. He¡¯s not ready for you all to know yet, so we¡¯ll wait for a couple more years.¡±


    ¡°What? Sister, are you dating a younger guy?¡±


    Qiao Mai almost burst intoughter. This family was quite amusing. The Duchess had a gloomy expression. ¡°Tell me more about this young man.¡±


    ¡°Well, I can only provide a general description. His father is a fifth-rank official. As for him, he¡¯s sixteen years old this year, a schr, and he¡¯s expected to pass the examination this year. Don¡¯t be fooled by his young age; he¡¯s a talented individual in literary and martial arts. He excels in martial skills even more than his literary abilities.¡±


    ¡°And what does he look like?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a tall guy, around 1.8 meters, and exceptionally handsome.¡±


    ¡°Sister, are you attracted to his looks?¡±


    ¡°I like everything. Alright, you don¡¯t need to question me further. I won¡¯t reveal more. I agreed with him to discuss marriage two years from now.¡±


    ¡°Sister, does he know your identity?¡±


    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t.¡±


    The Duke and his wife exchanged nces, and both stayed silent. Breakfast passed in this manner.


    After breakfast, the Duke started using all his connections and tried to match his daughter with all the fifth-ranking officials¡¯ families in the Ming Dynasty.


    Several candidates matched Princess Mu¡¯s description, but after a thorough check, they were eliminated.


    Unexpectedly, the young man she was interested in was the son of a fifth-ranking county governor. Also, he was in a remote northern location.


    Qiao Mai sneaked into the kitchen and managed to grab a pot of well-cooked chicken. Shey back under a tree, enjoying her meal while observing this family¡¯sedic situation.


    This girl had outwitted even her parents. It seemed like the future mother-inw would need to be on her guard.


    However, the Duke and his wife had their ways. To find out who this young man was, they just needed to ask the people around her.


    After relentless probing, the Duke and his wife finally discovered the identity of the young man.


    They couldn¡¯t believe their ears. Their daughter had met this young man during a recent trip to the northern border.


    What was even more surprising was that their daughter had made the first


    move. She was doing it all for the sake of living in his house, enjoying his food, and wearing their embroidery.


    The Duke and his wife were fuming.


    How could their daughter sell herself for mere food and clothing? They angrily confronted her.


    ¡°Do weck food and drink in our family? Huh?¡±


    ¡°Mother, their food is top-notch. Once you taste it, you won¡¯t want to eat anything else. Besides, except for their lower social status, everything else is good in their family. I like them.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡­ you are driving us crazy!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true. Everything I said is true. Let¡¯s not talk about the Qiao family¡¯s mistress. Just consider County Governor Yuan. He¡¯s a top schr, the first-ce candidate in the recent imperial examinations. He has made significant contributions to the court during this campaign. Father, when you were stationed at the northern border, didn¡¯t you often praise him?¡±


    The Duke remained silent throughout the discussion. The Duchess saw her husband nearly convinced by their daughter¡¯s argument, so she poked him.


    ¡°But it¡¯s not eptable. You are the County Princess, and marrying into such a family would be an embarrassment for our family in the imperial capital.¡±


    ¡°Do we need others tough at us? Our family has been built through military achievements, not through political marriages. The Mu family does not engage in high-society politics. Our daughter will marry whomever she likes.¡± The Duke finally voiced his opinion, which left the Duchess almost fainting from exasperation.


    ¡°You two¡­ You really are father and daughter.¡±


    The Duke, being more thoughtful than the Duchess, led her back to the courtyard. When they sat down, the Duchess was still furious with him.


    ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t understand the Qiao family, my dear. I know them well.


    Let¡¯s not discuss how the Qiao family rose to power. Instead, consider Madam


    Qiao herself, who is a remarkable person.¡±


    ¡°Humph, you¡¯re taking your daughter¡¯s side. Of course, you¡¯ll support her.¡±


    ¡°Not really. The bodyguard I assigned to our daughter is one of the most formidable martial artists in the martial world. He got injured during my withdrawal from the border region. Can you guess who inflicted those injuries?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t mean it was Madam Qiao, do you?¡± The Duchess rolled her eyes.


    ¡°It was her. She incapacitated the bodyguard with a single strike.. Can you imagine how high her martial skills are?¡±

 Chapter 259 - 259: The Daughter-in-law Must Meet Her Parents-in-law

    Chapter 259 - 259: The Daughter-inw Must Meet Her Parents-inw


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°It happened when I was at the northern border, and she was in the Wei City.¡± ¡°Did that Qiao family dare to harm my daughter?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, it was your daughter who went to their ce and spoke impolitely. After I found out about it, I decided to turn a blind eye. Later, she said she had some business to take care of and asked me to return first. I didn¡¯t expect she would be getting close to their son.¡±


    ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±


    ¡°My point is, the mistress of that household is mysterious. Let¡¯s observe and wait. That young man will be taking the imperial examination next year. Whether he passes or not, I don¡¯t thinking from a humble family is a bad thing. Our daughter can be with him for life. Marrying into a prominent family is not always the best choice. They might take multiple concubines. We shouldn¡¯t be overly picky.¡±


    The Duchess rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re willing to ept it, but I¡¯m not. I won¡¯t let them have it all their way.¡±


    ¡°The daughter-inw must meet the parents eventually. We¡¯ll deal with it when the timees.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    The Duke and the Duchess had different opinions. From that day on, Princess Mu was effectively confined at home by her family.


    She had to report to her mother if she wanted to go out, and someone was assigned to follow her to prevent her from running away.


    Princess Mu had made arrangements to meet with Yunfeng in the imperial capital after the New Year. He would be taking the imperial examination in theing year.


    So, the Duchess need not have worried so much.


    Taking advantage of her daughter¡¯s stay, she kept dragging her to various banquets in the hopes of finding another suitor to help her forget Yunfeng. Unfortunately, Princess Mu didn¡¯t take an interest in anyone.


    After staying in the capital for a few days, Qiao Mai nodded in approval of Princess Mu¡¯s actions and mostly treated her as her daughter-inw.


    As for the rest, she was willing to help them if their fate allowed it.


    Qiao Mai returned home soon, not expecting that on the same night, a group of ck-d figures would visit her.


    It seemed that the Duchess was determined to secure a prominent future husband for her daughter.


    If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Mai¡¯s warning, the two brothers could have been killed by these assassins. Yunfeng instructed his younger brothers to stay inside the house while he grabbed arge knife and kicked one of the intruders out the door.


    Chuan¡¯er and Fengyun hurriedly put on their clothes, each grabbing arge knife, and went to the doorway.


    Qiao Mai stood on the rooftop. ¡°Chuan¡¯er, Yun¡¯er, do not interfere. Leave it to your big brother.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    At this moment, Yunfeng was entangled in a fight with the ck-d assants. If it weren¡¯t for his mother¡¯s warning, he might have been killed in his sleep. He was determined to seek vengeance for this insult.


    Even without Qiao Mai¡¯s intervention, there would have been no issue. The three sheep had been secretly monitoring these ck-d individuals.


    Yunfeng didn¡¯t hold back; despite hisck of experience in killing, his mother¡¯s teachings about dealing with enemies had made him ruthless when facing them. Having mercy on his enemies meant being cruel to himself.


    With two younger brothers to protect, he couldn¡¯t afford to let any of these assassins escape.


    While fighting, Yunfeng couldn¡¯t help but ponder the reasons behind this attack. It seemed these people were specifically targeting him. Perhaps they were sent by Princess Mu¡¯s family to eliminate him because they disapproved of his rtionship with her.


    He realized that his desire to be with Princess Mu had brought cmity to his family, and his impulsive thoughts were being punished by fate.


    Just as he was lost in thought, he narrowly avoided a fatal blow from one of the ck-d assants. Qiao Mai shouted angrily from the rooftop.


    ¡°In a life-or-death battle like this, you still have time for wild thoughts? Finish off this group of attackers quickly!¡±


    Yunfeng snapped back to reality, focusing all his energy on taking on the remaining three ck-d assants.


    Qiao Mai had noticed that these assassins were all highly skilled, and they showed no mercy when attacking Yunfeng.


    Thest of the assassins was brought down at the cost of some injuries. Yunfeng threw his knife to the ground and knelt.


    ¡°Mother, I brought trouble to our family. Please punish me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. There¡¯s nothing wrong with liking someone. It¡¯s just that the girl has too lofty a background. In their eyes, we are insignificant.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, the three of us might¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± ¡°Chuan¡¯er, Fengyun, check your brother¡¯s wounds and apply some medicine.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai tossed a bottle of medicine to Fengyun and collected the dead bodies of the assassins, putting them in her space. The sheep nodded at her.


    Qiao Mai returned to the capital overnight and dumped all the bodies in the courtyard of the Duke¡¯s wife.


    Then, she triggered the Duke¡¯s sleeping acupoint, pulled the Duchess out of the bed, and stripped her naked, throwing her onto the pile of corpses.


    She spent half the night sleeping with the corpses. When she finally woke up, she was in a frenzy, standing on top of the dead bodies, screaming in terror. It was winter, and she was wearing only her undergarments.


    The Duke got up and had the maids light torches andnterns. They discovered the corpses of the ck-d men and the Duchess.


    As soon as the Duke saw the corpses, he understood what had happened.


    Fortunately, the backyard was filled with women, and no men hade over. The Duke had his servants dress his wife and helped her back into the room.


    He ordered someone to clean up the bodies quickly.


    The Duke had an ominous expression. He ordered all the people in the room to leave. ¡°If my judgment is correct, those ck-d men were all our people, correct?¡±


    His wife avoided eye contact, looking at him with a guilty expression.


    Finally, she gritted her teeth and admitted, ¡°Yes, they were our men. I sent them to kill that boy.¡±


    The Duke was so furious that he pped her across the face. ¡°You! I¡¯ve trained my men to fight for the country and the people. You sent them to kill the people of the Great Ming Dynasty? Our Mu family has been loyal through the generations, yet you daremit such an act behind my back?¡±


    ¡°Humph, he had improper thoughts about someone he shouldn¡¯t have. He deserved to die!¡±


    ¡°It was your daughter who provoked him. Why aren¡¯t you being reasonable?¡±


    ¡°My daughter is a precious gem; they are not worthy of her. Even if my daughter provoked them, so what? They are not worthy, so they should stay far away.¡±


    ¡°Fine, it¡¯s done. So many people have died now. Are you satisfied?¡±


    ¡°They could kill so many of our people without us noticing. They even stripped you naked and made you sleep with the corpses. If you continue to send people, do you expect your head to remain intact next time?¡±


    ¡°If you give me more, I dare to send them again.¡±


    The Duke was trembling with anger. ¡°I¡¯ve trained my people diligently, not for your grudges, but for fighting on the battlefield, the country, and the people. From today onwards, you are not allowed to use my soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Humph, so be it. I have my forces.¡±


    ¡°You are too stubborn. You will regret this one day.¡±


    At that moment, Princess Mu entered the room. She saw her parents were unharmed and breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°What happened? Why are there corpses of ck-d men?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You can go back. It¡¯s a private matter between your mother and me.¡±


    Princess Mu didn¡¯t think too much about it. After all, the capital was a ten-day journey from Tianshui Town. She thought the appearance of the ck-d men in their home had nothing to do with the Qiao family.


    She left the room. Qiao Mai looked on with a cold sneer.


    It seems like Fengyun¡¯s marriage had to go through a bloody baptism. She doesn¡¯t mind their ups and downs, but these assassins are not real killers. Killing them is rather boring.


    She believes that her children¡¯s marriage is a major event, and there¡¯s no need to make it a life-or-death struggle. After dealing with this Duchess, everything can be sorted out.


    Qiao Mai bought a type of poison on the tform and administered it to her.


    She did it to prevent the Duchess from going insane and not valuing other people¡¯s lives.


    The next day, the Duchess was bedridden, unable to move, and requiring assistance for all her daily activities.


    This put the National Duke in a difficult situation as he was deeply in love with his wife. His previous words had been out of anger. Seeing his wife in this state was distressing for him..

 Chapter 260 - 260: They Are Not Afraid of Authorities

    Chapter 260 - 260: They Are Not Afraid of Authorities


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Duke drove all the servants out of the courtyard and knelt on the ground.


    ¡°Please have mercy. My wife said something she shouldn¡¯t have and did something wrong. Please have mercy and let my wife go.¡±


    He kowtowed three times loudly after speaking.


    Qiao Mai was a Golden Core Realm cultivator and could already conceal herself in mid-air. Her fingers moved through the air, making golden characters appear.


    The Duke watched this magical scene. It said, ¡°To resolve the issue, one must find the source.


    He was clever. With these few words, he understood what was going on.


    Qiao Mai had achieved her goal and vanished. The next day, the Duke sent someone to bring his parents and submitted a memorial to the imperial court, requesting leave to seek medicine for his wife.


    They stopped the New Year celebration and prepared to leave. They left the eldest to take care of the house and went on the road to the north with the Duchess, the County Princess, and the two brothers.


    On the way, Princess Mu stayed silent. When they were at home, her father had told her about the situation. Although she felt sorry for her mother, she was angrier.


    Inside the carriage, she covered her mother with a nket. ¡°Mother, your daughter has never lied. I only spoke the truth. I wanted to marry into that family, and I actively approached that young man. What you¡¯re doing is illegal.


    Do you realize that?¡±


    At this point, the Duchess¡¯s tears fell.


    ¡°Who am I doing this for? Do you speak to your mother like this?¡±


    ¡°Mother, this is the happiness of a lifetime for your daughter. I won¡¯t act recklessly. You only see his family¡¯s low status, but why can¡¯t you see the good?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be wronged when you marry into such a family?¡±


    ¡°Will I not be wronged when I marry into a powerful and wealthy family? I¡¯ve said it many times. There are no families in the capital like Father treats you. None at all. I won¡¯t be happy with any of them. I will be happiest when I marry the man I love. How can you take someone else¡¯s life in my name?¡±


    ¡°What happiness can a fifth-ranking official¡¯s family bring?¡±


    ¡°Seeing is believing. I hope Mother will pay attention this time.¡±


    After that, Miss Mu let out a bitter smile. Her mother wanted the life of someone else¡¯s son and had even sent assassins. She wasn¡¯t sure if this would be forgiven.


    She feared that even Yunfeng wouldn¡¯t forgive her. Miss Mu wiped away her tears. She was a pitiful princess who had high standards. Unfortunately, the man she fell for had an amazing mother.


    They weren¡¯t afraid of power and weren¡¯tcking in wealth. They lived a remarkable life and held immense influence. The Duke had imagined many scenarios along the way.


    If he tried to use power to suppress them, with Madam Qiao¡¯s reach, they could probably destroy the Duke¡¯s family overnight. They had no idea about her background.


    So, he could only act discreetly, visiting as ordinary people, or the oue would be uncertain.


    The Duke was sure that Madam Qiao had hidden skills. In this world, no one could match her.


    He couldn¡¯t fathom how Madam Qiao managed to travel thousands of miles freely. Was she a deity?


    The Duke gazed out the window and shook his head, unwilling to dwell on these thoughts further.


    When Qiao Mai returned home, it was already the twenty-fifth day of


    December. The New Year¡¯s gifts from various families had been delivered. The Wang family had sent 500,000 taels of silverst year, which Qiao Mai had refused. This year, they sent another 1 million taels, insisting she epts.


    She epted but stated it was a one-time thing. She would cut off ties if they tried to send more.


    Lucky Star Academy was also on holiday to allow the twins to rx and prepare for their examinations. The school would have a six-month break.


    Yuan Jiaqi was also on holiday. He and Old Master Wang did nothing productive, spending their days enjoying the meals prepared by Qiao Mai.


    She used her skill to give them a daily dose of a brain-enhancing elixir she had concocted.


    Of course, she gave it to Ling¡¯er as well.


    Ever since the incident, Yunfeng has been working hard. He practiced martial arts diligently in the evenings and was especially alert when he slept. Any slight noise would prompt him to draw his sword and patrol the area.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid of dying. He was afraid of his family getting hurt because of him.


    Fengyun and Chuan¡¯er also had a newfound appreciation for martial arts after the incident. They were enthusiastic about their daily exercise.


    Regarding the visit from the assassins, the old couple at Qiao Mai¡¯s home were unaware of it. Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Yuan Jiaqi either. They were schrs, and discussing such matters would only make them anxious unnecessarily.


    For Qiao Mai, such a minor incident was of no concern. Life had to go on.


    She had her attendants send the New Year¡¯s gifts to their recipients. Old Master and Mistress Wang decided not to return to the capital this year. Instead, Wang Zongsheng and his family wereing to spend the New Year at their ce, so Qiao Mai had prepared extra New Year¡¯s goods.


    Lu Sanniang had given birth in mid-November, and she was in post-partum care.


    She had given Mayor Qian a plump baby boy. The birth had gone smoothly. Mayor Qian was treating her like a treasure.


    As they say, marrying the right man made you a princess, while the wrong one made you a servant.


    It was too cold outside, so once Lu Sanniangpleted her post-partum confinement, they nned to hold a celebration when the weather improved. She was pampered with delicious food daily and had put on some weight.


    As for the Tian family, after Qiao Mai had dealt with them, they had be well-behaved. It wasn¡¯t just the Tian family; even the Qiao and Yuan families had bepliant.


    Recently, there was no sign of them across the street from Lucky Garden.


    Mainly, Yuan Jiaqi had provided his four brothers with a year¡¯s worth of work. Qiao Mai¡¯s two brothers, having some money in their hands, were not inclined to instigate the old folks or cause trouble. They even helped prevent any issues from arising.


    Everyone suspected Qiao Mai was behind it, but there was no evidence. People were reluctant to use her openly as it would be considered nder.


    Now, the people in Tianshui Town respected and feared Qiao Mai.


    Yuan Jiaqi knew that his wife was behind it. As an upright and just official, he could distinguish right from wrong.


    Everything his wife did was right. She handled things cleanly, not requiring him to clean up after her. It was great!


    As for Tian Sanzhuang, he never dared to have any ideas about Ling¡¯er again after Qiao Mai sent his mother to hell.


    He was genuinely afraid that Qiao Mai would have him killed if he made a mistake.


    Old Tian had even married a widow twenty years younger than him as soon as his wife passed away.


    He weed her into the household at the end of the year, and she was enjoying afortable life.


    Qiao Mai sneered when she found out. It seemed that they still needed a good cleanup. They were afraid right after someone died. Pathetic!


    On New Year¡¯s Eve, Wang Zongsheng arrived with his wife and child. This year, Zihan and Chuan¡¯er had be juvenile schrs. Chuan¡¯er had even ranked second, with Zihan taking the first ce.


    Having children around made the atmosphere in the house less dull. The four young boys quickly gathered to y when they met. There was no need to worry about them.


    On the other side, Qiao Mai had prepared food and drinks. The six adults sat around the warm table, enjoying their meal.


    Their conversation drifted to the topic of their children¡¯s marriages. Qiao Mai was tight-lipped, refraining from mentioning anything about the Mu family.


    She knew that in a few days, they would be visiting her home, but she didn¡¯t say a word about it.


    This year, Lucky Garden was livelier than in previous years. County Governor Zhu and Mayor Qian seemed to have an unwritten agreement. They woulde to Lucky Garden every New Year¡¯s Day to dine together. This year, they coincidentally encountered Wang Zongsheng.


    While Wang Zongsheng had a higher official rank than the other two, their family backgrounds were simr, making it easier for them to get along.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, as a resident of County Yi, why do you always support the people from County She? Can¡¯t you give us some support?¡± ¡°Supportes with a price.¡±


    ¡°Then forget it. We don¡¯t have your extensive resources.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s for growing my seedlings. The barrennd is my purchase, not the government¡¯s. What¡¯s the matter? Feeling envious?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes.. Do you have any ns to bring some benefits to your husband¡¯s county next year?¡±

 Chapter 261 - 261: She Already Dares To

    Chapter 261 - 261: She Already Dares To


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai nced at them and then at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°I want to work on some benefits for my husband.¡±


    As soon as the people heard this, they perked up their ears.


    Yuan Jiaqi looked puzzled. ¡°My wife, if you have any requests, please instruct me. I will follow the proper procedures.¡±


    ¡°Next year, the trees in County She will need another year to grow. During that time, you can promote a new type of wheat.¡±


    ¡°New type of wheat?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve cultivated a batch of cold-resistant wheat. If it works out, County She can cultivate two seasons of crops, and the yield per acre will be very high. It will firmly hold on to the nutrients in the soil and continue to grow as long as there is soil and sandynd.¡±


    The men at the table couldn¡¯t help but gulp. ¡°How long does it take from nting to harvest?¡±


    ¡°About three months.¡±


    ¡°Wow, can you share some of this wheat with us?¡±


    ¡°No, I want to get a promotion for my husband.¡±


    ¡°You must be kidding! He¡¯s only been in the position for a short time, and he¡¯s already a fifth-grade county governor. How can he go any higher?¡±


    ¡°Maybe a first-grade county governor?¡±


    The group burst intoughter. ¡°Madam Qiao, you have a sense of humor.¡± ¡°In any case, once my husband¡¯s county has developed, it will be your turn.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, we won¡¯tpete with your husband.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi got excited. ¡°Wife, can this new wheat really increase the yield per acre?¡±


    ¡°When have I ever deceived you? Haven¡¯t you mentioned this to me before?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, wife, for thinking of the people.¡±


    County Governor Zhu was jealous, and Magistrate Wang smiled. No matter who starts growing this wheat first, they will all benefit, and he was content with that.


    However, like County Governor Zhu and County Governor Yuan, he was worried about being promoted and transferred.


    Old Master Wang watched them happily, delighted that there were good officials in the Ming Dynasty. ¡°Girl, show us your wheat seeds.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Qiao Mai magically pulled a small bag from her sleeve and ced it on the table.


    The men each took a handful of wheat grains and examined them. ¡°These grains are full andrger than ordinary wheat.¡±


    ¡°We can start by nting two seasons in County She. If it works, we can extend it to other counties. By then, you can decide how to distribute the wheat grown.¡±


    ¡°On behalf of Wei City and the people of the northern region, I thank you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but let¡¯s wait until we¡¯ve grown it. I estimate that in County She and simr areas, we can harvest over 800 pounds per acre. In our area, it should be over 1,000 pounds per acre.¡±


    The two county governors and the magistrate were thrilled.


    ¡°If this is the case, the people of the Ming Dynasty will no longer have to worry about food.


    ¡°Hmm, it won¡¯t stop the exploitation by corrupt officials. No matter how high the yield is, it¡¯s useless.¡±


    ¡°The Emperor has already dealt with several corrupt officials, so those who engage in bribery and corruption won¡¯t dare to act rashly for a while.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi watched as they all tried the wheat and quickly put the wheat seeds in his bag, then put the bag in his sleeve.


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so cautious. I have plenty of these wheat seeds. When the timees, you can choose a vige with a good reputation for trial nting.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, I will start preparing. They will begin nting in March.¡± ¡°Alright, do as you see fit. I will only provide high-quality wheat seeds.¡±


    After that? County Governor Zhu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re no longer involved?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You were never involved in the first ce!¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    The house was filled withughter and joy. The next day, Mayor Qian left after sitting for a while with his wife.


    County Governor Zhu stayed until it was nearly dark and left with a cart of delicious food he had collected from the Qiao family. Each time he came, he couldn¡¯t bear to leave.


    ¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t want to leave. Your house is toofortable.¡±


    ¡°Then stay a few more days?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t. There¡¯s a lot of work at the office. I can¡¯t stay away.¡±


    Even Zihan didn¡¯t want to leave after the New Year. He had nned to take the examination with Chuan¡¯er at the end of March.


    The few of them got along very well, and even nine-year-old Ling¡¯er had made her first friends. This New Year, her friends came to visit her.


    In her room, there was the sound ofughter and joy. Nanny Jin ignored them in the upper room, letting them frolic.


    In the evening, Yuan Jiaqi hugged Qiao Mai in his arms.


    ¡°Wife, is today your New Year¡¯s surprise for me?¡±


    ¡°Work hard and try to get promoted as soon as possible. Otherwise, how can we face your inws?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Think about it. How could a girl from the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s family agree to marry into our family?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re using this method to help me gain promotion?¡±


    ¡°If you can get promoted, that¡¯s great. If you can¡¯t, as long as their daughter is willing, our Qiao family dares to take her in.¡± Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Magistrate Wang and his family stayed at Qiao Mai¡¯s house until the third day of the New Year. Yuan Jiaqi left on the fifth day. The Duke¡¯s family arrived in the small town on the sixth day.


    They moved into Miss Mu¡¯s residence. On the same day, they sent a message to Qiao Mai, expressing their willingness to meet. It was a disy of goodwill without any airs or pretenses.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang were taken aback when they heard of it. They went to ask her, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why have they alle?¡±


    With a cold face, Qiao Mai replied, ¡°This matter is not something you can meddle in. Leave it to me. Do what you usually do. Once the matter is resolved, I¡¯ll talk to you about it.¡±


    ¡°Girl, be careful not to act recklessly.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if the sky falls, I can handle it. Moreover, I can¡¯t let this matter go wrong for my children.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t get involved.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    The Duke of Zhenguo watched his wife lying in difort on the heated brick bed, longing to cure her immediately. But he knew that he couldn¡¯t rush it. This time, their family was in the wrong.


    The Duchess, who had experienced ten days of arduous travel, had their spirits crushed.


    His wifey in bed with no strength, looking pitiful. She had been too much.


    The Duke sat by the edge of the bed. ¡°The letter has been delivered. Once we arrive there, you must apologize.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t apologize to a vige woman.¡±


    ¡°Then you will lie on this bed for the rest of your life.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°To this day, you still haven¡¯t realized that her martial arts are so high she can easily retaliate against our entire family. For the sake of this family, our children, and yourself, it¡¯s okay to bow your head, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°She dares!¡±


    ¡°She has already dared. She killed more than ten of my secret guards and left you like this. Do you think she won¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, but I can¡¯t agree to a marriage with her family.¡±


    ¡°Even if you agree, she might be unwilling.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s better. I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    The Duke regretted having pampered his wife too much all these years. He sighed.


    The family was anxiously waiting for a response from Qiao Mai. One day passed, two days passed, and it wasn¡¯t until the ninth day that the servants from the Qiao family finally delivered a message.


    ¡°My mistress says that you can visit us tomorrow.¡±


    For several days, Qiao Mai deliberately dyed responding, wanting to make things difficult for the Duke¡¯s family.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s dedication to protecting the country and his kindness toward his wife, she would have had countless reasons to kill them.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang heard that Qiao Mai had kept the Duke of


    Zhenguo¡¯s family waiting for several days, and they were feeling quite anxious.


    They feared the situation might escte, leading to a conflict between the two families.


    Surprisingly, the Duke¡¯s family remained patient andposed, not making any moves until the tenth day.


    Qiao Mai met with them in the front hall. She was dressed in simple attire without any excessive decoration.


    Seeing Qiao Mai for the first time, the Duke of Zhenguo finally realized where her confidence came from.


    He could tell from her calm eyes that she regarded his family just like ordinary people, without special treatment due to their status or position.


    What did this indicate? It showed that she had a strong sense of self-assurance..

 Chapter 262 - 262: Isn’t This Inappropriate?

    Chapter 262 - 262: Isn¡¯t This Inappropriate?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    This confidence doesn¡¯te from her husband, a fifth-ranked county governor, but from herself.


    Qiao Mai ced one hand behind her back and made a weing gesture with the other.


    She sat tall in the main seat, receiving them as the hostess. Her demeanor alone demanded respect.


    The Duke of Zhenguo humbly took a seat below her. He promptly gestured for his children to approach and pay their respects. Qiao Mai nced at them briefly and gave a slight nod.


    The Duke signaled to his attendants in the background, and a stretcher was brought in.


    Qiao Mai asked with a cold face, ¡°Is this the Duchess?¡±


    The Duke thought, ¡°You¡¯re pretending, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve been at my house for God knows how long. You¡¯ve turned her into this, and now you act like you don¡¯t know?¡±


    But he replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Tell your people to leave, leaving only our two families.¡±


    The Duke waved to his attendants, and they reluctantly exited the room, leaving only the family members inside.


    Qiao Mai then lightly waved, and all the windows and doors in the room immediately closed.


    This simple action astonished the Duke. The level of inner power required to aplish this was beyond imagination. It was unbelievable.


    Observing thisdy, who appeared to be in her twenties, he didn¡¯t expect her inner power to be so profound.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, what is this for?¡±


    ¡°Your wife sent assassins to kill my son. Do you know about it?¡±


    ¡°I do. She acted on her own, and I have already¡ªI¡¯


    ¡°Nonsense! When ites to someone¡¯s life, what have you done? If it weren¡¯t for my son¡¯s martial skills, he would be dead by now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Is sorry enough? Should I kill your son right now?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Miss Mu immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded, ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m sorry. The whole incident started because of me and Feng¡¯er. If there¡¯s a punishment, please let it be upon me.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, sending Miss Mu tumbling to the ground with her palm strike.


    Qiao Mai looked down at her and said, ¡°Is a county princess allowed to do whatever she pleases? Is it justified to use schemes for my family¡¯s possessions? Surprisingly, you¡¯ve been boasting about your family¡¯s uprightness and loyalty, but now you¡¯ve disgraced them.¡±


    A single statement rendered the country princess speechless.


    Furious, the Duchessy on the ground and said, ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Qiao Mai walked over and grabbed her by the neck. ¡°You sent assassins to kill my son. If I were like you, your son would be dead right now.¡±


    ¡°Come after me!¡±


    ¡°Of course, I have toe after you. How else did you think you¡¯d get to this point?¡±


    Qiao Mai swung her hand, throwing the Duchess aside, making her tumble to the ground like a rag.


    Miss Mu and her two younger brothers rushed forward to shield their mother, who was still lying on the ground. ¡°Madam Qiao, please, have mercy.¡±


    ¡°Did she show any mercy to my son?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the Duke¡¯s two sons with anger in her eyes. ¡°So, it¡¯s okay for you toe after my child, but I can¡¯t speak my mind? Is it because you¡¯re relying on the status of a Duke?¡±


    Kneeling on the ground, Miss Mu made a few steps toward Qiao Mai and pleaded, ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m sorry. It was all my fault. Please spare my mother.¡±


    The Duke also stood up and knelt beside his wife. Qiao Mai truly admired his dedication.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡¯m at fault. All the wrongs are mine. Please spare her.¡±


    Qiao Mai clenched her fists behind her back.


    ¡°When you sent the assassins to kill my son, I found your household that very night. I¡¯m vindictive and honestly contemted exterminating your entire family that night.¡±


    Sweat glistened on the Duke¡¯s forehead while his wife coldly snorted.


    ¡°You¡¯re just bragging!¡±


    Qiao Mai turned around. ¡°Bragging?¡±


    Without noticing her movements, she made a gesture, and Miss Mu¡¯s brothers found their necks in a vice-like grip. The one-meter-eight figures were helpless against her increasing force, and their faces turned from red to purple.


    The Duke regretted it deeply. He had said toe here and apologize in advance, but his wife¡¯s mouth was still so stubborn.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s grip tightened, causing the two young men¡¯s faces to turn blue. The Duchess was terrified and no longer dared to confront Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡¯m truly sorry. Please spare my children.¡±


    Qiao Mai contemptuously sneered, ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got? I thought you¡¯d keep up your defiance.¡±


    The Duchess turned red from humiliation. Qiao Mai released her grip, sending her two sons flying away.


    ¡°It seems your sons¡¯ lives are worthless. But my sons are valuable. If anyone dares to harm them, I¡¯ll wipe out their bloodline. Duchess, you should be thankful that my son fell for your daughter, or I wouldn¡¯t even blink an eye at killing anyone rted to you.¡±


    The Duke wiped his sweat and thought about his wife, ¡°You deserved it. Your arrogance led to this situation. You should be grateful that someone could humble you.¡±


    Hastily, he smiled. ¡°Madam Qiao, let¡¯s sit down and discuss this.¡±


    ¡°No need to discuss. I¡¯ve poisoned your wife. If she dares harm my son, be prepared for the punishment.¡±


    ¡°How long should she endure this punishment?¡±


    ¡°Within a year, the poison will naturally dissipate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Is there anything we can do to make amends for our mistakes?¡±


    ¡°No need. Have your daughter stay here and help me cultivate the greenhouse for a year. If she doesn¡¯t cause any more trouble, I won¡¯t hold this matter against you. But if you dare to repeat it, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Duchess eximed, ¡°You want my daughter, a noble princess, to do farm work for you? On what basis?¡±


    ¡°On the basis that your family¡¯s lives are in my hands. Is that enough?¡± Visibly frustrated, the Duke shouted, ¡°Ziyan, can¡¯t you say a word less?¡±


    He was genuinely disappointed with his wife¡¯s behavior. It had gone on long enough, yet she still had a defiant attitude.


    She couldn¡¯t ept the fact that amoner had outmaneuvered her despite her high status.


    The Duke, who had better judgment, realized Qiao Mai was a formidable person. They were in no position to challenge her.


    Miss Mu quickly agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind, and I¡¯ll work thend for Aunt Qiao. Whatever Aunt Qiao tells me to do, I¡¯ll do.¡±


    ¡°Only one maidservant can stay; the rest must return to the capital.¡±


    The Duke stood there, his mouth agape, taking a while to regain his senses. ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°What else do you suggest?¡± ¡°Who left the words in mid-air?¡±


    ¡°It was me. So what?¡±


    ¡°Why did you ask us toe all the way here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your punishment. Your wife must lie low for a year. Go home to serve her. She won¡¯t die. As for the matter of Miss Mu staying here, I hope you can understand. As long as this pair of young lovers doesn¡¯t break up, our engagement is established.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The Duke felt like he was in a dream. It seemed as if he were the subordinate, and Qiao Mai was the superior, and he had to follow her orders. This made him somewhat ufortable.


    ¡°What? Do you feel like you¡¯re being treated unfairly?¡±


    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s just that since our families are to be connected through marriage.


    Shouldn¡¯t there be some procedures involved?¡±


    ¡°No need. It was your daughter who seduced my son first. If it weren¡¯t for her, my son wouldn¡¯t have encountered this fatal cmity. I¡¯m sentencing her to stay in my house for a year and cultivate a rtionship with my son.¡±


    ¡°Is this appropriate?¡±


    ¡°If I say it¡¯s settled, then it is. Don¡¯t waste any more time, or I¡¯ll ughter your family.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re a formidable person, and you¡¯re in charge,¡± The Duke didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. He couldn¡¯t afford to have any backbone when it came to someone who held their lives in her hands.


    He red at his daughter. It was all her fault. Why did she have to get involved with the son of that family? This time, they paid a high price.


    Having said what needed to be said, Qiao Mai waved her hand, and all the windows and doors opened again.


    The Duke quickly had his attendants ce his wife on the stretcher and signaled the people outside toe in.


    Bowing to Qiao Mai, Miss Mu said, ¡°Aunt, may I see my parents off?¡±


    ¡°You can. After they leave,e back. Remember what I told you: you¡¯re allowed to bring only one maidservant to attend to you. The rest should return to the capital. If you dare to run, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aunt..¡±

 Chapter 263 - 263: Feeling Shameful

    Chapter 263 - 263: Feeling Shameful


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Miss Mu returned to her mansion with her family, witnessing their distressed looks. The Duchess began to wail.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯ve made you all suffer like this.¡±


    Miss Mu shot her a cold look. ¡°Mother, when our founding ancestor had nothing, he served ourte Emperor from the bottom, starting as a lowly soldier. One mustn¡¯t forget their roots. Just because our family has achieved status now doesn¡¯t mean we should look down on others. The people you disdain are the ones we can¡¯t afford to provoke.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve suffered an undeserved humiliation.


    ¡°Mother, can you stop talking like this? Who brought about this humiliation? If it weren¡¯t for you trying to harm her son, would she have acted like this?¡± ¡°You¡­ I don¡¯t have a daughter like you that sides with outsiders.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want a mother who was so callous with people¡¯s lives, but I had no choice.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Miss Mu¡¯s two younger brothers felt deeply embarrassed after being throttled by Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Sis, are you dead-set on their family?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao is a good person and kind-hearted. If not for you pushing her into a corner, she wouldn¡¯t have acted this way.¡±


    She looked at the Duke. ¡°Father, the medical supplies in the rear have all been provided by Madam Qiao in the war. Although your soldiers say it¡¯s arranged by County Governor Yuan, Madam Qiao provided the money. Every year, she helps refugees from the south who have fled here, providing them with porridge and aid. She is a meritorious figure of our Great Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, Father understands. It¡¯s our fault for wronging her. To kill a person of merit is unjust, which is my fault for not managing your mother properly.¡±


    ¡°Sis, it¡¯s your fault. You coveted their belongings and seduced their son. If you had just stayed in yourne, we wouldn¡¯t be in this situation.¡±


    Miss Mu didn¡¯t feel she was at fault. ¡°I¡¯m not wrong. Yunfeng is handsome, talented, and even better than you two. Why should I let him go?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯d rather see our mother humiliated?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you call this humiliation? If she sent people to kill your rtives, try to see if you can forgive that.¡±


    At that moment, her two brothers were silent. If anyone treated their family in such a way, they would do anything to seek justice.


    Madam Qiao was only imitating the Duchess, but she couldn¡¯t handle it when the tables were turned. It¡¯s ironic that she treated others like ants and yet didn¡¯t acknowledge her mistakes when she tried to harm them.


    In essence, it¡¯s a reflection of the feudal dynasty¡¯s habit of exerting dominance and looking down on the weak. They didn¡¯t expect to kick on the ho¡¯s nest.


    If Qiao Mai were an ordinary person, their family would have been oppressed by the Duke.


    When Qiao Mai returned to her courtyard, Old Master and Mistress Wang came over with Yunfeng, Fengyun, and Chuan¡¯er.


    ¡°Have you discussed everything?¡±


    ¡°They returned empty-handed this time, but I also made the county princess stay in our house and do farm work.¡±


    ¡°What? Is there some misunderstanding in between?¡±


    ¡°No misunderstanding at all. That Duchess sent people to kill Feng¡¯er. If I didn¡¯t retaliate, do I deserve to be his mother?¡±


    Yunfeng¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and he immediately knelt in front of Qiao Mai. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    ¡°Alright, get up. I don¡¯t me you. It¡¯s Princess Mu who intentionally tried to seduce you for her gain. It has nothing to do with you.¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t take the bait, there wouldn¡¯t have been so much trouble.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s our lowly status that¡¯s the problem. She looks down on us.¡±


    The olddy sighed and said, ¡°The Duke¡¯s family is known for their loyalty and noble lineage, but surprisingly, their daughter-inw has such a high and mighty attitude.¡±


    ¡°I understand she wants her daughter to marry someone from an equal background, but there¡¯s no excuse for trying to kill my son. That¡¯s the part I can¡¯t tolerate the most.¡¯


    ¡°My child, I know you¡¯re talented. The Mu family is a formidable one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. If she dares to send someone again, I¡¯ll break her son¡¯s leg. If a hair on my son¡¯s head is harmed, I¡¯ll make her son pay with his life.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to escte this?¡±


    ¡°What choice do I have? If she shows even a hint of remorse, I won¡¯t let her go like this. I wanted to get along peacefully, considering they¡¯ll be our inws. But their family doesn¡¯t show any respect. I¡¯m not willing to ept that.¡± ¡°Girl, I¡¯m worried¡­¡±


    ¡°Believe me. In the Great Ming Dynasty, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t handle.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang exchanged nces. Perhaps only Old Master


    Wang had confidence in Qiao Mai. But both of them were still quite worried.


    The Mu family left Tianshui Town on the twelfth day, while the County Princess arrived at the Qiao family¡¯s residence with a maid.


    In the past, she was eager to move in and experience a new life. Now, however, the County Princess¡¯s feelings were quiteplicated.


    Yunfeng didn¡¯t seem particrly happy upon seeing her. They just nodded at each other.


    It seemed that both families were strained due to the events involving them.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately arranged a ce for the County Princess to stay. She was given chores from early morning tote at night like the servants in the house.


    She also ate with the servants without any special treatment.


    Since Princess Mu moved in, Yunfeng hadn¡¯t visited her. It was as if their connection had suddenly been cut off.


    After returning to the capital with his wife and children, the Duke couldn¡¯t believe how extraordinary his experiences in Tianshui Town had been when he saw his bedridden wife.


    Could a year¡¯s rest heal her? What kind of poison was this?


    He couldn¡¯t ept it. He sent messengers to request imperial physicians, but they all said the Duchess was not ill.


    How can someone who isn¡¯t sick lie down and not get up? They invited all the doctors in the imperial city to diagnose her, but the results were still the same.


    The Duke marveled at the skills of the person who had poisoned her.


    The Duke was a general who led troops into battle, and he could endure more than his wife. Several more servants were assigned to take care of his wife in the backyard.


    They would have to wait for a year.


    The Old Duke called his son into his study. ¡°Have you seen that woman?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your impression of her?¡±


    ¡°She looks ordinary, but her martial arts skills are unfathomable. Appearances can indeed be deceiving.¡±


    ¡°A fifth-ranked minor official is fortunate enough to marry a wife like her. In the future, you should assist them and treat them well. We need inws like that.¡±


    ¡°Father, do you agree with this marriage?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there not to agree with? Our Mu family is already a prominent household. By letting Rong¡¯er marry into another influential family, we¡¯re poking the Emperor in the eye. Besides, in marriage, we should consider the character rather than his family background. As long as he treats Rong¡¯er well and she likes him, it¡¯s fine.


    ¡°My wife can¡¯t understand that and insists on going against them. Now, we have a tense rtionship. Rong¡¯er has been forced to stay in their house and work in the fields.¡¯


    ¡°She¡¯s not being forced; she¡¯s gaining experience. She should adapt in advance. The strong have their own ideas. How could she mistreat her daughter-inw?¡±


    ¡°This trip to Tianshui Town feels so frustrating, and it¡¯s all because of a woman.¡±


    ¡°Who told you tock the talents of that woman?¡±


    The Old Duke held high expectations for Qiao Mai. He even wanted to visit the Qiao family to see what kind of woman could make his son and daughter-inw suffer like this.


    In a month, the matter of the Duke¡¯s family spread throughout the capital.


    Many people heard that the county princess had fallen for the son of a fifth-ranked official, and they mocked the situation. The Emperor was even interested enough to summon the Duke to the pce.


    ¡°Lord Mu, I¡¯ve heard rumors from the outside. What exactly has happened in your family?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something major, Your Majesty. My only daughter has taken an interest in the son of a fifth-ranked official.


    ¡°What about this young man?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s talented in both literature and martial arts. He will be taking the imperial examination this year.¡± ¡°The examination for what?¡±


    ¡°A rmended schr.¡±


    ¡°As long as he has a good character, I¡¯ll grant them marriage,¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Whose son is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the son of County She¡¯s governor.¡±


    The Emperor showed interest. It was an unexpected development. Yuan Jiaqi piqued the interest of his daughter, and now his son attracted the County Princess¡¯s attention..

 Chapter 264 - 264: It’s a Herbivore

    Chapter 264 - 264: It¡¯s a Herbivore


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Why are all the good girls flocking to the father and son?


    If the Emperor knew that Qiao Mai was the immortal he had met, he would probably want to marry his daughter to the Qiao family as well.


    As the days passed, the weather turned warmer. The noble Miss Mu enjoyed her time in the Qiao family.


    She woke up early, exercised, tidied up the courtyard, and after meals, she went to the greenhouse in the back to tend to the garden, working alongside the maids.


    Her schedule was packed. She lived a fulfilling life every day.


    Qiao Mai never summoned the county princess. She had discussed this with Old Master Wang. He will lead the boys to the capital to participate in the imperial examination. Because of the assassination incident, one of the sheep would apany them.


    Old Master Wang found it funny that Qiao Mai would use a sheep as an escort.


    In the evening, Qiao Mai had the white sheep find her grandfather, and the sheep took him to a secluded ce. It then transformed, revealing itself and startling Old Master Wang.


    With a powerful kick, the sheep broke a tree as thick as a human leg.


    Old Master Wang realized why she had the sheep apany them. He looked at the sheep with amazement.


    ¡°Can you speak humannguage?¡±


    The sheep replied with a ¡°baa,¡± shrinking to the size of a littlemb. Old Master Wang chuckled and finally understood why she had the three sheep at home.


    With these little guys, no matter how many ck-d men came, they would be dealt with. What kind of guardian spirit did Qiao Mai get her hands on?


    With their adorable appearance, it was hard for him to associate them with monsters.


    Old Master Wang didn¡¯t care about secrecy anymore. He went to look for Qiao Mai with the sheep at night.


    ¡°Who are they?¡±


    ¡°Have you read any books on cultivating immortality?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°These are spiritual beasts from the Immortal Realm. I¡¯ve acquired three of them to guard the house. As a precaution, they¡¯ll apany you to the imperial examination.¡±


    ¡°Are you a God in the Immortal Realm?¡± He gulped.


    ¡°Not really. I just have some connections.¡±


    ¡°No wonder you¡¯re not afraid of the Duke of Zhenguo and the imperial authority. If I had such connections, I wouldn¡¯t be afraid of them either.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been suspicious of me for a while, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯m giving you a little insight to put your minds at ease when staying in my house. It¡¯s to prevent you from thinking I can¡¯t handle the Duke¡¯s family.¡±


    ¡°Haha, now, I have some insight. With these three, I won¡¯t be afraid of the


    Duke, and even the person on the Dragon Throne won¡¯t be a concern.¡±


    ¡°Even without these three, I wouldn¡¯t be afraid.¡¯


    Old Master Wang was stunned. ¡°I can feel your confidence.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°It¡¯ste at night, and you should go back now. I believe with thepany of the white sheep, you shouldn¡¯t be afraid on your journey.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll worship it like an ancestor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a herbivore. Don¡¯t feed it meat. ¡°Oh, why not get a carnivorous one?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re too expensive.¡±


    ¡°Old miser!¡±


    With the white sheep, Old Master Wang left happily. He wasn¡¯t envious of Old Mistress Wang¡¯s red cats anymore. Every day, he fawned around the white sheep.


    Old Mistress Wang saw this and said, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like pets?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s different with these three.


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Old Master Wang brought the twins to the capital in early March. Chuan¡¯er went to the prefectural capital and stayed with the Wang family. He and Zihan participated in the schr¡¯s examination.


    Every year around this time, the people of Tianshui Town were all focused on the Qiao family. Their feelings wereplicated.


    They wished for the Qiao children to seed, but they also feared it. In their eyes, the Qiao family was already good enough, and if they seeded further, they would be even better. They didn¡¯t want to see the Qiao family continue to prosper, but if the Qiao family didn¡¯t do well, who would help them in times of trouble?


    Qiao Mai was indifferent to these sentiments. She checked the greenhouses and was pleased to see Princess Mu working hard in the fields.


    She had changed from her former luxurious attire to in clothes and humbly sought advice from the servants.


    Seeing this, Qiao Mai nodded in approval. This was the demeanor of a good daughter-inw. In the future, she would be the eldest daughter-inw of the Qiao family, and she couldn¡¯t act recklessly as she did in the past. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t forgive her for that.


    Qiao Mai had punished her by working in the fields as a form of character-building.


    Apart from overseeing her store, Ling¡¯er learned from Nanny Jin. When she heard that a girl was learning to farm with the servants, she secretly went to see.


    She found it was the girl who had a strong presence. She secretly went to ask Old Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Great grandma, is it true that she is my big brother¡¯s sweetheart?¡±


    ¡°She is undergoing your mother¡¯s test. Otherwise, she cannot be your brother¡¯s wife.¡¯


    ¡°Oh? Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Because she made a mistake.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang knew she wouldn¡¯t understand, so she didn¡¯t say much.


    ¡°How¡¯s your business going?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, apart from what I give to Mother, I make a lot of silver monthly.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t splurge on it. Save it up for your dowry.¡±


    ¡°Yes, great-grandma!¡±


    Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t get answers from her great-grandmother, so she went to find Miss Mu.


    Miss Mu smiled when she saw Ling¡¯er. ¡°Hello, Miss Ling¡¯er?¡±


    Ling¡¯er pursed her lips. ¡°I heard that you are a county princess, a high-ranking title among women.¡±


    Mu Xuerong chuckled. ¡°Even if it¡¯s a high title, it¡¯s not as big as your mother¡¯s.¡± ¡°My mother¡¯s temperament may not be good, but she¡¯s a kind person.¡±


    ¡°I know she is punishing me. I ept it.¡±


    ¡°You are kind. I¡¯ll like you as my sister-inw.¡±


    Princess Mu blushed. ¡°Your mother needs to give her approval for this.¡±


    ¡°How about yours?¡±


    When Miss Mu heard about her family, her eyes reddened. ¡°I have to follow your mother¡¯s orders. My family is in her hands, and my mother still can¡¯t get out of bed.¡¯


    ¡°My mother did that?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡±


    ¡°That must be because your mother provoked mine. My mother never causes trouble first.


    Princess Mu lowered her head. ¡°My mother was the one who wasn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°In that case, endure it. My brothers and I make mistakes, and we have to face the consequences. Rules are rules.¡±


    ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er, your mother taught you well.¡± ¡°Sister-inw, I believe in you. Keep it up!¡± Ling¡¯er made a face at her and then ran away giggling.


    The longer Princess Mu stayed in the Qiao family, the more she felt like she had wasted her life. Even a random servant in the Qiao family lived more vibrantly than she ever had.


    The Qiao family¡¯s servants were not like typical servants; they were all exceptional. They sang cheerful songs, and there was not a single day when they weren¡¯t happy.


    When they were not feeling well, they would tell the steward, and they would immediately go to the doctor and get three days off to rest.


    Their monthly sries were higher than those of high-ranking families in the capital. Each one was incredibly active in their work.


    In the Qiao family, she had never heard the maids gossiping or idly chattering in groups. When they had free time, they quickly tidied themselves up and looked for things to do.


    Each day she spent here felt like she was filled with boundless energy.


    As for food, even though she ate with the servants, each meal was always different. She didn¡¯t have any of the picky eating habits she had at the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s residence. Now, she would eat anything withoutint.


    With the children away for their exams, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t rx and focus on her cultivation.


    She sat in front of her store, drinking tea and listening to the people¡¯s conversations.


    Yuan Jiaqi took the wheat seeds she provided and bought fifty acres ofnd around the county town. They hired over ten people to manage it.


    They would provide the wheat with the best conditions to maximize its yield. East and west, they¡¯d get the best results.


    Once she provided the wheat, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to interfere. She would see what rewards her husband could get on his own. If it were a meager reward, she would personally go to the pce to ask for a better one for her husband.


    She wouldn¡¯t let her future daughter-inw beughed at by the people of the imperial capital.


    Chuan¡¯er had returned after taking the exam and immediately slept. Qiao Mai shook her head at thiszy boy. He had always tried to avoid his martial arts training. Now, his physical fitness was only slightly better than an ordinary schr¡¯s..

 Chapter 265 - 265: You’ll Know In The Future

    Chapter 265 - 265: You¡¯ll Know In The Future


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi returned home on time when Chuan¡¯er was happily munching on a pile of food.


    ¡°Dad, why are you back at this time?¡±


    ¡°How did the exam go?¡±


    ¡°Bing a Rmended Schr should be fine.¡±


    ¡°Still eating? You¡¯ve turned into a pig.¡±


    ¡°Mother said I¡¯ve lost weight these days and told me to eat well.¡±


    ¡°Did anything happen at home while I was away?¡±


    ¡°Why ask me? It¡¯s better to ask Great Grandmother. I haven¡¯t paid attention to anything outside for the past few days because of the exam.¡±


    So Yuan Jiaqi went to visit Old Mistress Wang, both to greet her and to inquire about the situation at home.


    Naturally, Old Mistress Wang didn¡¯t hide anything from him and briefed him on the recent events. Yuan Jiaqi wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°My wife is quite formidable. She dared to offend the Duke¡¯s household.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about this matter. Focus on cultivating the wheat well and get a promotion quickly. Otherwise, when Yunfeng gets married, people will ridicule our daughter-inw¡¯s family. This is all about social status. Now that you have your wife¡¯s support, work hard to cultivate the wheat and gain the Emperor¡¯s recognition as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡¯


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai was in the martial arts field. She was in a good mood today. She was ying with a spear, and Yuan Jiaqi watched her from a distance.


    He didn¡¯t disturb her and just watched. Qiao Mai had already noticed him. She put down her spear and waved at him.


    ¡°When did you get back?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi handed her a cup of tea and said, ¡°I just got home.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been hard on you at home. With such a big event happening, you didn¡¯t even tell me.¡±


    ¡°If I told you, it would only make you worry.¡±


    ¡°This time, you contributed the new wheat to the court. The credit is yours.¡±


    ¡°We are a couple; what¡¯s yours is mine. Besides, as a woman, what would I do with that credit? As long as you¡¯re well, our whole family will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a few sips of tea, and the two sat in the backyard.


    ¡°Wife, I think some of those pine trees seem ready to be harvested for oil.¡±


    ¡°Then arrange for people to harvest it. Didn¡¯t we already teach them the technique?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make arrangements when I return. What should we do with the harvested oil?¡±


    Qiao Mai took two pieces of paper from her sleeve and handed them to him. ¡°These are two recipes. You can have people follow the instructions to make these.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a nce. ¡°Safflower oil?¡±


    ¡°Yes, pine oil has anti-inmmatory and pain-relief properties. Combined with medicinal herbs, it can make safflower oil, which is highly effective for skin injuries and bruises.¡±


    ¡°This recipe is good. We can have it sold in a pharmacy. What about the other


    ¡°Shampoo. Follow the instructions, and you¡¯ll get an effective hair wash and conditioner. Pine oil can also be used as a varnish,monly used by carpenters. ¡±


    ¡°Great. We can have the shampoo sold in the general store and the varnish in the carpentry shop. I¡¯ll have someone inquire about the prices.¡±


    ¡°Do you have enough manpower?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve trained them in advance. One of them is your cousin¡¯s husband.¡± ¡°Liu Mei¡¯s husband?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll start by making him a foreman, and once he¡¯s familiar with the work, we¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it clear: our brothers shouldn¡¯t be given too much responsibility.¡±


    ¡°I understand, wife. Their characters don¡¯t make them suitable for important roles.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to forget your past while you climb the ranks. People say to look to the future, but you can¡¯t forget your past experiences and lessons.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, wife. I won¡¯t forget my past.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stayed home for two days. Whenever he was back, he would follow Qiao Mai around. Princess Mu also met her future father-inw for the first time.


    ¡°Wow, my father-inw is so young and handsome. My mother-inw is lucky.¡±


    Her maidservant quickly exined, ¡°Princess, Lord Yuan is only thirty this year. I heard many youngdies are pursuing him, but your future father-inw only has eyes for Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a must. My mother-inw is so formidable. If he dares to look elsewhere, she will tear him to shreds.¡±


    ¡°Has Sir Yunfeng returned yet?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s at odds with me. We agreed I would wait for him in the capital for the exam.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you couldn¡¯t keep a secret, which led to your dad and mom finding out about it?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m grateful now that my mother-inw is so capable. Otherwise, my mother would be uncontroble.¡±


    At this time, Yunfeng and his brother were resting in the Bichun Garden, and Old Master Wang was feeding the white sheep fresh green grass.


    Yesterday, the Duke invited him to the mansion, and he went there with


    Yunfeng. It was the Lunar New Year, and the Duke even made a trip to Tianshui Town, yet he didn¡¯t meet his future son-inw. It was about time they met each other.


    The two of them were old acquaintances, and after meeting, they had no difficulty conversing.


    When he met his son-inw, the Duke was pleased and even tested Yunfeng¡¯s martial arts skills on the spot. He was genuinely fond of him.


    Even his three sons couldn¡¯t beat Yunfeng; they were all defeated under his hands.


    If his daughter could marry him for real, he would want to recruit Yunfeng into the family.


    Old Master Wang saw what he was thinking and gave him a stern look. ¡°Duke, don¡¯t even think about it. With Madam Qiao in charge, who dares to have any ideas about her son? She¡¯ll eat you up.¡±


    The Duke forced a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it. I¡¯m afraid of her. She threatens to exterminate my whole family at every turn, and she¡¯s the only one who dares to say such things.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you started it with her first, sending men to assassinate


    Yunfeng. If she says such things, it¡¯s just tit for tat.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was my wife in the wrong.¡±


    ¡°Your daughter is also too willful, getting involved with someone¡¯s son for a few things. ¡±


    The Duke grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s true; my family spoiled her. Now, how is she doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s doing well and is obedient. She eats and drinks well every day.¡±


    ¡°Someone should humble her.¡±


    ¡°Under Madam Qiao¡¯s guidance, she¡¯s as obedient as amb. How is your wife?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s still the same, unable to move, but Madam Qiao said she¡¯ll be fine in a year. I believe her.¡±


    Old Master Wang couldn¡¯t help but whispered, ¡°With a marriage alliance with the Qiao family, your family won¡¯t suffer any losses. Trust me.¡±


    The Duke¡¯s mind quickly grasped the implications. ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, why would my wife and I be so eager to stay at her ce? My words can only go this far, but in the future, you¡¯ll understand.¡±


    ¡°Her?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to read between the lines.¡±


    At noon, the Duke treated them to a meal. Even the Old Duke and Duchess attended.


    They hade specifically to meet their future grandson-inw. When they saw him in person, they were highly satisfied.


    On the day the examination results were announced, the Mu family sent people to check the list. The brothers performed exceptionally well. Feng¡¯er ranked fifth, and Yun¡¯er ranked ninth, which was still quite impressive.


    Seeing that his future son-inw had achieved the fifth position, the Duke was overjoyed and immediately sent a gift to the Qiao family.


    Old Master Wang finally smiled and stroked his beard. The marriage between the Duke and the Qiao family had be more promising. As long as the Duke liked this son-inw, there shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    On the fifteenth of April, Old Master Wang took the twins to the Duke¡¯s house to say goodbye. The Duke prepared two carriages filled with gifts.


    The gifts were not for them but for Madam Qiao in the hope of mending rtions between the two families.


    On the other side, Chuan¡¯er¡¯s results have also been released. In the Qiao family, they now had a high-ranking official, two Rmended Schrs, and one who had passed the provincial examination. This caused quite a sensation.


    Now, people rted to the Qiao family got restless and couldn¡¯t sit still. They could see that the Qiao family was on the rise and wanted to bask in their glory.


    Particrly the matchmakers, who nearly trampled the Qiao family¡¯s door into the ground.


    Qiao Mai was unwavering, holding the belief that her child would have a bright future. Regardless of whether her son was sixteen or twenty-six, he could still marry a good girl.


    Haven¡¯t you seen those old men with three or four wives? They could still marry young girls. Moreover, her sons were only sixteen years old.


    In Qiao Mai¡¯s view, they were still children. It was too early to get involved in love and rtionships for young boys like them..

 Chapter 266 - 266: These Words Are Really Shameless

    Chapter 266 - 266: These Words Are Really Shameless


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The matchmakers were easy to deal with, but the Fengyun brothers¡¯ previous nsmen were not so easily convinced.


    If they weren¡¯t allowed inside, they would wait outside the gate. They didn¡¯t make a scene, merely standing there on both sides.


    Since they want to try this tactic with the Qiao family, so be it. Regardless, Qiao Mai had ordered that the Fengyun brothers would not see anyone.


    If they wanted to go to court, Qiao Mai was unafraid, whether done softly or forcefully.


    Seeing the situation, the Yuan family head decided to join in themotion. He brought his n members to the Qiao family¡¯s doorstep. Even the Qiao family¡¯s old couple came.


    Causing amotion within the crowd, Qiao Mai sent someone to deliver a message to the Yuan Jiaqi. He took the Yuan and Qiao brothers with him, instructing them to bring their respective parents back home.


    Upon seeing Yuan Jiaqi, the Yuan family head immediately knelt before him.


    ¡°Jiaqi, you are a member of our Yuan family. You can¡¯t abandon your n members.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi replied with a stern face, ¡°Back then, they didn¡¯t care when they saw me and my child suffering. Now that I¡¯ve prospered, why should I care for them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different. In the past, it was your family matter. But now, you¡¯ve be prominent, and it¡¯s a matter of the entire n.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve already been disowned by the n. I have no desire to return to that cold-blooded family.¡±


    ¡°We can change. As long as you return, we can change.¡±


    ¡°Family head, if you lead your n members back now, I¡¯ll think of the Yuan family whenever there¡¯s work in the county. If you continue to make a fuss, aside from not having work in the future, I¡¯ll not provide you relief when disasterse. Think it over.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi said nothing more to them and walked to the Jiang family.


    ¡°I know that you and the Yuan family members are the same. If you want the two brothers to return, return all the expenses we¡¯ve paid for them over the years, not a cent less. Otherwise, even if it means going to the capital to report it officially, I¡¯ll entertain you.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re our children. Why don¡¯t you give them back to us?¡±


    Qiao Mai stepped out from the entrance of the courtyard. ¡°You¡¯re shameless. When you wanted to sell them, I saved them, giving them plenty to eat and providing them with the best education. Do you think you can pick up where you left off like scavengers?¡±


    Seeing Qiao Mai, they all shivered, thinking of what had happened to the Tian family.


    They were afraid this woman would send someone to kill them.


    ¡°We just want to get our children back.¡±


    ¡°A few years ago, I said that they could return, provided that you pay me all the expenses I spent on them. You haven¡¯t. Whose fault is it?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have that much.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯te. Come when you have it. I can¡¯t just let my money go to waste, right?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so wealthy. What¡¯s the harm in spending a little on them?¡±


    ¡°Ha, you¡¯re shameless. My money didn¡¯t fall from the sky. I spend on them because they call me Mother. If they don¡¯t, why should I spend money on them?¡±


    ¡°In that case, let them continue calling you ¡®mother.¡¯ But you must be their Godmother. The children are still mine.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Since you¡¯re disregarded your shame, we can only take this to the court. Your presence here affects my life. I can report you for that.¡±


    ¡°Why? We¡¯re just at the entrance. It doesn¡¯t interfere with your business.¡±


    ¡°This entrance area belongs to me, Qiao Mai. Without my permission, you can¡¯t stay on my territory. Your presence here affects my life. Someone, go to the County She office to report the case.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The maids shouted, and someone went to fetch a horse.


    The Jiang family members, thinking of obstructing the servants from passing, did not anticipate that Qiao Mai, standing with her hands behind her back, was on the tform.


    Two maids came out of the side door and mounted their horses. They didn¡¯t know why, but the Jiang family members gave them wide-eyed looks and cleared a path for them.


    They intended to block the Qiao family servants from passing. How did they end up clearing a path?


    Seeing the maids mount their horses and head south, their hearts were filled with fear. Someone wanted to flee.


    Unexpectedly, everyone¡¯s bodies became paralyzed as if they were possessed, and their legs felt extremely heavy.


    Yuan Jiaqi stood on the steps shoulder to shoulder with his wife. ¡°My dear, what¡¯s happening to them?¡±


    ¡°I acupunctured them. Before the officials arrived, none of them could leave. They are a bunch of shameless scoundrels. When the children were young, they bullied him. Now that he¡¯s grown up and made something of himself, they all attached themselves to him like flies. If I let them go today, it would be unfair to all the effort they put into finding him.¡±


    ¡°These people are despicable and must be severely punished.¡±


    In the courtyard, the children had set up adder by the gate to peek. Miss Mu was also there. She hadn¡¯t seen Feng¡¯er for a long time.


    Unexpectedly, they met under these circumstances this time. Both of them blushed and nodded at each other.


    Ling¡¯er leaned against the wall and waved to them. ¡°Brother, look, Mom is amazing. They seem unable to move.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s acupressure.¡± ¡°Brother, can you do it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er pouted. ¡°I¡¯m still young. I¡¯ll learn it in a few years.¡±


    ¡°Mom said you¡¯re not cut out for martial arts. Even in a dozen years, you won¡¯t learn it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your third brother.¡±


    Miss Mu also set up adder on the wall and saw her future mother-inw standing on the steps calmly. She admired her greatly.


    This was the kind of mother-inw she had hoped for ¨C elegant,posed, and skilled. As she watched, she became excited and wanted to cheer for Qiao Mai.


    But she still restrained herself.


    Ling¡¯er tilted her head and asked, ¡°Sister Mu, is my mom amazing?


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s amazing.¡±


    An hourter, County Governor Zhu arrived in person. He brought twenty officials from the court. Among them was Tian Sanzhuang.


    After rehabilitation, his legs and arms had somewhat recovered. County Governor Zhu called him over and scolded him. To keep his current job, he had surprisingly been well-behaved.


    Upon arriving at the Qiao family¡¯s gate, County Governor Zhu immediately ordered the officials to bind the people at the front, load them onto horse-drawn carriages, and take them away.


    He bowed to Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Mr. Yuan!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zhu!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the story from your people. They are a group of troublemakers. I will make sure to deal with such shameless people properly.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The bound individuals were justing to their senses and started crying out on the carriages.


    ¡°Please spare us. We won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, Madam Qiao has spared you multiple times, yet you¡¯re not reformed.


    You are scoundrels trying to take advantage. Take them away.¡±


    County Governor Zhu mounted his horse and waved to the officials. They escorted the prisoners and headed south.


    The rest of the Jiang family members scattered and returned home. To get their loved ones out of official custody, they needed money. Otherwise, they would have to spend at least a month in jail.


    Jail was not a pleasant ce, and those who went in came out like they had been drained of blood.


    The next day, County Governor Zhu sent someone to give each person twentyshes. A month in jail could be shortened by paying ten taels of silver.


    Altogether, they had arrested about twenty people. This trip earned the imperial treasury about two hundred taels of silver.


    The Jiang family thought their littleedy had ended, but it hade at the cost of losing money.


    In May, Lucky Star Academy finally opened, but this time, it wasn¡¯t the Qiao family teaching. Two schrs came to apply for teaching positions, and Qiao Mai found them promising. She hired them for five taels of silver.


    They taught one ss in the morning and one in the afternoon. If they didn¡¯t teach well, they would be fired.


    They usually received only two taels when teaching at the school. Given the generous offer from the Qiao family, they naturally gave it their all..

 Chapter 267 - 267: You ‘re So Foolish

    Chapter 267 - 267: You ¡®re So Foolish


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Moreover, they only taught for half a day and were provided meals. Where else can they find such an opportunity?


    This way, Fengyun and Yunfeng can focus on their studies and martial arts. Feng¡¯er was assigned to the backyard to work on farming, allowing the young lovers to meet daily.


    Old Master Wang was pleased. He had already nurtured Yuan Jiaqi into a Tribute Schr and now had Fengyun and Yunfeng as Rmended Schrs. Plus, there was Chuan¡¯er, an Elementary Schr. He felt proud.


    For a while, the Qiao family was making waves in Wei City.


    It wasn¡¯t something they wanted to do, but they had no choice. The family was full of sessful individuals.


    The noble families had their eyes on the Qiao family, looking for ways to form alliances. They believed the Qiao family had good fengshui and that Yuan Jiaqi, only in his thirties, had already be a fifth-rank county governor. They expected his sons to follow in his footsteps.


    Just then, news came from the west and south, with reports of an invasion by foreign enemies amassing an army of 200,000 troops, ready to invade from the borders.


    This rmed the Fengyun brothers. They went to find Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother, we¡¯ve been training in martial arts diligently. We wish to showcase our skills on the battlefield. Please grant us your blessing.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her two adopted sons. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you martial arts for two reasons: to keep you strong and healthy and to serve your country. If there¡¯s a ce for heroes to use their skills, I won¡¯t stop you. Go and enlist in the county office.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The two brothers packed their belongings, taking the medicines and amulets Qiao Mai had prepared for them, and registered at the county office in County


    Yi.


    Very few people voluntarily enlisted in the military, taking County Governor Zhu by surprise.


    Two Rmended Schrs schrs want to join the army? How could they allow this to happen?


    He quickly sent someone to consult with Qiao Mai. Seeing that the Qiao family agreed, County Governor Zhu felt perplexed.


    Rmended Schrs joining the army was unprecedented. What should he


    He then urgently consulted Wang Zongsheng, who also found it unbelievable.


    With one more imperial examination, they could be imperial officials. These two children had a bright future. Why did they want to enlist in the military?


    He decided to let County Governor Zhu register the two of them first, arrange their amodation, and then visit the Qiao family.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, about the matter of the children enlisting¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve agreed. They have martial skills and wish to serve the country on the battlefield. How can a mother like me stop them?¡±


    ¡°But the battlefield is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve learned martial arts from me for nearly ten years. If they can¡¯t protect themselves on the battlefield, how can they achieve sess? Rest assured. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    ¡°Alright then. Once the timees, I¡¯ll have them sent to the border.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    When Miss Mu knew that Fengyun enlisted, she couldn¡¯t hold back her tears. She chased after him to the county office. With her status, nobody dared to stop her.


    With teary eyes, she looked at Yunfeng. ¡°Why are you so foolish? Why join the army?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not suited for schrly pursuits despite our recent sess in the examination. We¡¯ve tried our best, but if we wait for the imperial examination, we don¡¯t know when that will happen. If the country is in trouble and we can help, it¡¯s our duty. Besides, your family is a family of warriors. I hope that when I marry you in the future, I can do so as one.¡±


    ¡°My family doesn¡¯t look down on you.¡±


    ¡°Your father is a good man, but I want to earn some honor for you.¡±


    He didn¡¯t mention the Duchess. Although shey in bed, she still looked down upon her future son-inw.


    The more she acted this way, the more determined Feng¡¯er became to prove himself and bring honor to Miss Mu. When the time came to formalize their engagement, she wouldn¡¯t be subject to ridicule from the people in the capital.


    ¡°You¡¯re foolish!¡±


    ¡°As a man, this is what I should do. Yunfeng and I have always wanted to be in the military. Seeing your father leading soldiers in battle, we were quite envious. We hope to be like your father one day. Fortunately, Mother has also taught us military strategy, so it¡¯s the right thing to do.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to return in victory.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll take good care of ourselves. You won¡¯t be waiting in vain.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yun¡¯er stood aside, puckering his lips as he watched his older brother and sister-inw disy affection. It made him feel envious.


    By the end of May, the two brothers had gone to the border, and Qiao Mai often found herself gazing at the moon alone at night.


    After she had seen off the two brothers, rumors began to spread in Tianshui Town. They said Qiao Mai was not their true mother and didn¡¯t genuinely care for the brothers. As soon as there was a war, she sent the two boys away as if she wanted them to go and die.


    When Qiao Mai heard these rumors, she didn¡¯t get angry. Most likely, they were started by Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er¡¯s previous family.


    They didn¡¯t benefit from her, and this time, they had been punished. They probably had some anger they wanted to express, and she understood that.


    They were anxious. Oh well!


    Regardless of what they said, Lucky Garden remained peaceful. On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi was extremely busy.


    He had opened a safflower oil workshop, a shampoo workshop, and acquer workshop. He had three workshops. Since they were rted to oils, he made sure none of his workers smoked.


    Each workshop had a manager and employed twenty people. There were hundreds of workers collecting pine resin.


    In addition to that, he had to take care of the wheat. It had been sown in March, and now, it was June, with the harvest almost ready.


    The people in County She was eagerly waiting. If this new type of wheat were sessful, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their food supply.


    This month, Yuan Jiaqi sent all his officials to protect the wheat.


    He was more concerned about the wheat than the workshops.


    Apart from handling legal cases, he spent most of his time at the workshops or walking around the wheat fields.


    As he gazed at the heavy wheat spikes, he couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    He believed that the yield per acre couldn¡¯t be low.


    It wasn¡¯t just him; many people watched from a distance as it was the hope of County She residents.


    For this reason, he hadn¡¯t returned home for two months. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t visit. If there were any trouble, he would havee home to find her. Therefore, she wasn¡¯t worried about the situation on that end.


    At the end of June, the experimental fields were finally ready for harvesting. Yuan Jiaqi personally supervised the process while officials oversaw the harvest.


    They first harvested an acre ofnd, threshed the grain on the spot, and weighed it. Although the wheat wasn¡¯t dry, the difference was minimal. Yuan Jiaqi supervised the weighing and then reported the yield to the surrounding vigers.


    ¡°The new wheat variety yields 965 catties per acre.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s incredibly high!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was worried the first weighing might not be urate, so he had them harvest another acre, which yielded simr results.


    The vigers cheered. ¡°Mr. Yuan, can we also start nting this new wheat variety?¡±


    ¡°Of course. From now on, in County She, we can nt two seasons of crops each year. One season is in the spring, and another in July. The new wheat variety matures in three and a half months. With this, we won¡¯t need to nt winter wheat anymore, and our food supply will be sufficient.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡±


    ¡°To achieve high wheat yields, you need to learn soil management. It¡¯s not just about applying fertilizer. I¡¯ll have a book sent to each vige. You must study it. Once you learn it, not only will the wheat be pest-resistant, but it will also yield more.¡±


    The vigers knelt in excitement. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Yuan. Thank you! You¡¯re a good and honest official.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you want to nt the new wheat variety, you can bring your household registration. In a few days, I¡¯ll have the county office issue a notice.


    Each household can get twenty catties. Don¡¯te after the deadline.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    The people were overjoyed, wiping away their tears as they left. Yuan Jiaqi had the fifty acres of experimental fields harvested.


    He then had thend cultivated for ten days and nted another batch of wheat seeds.


    The remaining harvest was stored as seeds in the court. These weren¡¯t public property; they were his personal assets. He wrote a detailed report on this harvest and had it quickly sent to Wang Zongsheng.


    After Wang Zongsheng reviewed it, he sent a messenger to deliver the news to the imperial capital at lightning speed..

 Chapter 268 - 268: Willing

    Chapter 268 - 268: Willing


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi finished dealing with his business and finally took a sigh of relief, allowing himself to go home.


    Upon arriving home, he learned about the twins joining the army. He was stunned on the spot, not knowing what to say.


    ¡°Wife, for such a major matter, why didn¡¯t you inform me? I¡¯m such an unfit father.¡¯


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying anything? Whether I tell you or not, they were still going. You¡¯re busy and don¡¯t have time to manage the family.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a lousy husband and deserve to be punished.¡±


    ¡°How are things at the workshops?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve started production. I¡¯ve also arranged sales channels, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Alright, you can keep the profits from the workshops in the future. Let them handle the tax payments. I won¡¯t provide you with any more silver.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°With the growth of the trees, the oil production will increase each year. When the pine nuts start producing, it will be another source of ie. Ten years from now, the workshops,nd, and employees will no longer be a problem.


    I¡¯ve calcted it all.¡±


    ¡°Wife, thanks to you, my career has been smooth.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily. As long as you¡¯re willing to marry concubines, you can be equally sessful.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face immediately darkened. ¡°Wife, I¡¯m not ungrateful. Besides, I love you, not them.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re giving me the cold shoulder.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m ignoring you, but your words make me unhappy. I¡¯ll only have you for the rest of my life. You know it, yet you keep making me uneasy with your words.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Qiao Mai pursed her lips. Yuan Jiaqi looked at her seriously. ¡°In my eyes, you¡¯re the most beautiful, the best, and most capable!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making me happy. Is this your way of confessing?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi blushed. ¡°Wife, everything I said is true. In my eyes, no one canpare to you. I have you for the rest of my life, and I won¡¯t mention any other women. ¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to arrange things for Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°No need. My sons will rely on their abilities. There¡¯s no need to arrange anything. ¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t it good for me, their father, to help them in some way?¡±


    ¡°In that case, take care of the workshops. Our two sons will be getting married soon, and we need to prepare the dowry. We¡¯ll be inws at a young age!


    Haha!¡±


    ¡°Uh, that¡¯s fine. We can be grandparents early.¡±


    Qiao Mai imagined a granddaughter in her left hand and a grandson in her right, and she shivered.


    She was only in her twenties and would be a grandmother; it felt strange.


    The two sat down and sighed. ¡°Our eldest daughter-inw is a county princess. We can¡¯t provide anything less than ten thousand taels for the betrothal gifts.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, our second son is also proud. The dowry will be substantial. And there¡¯s Chuan¡¯er. With his sweet talk at such a young age, he¡¯s sure to win over some youngdies.¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯ll need a hefty dowry for Ling¡¯er. We can¡¯t let anyone look down on her.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of it, they¡¯re all costly goods.¡±


    ¡°Haha. When they all get married and establish their lives, I resign from my position. We can travel around, see the beautifulndscapes, and experience the different customs of the Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see when they all get married. When they do, they¡¯ll face the challenges of having children. Being first-time parents, they¡¯ll need us around.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t help them much. Only someone as capable as you can help them.¡±


    ¡°You never know. We might not be needed by then. Besides, are you willing to resign?¡±


    ¡°I am. I want to travel around the world and see the beautifulndscapes of the Ming Dynasty. With you by my side, it¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the man speaking passionately and slowly nodded. ¡°Alright, as long as you need it, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    July arrived, and the rain was pouring without stopping. In the capital city, the old emperor read Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s memorial excitedly, his hands trembling.


    ¡°Excellent, excellent! If we have such wheat varieties, the northern citizens won¡¯t suffer anymore. The national treasury will soon be full. Wonderful!¡±


    The Emperor was overwhelmed. He grabbed a handful of the wheat that came with the memorial, examining it closely.


    ¡°This is miraculous! Heaven blesses our Ming Dynasty.¡±


    He immediately summoned the head of the Agriculture Bureau. He handed over a small bag of wheat seeds and a thick booklet of farming techniques.


    ¡°Hurry and find the most fertilend to test the cultivation. When it¡¯s time to harvest,e and report to me. I will personally oversee it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Don¡¯t think the emperor would easily believe reports from lower officials. He wanted to put these ideas into practice, and if they matched what was written, the rewards would follow.


    So they still had to wait. Yuan Jiaqi wasn¡¯t in a hurry. They had already implemented the n, and his people were willing to follow it.


    He started promoting the new wheat varieties within County She. County Governor Zhu and Magistrate Wang had known about the matter. As soon as they received reliable information, they begged Qiao Mai for the wheat seeds.


    In any case, the memorial requesting merits had already been submitted. Therefore, Qiao Mai generously provided them with 5,000 catties of wheat seeds, allowing them to oversee its promotion.


    As the government vouched for it, and the wheat seeds were provided for free, many farmers were tempted to try it out.


    The promotion of the new wheat varieties was not that smooth in other areas, but it was sessful in the north of County She. There were even long queues at the government offices.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Promoting the new wheat varieties needed time to do so.


    She still had many new seed varieties, which she provided for the Ming Dynasty, such as drought-resistant rice and high-yield cotton, which were urgently needed.


    When ordinary folks could have enough food and clothing without worrying about their daily needs, the Ming Dynasty would be prosperous.


    Although she didn¡¯t provide County Governor Zhu with tree saplings, this fellow encouraged the people to nt more trees. He wrote down the benefits of nting trees on notices and sent officials to publicize them in various viges and towns.


    He also persuaded wealthy households to donate money and materials and started nting cold-resistant trees along the official road. However, this was limited to his county.


    This fellow was selfish; he didn¡¯t want to benefit other counties and only yed around within his territory.


    When other county governors heard about this, they finally persuaded their residents to follow suit and start nting trees after careful consideration.


    All nine counties of City Wei began nting trees.


    Farmers were already skilled at raising seedlings, and some trees could be easily grown by nting a branch in the ground.


    Therefore, many viges began nting trees in their courtyards.


    People chose to nt different kinds of trees, each with their intentions. Regardless, the direction of tree nting was correct. At the very least, the pruned branches of the trees could be used as firewood.


    In the harsh northern winters, firewood was essential. In this regard, the benefits of nting trees were obvious. Not to mention, after the trees grew into mature timber, they could be used for personal use. If they bore fruit, they could be harvested and sold, which would be another source of ie.


    It was a long-term n. County She began to see results within a few years because of their early tree nting.


    Many families who nted pine trees began learning how to extract and sell pine oil. Regardless of whether they made much profit, it was an ie as long as they sold to the workshops.


    For the poor residents of County She, this was undoubtedly a great benefit.


    Yuan Jiaqi showed the profits from the first month of the workshop to Qiao Mai. ¡°Wife, look. This is only the first month. The safflower oil workshop earned five hundred taels of silver after deducting all expenses. This is only from the first forest¡¯s pine oil. The shampoo made six hundred taels of silver, and the pine oil made over one hundred taels. It¡¯s over a thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Good, it¡¯s more than ten thousand taels in a year. When those other forests grow, we¡¯ll get even more oil.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe it won¡¯t be long before our workshop¡¯s products are sold throughout the Ming Dynasty..¡±

 Chapter 269 - 269: No Matter How Expensive It Is

    Chapter 269 - 269: No Matter How Expensive It Is


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Sure. Up to now, our kingdom still doesn¡¯t have shampoo, but we do have remedies for bruises and injuries. Let¡¯s see how it goes. If it doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll provide another form to rece the safflower oil.¡±


    ¡°Safflower oil is selling well in our area¡¯s medicine shops. Many people say it¡¯s effective. The clearcquer in the carpenter¡¯s shop is also pretty popr. People prefer the scent of pine oil over tung oil.¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see how it goes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to have the monthly ie brought to Shopkeeper Niu.¡±


    ¡°No need. Keep your records over there. The court doesn¡¯t allow officials to do business, so the ounts are under my name. I don¡¯t want you to have to ask me for money all the time. This way, you¡¯ll have more freedom.¡±


    ¡°Mydy, you¡¯re too kind.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how it is. You have no chance of having another wife. I don¡¯t marry easily, but once I do, I¡¯mmitted. We¡¯re husband and wife, and we¡¯ll grow old together.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡¯


    In the blink of an eye, the twins had been gone for several months. Miss Mu¡¯s thoughts were with them, and she often wrote letters to the Duke of Zhenguo, asking him to send someone to check on the brothers.


    Upon hearing that his son-inw had enlisted as a soldier and gone to the front lines, the Duke was filled with pride. They were schrs. How many schrs in this world would voluntarily join the army?


    He immediately sent someone to inquire about the situation. When he heard that the two brothers were safe, he wrote to reassure his daughter and asked her to stay in Tianshui Town.


    Miss Mu heard that Feng¡¯er was safe, which relieved her. She passed the news on to Qiao Mai.


    She didn¡¯t know that Qiao Mai had nted spiritual awareness on the brothers and bought protective charms for them on the tform. With these two things, they would be safe no matter what they faced.


    In mid-October, the people of Tianshui Town were busy with the autumn harvest. After this harvest, they would start nting the new wheat.


    Everyone was excited, including the three tenant households working on Qiao Mai¡¯snd.


    Last year, they followed Qiao Mai to make money by nting greenhouse vegetables. They even bought other fields, but they couldn¡¯t bear to leave Qiao Mai¡¯snd because she was so good to them. They didn¡¯t want to part ways with her.


    This year, they continued asst year, with each family nting only five acres ofnd. No matter how much money they make, they still feel it¡¯s important to have a food reserve.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t force them. She weed anyone who wanted to nt, whether from the town or the vige. Those who wanted to learn could learn from the maids.


    This year, several more families wanted to join in and grow the greenhouse vegetables.


    Qiao Mai agreed to teach them. She had a back entrance opened for those who were willing to learn.


    The vegetables nted were diverse, with each family choosing different varieties of popr crops.


    In the town, the families coordinated their choices, nting more of the vegetables high in demand and fewer of the less popr ones.


    The Jingtai Restaurant and Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery bulk-ordered vegetables this year. Many of the recipes for these dishes came from Qiao Mai.


    Of course, the dishes at Jingtai Restaurant are different from those at the Wang family restaurant. Some people evene from afar to taste the dishes at Jingtai Restaurant.


    The temptation of delicious food is irresistible. It¡¯s no surprise that Qiao Mai can sell her products at such high prices.


    Food lovers are willing to pay any price to satisfy their taste buds.


    Qiao Mai had publicly shared the method for making rice cakes. She wanted the townspeople to have a craft. Even if they didn¡¯t want to make money, they could still make it for their consumption.


    Apart from that, she also shared the recipe for hawthorn cakes and hawthorn rolls.


    With the current level of expertise in the area, seasonal dishes are made and sold during this time, and it¡¯s challenging to find them once the season has passed.


    Because these dishes are seasonal, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery also frequently offers items like rice cakes and hawthorn rolls.


    Some people quickly grasp the techniques, while others are slower, taking the recipes to heart and learning to make them at home. When they seed, they bring their creations to the market.


    During this period, there were many more vendors in the market. Qiao Mai would visit when she had free time.


    Nothing was new to her. If she desired something, Xiao Qing would ensure it was prepared. Nevertheless, she had Shopkeeper Niu visit the market regrly, acquiring high-quality goods to support those who worked hard to make a living.


    In November, Yuan Jiaqi had people deliver carts of charcoal to the house as


    the weather grew colder.


    With Feng¡¯er and Yun¡¯er away from home, Chuan¡¯er seemed to have grown up all of a sudden. He was only three years younger than them but had reached thirteen.


    Besides studying with his teacher daily, he began to take an interest in family matters. He always wondered around when he had free time, asionally visiting the embroidery workshop.


    Despite being thirteen, he was already quite tall, reaching 1.7 meters. The good food at the Qiao family kept him growing tall, though he remained lean.


    Every time Qiao Mai looked at him, she couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Chuan¡¯er, do you have a conscience?¡±


    ¡°Why do you say that, Mother?¡±


    ¡°Because in our family, you have a hearty appetite, yet you remain slim. Even


    Ling¡¯er is chubbier than you.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, isn¡¯t that just perfect? No need for a diet then.¡±


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er, have you ever thought about what kind of wife you¡¯d like in the future?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it. I¡¯m still young, and if I ever do marry, it will be someone who respects my parents.¡±


    Qiao Mai could see he had something on his mind, so she assured him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be like your grandmother. People are empathetic. If your wife treats me well, I¡¯ll return it.


    Chuan¡¯er seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said, ¡°I know you and Dad are nice people.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Otherwise, how would we raise such a little foodie like you?¡±


    After Chuan¡¯er left, Qiao Mai sighed. It was worrisome that such a young child had his concerns about finding a wife. She feared that his future wife might follow the path of his biological mother.


    He was worrying too much. Is she that type of person?


    In reality, the children in the family had their concerns. While aware of their dilemmas, she chose not to confront them openly. The twins wanted to stay in the Qiao family, but their birth parents had also treated them kindly. They struggled with the decision of whether to return and avenge their parents or remain with the Qiao family.


    She didn¡¯t want to decide for them and believed they should have the choice.


    They can¡¯t have everything they want. Given that they hadn¡¯t chosen in the past, it was no longer within their power.


    Qiao Mai believed she was not a good person; having to make choices meant there would be sacrifices. The brothers don¡¯t just owe her for her kindness.


    If they ever chose to leave her, they must be prepared to bear the consequences.


    She held the same standards for Yuan Jiaqi, Chuan¡¯er, and Ling¡¯er, her biological daughter. If any of them chose to betray her in the future, she would not show mercy.


    Lost in thought, Qiao Mai noticed snowkes falling from the sky. It was the first snow of the year.


    The north wind carried the snowkes through the sky. At that moment, the gate rang, and Qiao Mai focused on it.


    The maid opened the gate, and a young man dressed like a servant handed over a paper.


    ¡°I¡¯m a server from the Yong An Tea House in town. We¡¯re opening today. For the first three days, you cane for free tea and enjoy a y. If you¡¯re interested, please join us.¡±


    Taking the paper from the servant, Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow.


    In the past, Tianshui Town had only food stalls, but now they have a teahouse. The maid, holding the paper, proceeded straight to her courtyard.


    ¡°Mistress, this is an invitation from the Yong An Tea House.¡±


    ¡°Please take it to Old Mistress Wang; she should enjoy watching the shows.¡±


    The maid left, and Qiao Mai gazed into the sky, lost in thought. There was no sign of trouble with the connection to the brothers. The protective charm remained peaceful, signifying their safety.


    Just then, she felt a sharp pain in her chest.


    She could still endure this level of pain. In a sh, she disappeared from her spot.


    In the sky, she wielded her butterfly wings, flying with all her might towards the south.


    Half an hourter, she appeared outside the southern gates, where she found herself on a battlefield.


    The battlefield was covered in smoke. The Ming Dynasty soldiers had retreated to the safety of the walls. It appeared that the invaders had also retreated, leaving behind a field of corpses..

 Chapter 270 - 270: Is There Something Going On At Home?

    Chapter 270 - 270: Is There Something Going On At Home?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai closed her eyes to sense her consciousness. One was inside the city, indicating that he was safe. The other was on the battlefield.


    Alone, she walked gently, searching for the other divine sense.


    In the distance, she spotted a figure under a war banner, holding it up while lying on the ground.


    Qiao Mai hurried over, trying to tug the banner, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. She used her abilities to transport the banner and the person into her space.


    The injured person was Yun¡¯er, covered in cuts from the battle. He had fainted due to blood loss.


    The protective charm Qiao Mai had given him had saved him from a life-threatening injury to his chest.


    Inside her space, Qiao Mai used her medical kit to stitch the wounds and gave him healing pills.


    The injuries on his body healed quickly. She even fed him spiritual river water before taking him out of her space.


    After making sure no one was around, she lifted Yun¡¯er into her arms and flew him discreetly into the city.


    They found themselves amidst injured soldiers. Many physicians were attending to the wounded. Qiao Mai knew Yun¡¯er was no longer in immediate danger and would soon wake up.


    She left him at a conspicuous ce within the city walls and hid herself in the air.


    Shortly after, Feng¡¯er rushed around, searching the wounded soldiers¡¯ faces. He looked disappointed until he finally found Yun¡¯er. Feng¡¯er was overjoyed and shouted.


    ¡°Yun¡¯er, Yun¡¯er!¡±


    Fengyun opened his eyes, feeling tired. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m fine. No need to worry. I feel tired and want to rest for a bit.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re alive. If anything happened to you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face our parents.¡±


    Feng¡¯er cried with relief, hugging his brother. Yun¡¯er grinned and said, ¡°Mother¡¯s protective charm worked. I saw that deing straight at my chest, but it turned out fine.¡¯


    He touched his chest, still smiling. Feng¡¯er nodded in agreement. ¡°Mother¡¯s items are indeed powerful. In the future, when we go out to fight, remember not to charge ahead recklessly. Your life is the most important.¡±


    ¡°Well, I had some bad luck. I encountered an enemy general, but he didn¡¯t fare any better. I managed to cut off his leg.¡±


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    Yun¡¯er suddenly held Feng¡¯er¡¯s hand, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t think about our biological parents anymore. Mother saved our lives. We can¡¯t repay her with ingratitude.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just thinking, not nning to be ungrateful. Don¡¯t worry. Even if we die, we won¡¯t be unrighteous and forget our debts.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    In the air, Qiao Mai sighed in relief. She reinforced her divine senses and flew back to Tianshui Town.


    When she arrived home, it was already dark. She sat down by the bed, pouring herself a cup of hot tea. However, her quiet moment was interrupted when Old Mistress Wang entered.


    ¡°My child, where did you go today?¡±


    ¡°I went for a walk. Is there something going on at home?¡±


    ¡°Several people visited the shop today. They wanted to talk business with you. Shopkeeper Niu sent someone to call you, but when they couldn¡¯t find you, those people stayed there and refused to leave. They insisted on meeting you. It seems they have some connection with high-ranking officials or royalty. They aren¡¯t even afraid of me.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m just selling some snacks. Are they interested?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve built a sessful business in this small northern town. Imagine if it was on a national scale! There would undoubtedly be people coveting it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandmother. I¡¯ll handle this matter myself. I¡¯ll meet them tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Right, take it easy.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang sat with her for a while and then left. The snowfall outside intensified, and shortly after, Shopkeeper Niu arrived.


    ¡°Mistress.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about today¡¯s events. If those people show up tomorrow, send someone to inform me immediately.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mistress. They seem to havee prepared. Even Old Mistress Wang couldn¡¯t suppress their arrogance. They won¡¯t relent without acquiring your recipes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s probably more than just the recipes.¡±


    ¡°Mistress, please be careful.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day. Get some rest.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mistress.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu left. Qiao Mai used her mental powers to scan the town¡¯s only inn, the Yongtai Inn.


    In the upper room of the inn were several lit candles. A group of people sat there eating and drinking, their faces filled with disdain.


    ¡°Boss told us toe here and get some decent recipes from the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. But in this shabby ce, believe it or not, they do have some delicious food.¡¯


    ¡°They run their business here in this tiny town. If they were in the capital, they would make so much more money.¡±


    ¡°Which food items from their menu are you interested in?¡±


    ¡°I think popcorn, crispy rice, and yogurt. These three items sell the fastest, are most profitable, and the tastiest.¡±


    ¡°True. The sausages and pork are also good, especially in winter. It must be a hit in this season.¡±


    ¡°They also sell excellent snacks. I don¡¯t see a variety like this in the capital.¡± ¡°I think their pickles, especially the kimchi, are refreshing.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get their recipes for these dishes and take them back to present to the Prince. He¡¯ll surely be delighted.¡±


    ¡°But what if she refuses?¡±


    ¡°In that case, we¡¯ll visit her at night. I¡¯ve heard she knows martial arts. If she


    disagrees, we¡¯ll destroy her.¡±


    Qiao Mai asked through her mental connection, ¡°Gentlemen, who is your Prince?¡±


    The men in the room turned their heads to her, seemingly surprised. ¡°Who-Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Who is your Prince? Answer me first.¡±


    As if enchanted by her voice, a man with little self-control blurted out, ¡°Our Prince is the Emperor¡¯s eldest son, known as the Prince Ding.¡±


    ¡°How did he learn about this ce?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know. We heard someone whisper in his ear, so we were sent here.¡±


    Qiao Mai retracted her mental presence and immediately instructed her three little sheep.


    ¡°Guard the courtyard at night. If intruders get inside, show them what you¡¯re made of.¡¯


    ¡°Mistress, we¡¯re guarding every night, and we only rest during the day. We live off grass and produce milk.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re milk sheep?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just an analogy. We mean we work diligently.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if intruderse, make sure to deal with them firmly. Ideally, push them back to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mistress!¡±


    The night went on without any incidents. The next morning, Qiao Mai opened the curtains to see the snow was almost a foot deep and still falling.


    She went to see Old Mistress Wang, where she found Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er. It seemed everyone wanted to enjoy the lively atmosphere on this snowy day.


    Old Master Wang nced at Qiao Mai. ¡°If you find the situation too challenging, I¡¯ll write a letter to request assistance from the Duke of Zhenguo.¡±


    ¡°No need. It¡¯s a small matter. I can handle it.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I trust you.¡±


    Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er asked, ¡°Mother, is there anything we can help with?¡±


    ¡°Take care of yourselves; that¡¯s enough help for me.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t let you worry about us.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and had a few bites of food, then headed to the front of her shop.


    The staff had just cleared the snow in front of the shop, restocked items running low, and the workers in the back were preparing snacks.


    Upon entering the shop, the workers quickly prepared a cup of caramel milk tea for her. They then resumed their tasks.


    Shopkeeper Niu arrived and sat down in front of Qiao Mai. ¡°Boss.¡±


    No sooner had he spoken when five or six men entered the shop, the same individuals who had shared drinks at the inn the previous night.


    Upon entering, they shouted, ¡°Is the owner here?¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip of her milk tea. ¡°I¡¯m the owner.¡± She didn¡¯t even get up from her seat.


    The group of men gazed at her, examined her closely, and then pushed aside Shopkeeper Niu to take his ce.


    Qiao Mai gestured to Shopkeeper Niu to leave. The group stared at her.


    ¡°Are you the owner of this shop?¡±


    ¡°If you have something to say, go ahead..¡±

 Chapter 271 - 271: Are There Any Fish That Have Escaped The Net?

    Chapter 271 - 271: Are There Any Fish That Have Escaped The Net?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°We are subordinates of the Prince Ding from the imperial capital.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°We heard your husband is only a fifth-rank official, while Prince Ding is the Emperor¡¯s eldest son. If you are smart, you¡¯ll bring all your recipes from your shop to join our Prince. In the future, half of your family¡¯s assets will be offered to our Prince, and when he bes powerful, he won¡¯t mistreat you.¡±


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t refuse a toast when it¡¯s offered, or you¡¯ll drink a forfeit.¡±


    These people spoke arrogantly as if they were entitled to her shop¡¯s riches, acting like they were taking back what was rightfully theirs.


    Qiao Mai nced outside; it was cold, and it was still early in the day. Besides these people, there were no customers in her shop yet.


    Qiao Mai casually waved her hand, closing the entrance to the shop.


    ¡°Do you know how obnoxious you are?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you woman, don¡¯t think you can avoid trouble! ¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand the sight of you. Since you¡¯re here, you can stay in my shop as ghosts and watch the prosperity of my business.¡±


    ¡°You dare to act violently in broad daylight?¡±


    Qiao Mai pushed her palm out lightly, and one of the men immediately fell over the table. She had no intention of allowing these people to continue their obnoxious behavior.


    One by one, with lightning-quick strikes, the men met their end before they could react.


    Shopkeeper Niu and the staff watched in awe and fear, realizing this was the consequence of angering their boss.


    Qiao Mai waved her hand again, and all the corpses disappeared.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Get back to work. If anyone asks about those people, say you didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    They watched their boss leisurely sipping milk tea. This is the same woman who had just taken lives with a simple gesture moments ago.


    Shopkeeper Niu red at the other staff. ¡°Do your work diligently. You all know the boss¡¯s temperament, don¡¯t you? These people were all up to no good, scheming against our shop. It serves them right for getting killed!¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu was more insightful than anyone else; he had seen a lot in his


    years.


    The more capable the boss is, the happier he feels, thinking that following her is the way to a brighter future.


    When those people came by yesterday, he sensed they were trouble, but he didn¡¯t expect Qiao Mai to appear today and just kill them outright.


    Qiao Mai had intended to keep these people, but she changed her mind. Her family had young children, and she didn¡¯t want to risk any future trouble. So, she had all of them killed.


    She finished her cup of milk tea, then got up and opened the shop¡¯s door, separated from the cold by thick and clean cotton curtains.


    The snow was still falling, and no one was on the road. None of the nearby shops had opened yet.


    Liu Hai¡¯s shop had just opened. Qiao Mai thought, ¡°Enemies hide while I remain visible. If I find out who is causing trouble behind my back, they¡¯ll be in for it!¡±


    She pondered in her heart, thinking that the former Princess Heyi probably hadn¡¯t remembered yet.


    As for the Duchess, it would be another month before she could get out of bed. These two were the most likely ones behind the disturbances in the capital.


    Who could it be? She suspected it was those malicious individuals, always scheming in the shadows. No matter how many they sent, she would eliminate them.


    These people were undoubtedly up to no good.


    With only two months until the New Year, she hoped for a peaceful and safe time for her family.


    However, things didn¡¯t always go as nned. After the disappearance of these people, someone started investigating in secret.


    They attempted to infiltrate the Qiao family in the middle of the night but were all dealt with by the three sheep. Their lifeless bodies were disyed in Qiao Mai¡¯s courtyard.


    Qiao Mai saw the neat row of bodies as soon as she woke up.


    Fearing that someone might see them, she waved her hand, and they were all sent into her space for Greeny to handle.


    ¡°Are there any fish that have escaped the?¡±


    ¡°Master, only these people arrived. They were searching in each courtyard as if looking for something.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not something they are searching for; they are looking for someone.¡± ¡°Should we do the same to anyone else whoes?¡±


    ¡°Of course. As long as they enter Lucky Garden without my permission, deal with them mercilessly!¡±


    ¡°Understood, Master.¡±


    From mid-November to mid-December, there were five waves of people who attempted to attack Lucky Garden. They were all wiped out.


    This incident seemed to have rmed Wang Zongsheng. Perhaps it was because some people under his jurisdiction had disappeared, and he was pressured. He sought out Old Master Wang to discuss the matter.


    Naturally, Old Master Wang had some idea about what was going on, but he did not bring it up. Wang Zongsheng looked troubled.


    ¡°Father, what do you think about this?¡±


    ¡°Perform your duties as a magistrate. Find a reason to resolve this matter; don¡¯t interfere.¡¯


    ¡°But it¡¯s Prince Ding.¡±


    ¡°What does it matter? If you can¡¯t find any evidence, what can he do to you? At most, he will use you of ipetence.¡±


    ¡°Father, do you know something about this?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on that. The first group of people who came had their sights set on Madam Qiao¡¯s shop. They had designs on her wealth and intended to meddle in the workshops in County She. Do you think Madam Qiao would stand by and let that happen?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng took a deep breath. ¡°I understand, Father.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I need to hear. These shameless individuals can¡¯t earn a living, so they resort to stealing from others. They deserve their fate. I believe sooner orter, Madam Qiao will grow tired of this and take action against Prince Ding.


    You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m off. I¡¯ll bring the whole family for the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯te empty-handed!¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡±


    After Wang Zongsheng left, Qiao Mai remained silent. The New Year was fast approaching, and she had kept Miss Mu at her side for a year. She decided to meet her.


    ¡°How has your year been in my home?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gained a lot.¡±


    ¡°The New Year ising up. Do you want to return home?¡±


    ¡°My parents are doing well. I¡¯d like to spend the New Year with your family and return after the holidays.¡±


    ¡°In that case, enjoy the New Year. Let me know if you need anything.¡±


    ¡°Any news on Feng¡¯er¡¯s return?¡±


    ¡°It should be soon. They fight daily. There aren¡¯t many people left to fight.¡±


    At this point, Miss Mu had shed her innocence and gained a touch of maturity and rationality. Qiao Mai noticed the change in her with a nod.


    ¡°Starting tomorrow, you don¡¯t have to do anything. Get ready to enjoy the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Aunt, I¡¯m used to staying busy. It¡¯s hard to be idle.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself.¡±


    Miss Mu left the courtyard, and Qiao Mai let out a sigh. She hoped that her two sons would return in the spring.


    With two fewer people in the house, it felt lonely.


    At that moment, she suddenly felt a murderous intent. She cursed under her breath, wondering why someone would be so impatient to attack in broad daylight.


    The three sheep also became alert, their gaze fixed on the roof. This time, there were many people, and it seemed unlikely that they could be silently dealt with. They wished Qiao Mai were here to help.


    Just as they thought about this, Qiao Mai took action.


    One by one, the individuals with white cloaks fell from the roof. With the help of the three sheep, over a dozen skilled individuals were quickly dealt with.


    Just as Qiao Mai prepared to store their bodies, she noticed a distant figure slowly trying to escape.


    Sensing this movement with her spiritual power, she immediately dashed towards the figure. She was incredibly fast, and before the white-cloaked man could react, she had already grabbed his clothing. With a light tug, she struck his back.


    Before he could let out a miserable cry, she brought him into her space.


    Qiao Mai looked at the barely conscious person before her. Without even removing his face veil, she pressed her palm against his forehead.


    To determine who had been behind these assassination attempts, she had recently purchased a book on the art of soul searching from the tform. It was a basic technique, and after rummaging through a person¡¯s soul, they would be useless.


    From the memories of this individual, she saw a man dressed in royal attire, known as Prince Ding.


    This white-cloaked person was one of Prince Ding¡¯s subordinates and a small leader among his personal guards. He had been the one who set up the ambush, hoping to discover who had killed so many of their people.


    Seeing the ease with which Qiao Mai had taken down his men and the three sheep¡¯s ability to strike from mid-air fatally, he found it quite unbelievable.


    Just as he wanted to escape, Qiao Mai noticed him..

 Chapter 272 - 272: Don ‘t Let Anyone Off

    Chapter 272: Don ¡®t Let Anyone Off


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It wasn¡¯t just Qiao Mai who noticed; even the three sheep had detected it, but they hadn¡¯t acted as quickly.


    After conducting the soul search, the man in the white robe also died from a ruptured heart.


    Qiao Mai returned from her space, leaving the bodies inside. She sat alone in her room. The whole courtyard was silent.


    Among those individuals, she only found one with a connection to Prince Ding and no other useful leads. She would have to pay a visit to the imperial capital.


    Prince Ding was courting death. He kept harassing her. She had to teach him a lesson.


    Taking advantage of the fact that Yuan Jiaqi had yet to return home, she immediately set off for the capital and left the three sheep to guard the house. They would note again for the time being.


    When she arrived at the capital, the sky was already dark. She walked on the wide streets of the capital with her hands behind her back.


    When she passed by Prince Ding¡¯s mansion, she tilted her head and took a look.


    It was indeed the residence of the emperor¡¯s eldest son. It was so imposing. There were two rows of soldiers guarding outside. The door was still wide open, and the lights inside were brilliant. If one listened carefully, one could hearughter from the living room.


    Qiao Mai probed with her mental power. Prince Ding was entertaining his group of guests.


    It was almost the new year. He was giving out rewards to his subordinates.


    Qiao Mai raised her eyebrows and walked past the door. She found a small tavern and asked for two dishes, sat down, and slowly drank a pot of hot wine.


    Winter in the south was much colder than in the north. Although it didn¡¯t snow, it was wet and cold. The cold air stabbed into his bones.


    After drinking a few sses of wine, she dispelled the coldness in her body.


    Prince Ding had never interacted with her before. Why would he care about her business?


    On the surface, her shop only earned about 1,000 taels a month, which is


    10,000 taels a year. Including those from County She, he would get 20,000 to


    30,000 at most. Even if he added the deer antlers and musk at home, it was 50,000 taels. To Prince Ding, this money was not even enough to cover the expenses of his residence for two months. Why would he target her?


    However, she would get the answer tonight. If Prince Ding didn¡¯t tell her, she would have to search his soul.


    After drinking a pot of wine, she walked on the street. At this time, there were fewer pedestrians, but the carriage kept moving on the road.


    She leaped into the air in a sh. This time, she did not use her wings. She only used her cultivation to float towards Prince Ding¡¯s mansion.


    The banquet had ended. At this time, Prince Ding should be in the backyard.


    The designs of the houses in ancient times were simr. The front and back courtyards were usually women¡¯s residences. Prince Ding¡¯s residence was also in the backyard. As he often had to rest in the women¡¯s yard, his study should be here.


    She saw a courtyard lit up and went to check. She finally found where Prince Ding was.


    Several candles were lit in the study.


    A few figures swayed. It seemed like they had business to discuss in the middle of the night.


    ¡°Your Highness, the secret guards sent to Tianshui Town have all lost contact.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a merchant. How did we lose so many people?¡±


    ¡°None of them came back.¡±


    ¡°Send more people over! How many first-ss secret guards should we send this time?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the result will be the same.¡¯


    ¡°Does that merchant have a backer?¡±


    ¡°Magistrate Wang¡¯s father was invited to be a teacher at their home, and his mother has always lived there. There¡¯s nothing special about it. The entire family relies on that shop, but the mistress is unwilling to sell the forms. She¡¯s holed up in Tianshui Town. If we get those forms, they¡¯ll spread throughout our dynasty. At that time, we¡¯ll have endless money.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just food. Is it as miraculous as you make it out to be?¡±


    ¡°Your Highness, that shop earns ten thousand taels a year. What about ten shops or a hundred shops? Food is the most important thing for the people. She only opens it in a small town. What if she opens it in the prefecture or imperial capital?¡±


    ¡°But what if the secret guards I¡¯ve nurtured are more valuable than her shop?¡±


    ¡°We just can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s going on. Knowing the details will let us win every battle.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t lose any more secret guards. How about this? I¡¯ll think of another way. If it doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll force her to submit with her man¡¯s career at stake.¡±


    ¡°But the Emperor thinks highly of County Governor Yuan now. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be difficult to touch him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find a chance.¡¯


    Qiao Mai heard their conversation clearly in midair. She had used her divine sense on the person who had made the suggestion.


    A guest was manipting Prince Ding into attacking her shop. There must be something going on behind the scenes.


    Tonight, she couldn¡¯t let anyone off. She would strike the guest first.


    As soon as the meeting was over, she threw the guest into her space in a deserted ce.


    The guest shifted abruptly, his eyes wide with fear. When he saw Qiao Mai, he immediately screamed.


    ¡°Who are you? Brazen assassin.¡±


    ¡°Who am I? You caused Prince Ding to scheme against my shop. Tell me, who am I?¡±


    ¡°I-I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    ¡°Tell me, who¡¯s gossiping behind your back?¡± ¡°No. Let me go now, or Prince Ding will find out.¡± ¡°Hmph, Prince Ding is nothing. I even killed his secret guards. I came to the capital this time to ask for some interest.¡±


    The guest was not stupid. When he heard this, he despaired. He looked left and right. This was not Prince Ding¡¯s mansion. Where was this?


    ¡°Are you going to tell me or not?¡± ¡°If you let me go, I¡¯ll speak!¡±


    ¡°You take me for a fool.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste her breath on him. She reached out and pressed her hand to the top of his skull. The guest rolled his eyes. In a moment, he was a fool.


    ¡°Greeny.¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Get rid of him.¡¯


    ¡°Master, he has be a fool. We can throw him outside and teach Prince Ding a lesson.¡±


    ¡°This lesson is too easy for Prince Ding.¡±


    ¡°Master, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°It just so happens that my two sons are of age. It¡¯s time to prepare some betrothal gifts. Let¡¯s start with Prince Ding¡¯s family.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve built a few warehouses for you. All the jewelry, gold, and silver are inside.¡± ¡°I still have Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er. The more, the better.¡±


    That night, Qiao Mai wiped out Prince Ding¡¯s mansion. Like robbers entering a vige, she didn¡¯t even leave a grain for him.


    This was just a lesson. To Prince Ding, someone would naturally deliver money to him as long as he didn¡¯t die.


    After all, his identity was there, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t make him feel any better. She ordered Greeny to p his cheeks until they were swollen like pig heads.


    The harvest this time was bountiful. The gold, silver, and jewelry ounted for nearly a million taels.


    She did not want thosend deeds. Prince Ding could be said to be as rich as the kingdom. Those properties alone were enough to support all the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.


    He must have ulterior motives for umting wealth.


    After Qiao Mai swept through his mansion, he would not be able to overturn it for a long time.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care what was going on behind his back. All she had to do was teach this b*stard a lesson. She had to kill the people who deserved to be killed and steal the items that deserved to be stolen.


    As soon as she left, the capital was in chaos. Such a strange thing seemed to have happened a few years ago. The case had never been solved.


    Now, even Prince Ding¡¯s Mansion had been robbed. The officials were helpless.


    Although the emperor was mad, the assets were stolen out of thin air. It could only be said that it was done by an Immortal.


    Thinking of it, the Emperor recalled the Immortal that made food appear from nothing.


    Could it be done by an Immortal? But why would an Immortal steal something from Prince Ding¡¯s mansion?


    The Emperor was more cautious and immediately sent the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate Prince Ding¡¯s Mansion.


    Once he investigated, the Emperor was shocked. Prince Ding was constantly umting wealth. What was he trying to do?


    Could he be raising an army and wanted to rebel?


    Hence, he continued to let the Golden Dragon Guards investigate. Sure enough, there were 20,000 elite soldiers hidden in a mountain only five hundred miles from the capital.


    Whether it was armor, weapons, or warhorses, they were all top-notch. They trained every day and were much more dangerous than the army of the Ming Dynasty.


    The Emperor thanked the thief from the bottom of his heart. If not for this matter, he would not have noticed this eldest son of his harbored such malicious intentions..

 Chapter 273 - 273: Did You Do Good Again?

    Chapter 273: Did You Do Good Again?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After all, the older the ginger, the spicier it was. The new year wasing soon, and there was a war in the South. He did not want a panic to rise, so he issued a decree to summon Prince Ding to the pce. He ced him under house arrest and asked the Golden Dragon Guards to watch over him.


    At the same time, he sent out a group of Golden Dragon Guards to secretly investigate the Prince¡¯s mansion. All major and minor incidents had to be recorded in detail.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t know what had happened in the capital. No matter how the emperor investigated, he probably couldn¡¯t find anything about her. Prince Ding had many tricks up his sleeve and had bullied many people. Who would have thought that a vige woman was an Immortal?


    Before she returned, she went to the Duke¡¯s mansion to look at her future inws.


    At this moment, she was walking back and forth on the floor. Although she needed someone to support her, she was much better than when lying on the bed.


    The news that the Qiao family had money had spread from her, but it was an unintentional move. Qiao Mai would not hold it against her.


    She hoped that after this woman recovered, she would stop causing trouble. Although she was her daughter-inw¡¯s mother, she would still deal with her if provoked.


    After Feng¡¯er returned, his marriage with Miss Mu would be on the agenda. Prominent families were particr about this. It would probably take at least a year and a half from the engagement to the wedding.


    She was the groom¡¯s family. They had to take the initiative and hold a grand wedding. They could not let the girl suffer.


    In addition, Yun¡¯er¡¯s marriage had to be brought up by a matchmaker. The two boys would be 18 years old after the new year. Time flew by quickly.


    They arrived at the Qiao family when they were seven years old. At that time, Qiao Mai was only sixteen. The mother and son were only nine years apart. Now, she was 27 years old.


    Qiao Mai looked at herself in the mirror. She was almost 30 years old, but she was still so young. In the 21st century, she was at a prime age. Here, she was already the mother of several children.


    She clicked her tongue and touched her face. Her skin was so smooth that she didn¡¯t need to take care of it. She didn¡¯t even need to eat Beauty Pills. Although her appearance was ordinary, her skin could be said to be wless.


    At this time, a maid came to report.


    ¡°Mistress, Mayor Qian sent someone to summon you. He said his child is sick and has a fever.¡¯


    Qiao Mai was stunned. She immediately stood up and tied her coat as she walked.


    She ran to the backyard of the mayor¡¯s house. An old doctor was taking the child¡¯s pulse. Lu Sanniang was so anxious that she wiped her tears.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I took her to a show on such a cold day and ended up freezing. ¡±


    After taking her pulse, the doctor sighed. ¡°Such a young child! I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be able to take the bitter medicine. We can only let the adults drink it and let the child drink the adult¡¯s milk.¡±


    ¡°But I ran out of milk.¡±


    Qiao Mai listened as she opened the door and walked in. She went forward and touched the child¡¯s head. The temperature could reach more than 39 degrees Celsius.


    If the fever did not subside, the child would be burned to death.


    She quickly pushed the doctor aside. It was someone she knew, so the doctor didn¡¯t fuss over it and watched her tinker.


    Qiao Mai lifted the nket and cotton clothes the child was wearing. She took a medium-sized bottle from her sleeve, poured the transparent liquid onto a piece of cotton, and wiped the child. She covered the child¡¯s front, back, feet, palms, and head with a cold towel.


    After a quarter of an hour, Qiao Mai signaled the physician to take the child¡¯s Dulse again.


    Miraculously, her pulse had stabilized.


    Qiao Mai covered the child with a thin nket. ¡°When the child has a fever, you can¡¯t cover her too tightly. Otherwise, she¡¯ll burn even more. You can use high-caliber white wine to rub her, but this is only temporary. She still has to drink medicine.¡±


    She casually took two small jade bottles from her sleeve. One was for treating colds, and the other was for reducing fever. She asked the servant to find two small bowls and pour medicinal powder into them. She used water to dry them and asked Lu Sanniang to feed the child with a small spoon.


    Lu Sanniang wiped her tears and fed the child bit by bit. She did not expect the child to be so willing to drink it. After a while, she finished two small bowls of medicinal soup.


    Seeing the child¡¯s face slowly returning to normal, Lu Sanniang knelt in front of Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Sister, thank you. Our family owes you too much!¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t look pleased. The more polite Lu Sanniang was, the more distant she felt between them.


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯ll leave these two bottles of medicine. Take it three times a day, the amount I poured just now. Don¡¯t feed it too much.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Ever since she had this boy, Lu Sanniang had ced all her focus on the child and paid no attention to the outside world.


    Qiao Mai sat for a while. When she saw the child was fine, she got up and left. Mayor Qian and the physician followed her out.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I can¡¯t thank you enough. If you need anything in the future, say it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qiao Mai started to walk away, but the physician caught up with her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, old man?¡±


    ¡°Can we find a ce where we can talk?¡±


    Qiao Mai brought him to her shop, where the staff served two cups of hot milk tea. It was the end of the year, and every family was buying new year goods. The shop was busy and idle.


    ¡°Take a seat. What do you want to say?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you saw the situation just now. Many children died from a cold.


    They¡¯re young and can¡¯t take bitter medicine. This will dy their illness.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken a fancy to my medicine?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m not doing this for money. I¡¯m doing this for sick children.¡± ¡°Are you in charge of the clinic?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the owner of our clinic is a good person. If he heard there are cold and fever medicines for children, he definitely wouldn¡¯t raise the price.¡±


    ¡°How dare he!¡±


    The physician trembled with fear at the aura emanating from Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai stared at him.


    ¡°I can give you two prescriptions for free. I know your clinic has branches and a headquarters. Tell your boss he can earn money, but it can only be a small profit.¡¯


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll convey your words to the boss.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at the physician and asked Shopkeeper Niu for a pen and paper. After a while, she finished writing two prescriptions.


    ¡°Take it and start production as fast as you can.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The physician excitedly blew the prescription dry, folded it, and ced it in his arms. He stood up and bowed deeply to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam Qiao is righteous. All the children in the world will be grateful to you.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and leave, or I¡¯ll go back on my word.¡±


    The physician looked at the milk tea and drank it in one gulp. It was not that he was greedy. He knew if he did not drink it, it would be thrown in a while. He did not want to waste anything.


    As soon as he left, Shopkeeper Niu respectfully came to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Boss, are you doing good deeds again?


    ¡°I do evil things too.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Since Shopkeeper Niu witnessed his boss¡¯s strength that day, the admiration in his heart was like waves in the river. The shop assistants were the same.


    With Qiao Mai as their boss, even the subordinates had confidence.


    However, they knew Qiao Mai¡¯s character and did not dare to bully others. Everyone in the shop kept a low profile.


    Even though they had seen their boss¡¯s strength, they still acted the same.


    On the twenty-fifth day of December, the families sent New Year¡¯s gifts as promised. Even Liu Mei and Liu Ye did.


    Although the items weren¡¯t expensive, they were rare. The family sent arge basket of steamed sticky bean buns to Qiao Mai.


    Thanks to Qiao Mai, all of their families had made money, especially Liu Ye¡¯s husband. Qiao Mai had asked Shopkeeper Niu to give up 20% of the profits and wholesale the goods to Liu Ye¡¯s family. They sold them for the same price as the Qiao family and had made bank in the past two years.


    Liu Ye was also hardworking. As soon as she got married, she was pregnant. Ten monthster, she gave birth to a chubby baby. The Dong family had a good character. They respected their daughter-inw, not to mention that she knew double-sided embroidery.


    Liu Mei¡¯s husband was down-to-earth and sincere. The work Yuan Jiaqi had arranged for him had beenpleted well. He was now a leader among the workers and earned one tael of silver monthly..

 Chapter 274 - 274: You Don’t Want It To Happen Again, Right?

    Chapter 274 - 274: You Don¡¯t Want It To Happen Again, Right?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    As Liu Mei was the worst off among the three siblings, Madam Liu Qiao would give her this and that every few days. Now, Liu Mei was popr in her inws¡¯ house.


    Mayor Qian had invested a lot in this year¡¯s New Year¡¯s gift. Qiao Mai had saved his son¡¯s life.


    The carloads of New Year¡¯s goods were sent to Lucky Garden as if they were free. Qiao Mai did not argue and epted them all.


    Ruyi had also sent someone to send New Year¡¯s gifts. She and her husband would only be back in a few days.


    She was pregnant again. Her mother-inw had been taking care of her in the prefectural city. Only Ruxin had not been heard from, but Qiao Mai did not care.


    Surprisingly, the Duke¡¯s estate had also sent gifts. There were two letters attached. One was for Miss Mu, and the other was for Qiao Mai.


    The Duke used polite words in the letter. He told her about the Duchess¡¯s recovery and mentioned the two children.


    They also hoped to hold a wedding for the children after the war ended. After all, Miss Mu was already 19 years old. They could not dy it any longer.


    Qiao Mai immediately asked someone to prepare a gift and pasted talismans under all the baskets. This way, it would be fresh to transport to the capital. She and Miss Mu had both written letters and handed them over to the people who hade to deliver the New Year¡¯s goods. Qiao Mai had even rewarded the Duke¡¯s men with 20 taels of silver each. This mission was worth it. She watched as they all had smiles on their faces.


    It was said that the Duke¡¯s family was engaged to a minor official, but look at their inws.


    Others would do good by giving two or three taels while Qiao Mai offered 20 taels.


    Five carts of New Year¡¯s goods were delivered, and Qiao Mai returned the same. It was not inferior to the Duke¡¯s at all.


    Miss Mu looked at the five carts of New Year¡¯s goods and felt it was a pity. ¡°Auntie, why did you give them so many? It¡¯s such a pity. Many of them can¡¯t enter my parents¡¯ mouths.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as they tried it once, they¡¯ll definitely keep it for themselves the next time I send it over.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Your family¡¯s food is the best I¡¯ve ever eaten.¡±


    ¡°After you marry, you¡¯ll be in charge of the family¡¯s matters. Can you handle


    Miss Mu blushed. ¡°Of course. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t I have wasted two years in your house?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you have many characteristics youngdies from rich families have, but you also have strong points. No matter how your identity changes, you must remember there is always someone better than you. If you act strong for a moment, an expert will punish you behind your back.¡± Miss Mu held Qiao Mai¡¯s arm. ¡°My expert is you.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re free, learn some self-defense.¡±


    ¡°Can you teach me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re from a family of generals. Haven¡¯t you learned anything from your family?¡±


    ¡°My mother won¡¯t let me. She said it¡¯s for crude people.¡±


    At the mention of the Duchess, Miss Mu hurriedly covered her mouth. Qiao Mai nced at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as she doesn¡¯t cause trouble, she¡¯ll be fine. I won¡¯t do anything to her. She¡¯s been bedridden for almost a year and probably had enough. She probably doesn¡¯t want it to happen again, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my mother has a lot of problems, but she has a good memory.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. It¡¯s good to be friendly inws. By the way, do you know any good sisters in the imperial capital? If they have good morals, you can introduce them to Yun¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I wonder what kind of person Brother Yun likes. Everyone has their preferences.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled happily when she heard her casual words. ¡°Yes, when hees back, ask Feng¡¯er about it. Although they¡¯re twins, there¡¯s a big difference in their personalities.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Feng¡¯er is steady. Yun¡¯er is a little jumpy.¡±


    ¡°So you chose Feng¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Drinking tea and chatting together as mother and daughter-inw felt amazing.


    Yuan Jiaqi returned home on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Being his subordinate was both tiring and enjoyable.


    They were tired because they had work but enjoyed life. Yuan Jiaqi gave them a high sry and benefits from time to time. Especially during the new year, each would get ten taels of silver and a basket of specialties from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    Which government office would have such treatment?


    As soon as County Governor Zhu received the letter, he felt sick. Before the New Year, he came to visit with gifts.


    There were no outsiders, only him and Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°I said, Brother Yuan.¡¯


    ¡°Ah, Brother Zhu. Please speak?¡±


    ¡°Can you not do those things for your staff and make it difficult for me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not me. My wife sent it to them. She said my county is too poor, and our family has opened a workshop. The officials worry too much. It¡¯s the end of the year, so she wants to express her gratitude.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s causing the officials on my side to have a problem with me.¡±


    ¡°Then you should do the same. It¡¯s not like your wife doesn¡¯t have any assets.¡±


    ¡°How can itpare to your house? I¡¯m here today. Can you at least let me bring some back?¡±


    Qiao Mai lifted the curtain and walked in. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend if you¡¯re incapable. I earned all this. What has it got to do with you?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I bring a New Year¡¯s gift?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the small pile of pitiful things on the table. ¡°If you respect me, I¡¯ll respect you. Do you want to take a big shot back with this small pile?


    Dream on.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re the richest in County Yi.¡±


    ¡°Others give it to me too.¡±


    County Governor Zhu looked like he was about to cry. ¡°Then give me some?¡±


    ¡°You can eat by yourself. I don¡¯t care about your subordinates. Whoever owns them should take care of them.¡¯


    On the 29th of December, County Governor Zhu took a cart of New Year goods from the Qiao family and left. He did not give any to his subordinates and ate them all himself.


    Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai shook their heads when they heard this. The two knew that this would happen. They could only me the Qiao family for eating too well. It was not easy for them to get a cart full of food. Share it? That was impossible!


    This guy came to the Qiao family every year to get something. He would not return empty-handed.


    Every family took pride in receiving New Year¡¯s goods from the Qiao family. Qiao Mai knew this; she was teasing County Governor Zhu for fun.


    It was just a cart of New Year¡¯s goods. It was nothing. She was joking with him because she had nothing to do.


    If it weren¡¯t for the teahouse added this year, where they could listen to operas and stories, New Year would indeed feel quite boring.


    Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er began setting off fireworks. The two spent the whole day making their faces look covered in confetti.


    Qiao Mai never demanded her children to be well-behaved in this aspect; as long as they were happy, she was satisfied.


    Especially this year, with the absence of the twin brothers, the New Year atmosphere wascking.


    Miss Mu had a beautiful New Year with the Qiao family. Qiao Mai even prepared aplete set of New Year clothes for her daughter-inw. Miss Mu was so pleased that she didn¡¯t want to take them off.


    She returned to the Duke¡¯s mansion on the sixth day. When she left, Qiao Mai searched the house and gave her several carriages of food, all her favorite treats.


    Well, she didn¡¯t dislike anything. Whatever she saw, she wanted.


    Finally, Miss Mu returned to the Duke¡¯s mansion, content and satisfied. Seeing her mother walking like before, she joyfully hugged her and burst into tears. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s your daughter¡¯s fault for letting you lie in bed for a year.¡±


    ¡°If you feel guilty, break up with that boy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Mother. Your daughter belongs to Yunfeng, whether alive or dead. If you want me to create a tragedy, I¡¯ll die for it.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Mother, ept it. Feng¡¯er is a good person. He¡¯s good-looking, and I heard he has made great contributions on the border. He¡¯ll be back in court soon. With the Emperor¡¯s temperament, he¡¯ll give him an official title. The men in the Qiao family don¡¯t take concubines. I¡¯m not worried about that aspect of the women.¡±


    The Duchess had a grim face, knowing that persuasion would be futile. She could only nod in agreement with the decision.


    In March, there were reports of victories from the southern and western borders, where invaders had been repelled, bringing great joy to the Emperor.


    In mid -March, the border¡¯s defending general returned to the capital with a letter of surrender from the invaders. The Emperor rewarded the achievements.


    The Fengyun brothers risked their lives to infiltrate the enemy¡¯s camp and capture their leader. This led to the enemy¡¯s submission. The Emperor was pleased and granted the two young men the highest honors for their deeds..

 Chapter 275 - 275: The Future Is Limitless

    Chapter 275 - 275: The Future Is Limitless


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The brothers went from being foot soldiers to being appointed as fourth-rank generals, known for their bravery and courage. Their achievements on the battlefield surpassed those who had spent ten years studying in the cold, dark rooms.


    The brothers received honors in the Golden Dragon Hall, parading on horseback throughout the day, basking in their newfound glory.


    The Emperor went further to grant them two mansions and appointed them asmanders in charge of city patrols and suburban military camps.


    Having military power in their hands, their origin as adopted sons of the Yuan family made them less threatening.


    The Emperor¡¯s role was challenging, having to be vignt and cautious at every step. No wonder historical emperors didn¡¯t live very long.


    At the end of March, the brothers returned home for a family visit. The local officials and Magistrate Wang came to wee them, and even Yuan Jiaqi rushed back from County She.


    As a fourth-rank general and a magistrate were of the same rank, the one with military power held a different status. Even Magistrate Wang had to greet them with a smile.


    In the living room, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi sat at the top while others took their seats below. The brothers formally paid their respects to their parents and then showed their courtesy to the others.


    As they sat together, sharing stories andughter, Yun¡¯er briefly mentioned his experiences in the military.


    When it came to fainting on the battlefield andter joining the border, he nced at Qiao Mai. A smile from her side conveyed everything, and he understood.


    Mother had been silently protecting them. Tears welled up in his eyes at the thought that his mother had rescued him from the battlefield.


    He had been covered in wounds yet miraculously healed. A person who should have died had appeared safely within the borders.


    Qiao Mai avoided looking at him, stood up, and went to the kitchen to arrange the feast.


    The brothers¡¯ return deserved a grand celebration. After handling the kitchen arrangements, Qiao Mai went straight to Jingtai Restaurant.


    Shopkeeper Tong anticipated her arrival. ¡°Madam Qiao, are you nning a grand event?¡±


    ¡°Yes, make some good arrangements. I want a three-day feast, inviting all the townspeople.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, that would require quite a spectacle.¡±


    ¡°Set up a banquet in front of your restaurant too. Let everyone enjoy together.


    Add the expenses to our tab but make it a bit grand.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure everything is done well.¡±


    Once Madam Qiao left, Shopkeeper Tong clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Such good fortune! Her husband is a fifth-rank county governor, and the son is a fourth-rank general. They are so young and promising. Their future is limitless.¡±


    Mayor Qian had the town¡¯s trees wrapped in red cloth and even invited a theater troupe to perform. For a while, Tianshui Town felt like it was celebrating a big festival.


    As Qiao Mai¡¯s family thrived, some people felt increasingly ufortable. The old Qiao couple were as distressed as if they were being fried in oil.


    ¡°Husband, we shouldn¡¯t have broken ties with her when she divorced. Look at her now; she¡¯s so prosperous.¡±


    ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no regret medicine in the world. I think the stubborn girl has decided not to acknowledge us. Let it be; I hope that she and her brothers can reconcile. After we¡¯re gone, her two brothers won¡¯t suffer anymore.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s her husband who¡¯s soft-hearted, arranging our son to work for him. They eat well, and the pay is high. They have even gained weight.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. If the stubborn girl hadn¡¯t agreed, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed our two sons to stay there. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t cut tiespletely.¡± ¡°I heard that some of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s brothers also worked there?¡±


    ¡°Of course. He would favor his brothers.¡¯


    ¡°Sigh. I heard she¡¯s nning to host a three-day feast in town. Should we secretly attend?¡±


    ¡°Why sneak around? She can host others, but we¡¯re her biological parents. Let¡¯s openly join, especially since it¡¯s a public feast; she won¡¯t be watching.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Let¡¯s inquire about it in town tomorrow.¡± ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s bring the Yuan couple along.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    As for the Tian family, Old Tian had found a new love, so he no longer thought about Qiao Mai.


    However, upon hearing that Qiao Mai was nning a three-day feast, he decided to bring his wife along.


    Tian Sanzhuang had no hope for the future. With broken limbs that had recovered but couldn¡¯t handle strenuous activities, he could only work as a minor official in the court, thanks to his father-inw¡¯s influence.


    Seeing Qiao Mai¡¯s life improving and her children bing more sessful, he felt increasingly uneasy.


    Fortunately, his son was growing up. Seeing the child as intelligent and adorable, he began to have different thoughts.


    He decided to focus on raising his son. If he couldn¡¯t be sessful, he would make sure his son¡­


    If he couldn¡¯t be as prosperous as Qiao Mai, his son¡­


    His son might not surpass Qiao Mai¡¯s sons, but if he could at least be more sessful than himself, even bing a schr, it would be much better.


    In mid-April, the brothers returned to the capital. When they left, Qiao Mai handed Yunfeng a banknote for two hundred thousand taels of silver.


    She instructed him to use the money to prepare the betrothal gift, ensuring everything was of the highest quality. They needed at least a hundred and twenty carts. If it wasn¡¯t enough, he could write to her for more.


    She also advised him to socialize more with the Duke¡¯s mansion and understand their expectations.


    Yunfeng kept everything in mind, but carrying two hundred thousand taels felt burdensome.


    Qiao Mai was surprisingly generous for his wedding, offering two hundred thousand taels of silver at once. Yunfeng had a clear idea of the family¡¯s ie.


    Qiao Mai genuinely considered them as her sons. This made him feel closer to Qiao Mai as his mother.


    Not long after their departure, it was the season for harvesting wheat. Except for areas north of County She, which nted spring wheat, the southern regions sowed winter wheat, ready for harvest by May.


    Even the Emperor supervised the wheat harvest at the Imperial Farm outside the capital.


    The results were extraordinary, with bountiful harvests thanks to well-managed fields. In the south, abundant rainfall resulted in a yield of a thousand kilograms per acre. This delighted the old Emperor.


    Immediately, he issued an edict, promoting Yuan Jiaqi and recing the Minister of Personnel in the capital with him.


    Yuan Jiaqi became the Minister of Personnel, who is responsible for appointing and dismissing officials, conducting examinations, promotions and demotions, transfers, and granting honors.


    A first-rank official in the capital was a prestigious position, especially when overseeing personnel matters. All officials had to curry favor with the Minister of Personnel.


    The Emperor was delighted for several reasons. Yuan Jiaqi had made significant contributions, many officials had secretly misbehaved, the Minister of Personnel had been making private moves, and they hadn¡¯t found suitable candidates in recent years.


    Now, he did!


    Yuan Jiaqi was pleased with the promotion but couldn¡¯t bear to leave the recently developed County She.


    Even more, he couldn¡¯t bear to leave Qiao Mai. She had stated that she wouldn¡¯t follow him to the imperial capital.


    This dilemma troubled him. He wanted to persuade his wife, but her words were like an imperial decree, not easily changed.


    Despite the promotion, he wasn¡¯t happy!


    However, Old Master and Mistress Wang were delighted, as was Chuan¡¯er. Although everyone knew how Yuan Jiaqi had obtained his position, they were genuinely happy.


    However, when they heard Yuan Jiaqi wanted them to follow him to the capital, everyone shook their heads.


    They loved their home; its changing seasons¡ªgentle spring breezes, summer heat, autumn leaves, and winter snow¡ª It offered different sceneries throughout the year.


    But the capital was always rainy and damp, with harsh cold winters. They were not ustomed to living without a heated bed.


    They refused to go, and Yuan Jiaqi finally understood why his wife didn¡¯t want to.


    Besides, she disliked socializing, and here, she had friends and a thriving business. If she left, what would happen to this home? It was such a level home; she couldn¡¯t bear to part with it..

 Chapter 276 - 276: It’s Too Embarrassing

    Chapter 276: It¡¯s Too Embarrassing


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Her shop is here, which is her lifelong work. If she wants to leave, she has to n carefully.


    Because if she leaves, she¡¯ll take everything with her.


    However, since Yuan Jiaqi would be developing in the capital, having a house is essential. Living in their son¡¯s house is inappropriate, so they need their ce.


    Their son¡¯s house belongs to their son. As parents, they won¡¯t take it away.


    Having just organized avish feast for her son, she has to do the same for her husband. Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t mind hosting such feasts every day.


    Due to the twin¡¯s matters, Chuan¡¯er didn¡¯t take the imperial examination this year. Seeing his father and brother enjoying such fame, he was incredibly envious.


    Nothing tasted good anymore. After attending Old Master Wang¡¯s ss, he would rush home to study.


    In mid-June, Yuan Jiaqi handed over his duties to the new county governor and arranged the workshops. At the end of the month, he went to the capital for his new position.


    However, apanying him were Qiao Mai, Chuan¡¯er, Old Master and Mistress Wang. Ling¡¯er stayed at home. She wanted to check on her shop and manage the household, so she volunteered to stay.


    This trip to the capital wasn¡¯t just about settling down; there was also the marriage proposal with the Duke¡¯s family.


    Now that Yuan Jiaqi held a high position in the court, discussing marriage with the Duke¡¯s family was reasonable. Although there was still a gap in social status, it was not insurmountable.


    Now that the news had spread throughout the capital, people started talking about Yuan Jiaqi, a first-ranked official, being a live-in husband.


    The Duke didn¡¯t mind; what does it matter if his inw is a live-in husband? He was young and promising, and the Duke even weed having a few more daughters for his family to marry.


    Just thinking about it, he couldn¡¯t help but crave the delicious meals.


    Having them as inws was a good thing. It meant he could enjoy gourmet food whenever he wanted.


    Thinking about this, the Duke couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    His wife, however, was not thrilled at all. She found it embarrassing for a man to be a live-in husband.


    It was humiliating.


    She contemted using schemes to break off the engagement, but when she thought of her daughter¡¯s words, she hesitated.


    The Duchess didn¡¯t dare to take the risk.


    She feared that her daughter might do it, and she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    After a ten-day journey, Qiao Mai and the others arrived in the capital and settled into Bichun Garden.


    Although the Emperor granted mansions to the brothers, they hadn¡¯t separated. They currently live in Feng¡¯er¡¯s mansion, which hasn¡¯t been decorated yet due to their busy schedules.


    On the other hand, Old Mistress Wang¡¯s Bichun Garden was well-maintained and convenient.


    The olddy didn¡¯t trust her children to stay in the capital alone, so she joined them to ensure Feng¡¯er¡¯s affairs were taken care of. Being a city person, she was knowledgeable about customs and traditions.


    Chuan¡¯er¡¯s arrival was also due to his education. Old Master Wang nned to guide him in his studies.


    After only a day of rest, Yuan Jiaqi went to the pce to express his gratitude and assume his new position. Old Mistress Wang was tired from the journey and needed rest, while Old Master Wang had to teach Chuan¡¯er to study. Only Qiao Mai was left with nothing to do.


    As she hade along, she intended to establish her residence in the imperial capital first.


    During the day, she strolled to the broker center.


    ¡°Are there any good houses avable in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, madam. Could you please specify the type of house you are looking for?¡±


    ¡°Bring the catalog of your best houses.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The shopkeeper saw Qiao Mai¡¯s head adorned with the most popr diamonds in the capital, and he was delighted, realizing they had encountered an important customer.


    He hurriedly ran to the back and brought the catalog.


    It was an exquisite catalog, one that could highlight the value of houses.


    ¡°Madam, please have a look. Currently, we have two houses in the capital, both valued at over five hundred thousand taels. These two houses are featured in this catalog.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Qiao Mai extended her jade-like hand, flipping through the catalog while the shopkeeper exined.


    ¡°This first house is a five-in, five-out set with arge garden at the back, covering an area of one hundred acres. It¡¯s located in the southern part of the city, which is a wealthy area¡ªquiet and suitable. If you want to go to the bustlingmercial street, you can get there in no time.¡± ¡°How much for this one?¡± ¡°Not too much or too little ¨C five hundred thousand taels.¡¯


    ¡°And the other one?¡±


    ¡°Eight, eight hundred thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the good one be presented first?¡±


    ¡°We hope our customers see something simr first, so there¡¯s a basis forparison. Otherwise, the difference of three hundred thousand taels might be unclear.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, tell me. What¡¯s the difference of three hundred thousand taels?¡±


    ¡°Esteemed madam, although these two houses have the same area, there¡¯s a significant difference in the quality of the materials used inside the houses and the scenery of the gardens. You see¡­¡±


    Listening to the shopkeeper¡¯s exnation, Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°Is this the most expensive house in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly, but it¡¯s close. The most expensive houses belong to the royal family. I heard they were built with over a million taels.¡±


    ¡°Then take me to see both houses.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but we¡¯ll need to use a carriage. Otherwise, we won¡¯t finish in a day.


    We can get off at special ces to take a closer look.¡±


    Qiao Mai agreed, and the shopkeeper quickly arranged a carriage to take Qiao Mai to inspect the houses.


    They first visited the house worth five hundred thousand taels. Qiao Mai remained silent, then looked at the second one. After finishing the tour, she pointed at it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take this one. I¡¯ll need to modify the house. Do you have enoughbor?¡±


    ¡°Avable at your call.¡±


    ¡°Handle the procedures.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to negotiate the price?¡±


    ¡°Am I the type whocks money?¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± This statement was imposing, leaving the shopkeeper nearly bewildered.


    When they went to the government office for procedures, the shopkeeper directly stated the fees they covered. Qiao Mai smiled and said nothing, letting them process the house under her name.


    She was not pretentious. Her money was her own. Her husband was a live-in husband; his possessions were also hers.


    She wasn¡¯t foolish or noble enough to write her assets under her husband¡¯s name.


    Once she obtained the deed for the house, she immediately signed the modification documents at the broker center.


    After returning home, she handed over the modified drawings to the broker center in three days, along with special materials such as PVC and steel pipes.


    She first had the workers fill in all the wells at home, then found new locations and taught them how to pressurize water wells with the new pipes.


    Although such wells exist here, the cost is too high for ordinary families to afford.


    With her pipes and guidance, the cost naturally decreased significantly.


    This wasn¡¯t important; what was important was that she let these country bumpkins witness high technology.


    Their eyes widened several times, and they were dumbfounded. What kind of operation was this?


    Apart from this, there was another thing that amazed the workers even more. That was building a not-too-big house in each courtyard, separating wet and dry areas.


    Inside was for bathing, while outside was a squatting toilet and arge mirror embedded in the wall.


    Heavens, what kind of family was this? So amazing!


    This was not the end. What about the floor? What about the muddy substance under it? What about the smear and paste on the wall? What was going on with all these?


    Many workers were confused, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t tell them what these materials were.


    One house after another, she taught them how to paste walls,y bricks around the bath, and smooth them. She was serious.


    Lucky Garden didn¡¯t have these. Mainly because this was the south; bathhouses were used too frequently. There was another point, which was the shower.


    To achieve bathing freedom, she ordered several sun barrels from the immortal world.


    The barrel was just a barrel, but it was magical. When water flowed in, it would turn into a temperature of forty-five degrees.


    If the temperature was not high enough, there was a button to adjust it automatically.


    She only taught these workers how to decorate two houses, and they all learned everything!

 Chapter 277 - 277: It’s a Blessing to Eat and Move

    Chapter 277: It¡¯s a Blessing to Eat and Move


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Ancient people were intelligent. They just had limited exposure. If brought to the modern era, they could thrive because of their wise minds and hardworking bodies.


    This is crucial. After the washroom was done, Qiao Mai moved on to her bedroom.


    She was ustomed to sleeping on arge brick bed and naturally didn¡¯t want to sleep on some ufortable wooden bed, finding it quite stifling.


    Afterpleting the well-pressurization and bathroom projects, she finally arranged for the construction of the brick bed. Due to the frequent rainfall and high humidity in the south, not building earthen beds there had its reasons.


    These ces were prone to attracting insects, ants, and poisonous snakes, so people in the south generally didn¡¯t build such earthen brick beds.


    But this was her house, and Qiao Mai certainly wouldn¡¯t let such things happen.


    So, she purchased many talismans from the tform ¡ªmoisture-proof talismans, insect-repelling talismans, fire-avoidance talismans, and earthquake-avoidance talismans.


    She ced them at the entrances of each courtyard and on her front door.


    She ordered a que like the one in Tianshui Town, calling it ¡°Lucky Garden.¡± She liked these two characters, finding them festive.


    After spending so much money and buying such a good house, the corresponding facilities had to be well-equipped.


    In the future, when she wasn¡¯t here, there would be her son and daughter-inw, Old Master Wang, and Old Mistress Wang. She wondered if they would find this ce morefortable than Tianshui Town.


    Thinking too much was tiring, and she didn¡¯t want to bother. Qiao Mai would go wherever her thoughts took her.


    She had someone dig a drying pond in the northwest corner of Lucky Garden. Inside was a pool made of bricks and cement, covered with steel tes she bought from the tform.


    Then, she affixed pollution-repelling talismans, water-cleaning talismans, insect-repelling talismans, and even earthquake-avoidance talismans inside. The sewage from the squatting toilets, bathing areas, and kitchen would all be drained into it through sturdy PVC pipes.


    She had the talismans handle all of it; a permanent solution.


    Finally, she thought she should build an amusement park. Her children were grown up and didn¡¯t y anymore, but there would be a bunch of grandchildren in the future, as well as great-grandchildren.


    So, she found a suitable ce in the garden, drew up ns, and had the workers start building.


    She also had a martial arts field arranged, ced in the northeast corner of the house, covering four to five acres. She even nned for elderly fitness equipment in it.


    She intended to have chicken coops, quail coops, deer enclosures, and aromatic deer enclosures. This way, if Old Mistress Wang stayed here, there would be things for her to do.


    Life lies in movement. Living out your old age idly is not living infort.


    Being able to eat and move are blessings. Doing things in moderation is only beneficial, not harmful.


    This change also allowed the broker center to make money.


    Luckily, there was still a garden at the back. Chicken coops and such were all built there. Don¡¯t underestimate these coops; they were even more advanced than those in Tianshui Town.


    Back then, Qiao Mai¡¯s space level was low, and she couldn¡¯t buy good materials. Now that her level was high, what couldn¡¯t she buy on the tform?


    This was her second home. With the conditions, she had to make it good.


    The workers once again witnessed the generosity of Qiao Mai. Even the chicken coops they built were better than the ces people lived.


    The top cover was transparent, and the architectural shape was beautiful, the type that could be liked at first sight.


    This wasn¡¯t a house; it was a small castle.


    The workers thought that after building this garden, building other people¡¯s homes wouldn¡¯t interest them anymore.


    All the interesting things were in Lucky Garden. This time, they broadened their horizons. Although they didn¡¯t know what high technology was, the materials they used showed them things they had never seen before.


    Worth it! Building their garden was worth it.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care what they thought. She came during the day, cleared the garden in the evening, and then returned to Bichun Garden.


    Old Mistress Wang came over at night. ¡°Girl, where do you go every day? It¡¯s been a month, and I haven¡¯t seen you.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi served her food and tea. Everyone had had their meal except her.


    While eating, Qiao Mai replied to them, ¡°I bought a house. I watch the workers during the day; otherwise, they won¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°Where did you buy it?¡±


    ¡°A house on Huangdao Street.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Houses in that area are expensive. How much did you spend?¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m buying, I¡¯ll buy a good one. In the future, my son will marry his wife there. I can¡¯t let my inws lose face.¡±


    ¡°How much money?¡±


    ¡°Eight hundred thousand taels. With theter modifications, it¡¯s around fifty to sixty thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°You are generous.¡±


    ¡°When it¡¯s ready, we¡¯ll move in. Have the twinse over?¡±


    ¡°They came over long ago, but we couldn¡¯t find you. They¡¯re new in their positions and are pretty busy. Let me know when you have time, and we¡¯ll inform them after they¡¯ve taken a break.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wait until we move to the new house, and then we¡¯ll get together. ¡±


    ¡°I want to see what your new house, which cost nearly a million taels, looks like.¡±


    ¡°I guarantee you¡¯ll like it, maybe even better than our home in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for it.


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi heard she spent nearly a million taels buying a house in the capital and regretted it instantly. It would be better not to be a first-rank official. What good could one million taels do for the people?


    Oh no, it hurts.


    Qiao Mai nced at him. ¡°Earning money and spending it is the nature of a hero. Our moneyes from legitimate sources. Besides doing things for the people, one must also know how to enjoy.¡±


    ¡°My wife is right!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you want to do things for the people, there are plenty of opportunities. I also have a lot of money here. Rest assured!¡±


    ¡°I believe in you.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang watched the affectionate scene between the couple and immediately stood up. ¡°Even if you¡¯re busy, remember to eat. I¡¯m going back now and won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Qiao Mai sent away Old Mistress Wang, feeling quite good. The olddy used her new terms well in front of her.


    When there were only the two of them, Yuan Jiaqi became talkative.


    ¡°Wife, why didn¡¯t you let me apany you for such a big matter?¡±


    ¡°Do you have time?¡±


    ¡°Uh, no.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re busy. I¡¯m alone and free, just right for handling these matters. Besides, I also know a thing or two about this. If you¡¯re free, you cane, but you wouldn¡¯t understand even if you were here.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m just a bookish fool who only knows how to study and work foolishly.¡±


    ¡°Not entirely. You¡¯ve done well in handling the affairs of the county.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s also with your support. Otherwise, how could I have risen to the position of a first-rank official in a few years?¡± ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t be modest in front of me.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    The couple had been busy with their matters since arriving. Even when they slept together at night, they would close their eyes early, tired from their day¡¯s work.


    Today was a rare asion for them to chat like this. But Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t change his ways and still listened to Qiao Mai¡¯s words.


    In the blink of an eye, another month passed, and it was September. In the south, September was the rainy season, butpared to August and July, it was much less.


    One day, after breakfast, Old Mistress Wang wasining to Old Master Wang.


    ¡°This darn weather, raining every day. The garden is too damp; I miss Lucky Garden.¡±


    ¡°You grew up here and still find fault?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I like Lucky Garden now. I don¡¯t want to go anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°I see that girl has renovated the house here. She probably ns to stay here for a long time, and it must be nice.¡±


    The two were chatting when Qiao Mai, with her hands behind her back, walked in with a smile.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t get used to living here after two months?¡± Old Mistress Wang beckoned to her, ¡°Nowhere is as good as Lucky Garden.¡± ¡°Hehe, let¡¯s go, shall we? Let¡¯s see the new house together.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s eyes immediately lit up. ¡°Can we move in now?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve finished everything inside. I guarantee you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    Upon hearing this, they hurriedly went back to change clothes. Chuan¡¯er, who was dressed neatly, didn¡¯t need to change.


    ¡°Is Dad going too?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s too busy. We¡¯ll notify him toe over in the evening.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great! We have a home in the capital now..¡±

 Chapter 278 - 278: Moving Into A New Home

    Chapter 278 - 278: Moving Into A New Home


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°We must have a home. In the future, you will stay with your great-grandparents here.¡±


    ¡°What about you, Mother?¡±


    ¡°We have our business in County She. Mother will oversee it there. But when it gets cold, especially around the New Year, I¡¯ll return.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Mother will live there?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Otherwise, with everyone being a foodie, what will your mother use to support you all?¡±


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯ll earn money once I grow up. I¡¯ll give all my sry to you.¡±


    ¡°Your sry won¡¯t be enough even for yourself. Just focus on being a good official to serve the people. Your mother will support you from behind.¡± ¡°Mother, you¡¯re too kind! No wonder Father likes and respects you so much.¡±


    As they were talking, Old Master and Mistress Wang came out. They urged them to move.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I can¡¯t wait. It¡¯s a mansion worth a million taels.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The four got on a carriage and headed straight for Huangdao Street. Fifteen minutester, they stopped in front of an imposing gate.


    As soon as they entered the gate, they all smiled. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s also called Lucky Garden?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it feels like we¡¯re back in Tianshui Town.¡¯


    With hands behind her back, Qiao Mai knocked on the door. Someone promptly opened it from the inside. Two young servants bowed when they saw Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Greetings, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Alright, from now on, my grandfather, grandmother, and son will live here.


    You must serve them well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    They quickly bowed. Qiao Mai helped Old Mistress Wang while Chuan¡¯er supported Old Master Wang into the house.


    The entrance gate was reced with arge artificial mountain with flowing water, creating a pleasant sound.


    As they walked, Qiao Mai spoke.


    ¡°The frontyout is simr to our house in Tianshui Town. Both sides are for guests, with the kitchen on the left and rooms for servants on the right.¡±


    ¡°This is how it¡¯s arranged in big households. It¡¯s convenient.¡±


    ¡°Our backyard has a small kitchen, convenient for cooking. The brothers are not young anymore; they will each have a courtyard. They live in the three courtyards on the east side. You and Grandma will live in the northernmost part of the west side, close to me.¡±


    ¡°Whatever you arrange is fine.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er will live next to you in the middle of the west side. There¡¯s also a detached courtyard and a guest courtyard. When we have guests, my husband and I will live in the main courtyard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s natural; this is your home.¡±


    ¡°You two can choose to live here.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang gave Qiao Mai a stern look. ¡°I won¡¯t go. We¡¯re too old to be interrupting you.¡±


    The four wandered around the garden and were satisfied, especially with the bathhouse.


    Old age makes it inconvenient to go out at night. Qiao Mai built a toilet adjacent to their bedrooms, convenient and essible, with 24-hour lighting and no need for assistance.


    Going into the bathroom feelsfortable, and everything is done in one flush. It¡¯s great.


    Moreover, they found that since entering the garden, they haven¡¯t felt damp, and there are no mosquito bites. It¡¯s incredibly refreshing.


    Entering the room, there was even a brick bed. This meant that it would be warm here in winter.


    Seeing the excited looks of Old Master and Mistress Wang, she knew they were


    satisnea.


    So, Qiao Mai took them to the backyard garden again. When Old Mistress Wang saw the chicken coop and such, she was even more excited and hugged Qiao Mai, crying.


    ¡°You understand me.¡±


    ¡°I just wanted to find something for you to do. This way, our kitchen staff can rx a bit. When we get eggs, we can have the kitchen prepare them and enjoy fresh meals every day.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I promise to fatten the chickens and quails.¡±


    ¡°The housekeeper, the ountant, and some servants have been hired. When we move, they wille with us. The beds and everything are ready in your rooms. Each room has a dressing mirror and a full-length mirror.¡±


    ¡°I saw. You¡¯re considerate.¡±


    ¡°With the yground and martial arts field, this home is better than Tianshui Town. Chuan¡¯er will take the exam after the New Year. Later, I¡¯ll transfer your household registration back to the capital. It¡¯s more convenient. We have two homes and can live wherever we want. If you get tired of living here, you can return. It¡¯s only a ten-day journey. Consider it a change of scenery.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Rest. I¡¯ll go back to arrange for the move.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    On September 8th, the family moved in. Yuan Jiaqi also received the news and returned to Lucky Garden that night.


    Seeing the whole house, they were stunned.


    This house was probably one of the best in the capital ¨C luxurious, practical, and wonderful.


    As the Emperor was clearing corrupt officials, living in such avish house wouldn¡¯t attract suspicion, would it?


    Seeing his concerns, Old Master Wang said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Every official in the capital has properties. As long as you don¡¯t take bribes or involve yourself in corruption, there¡¯s no problem. This is your wife¡¯s property, not yours. Besides, the Emperor isn¡¯t ignorant. He will find out if he investigates.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m worried that if I be a high-ranking official, I might be framed and implicate my family.¡±


    ¡°Your wife is clever and strong. Just trust her.¡±


    The next day, Yuan Jiaqi got a day off. The twins also received the news and returned to the new house. They gathered and re-examined the house.


    Everyone praised it; this house was magnificent, warm, peaceful, and free of insects. They could live here with peace of mind.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang lived in Peni Residence, Ling¡¯er¡¯s courtyard was called Xianyue Residence, Feng¡¯er¡¯s was called Tingfeng Pavilion, Yun¡¯er¡¯s was Liuyun Pavilion, Chuan¡¯er¡¯s was Haichuan Pavilion. They had a guest courtyard, and the main residence was called Yuexian Residence.


    Qiao Mai named them all, and everyone liked them.


    Coincidentally, they brought two chefs from home. They stayed in Lucky Garden in the capital.


    If there weren¡¯t enough people, they could train more.


    At noon, everyone celebrated together. After all, it was a family gathering to warm up the house.


    After all, this is the South, and there are still vegetables avable, so there¡¯s no need for any greenhouse here.


    Anyway, the kitchen staff has her recipes. As long as there are ingredients, she can make any dish, just like in Tianshui Town.


    There are two public warehouses in the house, and with a wave of her hand, they were filled to the brim.


    After warming up the house, the steward led them to check the storage. The surprise came when they discovered high-quality supplements like ginseng, bird¡¯s nests, and deer antlers.


    Dry goods and seasonings were stacked in baskets, eliminating the need to purchase from outside. It was sufficient for a year¡¯s worth of consumption.


    Looking at the fresh fruits and vegetables, they couldn¡¯t help but be tempted to sneak a taste.


    A dozen boxes of silver were ced, totaling several tens of thousands of taels. It wouldn¡¯t be spent in the short term.


    Qiao Mai left one hundred thousand taels of silver for Yuan Jiaqi, asked Feng¡¯er about the progress of the betrothal gift, and gave him another one hundred thousand taels.


    She left ten thousand taels for Yun¡¯er and two thousand for Chuan¡¯er. Old Master and Mistress Wang didn¡¯t want any, saying they had money.


    Everything at home was arranged. Next was to prepare for Feng¡¯er¡¯s wedding.


    When they had time, they discussed the wedding. They decided to invite matchmakers to discuss the marriage. This was the first step.


    Yuan Jiaqi took the lead in handling this matter, inviting three official matchmakers to the Duke¡¯s mansion.


    As the two were in love, Yuan Jiaqi hired all the matchmakers. They had to be decent and follow the procedures toplete the marriage properly.


    Old Mistress Wang guided Feng¡¯er to arrange the remaining forty gift carriages. The betrothal gifts were decent, costing three hundred thousand taels of silver.


    These were just the betrothal gifts. On the day of the proposal, Qiao Mai knew her daughter-inw liked shiny jewelry, so she carefully selected aplete set on the tform..

 Chapter 279 - 279: Everyone Was Happy

    Chapter 279 - 279: Everyone Was Happy


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After preparing a set of diamond jewelry, a horse-faced skirt, and the top-notch double-sided embroidered pce fan as a meeting gift, she also prepared the best white wine, tea, and other valuable items.


    This added up to no less than a hundred thousand taels. The wedding couldn¡¯t proceed without at least five hundred thousand taels of silver.


    Even so, the Duchess still wanted to find fault. Pressed by the Duke and the Old Duke, she couldn¡¯t stir up trouble.


    On the day of the engagement, many rtives and friends from the Duke¡¯s family attended. Seeing that the groom¡¯s family was so sincere, bringing gifts that surpassed any other, what more could be said? Any criticism would only be self-inflicted.


    The sarcastic remarks whispered were now transformed into envy. That was the charm of money.


    Moreover, considering Feng¡¯er¡¯s current status, it was pretty impressive. Not only was he a rising general in the imperial court, but he was also good-looking, a young fourth-ranked military officer. If the Duke¡¯s family didn¡¯t appreciate this, plenty of others would.


    Moreover, there was Yuan Jiaqi, a first-rank official, as Feng¡¯s father. Who would dare to look down on that?


    The proposal went smoothly, and the Duke¡¯s family was satisfied!


    Later, Yuan Jiaqi invited the Duke to visit their new residence and discuss the betrothal gifts and the wedding date.


    The Duke¡¯s family happily agreed. On the twenty-first day of September, the entire family visited.


    When they saw the house, they were all shocked.


    ¡°Is this your new purchase?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°This house is not cheap. It¡¯s one of the best in the capital.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s merely a matter of money. The royal family¡¯s mansion cost millions to build, nothing less than that.¡±


    Although Yuan Jiaqi had visited his house once, he was still amazed when he apanied the Duke for a second visit.


    However, when the Duke¡¯s family saw it, they were extremely shocked. Many things were unseen for them.


    For example, the high-tech pressure well, the toilet, the bathroom, the yground, the martial arts practice field, and the backyard with various animals.


    Especially the three sheep in Lucky Garden. Well, these were purchased by Qiao Mai again from the tform. The sheep at home remained unchanged.


    It refreshed their perspectives. What kind of sheep were these?


    Cute, adorable, and especially intelligent, floating around like three white clouds. They loved them.


    Even the Duchess couldn¡¯t help but nce at them a few more times. The Duke¡¯s family was like a bunch of country bumpkins entering the city, all dumbfounded.


    Miss Mu was delighted. She wondered howfortable her life would be when she married into this ce. It would be better than the house in Tianshui Town.


    The Duke was over forty, while Yuan Jiaqi was just over thirty. The two inws walked together, one majestic and the other refined.


    It looked harmonious, and they also got along well in their conversation.


    The Duke¡¯s family, except for the Duchess, was very satisfied with their son-inw.


    At the right moment, Qiao Mai said a few words. ¡°Their wedding will be held here. We don¡¯t have so many rules. After Miss Mues here, she will be the eldest sister-inw. She will take charge of the house and help me with the household affairs.


    In ancient times, this action indicated that the inws valued their daughter.


    They were happy.


    Only the Duchess disdainfully rolled her eyes. She had taboos against Qiao Mai and naturally couldn¡¯t express her dissatisfaction. However, her discontent could still be sensed in her words.


    ¡°You think taking charge of the house is so good? It¡¯s tiring like an ox, and you won¡¯t be treated well. It¡¯s better to live afortable life and bear more children for your husband. That¡¯s the right thing to do.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°There are not so many rules in my house. If Miss Mu wants to have children, it¡¯s best. If she doesn¡¯t want to, we won¡¯t say anything. Biological children may not necessarily be filial, but many adopted children are.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, your words are sophistry.¡±


    ¡°Many examples in the capital support my point. How about I give some advice to the Duchess?¡±


    The Duke red at his wife, and the Old Duke coughed lightly. The Duchess did not continue the argument.


    At noon, everyone sat in the dining room and had a meal. Looking at a table full of delicious dishes, they couldn¡¯t help but salivate.


    The dishes of the Qiao¡¯s family were not exaggerations. Even the imperial chefs might not have such delicious and varied food.


    Old Master Wang apanied the Old Duke, Old Mistress Wang apanied the Old Duchess, Yuan Jiaqi apanied the Duke, and Qiao Mai naturally apanied the Duchess.


    She didn¡¯t care about the Duchess¡¯s indifference. But Qiao Mai upheld her hospitality, serving dishes and pouring wine.


    Although the Duchess was dissatisfied with this marriage, she was genuinely satisfied with the house and food of the Qiao family.


    At the dining table, Qiao Mai mentioned the engagement date, and everyone agreed to the eighth day of October. When they heard that a hundred and twenty carts of betrothal gifts were prepared, the Duke burst intoughter.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. However many betrothal gifts your family gives, we will provide the same dowry. We only have this one daughter. We can¡¯t embarrass her.¡±


    ¡°Is the wedding date set for May 6th next year? The children are grown up now, and it¡¯s reassuring to see them get married early.¡±


    ¡°So it is. We have no objections on our side.¡±


    The children just listened. Miss Mu nced at Feng¡¯er and daringly winked at him. Feng¡¯er blushed and lowered his head, not daring to look at her again.


    After a hearty meal, both families were in a good mood and proposed to see the betrothal gifts. Feng¡¯er immediately took them to his Tingfeng Pavilion.


    After seeing the betrothal gifts, the Duke¡¯s family was shocked once again. Each item was exquisite, luxurious, and elegant. It seemed that they had put a lot of effort into this.


    A hundred and twenty carts, each a fine product. Among them were two boxes of hundred-year-old ginseng and hundred-year-old reishi mushrooms, all over five hundred years old. Each box was worth over ten thousand taels.


    They were treating their daughter with great importance. This prospective inw was doing very well, too well.


    They would have to make some adjustments to their dowry when they went back. Otherwise, they would lose face to the other family.


    How can a Duke¡¯s family not be as good as a first-rank official¡¯s family? This day was a joyful one for everyone!


    When the emperor heard about this matter, his brow furrowed, and immediately called the Golden Dragon Guards. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with the Minister of Personnel?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t you already know?¡±


    ¡°I have so many affairs every day; how can I remember everything?¡±


    ¡°Minister Yuan is a live-in husband. He has no personal property; it¡¯s all earned by his wife. Because she saved Magistrate Wang¡¯s son, they give her an annual bonus. Her shop also earns a lot. In addition, she opened arge workshop in County She, and starting next year, the ie will increase every year. Naturally, she has no shortage of money.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s good. I thought he epted bribery from others when he took office.¡¯


    ¡°Minister Yuan is a good official. In County She, he used his wife¡¯s money to help the people. He bought unusednd and nted trees, employing several thousand people, which solved the poverty problem.¡±


    ¡°I remember that. I hope he will always stick to his initial intention. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be lenient with him. You all need to monitor the high-ranking officials of the court for me.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    After Qiao Mai settled Feng¡¯er¡¯s engagement, she felt relieved. Since moving to the new house, Old Master and Mistress Wang had been ecstatic.


    She assigned two servants and five rough workers to the three brothers¡¯ courtyard, all males.


    She didn¡¯t let any maids serve around. When they married, their wives would naturally bring in maids. During normal times, there should be someone to give orders.


    Of course, she also assigned a servant to Yuan Jiaqi. Not only did she provide these, but she also prepared a carriage specifically for him to go to and from court.


    The Duke was overjoyed about this engagement and sent six warriors to escort Yuan Jiaqi. They would also guard Lucky Garden at night.


    Even if he didn¡¯t send them, Qiao Mai had considered it. Although the capital was prosperous, it was also chaotic. Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t do martial arts and had to go to court daily, so he needed someone to protect him.


    Qiao Mai easily epted the Duke¡¯s goodwill..

 Chapter 280 - 280: All Killed by Dong Zhao

    Chapter 280 - 280: All Killed by Dong Zhao


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the day of the proposal, Feng¡¯er brought the steward to Miss Mu¡¯s ce. Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi did not show up again.


    It was indeed a grand scene. On the way, there were hundreds of people just lifting the betrothal gifts. Apanied by his soldiers, Feng¡¯er escorted them to the residence of the Duke.


    Themoners along the street couldn¡¯t see what was inside the boxes, but just by looking at the boxes, they knew the betrothal gifts were valuable.


    The betrothal gift boxes were made of sandalwood, emitting a fragrant scent, indicating the use of high-quality wood.


    As thedy of the family, the Duchess naturally had to oversee the reception of the gifts into the household.


    Feng¡¯er knew his mother-inw didn¡¯t favor him, so he didn¡¯t say much. He had the steward hand over the list of gifts to the Duchess and apanied the Duke.


    When the betrothal gifts were counted, the Duke invited his son-inw to have a meal, expressing his genuine liking for the young man.


    When no one was around, he secretly praised Feng¡¯er and even joked that if he had another daughter, he would marry her to Yun¡¯er.


    The Duchess often retorted, ¡°One daughter has jumped into the fire pit; you want another one to follow? No way.¡±


    The Duke was not willing to be outdone. ¡°Go inquire outside. Which girl doesn¡¯t want to jump into this pit? It¡¯s just you. Even the princess is eyeing Qiao Fengyun. Who do you think you are?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, they are all blind.¡±


    ¡°Be careful not to bring trouble upon yourself.¡±


    One sentence scared the Duchess into silence. There were indeed princesses and county princesses interested in Yun¡¯er. Disparaging the royal family was disrespectful.


    Although this matter was not a big deal, it was not small either. If the Emperor wanted to deal with her, it could be a serious offense that led to confiscation and exile.


    The Duchess, no matter how arrogant, was aware of this.


    In short, the family feared the Duchess ying tricks. They watched her closely, and even her sons had changed their views. They highly valued Feng¡¯er.


    Now that the betrothal was settled, they only waited for the wedding day.


    It was the busiest period for the Duke¡¯s family. They had to prepare the dowry and make wedding clothes for their daughter.


    The groom¡¯s side only needed to wait until the date approached, hire a chef, set up the banquet, decorate the house, and arrange the staff.


    They were not in a hurry. Seeing her husband and son going smoothly, Qiao Mai decided to go home and take a look.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang enjoyed their time here, so they didn¡¯t mention going back. However, there were still matters at home, and Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t neglect them.


    She could only reluctantly arrange things at home and nned to return to Tianshui Town the next day.


    The family was reluctant to part, but the affairs there had to be dealt with. Others might not be needed, but she had to.


    Chuan¡¯er watched this scene. He decided to study hard for another two years, pass the imperial examination, and then obtain a leisurely position in the court to help his mother on the side. He couldn¡¯t let his mother suffer anymore.


    Otherwise, when would she have a baby for his father? The other day, the Duchess secretly said that Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t have children. He was furious after hearing that.


    He couldn¡¯t let his parents be separated for such a long time, affecting their rtionship and not conducive to pregnancy. His little mind was thoughtful for his age.


    Of course, Yuan Jiaqi was more reluctant to let her go, ¡°Wife, I can¡¯t apany you during the day, but I can at night.¡±


    ¡°I see you have many things to do at night. When I¡¯m not here, you can focus on your official duties. I¡¯ve arranged everything at home. I wille back before the New Year. Besides, Ling¡¯er is there. She wille to live here when the timees. It¡¯s better than having someone constantly eyeing her.¡±


    ¡°Then there will be only you at home in the future?¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s even quieter. Moreover, it¡¯s to handle affairs when I go home, not for enjoyment and y.¡±


    ¡°Okay, my wife is independent. Just remember that I am lonely every night.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°I will remember, but you must remember that I am not easy to mess with. If you dare to fool around, I will clean you up.¡±


    ¡°I dare not forget for a moment.¡±


    The couple spent the night together intimately. When Yuan Jiaqi went to court the next morning, Qiao Mai summoned Dong Zhao and left Lucky Garden.


    Nobody disturbed them or said anything, but everyone knew.


    As soon as she left the capital, Qiao Mai felt rxed. There were too many worldly matters, and she was almost suffocated by the pressure.


    It¡¯s carefree to be alone. She reached out and touched Dong Zhao.


    ¡°Old buddy, I haven¡¯t seen you for a long time. Your fur has be more vibrant, thicker, and majestic.¡±


    After hearing the praise from its master, Dong Zhao raised its front hooves, neighed loudly, and seemed proud.


    It was already October, and the weather in the capital had be cooler. Qiao Mai wore a cloak, mounted Dong Zhao, and mped its belly. Dong Zhao shook its four hooves, running away.


    It could fly, covering the distance in one hour. Qiao Mai wanted to enjoy the journey by riding a horse.


    Dong Zhao¡¯s mutation in her space made its speed two or three times faster than usual. Passing by other people¡¯s carriages was like a gust of wind, stirring up a cloud of dust and disappearing without a trace.


    Others couldn¡¯t see what happened, but she rode past them. It was enjoyable.


    Also, because of Dong Zhao¡¯s mutation, she attracted attention when she stopped in a small town to rest.


    ¡°Hey girl, your horse is not bad. I fancy it. Name your price?¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip of wine, looked at this dandy, and said with a sideways nce, ¡°Get lost. This horse is priceless. You can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    ¡°Heh, there¡¯s nothing in this world I can¡¯t afford. Let me tell you the truth. If you behave well, I might give you three hundred taels. If you don¡¯t behave well¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai squinted, ¡°I would like to see how you will deal with me if I don¡¯t behave well.¡±


    The dandy waved to the men behind him. ¡°Come on, take the horse away for me.¡±


    This was an attempt at open robbery. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t move. She looked at Dong Zhao and said, ¡°Zhao, someone wants to take you away from me. What do you think?¡±


    Dong Zhao was furious. Who do they think they are? They dared to snatch it away from Qiao Mai. Following its master was more promising than mixing with this group of garbage.


    Upon hearing Qiao Mai¡¯s words, it immediately turned its body, not letting anyone get close, and kicked with its hooves.


    The person who was kicked either died or was injured, especially the dandy, who had his stomach kicked open by Dong Zhao.


    Amidst the chaos, Qiao Mai sipped on a small cup of wine, enjoying a bowl of noodles while watching the spectacle unfold.


    At this point, there was nothing to fear for her. Anyone daring to have designs on Dong Zhao and attempting such open robbery should not be surprised if she responded without courtesy.


    After finishing a bowl of noodles and draining a pot of wine, all the people brought by the dandy were lying on the ground.


    Don¡¯t assume that Dong Zhao only knew how to kick; it had now be a mystical beast, capable of using its mouth to bite,


    The scene was chaotic, and the onlookers kept a distance.


    They were afraid the horse would go mad and kick or bite them.


    Qiao Mai stood up, pped a corner of silver on the table, and patted Dong Zhao.


    ¡°Well done. In the future, if anyone dares to have ill intentions toward you, kick them to death like this.¡±


    She pulled the reins, and with a flip, she mounted the horse. With a pat on the buttocks, Dong Zhao raised a cloud of yellow dust and disappeared.


    When the mayor and his men arrived, Qiao Mai had already disappeared. No one knew who it was, only that it was a woman.


    After inquiring with themoners, they found out the men wanted to rob someone¡¯s horse and were kicked to death by the horse.


    This matter was difficult to handle. Engaging in robberybeled one as a bandit, and bandits and thieves were to be eradicated by everyone as per thews. Moreover, the incident was witnessed by manymoners.


    The town mayor found himself in a predicament, so he had no choice but to report the matter to higher authorities and let them handle it.


    Incidents like this kept urring whenever Qiao Mai made a stop, all because Dong Zhao was exceptionally eye-catching, revealing the true nature of those greedy individuals.


    Simr events also urred with those who tried to strike at her during the night at inns.


    Without exception, they were all kicked to death by Dong Zhao..

 Chapter 281 - 281: Refused His Investment

    Chapter 281 - 281: Refused His Investment


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai did this intentionally. With nothing else to do, she took the opportunity to clean up such scum along the way, considering it as eliminating harm to the people.


    Don¡¯t underestimate these pests;moners are even more vulnerable. They can¡¯t afford to provoke even such dandies and be bullied.


    Emperors wouldn¡¯t send the Golden Dragon Guards to deal with pests like this. So, with idle hands, she decided to take matters into her own hands.


    She nned to travel whenever she had free time ¨C to enjoy the scenery and also experience the various aspects of life. The crucial part was eliminating harm for themoners, creating a win-win situation.


    On her journey, she dealt with one group of hooligans after another and found it pretty satisfying.


    As she neared home, she put Dong Zhao away, hired a carriage, and sent herself home.


    Having been away since June and returning in October, several months had passed. Shopkeeper Niu was distressed because the warehouse was nearly empty. If Qiao Mai didn¡¯t return soon, there would be nothing left to sell.


    He is currently collecting some ingredients and having the assistants create dishes. The excellent items are all provided by Qiao Mai.


    As soon as she returned, Shopkeeper Niu couldn¡¯t hold back his tears. ¡°Boss, why did you take so long toe back? Everything has been sold out.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°I nned it that way. Don¡¯t worry; there won¡¯t be a shortage. Later, I¡¯ll bring some people to collect goods from my courtyard.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    After returning to the backyard, Qiao Mai freshened up and filled the storage room with items.


    As soon as she finished, Shopkeeper Niu eagerly arrived with ten assistants.


    ¡°Take them. I¡¯ll check the ounts.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu wiped away tears and happily directed the assistants to move the goods.


    Qiao Mai then received a report from the steward about the situation during her absence.


    ¡°Mistress, things have been going well at home while you were away. The owner of the clinic came looking for you once. After hearing that you went to the capital, he didn¡¯t return.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°The Jiang family also came once. They heard the young masters went to the capital and didn¡¯te afterward. On the other hand, the Yuan family from Apricot Blossom Vige and the Qiao family from Pear Blossom Vige visited a few times. Since you and Mr. Yuan weren¡¯t home, I didn¡¯t let them in.¡±


    ¡°Good. You did the right thing. If we¡¯re not at home, avoid them as much as possible. If you can ignore it, ignore it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    After resting, Ling¡¯er and Nanny Jin happily came to see her.


    ¡°Mother, why were you gone for so long?¡±


    Qiao Mai hugged her. ¡°We needed to establish a home there. Also, I had to arrange things for your grandparents. By the way, settle things here before the New Year. I¡¯ll bring you and Nanny Jin over.¡±


    ¡°We are going to the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, in the capital, you can open your store as well. I¡¯ll find you a good location.¡±


    ¡°What about my store here?¡±


    ¡°Lease it out, rent it out, or use it as a warehouse; anything works.¡±


    ¡°Nanny Jin, would you like to go with me?¡±


    Nanny Jin smiled. ¡°Of course. I am your teacher. I¡¯m responsible for teaching you. Wherever you are, I am.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at their harmonious teacher-student rtionship with satisfaction.


    ¡°Alright, get ready. We¡¯ll leave in mid-December.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    After managing the warehouse, Qiao Mai rested for only two days before going to County She.


    With a new county governor, whom she didn¡¯t know, she naturally wouldn¡¯t go to the court. Instead, she went directly to the workshop.


    The person in charge of the workshop was promoted by Yuan Jiaqi and therefore loyal to them.


    However, when he saw Qiao Mai, it seemed like he had some difficult words to say.


    ¡°With my husband¡¯s current position, what can¡¯t you say openly?¡±


    The manager pursed his lips. ¡°Boss, the county governor came to me once. He wants to invest in our workshop.¡±


    ¡°Ask him to go wherever he feelsfortable. I have a good business of my own. Why does he want to join in?¡±


    ¡°This year¡¯s ie is even better than in previous years. Perhaps he¡¯s envious.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried he¡¯ll make trouble from behind. I heard the new county governor is a bit greedy.¡±


    ¡°No worries. Do what you need to do. I¡¯ll be staying at Tianshui Town until year-end. Send someone to find me if there¡¯s anything.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    Apanied by the manager, Qiao Mai inspected the workshop, took a tour, and then checked the ounts. After that, she rode Dong Zhao around the nearby pine forest.


    Next year, the pine nuts could be harvested, adding another source of ie.


    Qiao Mai summoned Greeny and, while still not frozen, used water from the spiritual river to irrigate all the pine forests again.


    This way, the pine trees would grow steadily even in winter. She hoped the remaining five workshops would also start operating next year.


    Currently, only five workshops are operating: one producing pine oil, one producing safflower oil, one varnish, and two producing shampoo.


    She nned to use two for pine nut processing for the remaining five workshops and think of something else for the other three.


    Although quality mattered more than quantity, this ce was rtively backward. Mass production of the same thing could lead to overstocking. Everything had to be taken step by step without rushing.


    She returned home only after dark. Just as she was about to leave, Greeny reminded her.


    ¡°Master, the pine forest in the northwest seems to be on fire?¡±


    Qiao Mai quickly rode Dong Zhao towards the northwest. Upon arrival, she saw billowing smoke. Forest guards were throwing water on the burning pine trees.


    She frowned, waved her hand, and instantly made all the smoke and fire disappear.


    ¡°Master, the arsonists are trying to sneak in and want to set another fire.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned cold as she rushed in that direction. From a distance, she saw two arsonists holding torches, running and sprinkling mmable liquid as they went.


    Qiao Mai sent out two wind des, knocking them unconscious. Then, she had Greeny ssh water from above, thoroughly wetting the area.


    The two arsonists were also brought into her space. However, she didn¡¯t rush back; instead, she had Greeny reinspect all the pine forests.


    After confirming there were no hidden dangers, she directly entered the space.


    Using a ruthless method, she extracted information from the two assants. The county governor¡¯s advisor sent them.


    The reason? Because the manager didn¡¯t agree to let him invest in their workshop.


    A seventh-ranked minor official trying to get involved with the workshop of a first-ranked official¡¯s family was audacious.


    If not for someone backing him up, he might be eyeing the Qiao family¡¯s industries.


    Everyone was scheming against her. Qiao Mai sneered, ordered Greeny to deal with the two bodies, and then shed out of the space.


    This time, she used her wings and flew to the county government office. After a brief inspection inside, she couldn¡¯t find the county governor. She then went to his residence but found no trace of him.


    Qiao Mai found him in thergest restaurant, dining with wealthy and influential figures in the county. His advisor sat beside him.


    Surprisingly, among the people at the table, she recognized Miss Qu¡¯s father, whom she had met once at her home. Having an excellent memory, she identified him.


    ¡°Sir, Mr. Yuan has been promoted and is now a first-rank minister in the capital. We can¡¯t afford to provoke him.¡±


    ¡°No worries. At most, he has the backing of the Duke, his inw. Behind me, there¡¯s the Second Prince. If we work together, we can take over his workshop.¡±


    ¡°I heard the workshop made ten thousand taels of silver in the past half-year.


    If it continues, it¡¯ll be a considerable ie.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, as the pine forest continues to grow, their workshop will expand further. Right now, it¡¯s just ten thousand taels, but in the future, it could be a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand taels annually.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we must seize the workshop. Even her pine forest cannot be spared.¡±


    ¡°The pine forest is tricky. I heard that all the procedures werepleted when Mr. Yuan was in charge. He reported everything to higher authorities, handed over the silver bills, and even submitted it to the imperial court. The magistrate also passed all these documents to the court. It¡¯s not easy to alter now.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured. Where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way. We have the Second Prince supporting us..¡±

 Chapter 282 - 282: Crippled

    Chapter 282 - 282: Crippled


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai listened to their shameless conversation and sneered. ¡°Alright, after losing a shameless crown prince, there¡¯s another prince who relies on his status as a member of the royal family. He wants to seize the properties of his subjects. Good, he has provided me with an excuse to plunder their family wealth.¡±


    ¡°Since you don¡¯t want me to live, then I don¡¯t need to leave you any room to maneuver,¡± She thought.


    ¡°To everyone sitting here, I¡¯m sorry, but you must die.¡± She exerted her imposing pressure on the table.


    How could ordinary people withstand it? Immediately, they fell to the ground unconscious.


    Afterward, Qiao Mai took advantage of the situation, ransacking the homes of those present. Although it couldn¡¯tpare to the Crown Prince¡¯s house, every bit counted.


    Especially that advisor, who dared to send people to burn her forest. She used a wind de directly, relocating his head.


    The newly appointed county governor and the people at the table were dead.


    Upon receiving the report, Magistrate Wang immediately rushed over.


    He promptly adjudicated the case, stating that the county governor had worked with the local gentry, scheming for something, but was coincidentally discovered and dealt with by someone skilled.


    This skilled person? Magistrate Wang couldn¡¯t help but think of Qiao Mai.<div>


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    After investigating, he found out that on the night of the incident, someone had deliberately set fire to the forest. Further inquiries with the workshop staff revealed that the county governor had tried to get involved in their business without contributing anything.


    Magistrate Wang was mad, his mustache twitching. Damn it, a mere county governor, relying on the support of a prince, dared to harbor thoughts of others¡¯ properties and even attempted to set fire to the forest as a warning. He didn¡¯t even bother to consider whose property it was.


    Did he think he could act recklessly because a prince was backing him? Little did he know that the Qiao family had support from the Wang family, the Qian family, and the Duke. More importantly, the formidable figure was Madam Qiao.


    This reckless fool only knew how to stir up trouble on his turf. It served him right to meet his demise.


    He inspected the incident in the morning, and by the afternoon, he had already closed the case. Magistrate Wang determined that the county governor had provoked someone on the streets and was assassinated.


    There were too many gangs on the streets. Whoever wanted to investigate could go ahead, as he couldn¡¯t find anything.


    Magistrate Wang dared to handle the situation this way, indicating his genuine anger.


    He promptly drafted a report detailing the incident and submitted it to the Emperor for a final decision.


    Upon reading the report, the Emperor frowned and immediately summoned the Golden Dragon Guards, instructing them to conduct a thorough investigation on the Second Prince. Is someone taking advantage of the prince¡¯s influence, or is he directing his subordinates to seize the properties of others? rity on this matter was deemed essential.


    At the same time, several other magistrates along the route from the capital to Tianshui Town also filed reports.


    They reported that someone indiscriminately killed innocent people in broad daylight, and the Emperor dispatched the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate.


    The results of the investigation made him particrly angry. They attempted to steal someone else¡¯s horse, but instead of seeding, they were kicked to death by the horse. Yet they used the other party of murdering in broad daylight. What a group of ipetent officials.


    Immediately, he dismissed the officials who made false usations, and recements were promptly sent.


    Why was the Emperor so decisive? It was obvious that corruption was at y. Otherwise, who would act in such a manner?


    Either they didn¡¯t conduct a thorough investigation or feared implications for themselves. They casuallybeled someone as a murderer.


    Officials like these were unneeded. Thanks to Qiao Mai, officials in the northern regions were once again purged, bringing relief to the people.


    Magistrate Wang was wealthy and influential, wholeheartedly dedicated to the well-being of the people. Regardless of what others thought or did, he remained steadfast in his position.


    Although aware of Magistrate Wang¡¯s capability, the Emperor believed it was more beneficial to have him work at the local level, managing the daily affairs of the people.


    Just as in the beginning, when Yuan Jiaqi achieved merit, he only elevated his status without summoning him to the capital. The people needed good officials.


    As for those corrupt officials, he preferred to keep them under his watchful eye. This way, they would refrain from wrongdoing and effectively carry out their duties.


    The Emperor was not a fool. However, he could discern the differences within the Qiao family.


    For example, their thriving snack shop, workshop, and the new wheat variety were not aplishments of an ordinary schr.


    Rumor had it that Yuan Jiaqi showed unwavering devotion to his wife, indicating she must be extraordinary.


    Indeed, experience matters. What others couldn¡¯t see, the old Emperor could. It was not easy.


    As the weather gradually chilled, Lucky Garden in the capital remained refreshing under Qiao Mai¡¯s talisman. Therge brick bed provided warmth, and there were no signs of pests.


    Yuan Jiaqi and the others livedfortably there. Old Master and Mistress Wang even sent a letter to their son, stating they would reside in the capital from now on.


    This decision puzzled Wang Zongsheng. Why didn¡¯t theye back for the New Year? Was life over there better?


    Thinking about their residence in Tianshui Town, how would their house in the capital look like, if better?


    The family of three decided to spend the New Year in the capital, taking the opportunity to visit their new residence and check on their disobedient daughter.


    Although she hadn¡¯t been deposed as the Princess Consort, she was still under house arrest.


    Prince Shunqin¡¯s parents had no choice. After Wang Jiaru behaved for a while and was released, she reverted to her old ways¡ªindulging in worldly pleasures day in and day out,paring lifestyles.


    So, the Old Consort confined her again, making it clear that she would remain in the prince¡¯s mansion until she changed. If not, she would be confined for life.


    If it weren¡¯t for the annual silver sent by the Wang family to honor them, Wang Jiaru would have been deposed long ago.


    She was infuriating, even to the patient Old Prince and Princess Consort.


    During the uing New Year, they nned to visit and have a serious talk with Jiaru.


    Their n seemed doable, but they knew it was impossible. Even Old Master and Mistress Wang hadn¡¯t visited during their stay in the capital. They knew it would be futile and would only lead to frustration.


    They decided to be more open-minded. People live their lives; they might as well go with the flow and not dwell on things that won¡¯t change. The first snow of winter in the north fell on November 28.


    It was substantial and swift, resembling falling paper.


    In Tianshui Town¡¯s Lucky Garden, people were well-disciplined. Under the guidance of Shopkeeper Niu, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery remained popr. During idle moments, Qiao Mai had asked Shopkeeper Niu.


    ¡°Old Niu.¡±


    ¡°At your service.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked so hard, managing my shop so well. Is there anything you want?¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu was taken aback. ¡°Boss, there¡¯s nothing I want. At my age, I don¡¯t want to get married again. If someone can take care of me in my old age, that would be enough.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. For all you¡¯ve done for the Qiao family, I


    will naturally provide for your retirement.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I don¡¯t need anything. Following you, eating well, dressing warmly, being bullied by no one, I¡¯m happy every day. That¡¯s all I¡¯ve ever wanted in my life.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you need something, just let me know. I¡¯ll do what I can if it¡¯s within my means.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    As December approached, the manager from County She came to settle the ounts. Qiao Mai carefully reviewed the ounts, instructed the manager, and arranged everything for the New Year. Red envelopes were distributed, and rewards were given. She was not stingy and let everyone have a good year. The manager smiled, and all the Qiao family employees were delighted.


    Working for the Qiao family was a pleasure!


    Knowing that she would return to the capital for the New Year, Mayor Qian had prepared her New Year gifts early, as did others, afraid of being impolite.


    Qiao Mai epted them with a smile and didn¡¯t take anything too extravagant.


    She had prepared return gifts for each one.


    This time, she brought five maids and two cooks from home¡ªpeople she was ustomed to and didn¡¯t want to rece.


    Nanny Jin, Ling¡¯er, and Qiao Mai had packed their things in mid-December.


    On the sixteenth day, two carriages for passengers and ten cargo carriages set off together for the capital.


    The maids sat in the back carriages while Nanny Jin, Ling¡¯er, and Qiao Mai shared a carriage..

 Chapter 283 - 283: Don’t Just Have a Silver Tongue

    Chapter 283 - 283: Don¡¯t Just Have a Silver Tongue


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Mother, is it easy to sell goods in the capital?¡±


    ¡°As long as our products are good, they will sell well and at a higher price than here.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, then let the daughter handle my dowry?¡±


    ¡°Oh, thinking about marriage at such a young age?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll get married when the timees. It¡¯s better to be prepared early.¡± ¡°Haha, my precious will be twelve years old this New Year. Well, not so little anymore.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m leaving. Will that uncle stop bothering me now?¡±


    ¡°Him? Did he keep staring at you when he saw you?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Ling¡¯er. ¡°Have you ever thought about finding your biological parents?¡±


    ¡°I have, but not too much. Even if I meet my biological parents, I won¡¯t find anyone as good to me as you, Mother. So I¡¯ve decided not to think about them; it¡¯s fine the way it is.¡±<div>


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    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not just saying so.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I swear that no matter whether I find my biological parents, I will be filial to you, respect you, and never make you angry.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised her hand, and Ling¡¯er quickly pped against it. The mother and daughter made a pact with a p.


    Nanny Jin watched from the side with envy, almost shedding tears. There are many loving mothers in the world, but enlightened ones like Madam Qiao are too few, especially foster mothers.


    Growing up, she had never seen someone treat adopted children so well.


    The carriage moved slowly along the road. The capital wasn¡¯t located in the southernmost region. It was situated in the central territory of the Great Ming Dynasty. This positioning allowed information to flow in from all directions.


    From ice and snow to bone-chilling dampness, they endured it all.


    Finally, they arrived in the capital. Ling¡¯er was still young thest time she visited, but seeing it again, her mouth widened like a blooming flower. ¡°Mother, the capital is magnificent and grand. So big!¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll be living here from now on. Remember that when dealing with people here, you must be cautious. The people here are pretty shrewd.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Mother.¡±


    Ten cargo carriages followed them, forming a long procession. They arrived in the afternoon.


    As they entered Lucky Garden, the gates opened wide. The people inside, well-disciplined, began unloading the carts.


    Qiao Mai settled the ounts with the carters and rewarded them before leading Ling¡¯er and Nanny Jin inside.


    Although others didn¡¯t know, Nanny Jin was familiar with the capital.


    Seeing the mansion, she was stunned. This mansion was one of the best in the capital. For Qiao Mai to purchase it, she required significant financial resources.


    After hearing about their return, Old Master Wang, Old Mistress Wang, and Chuan¡¯er rushed out to wee them.


    Inside the hall, the steward immediately instructed servants to serve tea and ordered the kitchen to prepare a meal to wee their mistress.


    In no time, Yuan Jiaqi and the twins returned. They never socialized outside for drinks, as Qiao Mai had advised them. Business matters were discussed formally, and private discussions were discouraged to avoid suspicion.


    Even if she hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Yuan Jiaqi had instructed Fengyun. In the political arena, where colleagues schemed against each other, they needed to be cautious. After official business, they should return home promptly.


    Especially for Feng¡¯er, who was in the midst of a grand wedding. Any mishap had to be avoided.


    Yun¡¯er, now prominent, had many families eyeing him, wanting to marry their daughters to him as the principal wife.


    It was crucial to choose wisely during this time. They couldn¡¯t afford to bring in someone troublesome. Otherwise, there would be no peace in the family.


    The two brothers were obedient. They returned home immediately after their official duties, conveniently arriving just after Qiao Mai.


    The family sat together, chatting andughing, surrounded by the festive atmosphere.


    After dinner, Nanny Jin took Ling¡¯er back to Xianyue Pavilion. Even young people were tired after a long journey.


    Old Mistress Wang, noticing Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s gaze on Qiao Mai, sat for a short while before leaving with the old man. The twin brothers followed suit.


    With no outsiders present, Yuan Jiaqi reached out and pulled Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve worked hard. Let me heat some water for you to wash up. Rest early?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The couple walked hand in hand back to Yuexian Residence. The courtyard was still void of outsiders. Yuan Jiaqi, a first-rank official, heated water in the small kitchen.


    Qiao Mai sat and watched him. ¡°Do you feel mistreated to attend to me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m delighted. Truly.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    With a charming smile, Yuan Jiaqi spoke to her, and his expression showed the sincerity behind his words.


    ¡°I can light a fire for my wife and help her bathe, allowing us to experience the affection between an ordinary couple. Such a feeling, where the love is mutual, is something many men cannot enjoy.¡±


    ¡°Well, in the month I¡¯ve been away, did anyone approach you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I sent them all away.¡±


    ¡°I sent them away with a stern face like they owe me money. Do you think they¡¯ll continue bothering me?¡±


    ¡°Haha, your face looks warm no matter how cold.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I won¡¯t want anyone else. Just you. If you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯ll be a eunuch. I won¡¯t give any woman a chance, nor will I let you down.¡± Hearing this, Qiao Mai¡¯s lips curled. ¡°Don¡¯t just have a silver tongue.¡±


    ¡°I will also use actions to show you, my dear, that it¡¯s you and only you. No one else can rece you.¡±


    Watching Yuan Jiaqi speak so earnestly, Qiao Mai smiled. Time was the best remedy, whether it was a good or a poisonous one.


    The next day was the twenty-seventh. Qiao Mai instructed the steward to send five carts unloaded yesterday to the Duke¡¯s residence.


    Although the Duchessined, she closed her mouth upon receiving New Year gifts from her inw¡¯s family.


    The Duke red at her, then rushed outside to inspect the goods. He genuinely enjoyed the food made by the Qiao family, relishing every dish.


    The Duchess, though delighted during the meal, didn¡¯t utter a single word of praise.


    The two often quarreled over such matters. However, as long as the Old Duke and Duchess red at her, she dared not act recklessly.


    After all, this was still a feudal society. The Old Duke and Duchess were her elders. If she dared to defy them, they could dismiss her from the family registry.


    Now, the Duke¡¯s mansion wasn¡¯t entirely hers.


    After receiving gifts from her inws. the Duke had alreadv DreDared their gifts, promptly sending them over.


    ording to etiquette, the male side had to send gifts first in a marriage alliance. If the female side had sent gifts before, it would seem as if they were trying to dominate.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s gifts arrived, and the Duke¡¯s residence immediately prepared a table,den with the Qiao family¡¯s dishes.


    Miss Mu was overjoyed to eat the delicious food again. The Duchess kept giving her stern nces, but everyone else happily enjoyed the feast. The Old Duke and their children all raised their sses in a toast.


    Good food paired with good wine was a heavenly enjoyment. There was no better inw than this.


    At the same time, Lucky Garden was also bustling. Two more chefs, both around thirty, were hired and started preparing for the New Year.


    However, there was no rush. Many things were readily avable, and with organization, everything fell into ce effortlessly.


    Although the South was not as convenient as the North for making dumplings, Qiao Mai had a solution.


    She turned two storage rooms into ice rooms, storing all the dumplings inside. They could be cooked whenever needed, just like in Tianshui Town.


    As long as the chefs faced difficulties, Qiao Mai immediately solved them.


    As a housewife, the first responsibility was to ensure her family ate and drank well. Everything else was secondary.


    This was their first New Year in the capital, so she needed to prepare more. If the five carts brought from home were not enough, she had a tform. Anything shecked, she could buy.


    With her increased cultivation and boldness, Qiao Mai brought out some unusual items. Besides consumption by her family, she was not afraid that others would see them..

 Chapter 284 - 284: Simply Amazing

    Chapter 284: Simply Amazing


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    For example, she could prepare a few bottles of c for the children.


    Not for anything else but to let the children have something refreshing to drink. Of course, there are also firecrackers brought in by the cartload.


    On the twenty-eighth day of the lunar month, Wang Zongsheng¡¯s family also came to Lucky Garden.


    To visit this mansion in the capital, they took time off and ignored rtives and friends.


    As they entered Lucky Garden, Wang Zongsheng¡¯s family was even more shocked than the Duke¡¯s family. This mansion was too luxurious, especially the bathing facilities in each courtyard, which were incrediblyfortable everywhere they looked.


    No wonder Old Master and Mistress Wang didn¡¯t want to leave. This ce was too good. Oh, the air here was so smooth.


    It was not at all chilly, especially dry. The difference between inside and outside the mansion was like night and day.


    They had stayed in the capital before. Being used to the north, they had no intention ofing to the capital. Now, it was different. They would have to visit here more often.


    Wang Zongsheng might not stay, but Madam Wang definitely could. She could stay here with Zihan when she had nothing to do.


    This ce was extraordinary.


    Even if the Emperor came, he probably wouldn¡¯t want to leave.


    Yuan Jiaqi took a day off, and the Fengyun brothers took turns to report to duty. The family was full of joy.


    At Old Mistress Wang¡¯s courtyard, Wang Zongsheng lowered his head and discussed with them.


    ¡°Father, Mother, we want to visit Jiaru. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°No. If we wanted to go, we would have gone long ago. Our Wang family doesn¡¯t have that kind of daughter.¡±


    Madam Wang wiped away her tears. ¡°Mother, no matter what, she is still my daughter. Let me go and talk to her.¡±


    ¡°I think she has been spoiled by you. When she suffers a bit, she will understand. You keep paving the way for her, and she will think she¡¯s important and won¡¯t change her stubborn ways.¡±


    ¡°Father, Mother?¡±


    Seeing the distressed and painful appearance of their son and daughter-inw, Old Master Wang waved his hand. ¡°Go if you want to. It¡¯s good to see her. It¡¯s been several years since west met, but you can¡¯t promise her anything!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t do anything for her. After all, this is a matter for the prince¡¯s family.


    What can a fourth-ranked official like me do?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Therefore, Wang Zongsheng prepared a generous gift and took his wife and son to the prince¡¯s mansion.


    When the Old Prince heard his inws hade, he hurriedly went to the living room to wee them. They were impable in their manners and did not look down on Magistrate Wang because of his daughter.


    After a brief exchange of greetings, the young prince also arrived. He was not putting on air and was especially friendly to his father-inw and mother-inw.


    Everything was no different from before. ¡°Father-inw, mother-inw, shall I take you to see Ru¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Is she doing well?¡±


    ¡°Since she was not allowed to go out, she caused some trouble for a while but became more obedient. When Mother saw she was no longer fussing around, she let her out. But she resumed her old ways after a few days and was confined again. It¡¯s unavoidable.¡±


    Li Longji had an expression of helplessness. Wang Zongsheng also knew his daughter was wrong. So, he stood up.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen Ruler for several years. Let¡¯s meet her.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I will take you there.¡±


    In the backyard of the prince¡¯s mansion was a quiet courtyard with two maids guarding the entrance.


    Seeing the young prince, they quickly bowed.


    ¡°Prince.¡±


    ¡°Open the door.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The courtyard door opened, and the young prince respectfully extended his hand. ¡°Father-inw, mother-inw, please.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng took his wife and son in. The young prince did not follow but turned and left. The door was closed by the maids.


    Inside the room, a voice rang out. ¡°Who? Has the princee? Longji, have youe?¡±


    A person rushed out. Wang Zongsheng, Madam Wang, and Zihan looked over, but they were shocked. This was no longer the Jiaru they knew.


    The woman in a disheveled state seemed like a shrew. Two maids rushed out behind her, both of whom hade with her since her marriage.


    Wang Zongsheng and his family were stunned in ce. So was Wang Jiaru. She looked at her parents and brother and burst into tears, sitting on the ground and crying loudly.


    ¡°Father, mother, why did you onlye now? Hurry and save your daughter.¡±


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, Ruler.¡±


    Madam Wang rushed over, hugging her daughter and crying together.


    Wang Zongsheng¡¯s brow furrowed while Zihan pursed his lips. The father and son looked at this scene with red eyes.


    After crying for a long time, Madam Wang let the maids help Jiaru inside, and then the family of three followed in.


    The courtyard was decent. Besides being quiet, there was nothing wrong with it.


    There was no sign of mistreatment towards Jiaru. Even though she had lost some weight, she did not look sickly.


    What Madam Wang worried most was that to preserve the royal family¡¯s


    mage, tney woulC1 usually let tne princess consort quietly pass away. But tnere was no need to worry about that. The prince¡¯s mansion still attached importance to them.


    After entering the room, Wang Jiaru immediately pulled Madam Wang aside and began toin.


    ¡°Mother, please talk to them. Don¡¯t confine me anymore. Your daughter knows she was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Then tell me. Where were you wrong?¡±


    ¡°You forgot my roots. Do you know that? You are just the daughter of a fourth-ranked official. Because you met the young prince by chance, you became his consort. You don¡¯t understand how to cherish; you take the prince¡¯s favor for granted; you squander it andpare yourself with others. Look at what you¡¯ve be now.¡±


    ¡°You were warm-hearted, helping others, brave, kind, loved to talk andugh, and never considered status. But now, look at what you¡¯ve be?¡±


    ¡°They are all like this. If I don¡¯t assert myself, they will suppress me.¡±


    ¡°As long as you are the prince¡¯s consort, who dares to do that? If they don¡¯t give you face, it¡¯s not just disrespecting you, but disrespecting the Old Prince and Consort. Seeking temporary pleasure will ruin a lifetime of reputation. Look at what your image is now.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I will change. Please talk to the prince and let me out.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have that much influence. If you want to repent, stay here to cultivate your character. Your mother-inw says you¡¯re abstaining and chanting Buddhist scriptures, which is beneficial for restoring your reputation.


    Polish your temperament for a few years ande out again.¡±


    ¡°Father, Mother!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Wang Jiaru wanted to go crazy. ¡°I want to go out. I want to go out! Do you want to drive your daughter crazy? Do you want me to die?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng¡¯s head hurt as soon as he heard this. If he didn¡¯t agree to her request, she would make trouble like this.


    ¡°Girl, you have a son and a daughter. You are not young anymore. Think about them if not for yourself.¡±


    ¡°I want to go out for them!¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do outside? Compare yourself with others again, cause trouble for the prince¡¯s mansion, and show off everywhere you are the prince¡¯s consort?¡±


    ¡°Look at the foolish things you¡¯ve done. The other wives help their husbands with household chores and respect their husbands, but what about you? You cause trouble all day, creating problems. If you want to die, go ahead. If you want to make trouble, go ahead. No one will indulge you. If you don¡¯t change, you¡¯ll be trapped here forever.¡±


    Pulling his wife and son, Wang Zongsheng walked away angrily.


    Wang Jiaru chased after them but was stopped by the maid at the door. She squatted on the ground and started wailing like a shrew.


    Madam Wang was pulled away, crying and looking back.


    After they hastily bid farewell to their inws, they returned to Lucky Garden. At this time, Old Master and Mistress Wang were anxiously waiting, knowing that their trip would not go well.


    Sure enough, after hearing Wang Zongsheng¡¯s words, Old Mistress Wang pounded her chest.


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t this girl know how to repent at all? She has such a good pair of children. Why doesn¡¯t she cherish her blessings and insist on causing trouble? She¡¯s driving me mad.¡±


    ¡°Mother, Madam Qiao has great abilities. Can you ask her if there¡¯s any way to change Ruler? If it continues like this, she will be deposed..¡±

 Chapter 285 - 285: What Could Happen?

    Chapter 285: What Could Happen?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What can she do? This is not an illness; it¡¯s Rul er¡¯s problem. She has made a mistake in her character, and it¡¯s not something that can be solved by taking medicine.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t go, I will. I can¡¯t just watch Ruler be ruined like this.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s ruining herself. Who can she me?¡±


    ¡°No, I am her mother. If there¡¯s any way, I must try.¡±


    Madam Wang hurriedly went to Yuexian Residence. Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t surprised when she saw her. She asked Madam Wang to sit down and poured her a ss of water.


    Madam Wang didn¡¯t drink; she immediately described the pitiful scene of seeing Rul er today to Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai kept her head down and listened without expressing any opinion. Finally, Madam Wang knelt in front of her.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I know about your abilities. Please save Ruler.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed gently and helped her up. ¡°Sit first, Madam Wang.¡±


    Madam Wang was stunned; this address felt unfamiliar. Qiao Mai¡¯s expression was cold.


    ¡°How do you want me to save her? Tell me. Should I kill the young prince, the Old Prince, or the Old Consort? Should I ughter the prince¡¯s family, leaving only her and her children in the prince¡¯s mansion to dominate?.¡±


    Madam Wang¡¯s lips trembled, ¡°I¡­ I haven¡¯t thought about that.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you want me to do? I am neither an immortal nor the one on the dragon throne. I have no power. Apart from having higher martial arts and obtaining rare things, I can¡¯t do anything else. Are you overestimating me?¡±


    Looking at Qiao Mai¡¯s cold eyes, Madam Wang shivered, realizing her mistake immediately.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, I¡¯m sorry. I was too anxious.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Madam Wang. I can understand your feelings. However, when seeking help, there should be a limit. What you¡¯re asking for is beyond my capabilities. Please don¡¯t trouble me with it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Aunt¡¯s fault.¡¯


    Madam Wang got up, feeling dejected, and left. Shortly after, Old Mistress Wang came and held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My daughter-inw indulges that girl too much. She loses control whenever ites to Ruler.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay; I don¡¯t mind. But what she¡¯s asking for, I can¡¯t do.¡±


    ¡°I understand. That girl is too wayward; she can¡¯t see the situation. We are also angry. s-¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t realize her mistake, let it be. As long as the Wang family continues to provide silver to the prince¡¯s mansion, they will maintain Ruler¡¯s position as the princess consort. Her two children will always be legitimate.


    With time passing, her problems should be cured.¡±


    The New Year in the South differs significantly from the North, but for the Qiao family, it¡¯s the same.


    They have always prepared ording to northern customs, but due to Wang


    Jiaru¡¯s situation, the atmosphere in Lucky Garden has been somewhat gloomy. Qiao Mai was angry; for such an unworthy person, the whole family was bothered.


    She didn¡¯t want to see Madam Wang¡¯s resentful face, so she instructed the kitchen to send meals to each courtyard separately. There was no need to gather.


    This instruction, undoubtedly, was a p in Wang Zongsheng¡¯s face. He knew he was in trouble with his wife.


    But persuading her was difficult; she was always crying, making Wang Zongsheng at a loss.


    Their family is spending the New Year at someone else¡¯s house. What kind of appearance is that to cry every day? It infuriates Old Mistress Wang, making her want to drive the family of three to Bichun Garden.


    If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they hadn¡¯t prepared any New Year goods there, they might really do that.


    Except for greeting Old Master and Mistress Wang in the morning, Qiao Mai spent the whole day in her Yuexian Residence.


    She asked the children toe to her yard for lunch and dinner unless there were social engagements.


    The children could feel something, rarely going to the Wang family. They asionally visited Zihan but avoid meeting Madam Wang.


    On the morning of the first New Year¡¯s Day, after everyone had greeted each other, they had a meal together.


    Then they dispersed. Yuan Jiaqi, who rarely got a break, took his wife and children to stroll around the capital.


    They didn¡¯t go anywhere else, only to the Duke¡¯s mansion. After all, they are future inws; this New Year¡¯s visit can¡¯t be considered as currying favor.


    They only stayed at the Duke¡¯s residence for a short while before leaving. Now, the family can enjoy strolling around the capital.


    Although the brothers have been in the capital for a long time, they haven¡¯t seen much. Ling¡¯er just arrived and needs to explore and familiarize herself so as not to get lost.


    Nanny Jin is rtively familiar with the capital. She has been with the family to see whatever they want.


    There is not much in the capital. Apart from ancient architecture, there are only buildings. In Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes, there is nothing worth seeing.


    But the children like it, so she patiently apanies them. Moreover, it¡¯s a rare opportunity for the family to go out.


    At noon, the family had a meal in the private room of thergest restaurant in the capital, Wangyue Pavilion.


    This is where wealthy people oftene, but because it¡¯s the first day of the lunar new year, there are not many people. It suits Qiao Mai¡¯s preference.


    Quiet and peaceful is good. They ordered a full table of dishes. Yuan Jiaqi, Ling¡¯er, and the three brothers picked up food for Qiao Mai.


    At this moment, the door of the private room rang, and Feng¡¯er went to open it.


    At the door stood a woman in her thirties, still charming, followed by a girl. Two maids stood behind the girl.


    Feng¡¯er¡¯s brows furrowed. He arched his hands to the woman.


    ¡°Madam, whom are you looking for?¡±


    ¡°I am the Minister of War¡¯s wife, and this is my youngest daughter. Seeing Madam Yuan, I wanted to say hello.¡±


    Feng¡¯er stepped back and looked at Qiao Mai with hesitation. Qiao Mai stood up and walked to the door.


    ¡°Hello, Madam. Today is our family gathering. It¡¯s not convenient. Let¡¯s talk another day?¡±


    ¡°Choosing a day is not as good as hitting the day.¡±


    ¡°Let me repeat myself. Today is inconvenient. Your daughter is unmarried, and our family has several young men. Don¡¯t prominent households follow strict rules?¡±


    ¡°In broad daylight, what could happen?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, you might not care, but we do.¡±


    Qiao Mai detested such women the most, considering them as annoying as sticky ster. She promptly shut the door with a bang.


    The woman, unweed, was so furious that she wanted to explode with curses. However, seeing other guests around, she suppressed her anger and left with her entourage.


    Watching his angry wife, Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.


    ¡°That woman is merely a concubine of the Minister of War. On such a big day, thedy of the house usually entertains guests at home. How could she bring her daughter out like this?¡±


    ¡°Is she interested in you or Yun¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°It should be Yun¡¯er.¡±


    Qiao Mai ate while she looked at Yun¡¯er. ¡°I say, do you have your marriage settled? If not, we will help you decide.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow your decision as long as she looks good and is filial. Then I¡¯ll be content.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? She will spend her whole life with you, so you have to like her. On that note, I¡¯ll state the ugly truth upfront.¡±


    ¡°Mother, please say.¡±


    ¡°You can only have one wife. Whoever dares to imitate other men and bring in concubines, don¡¯t me me for not recognizing you as a son. The consequences are also beyond what you can bear.¡±


    The brothers stood up together and promised to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother, rest assured. We will only have one wife and will never take concubines.¡±


    ¡°Harmony in the family brings prosperity. I don¡¯t want my home to be messed up.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er raised his hand. ¡°Mother, I will also not take concubines.¡±


    ¡°Haha, good!¡±

 Chapter 286 - 286: A Spirited Girl

    Chapter 286 - 286: A Spirited Girl


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The family burst intoughter. Qiao Mai looked at Ling¡¯er and said, ¡°This includes you. Although you¡¯re a girl, I hope your future husband will be devoted to you. Both of you should be each other¡¯s only one. If you let him take concubines, I won¡¯t acknowledge you, and if he actively takes concubines, I¡¯ll deal with him.¡±


    ¡°Mother, don¡¯t worry. Ling¡¯er will never find such a womanizer.¡±


    ¡°Good. You need to understand. All of you are my children. Remember to maintain your integrity at all times.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    With a smiling face, Yuan Jiaqi looked at his wife. He admired her for providing such delightful guidance to their children.


    This was the best teaching method, and the children happily epted it.


    After the meal, they heard that annoying buzzing sound again as they exited the restaurant.


    Qiao Mai immediately ushered her family onto the carriage and confronted the woman responsible for the disturbance.


    ¡°Howe it¡¯s you again?¡±


    The woman looked towards the carriage, ¡°Um, I wonder if your second son is on the carriage?¡±<div>


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    ¡°No, we¡¯re heading back. By the way, it¡¯s advisable not to impersonate the wife of the Minister of War. When the realdy of the house finds out, your punishment could be severe.¡±


    The woman blushed and couldn¡¯t say a word. Qiao Mai then turned her attention to the girl behind her.


    ¡°Regardless of your status, you must follow the right path. The more you act like this, the more people look down on you.¡±


    The girl blushed in embarrassment. When they finally looked up, Qiao Mai and her family had already boarded the carriage and left.


    The woman coldly snorted, waving her handkerchief. ¡°Humph, who do they think they are? It¡¯s an honor that my daughter has set her sights on him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Our lord is the Minister of War, holding real power. What¡¯s Mr.


    Yuanpared to him? He¡¯s far inferior.¡±


    No matter how theyined, Qiao Mai had no interest in this family.


    After returning home, they returned to their respective courtyard.


    They declined any invitations, not hosting or attending any banquets. This pleased the Emperor.


    In previous years, there used to be grand banquets in the pce. However, with ongoing wars and river restoration projects, the Emperor had repeatedly decreed that no one should indulge in extravagant spending. Instead, they were encouraged to donate their resources to help themoners.


    The implicit message was clear: anyone daring to bevish would face the consequence of having their assets confiscated. This Lunar New Year, the atmosphere among themoners was much livelier, while government officials refrained from extravagant celebrations.


    Fireworks disys and the business at gambling establishments also experienced a significant decline.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t forget an important matter. The new county governor was under the Second Prince¡¯s jurisdiction.


    His subordinates plotted against her properties, so she didn¡¯t intend to let the Second Prince off. On New Year¡¯s night, she gave him some trouble and looted his mansion, leaving it empty.


    The old Emperor was truly troubled. Had his second son also offended some


    Investigate immediately! Even during the New Year, there was no time for rest. The investigation revealed that the Second Prince was involved in corruption and bribery, umting wealth everywhere to pave the way for his heir.


    The Emperor was furious. He never expected his son to be the most corrupt.


    This was a major embarrassment. Despite the Emperor¡¯s face-saving efforts,


    Qiao Mai spared no mercy. She exposed the crimes of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, posting them all over the city walls.


    The entire capital was abuzz with the scandal, and the posters were so firmly affixed that they couldn¡¯t be taken down. It was infuriating.


    The dignity of the royal family was torn apart by Qiao Mai.


    They couldn¡¯t just focus on the faults of others; now, they had to deal with their disgrace.


    When officials were corrupt, the punishment was to seize their assets and exterminate their families. Now, the Emperor faced the predicament of dealing with his son¡¯s corruption.


    In the end, the Emperor demoted the Second Prince to amoner, expelling him from the royal family records.


    After this incident was resolved, it was already the fifteenth day of the New Year. Qiao Mai was quite happy with the turn of events.


    Yun¡¯er¡¯s betrothal gifts were settled, amounting to a million taels of silver. She didn¡¯t need to save money; everything came so quickly.


    Wang Zongsheng and his family left on the fifth day. Once they left, even Old Master and Mistress Wang felt a sense of relief.


    They were not selfish, but the situation was beyond their control. The problemy with Wang Jiaru¡¯s character, and they could only deal with it slowly.


    After the fifteenth day, Chuan¡¯er continued studying with Old Master Wang.


    Nanny Jin took Ling¡¯er around the capital to look for a shop, nning to open another one. Qiao Mai stayed at home all day, focusing on practicing her cultivation.


    She asionally received visits from Miss Mu but rejected her. Miss Mu had gotten used to this routine in Tianshui Town.


    However, she still held the task entrusted to her by Qiao Mai deep in her heart.


    Besides managing her wedding affairs, she often thought about Yun¡¯er¡¯s marriage. She decided to introduce one of her best friends to him.


    Her friend was the legitimate daughter of General West Gate, the youngest of the three daughters. The other two had already married, leaving behind an unmarried younger brother.


    She was sixteen this year, not as beautiful as Miss Mu, but she had practiced martial arts since childhood. She spoke straightforwardly and was a spirited girl.


    Miss Mu mentioned this matter to her, and she blushed immediately. She had seen Yun¡¯er from a distance on the street and had an excellent impression of him.


    When a man pursues a woman, there¡¯s a mountain between them. But when a woman pursues a man, there¡¯s only a thinyer of silk. If the girl is willing, half of the matter is already settled.


    This goes for someone like Yun¡¯er, who wasn¡¯t too picky. Right away, Miss Mu brought her best friend to the Qiao family.


    Qiao Mai was about to meditate and cultivate when she heard Miss Mu brought a friend to the Qiao family. She understood what was happening.


    Her son was more important. Cultivating could wait.


    She received them in the living room. ¡°Aunt, this is my good friend, Xiao


    Qingling.¡±


    ¡°Qingling greets Aunt.¡±


    ¡°Please have a seat.¡±


    Watching the two sitting properly under her, Qiao Mai had people serve two cups of hot milk tea.


    ¡°Rong¡¯er, how¡¯s your wedding dressing along?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m not good at needlework; those are all matters for the embroiderers.


    I¡¯m waiting eagerly for the wedding.¡± ¡°Alright. How about staying for lunch?¡±


    ¡°Sure! Aunt rarely has free time.¡±


    ¡°Take Qingling around the mansion. I still have something to do. Come over for lunchter?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qiao Mai found an excuse and left. She let them explore the Qiao family while she dealt with her affairs.


    ¡°Qingling, let¡¯s go. You don¡¯t know how amazing the Qiao family is. I¡¯ve never wished for anything else in my life. I only want to marry into the Qiao family and live a good life.¡±


    ¡°Is it as exaggerated as you say?¡±


    ¡°I guarantee to astonish you! I¡¯m telling you, the number of people who have had the chance to visit this mansion is few and far between.¡¯


    Xiao Qingling was a bit skeptical at first, but as she looked around, her mouth couldn¡¯t close.


    ¡°See? I told you so. You must think the same. Being able to live in such a mansion is worth burning incense for eight lifetimes.¡±


    Xiao Qingling gulped. ¡°It seems like that¡¯s the case. If the Emperor knew about this mansion, would he seize it?¡±


    ¡°He probably won¡¯t. No matter what, he still cares about his reputation.¡±


    The two friends carefully toured the Qiao family, especially the back garden, where they lingered and enjoyed themselves.


    ¡°Wow, these deer are so beautiful. The plum blossoms on them are evenly distributed.¡± ¡°You country bumpkin.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    They saw three sheep in the back garden. Miss Mu pouted, ¡°Those are sheep. We also have them in Tianshui Town. These sheep are so beautiful; not a single strand of stray hair, just like clouds. When they walk, it¡¯s light and ethereal. I like them.¡±


    As she spoke, Miss Mu gestured towards the sheep. These three sheep were quite proud; not just anyone could summon them.


    Seeing her gesture, they immediately scattered, running far away.


    ¡°Hehe, only Aunt can call them..¡±

 Chapter 287 - 287: Making Unjust Money

    Chapter 287 - 287: Making Unjust Money


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Why is there farnd at her house?¡±


    ¡°Oh? There¡¯s also farnd in Tianshui Town. It¡¯s reassuring to eat vegetables grown yourself. Come, I¡¯ll take you around.¡±


    The two arrived at the field. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen farming like this. It looks like flowers. It¡¯s a vegetable field, yet it¡¯s so beautifully arranged. What is this?¡±


    ¡°Eggnt. These are green beans, cucumbers, Chinese chives, strawberries, garlic, scallion, and ginger.¡±


    ¡°Wait, how do you recognize everything?¡±


    ¡°When you marry in, you¡¯ll have to do the farming. Otherwise, you won¡¯t win Mother-inw¡¯s favor.


    ¡°Oh my, you don¡¯t look like a county princess, more like a vige girl.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather be a vige girl. Even if you don¡¯t believe what I say, you must marry Yun¡¯er. There are only benefits, no disadvantages.¡±


    Xiao Qingling pursed her lips, ¡°Marriage is a serious matter. My parents will decide. I have a good impression of Yun¡¯er, but I can¡¯t follow your advice casually.¡±


    ¡°Of course. If both of you are willing, as the matchmaker, I¡¯ll visit both families officially. Shall we discuss it formally?¡±<div>


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    Xiao Qingling blushed and didn¡¯t continue the topic.


    Silence indicated consent. Miss Mu, seizing the opportunity, first consulted Qiao Mai. Seeing that her mother-inw didn¡¯t object, she asked a matchmaker to go to the Xiao family for the formal proposal.


    When the Xiao family heard that it was the newly popr Yuan family, and she would be the only wife, they were naturally satisfied.


    So, the matchmaker went to the Qiao family. With both families interested, the two families met under the matchmaker¡¯s mediation.


    They let the two children talk alone, and their engagement was settled. The formal proposal would take ce after the imperial examination. During this time, everyone paid great attention to the matter.


    At this crucial moment, the capital was crowded with people.


    Every inn was full. Nanny Jin returned home with Ling¡¯er and went to the backyard, looking disappointedly at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother, there are too many people in the capital. It¡¯s not as quiet as the small town.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it because the schrs are here for the exam? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There are no suitable storefronts. What should we do, Mother?¡±


    Qiao Mai took them to the front of their courtyard and looked around. ¡°How about we build our storefront here? I can open a food stall in the capital. You can use the left side, and I¡¯ll use the right.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, how long will it take to build?¡± ¡°At most two months. It¡¯s just one storefront. It will be quick.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to the broker center?¡±


    ¡°You can entrust it to them. I¡¯ll find a location, and it will be convenient for you as a young girl to have your store at home.¡±


    ¡°Will it be convenient for us?¡±


    Just like that, during Chuan¡¯er¡¯s preparation for the imperial examination, the Qiao family began constructing a storefront.


    The broker center attached great importance to this task, hoping to see new materials in the construction. But unfortunately, there were none!


    The foreman quietly inquired and was disappointed to find from Qiao Mai that the materials were imported from overseas and had been used up. Even if one wanted to buy at a high price, there were none avable. This shattered the hopes of some individuals.


    On March 26th, Yuan Jiaqi, Qiao Mai, Old Master and Mistress Wang, Fengyun, and Ling¡¯er all got up early to send Chuan¡¯er to the examination hall.


    He was the only one in the family taking the exam. If he passed as a Tribute Schr, Old Master Wang could retirefortably.


    After seeing Chuan¡¯er enter the examination hall, Fengyun went to handle his matters, Old Master Wang apanied Old Mistress Wang to visit acquaintances, and Yuan Jiaqi also had official duties to attend to.


    At the examination hall¡¯s entrance, only Qiao Mai, Ling¡¯er, and Nanny Jin were left.


    ¡°Mother, they all have things to do. Why don¡¯t we go around and explore?¡±


    Thinking about the medical hall in Tianshui Town, Qiao Mai grabbed Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stroll around.¡±


    She took the two to the medical hall first. At the counter, she asked,


    ¡°Shopkeeper, do you have fever-reducing medicine for children?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s one tael of silver per packet.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s expression gradually darkened, ¡°Do you have medicine for cough?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s one tael of silver per packet as well.¡±


    ¡°Give me one of each.¡¯


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The shopkeeper packed the medicine, and Nanny Jin handed over two taels of silver. Qiao Mai took the medicine and walked out.


    At the entrance of the medical hall, she opened the packets, sniffed them, and tasted a bit. These were the two prescriptions she had given away.


    Well, the two prescriptions she gave away for free were now being used for profit by these unscrupulous people, and at exorbitant prices.


    Damn it. One tael of silver per packet ¨C how could poor families afford that? That damn guy had assured her, iming to dedicate the prescriptions to serving the people.


    She had been busy for a while, and in a moment of neglect, things had turned out like this.


    Suppressing the dissatisfaction in her heart, Qiao Mai apanied Ling¡¯er to wander around the capital. Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t have a penchant for buying things; she only liked looking at rare items, so they didn¡¯t make any purchases along the way.


    The three of them were dressed inly. Nanny Jin led Ling¡¯er in front while Qiao Mai followed behind with her hands behind her back, ying the role of their bodyguard.


    Despite appearing bored and wandering behind them, her heart was as cold as ice.


    She hadn¡¯t inquired about Ming Ren Medical Hall and didn¡¯t know who was behind it.


    But with how the owner had handled her prescription, she wouldn¡¯t me herself for being ruthless.


    On this trip, she noticed that at the entrance of Ming Ren Medical Hall, there was a small mark, even on their carriage.


    Liu!


    Those who could open a medical hall in the Ming Dynasty were generally from medical aristocratic families. Such families typically would be royal physicians and had to be well-established.


    In the afternoon, they didn¡¯t return home for lunch and found a grand teahouse to sit down, rest, eat, drink, and observe the surroundings.


    Nanny Jin exined things to Ling¡¯er while Qiao Mai drank tea and observed the surroundings.


    The teahouse was empty at this time. Those who ate proper meals wouldn¡¯te here for lunch. The only ones here were people with too much free time.


    Business discussions were happening in the restaurants. Still, there were a few tables with guests.


    These years of raising a child endowed Qiao Mai with patience. Even though she was furious inside, she remained calm on the surface.


    An entire afternoon passed, and she heard nothing unusual in the teahouse.


    When the three returned home, Yuan Jiaqi coincidentally finished his duties.


    The husband and wife sat down and chatted. ¡°Husband, do you know who opened Ming Ren Medical Hall?¡±


    ¡°Physician Liu, a royal physician who serves the emperor alone. Hees from a medical aristocratic family.¡±


    ¡°As expected.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, wife?¡±


    ¡°A year ago, a physician from their medical hall asked me for two prescriptions, one for fever and the other for treating cough. They imed to want to do something practical for themoners. When I went to their medical hall in the morning, a small packet cost one tael of silver.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so expensive?¡±


    ¡°Yes, taking the prescriptions I gave them for free and unjustly making money. It¡¯s despicable!¡±


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be impulsive. I heard that Physician Liu is a good person.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll kill him?¡±


    ¡°No, I mean, let¡¯s first observe. If it¡¯s him, death would be too merciful.¡¯


    Qiao Mai squinted her eyes, and Yuan Jiaqi quickly poured her a cup of tea. ¡°I think human life is precious. We can investigate thoroughly and then decide on any death penalty.¡±


    ¡°Humph, how can we let them die so easily? While the border is at war, Ming Ren Medical Hall hasn¡¯t made any moves. It¡¯s just a tool for making money, nothing more. What a joke about serving the people!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi saw that his wife was mad and naturally wouldn¡¯t speak well of the medical hall.


    That night, he got up in the middle of the night and saw the empty bed beside him. He knew his wife was going to make a move.


    So he lit a candle and sat at the table all night, reading and waiting for his wife.


    In the early morning, a figure walked in.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you slept?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°If I go out, just sleep. I¡¯m just strolling around, not murdering anyone.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°Ming Ren Medical Hall is not the only medical hall. I gave away both prescriptions. I want to see how the Liu family handles this.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi breathed a sigh of relief.. ¡°I see!¡±

 Chapter 288 - 288: My Wife is a Good Person

    Chapter 288 - 288: My Wife is a Good Person


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He was afraid that Qiao Mai would get upset and angry. Although she had never explicitly mentioned anything about killing people before, he could deduce many things. He feared her wreaking havoc.


    This time, Qiao Mai took the initiative to talk to him. He was so moved that he felt like crying. It indicated that she trusted him.


    ¡°Feeling sleepy?¡±


    ¡°Not really. I want to see whether these physicians will fight each other or unite to continue exploiting themoners.¡±


    ¡°What if they continue?¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes emitted a cold light, making Yuan Jiaqi feel as if he could freeze on the spot.


    He shuddered. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you. If they continue to harm the country and the people, they deserve to die.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s great that you understood.¡±


    Seeing he hadn¡¯t slept all night, Qiao Mai handed him a pill, and Yuan Jiaqi suddenly felt much more energetic.


    ¡°Wife, do we want to¡­?¡±<div>


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    ¡°No, behave yourself. Soon, you¡¯ll have to go to work.¡±


    ¡°Ah, listening to my wife¡¯s words means there¡¯s delicious food.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°Hungry?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Suddenly, as if performing a magic trick, Qiao Mai ced one after another of his favorite dishes on the table. Yuan Jiaqi widened his eyes. ¡°Wife, what¡¯s all this?¡±


    ¡°Just eat, don¡¯t ask. That¡¯s my rule.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Wife.¡¯


    Early in the morning, the couple enjoyed a pleasant meal before sending Yuan Jiaqi off to work.


    The items on the table disappeared in the blink of an eye. The sky outside hadn¡¯t brightened yet, and Yuan Jiaqi had to attend the court session. Being the head of the officials now, he needed to arrive early.


    As he entered, the officials immediately caught a whiff of the faint scent of alcohol emanating from him.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, why are you drinking so early in the morning?¡±


    ¡°I have a weak constitution. My wife prepared a medicinal wine for me, and I had a few sips beforeing.¡±


    ¡°Oh, your wife is so considerate.¡±


    ¡°Yes. that¡¯s why I must not let her down. I will have only one wife and never take concubines.¡±


    ¡°What if you do?¡±


    ¡°I can assure you I won¡¯t. If someone forces me to, it¡¯s akin to forcing me to die.


    I¡¯ll go to my death alongside that person.¡±


    After hearing Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s faces turned red with embarrassment. No one present was refraining from taking concubines.


    Who would be so devoted to their wife unless their mind was disturbed? However, after hearing Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s words, the people felt like hiding in a hole.


    ¡°In this world, people are interdependent. You treat me well, and I treat you well. When they marry into our families, they bring substantial dowries. They allow us to livefortably and bear and raise children, enduring the trials of life and death. If we take in concubines, is it not a debt of conscience?¡±


    ¡°Uh, Mr. Yuan, the pce gates are open. Let¡¯s go in.¡±


    Many people smiled awkwardly. They regretted speaking too much just now and getting a lecture in return.


    Leaving aside court affairs, when various medical halls saw the prescription on their tables just after dawn, they were stunned.


    The whole city was in an uproar. The prescription appeared openly in public when there were patients. It was like dropping an atomic bomb in the middle of the city.


    Waves of shock spread across the city.


    The entire capital became aware of the prescription within the morning hours.


    Upon receiving the prescription, many physicians in various medical halls were so thrilled that they were speechless.


    Some physicians even knelt on the ground, loudly thanking the heavens.


    Others were impatiently eager to use this prescription to help save lives.


    The pharmacies and medical halls in the capital were thrown into chaos. The Liu family was in chaos. After they knew about it, they held a family meeting.


    Royal Physician Liu sat at the head with a stern face, and the people below dared not speak.


    ¡°How did the prescription for the children¡¯s fever medicine from Ming Ren


    Medical Halle about? Who can tell me?¡±


    ¡°It came from Tianshui Town.¡¯


    ¡°Tianshui Town?¡± ¡°Yes, it came from a clinic in Tianshui Town.¡¯


    ¡°Who was it from?¡±


    ¡°It came from Mr. Yuan¡¯s wife.¡¯


    At this moment, Royal Physician Liu¡¯s anger dissipated. ¡°Tell the story in as much detail as possible!¡±


    His eldest son helplessly recounted the incident of Qiao Mai giving away the prescriptions. Royal Physician Liu mmed the table in anger.


    ¡°What? Did she give away these prescriptions for free? iming to be for the people? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± ¡°I just wanted to try selling it first.¡± ¡°How much did you set as the price?¡±


    ¡°One tael!¡±


    Royal Physician Liu immediately smashed the teacup on the table. ¡°No wonder the prescription was released to the public. So the reason is you. How can ordinary people afford it?¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t they afford it? It¡¯s only a few taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°A few taels of silver? Some families can¡¯t even afford a few dozen coins. Do you want them to sell their homes and property?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s worth the value.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s her prescription, not yours.¡±


    ¡°She gave it to us.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! We begged her for it. If Madam Qiao hadn¡¯t given it to her friend¡¯s child, could our physicians have begged for these two prescriptions?¡±


    ¡°What to do now? The matter has already happened.¡± ¡°You guys are fools. Don¡¯t take Madam Qiao lightly.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s just a first-ss official¡¯s wife.¡±


    ¡°A first-rank official? That¡¯s the highest-ranking among the officials, someone highly valued by the Emperor. You act so casually! How foolish!¡±


    ¡°The prescriptions have already been made public. We don¡¯t have any other choice now.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. Prepare a generous gift. I¡¯ll visit Madam Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Father, there¡¯s no need. She¡¯s just a woman. Behind us is the Emperor. What is she? Moreover, who won¡¯t have headaches and fevers? She will need us. We don¡¯t need her anyway.¡±


    ¡°Fine. This matter is settled. If this happens again, be sure to discuss it with me.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai had already anticipated the Liu family¡¯s attitude. After making bank for nearly two years, they wanted to settle it like this?


    Days flew by, and even after Chuan¡¯er had finished the exam and returned home, there was still no movement from the Liu family. It was as if nothing had happened.


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face was gloomy. ¡°Wife, I was wrong.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that all physicians are benevolent. Some only have money in their eyes. After making money with my prescriptions for two years, they want to act like nothing happened?¡±


    ¡°Wife, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know tomorrow.¡±


    On the third day after Chuan¡¯er had finished his exams, another major event urred in the capital: the Liu family was burrized. All their possessions, prescriptions, and medicinal herbs were lost.


    Before dawn, the Liu family reported the incident to the authorities. Officials from the court arrived to investigate the matter.


    Unfortunately, they were clueless, much like the previous cases of theft involving the prince¡¯s household.


    If the capital had not experienced thefts before, the Liu family might have suspected a connection with Qiao Mai. However, several years ago, wealthy families were silently robbed. It wasn¡¯t an isted incident.


    Therefore, they were cautious about making baseless spections.


    Coincidentally, Yuan Jiaqi was on his day off. He apanied Qiao Mai in the backyard.


    ¡°Wife, what about the Liu family¡¯s situation?¡±


    ¡°I did it to take back the money they earned from prescribing these two years. This money will be used to help disaster victims. They¡¯ve sucked the blood from the people for these two years, and I will return it to the people.¡± ¡°Wife, you¡¯re a good person. I¡¯m not foolish.¡±


    ¡°Knowing is enough. Although I am not a saint, I will never allow anyone to take advantage of me like this. If they take what¡¯s mine, they must return it to me.¡±


    ¡°Wife, the rainy season in the south wille in a few months. Although the river channels have been dug, some ces may still be affected by disasters.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you need money and supplies, I will provide you.¡± ¡°Thank you on behalf of the people, wife.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t just focus on court affairs. In May, we will marry our eldest son. From now on, I won¡¯t take care of the family affairs; I will hand them over to Rong¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°What about Yun¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Since it¡¯s settled, there¡¯s no need to hurry. When Feng¡¯er¡¯s wedding is over, we¡¯ll discuss Yun¡¯er¡¯s matters. Otherwise, it will be too chaotic..¡±

 Chapter 289 - 289: It’s All of Your Hard Work

    Chapter 289 - 289: It¡¯s All of Your Hard Work


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In this raid on the Liu Family, Qiao Mai gained several hundred thousand taels of silver. There were over two hundred thousand taels worth of precious medicinal herbs, but as for the prescriptions, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care at all.


    She threw the prescriptions on the street, and someone who noticed them picked them up and ran away.


    The Liu family was now left with nothing. Within a few years, they wouldn¡¯t be able to recover.


    Royal Physician Liu had considered Qiao Mai, but he thought she was just a woman. Having prescriptions was not surprising. However, emptying the Liu family was impossible.


    In short, the Liu family underestimated Qiao Mai.


    If Qiao Mai knew, she would thank them for underestimating her.


    Another theft case was left unresolved. Whenever Yuan Jiaqi and Royal Physician Liu met, thetter felt guilty while Yuan Jiaqi acted as if nothing happened.


    In mid-April, the results of the imperial examination were released. As usual, Chuan¡¯er performed exceptionally well. Since Yuan Jiaqi was now a high-ranking official, there was nothing to worry about.


    He secured the top spot on the list of sessful candidates, bringing honor to the Qiao family once again.


    Many prestigious youngdies in the capital set their sights on Chuan¡¯er now.<div>


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    Feng¡¯er was taken, Yun¡¯er was taken, and now, only Chuan¡¯er was left. Ling¡¯er was still young, only twelve years old, while Chuan¡¯er was sixteen.


    Chuan¡¯er was not inferior in looks to Yuan Jiaqi. If he improved his martial arts skills, he might be more appealing to the girls.


    Even so, a continuous stream of people came to propose marriage. Qiao Mai declined them all, stating they wouldn¡¯t discuss marriage until Chuan¡¯er became a Tribute Schr.


    Many matchmakers secretly thought the Yuan family was too picky, but what could be done?


    Soon, the joyous day of Yunfeng and Mu Rong arrived. The Duke sent out invitations, inviting almost everyone reachable in the capital.


    Yuan Jiaqi teased, ¡°Wife, it seems our invitations here are useless?¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s not send them. We can have our main family and servants dine together during the ceremony. With fewer people, it will be more peaceful.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve arranged ten tables, and each person from the escorting party will receive ten taels of silver as a red packet. Shall we skip assigning seating? ¡°Sure, ten tables on our side will be enough. I won¡¯t be able to manage more than twenty.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine. As officials, we can avoid exchanging gifts and go to our inws¡¯ ce; it¡¯s better.¡±


    ¡°In the Emperor¡¯s eyes, the exchange of gifts is considered bribery.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Many people use birthdays, happy events, and funerals to achieve their hidden goals. However, it has evolved into a custom. No one cares whether it brings joy or not.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised her eyebrows, ¡°Are you saying our family is not popr?¡± ¡°Hehe, there will always be poprity with ady like you. I like it, however it is. When our son gets married and our family grows, our home will get better and better.¡±


    ¡°Of course. When our children get married, our family will only improve.¡±


    Hand in hand, the couple toured the house while the steward and his team were busy arranging everything. The weather in May could change rapidly.


    Even though it was sunny now, there was no guarantee it would be the same tomorrow.


    The next day, the whole family dressed neatly, everyone beaming with joy. Yunfeng wore the wedding clothes prepared by his mother and led the bridal party chosen from the household servants to the courtyard.


    After Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai finished checking, the matchmaker followed andpleted the formation.


    Today was the first time the family hosted a joyous event, so it had to be perfect. The residence seemed to be filled with ethereal music.


    Unable to hire a music band, they settled for celestial music.


    Even though they hadn¡¯t heard this music before, several loudspeakers were ced on the roof, sting the lively tunes in all directions.


    The cheerful sounds of pipa ying filled every corner of Lucky Garden. The family listened with delight, and the servants moved with joyful steps.


    Sitting in a corner, Old Master Wang pulled Old Mistress Wang to sit next to him. ¡°Have you seen a music band?¡±


    ¡°This girl is always mysterious. But it sounds good.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it does. I wonder if there¡¯s anything more amazing than this.¡±


    ¡°There must be; just wait and see.¡±


    At the auspicious time, firecrackers crackled, and the entrance of Lucky Garden wasid with a carpet made of red firecrackers.


    Themoners gathered around to watch. Seeing the decorations, they knew this family was about to celebrate a joyous asion.


    ¡°Look, look, the bridegroom!¡±


    ¡°Wow, so handsome.¡±


    ¡°I heard this is the residence of Yuan Jiaqi, the Minister of Personnel. That must be his eldest son.¡±


    ¡°I heard he¡¯s also a fourth-ranked military officer.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s promising. At such a young age, he¡¯s already a fourth-ranked military officer. He¡¯ll surely be a great general in the future.¡±


    ¡°The whole family has promising individuals. The second son is also a fourth-ranked officer, and the third son is a Rmended Schr. Although he¡¯s young, he¡¯s bound to be sessful.¡±


    ¡°Look, their eldest son, second son, and legitimate daughter are out. Are they nning to greet the bride together?¡±


    ¡°It seems so.¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, look at the horses they¡¯re riding!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Even the steward is riding an extraordinary horse. What kind of horse is that?¡±


    ¡°God, are you all blind? Those are sweat-blooded Arabian horses. Wow, there are six of them! How wealthy is the Yuan family to have one for each person?¡±


    Their eyes were not deceiving them; indeed, the two brothers were riding pure white Arabian horses, a gift from Qiao Mai the day before.


    Delighted, they almost couldn¡¯t sleep the whole night. Since Ling¡¯er was still young and would fetch the bride today, Qiao Mai let her ride Dong Zhao.


    Unfortunately, Dong Zhao was too proud and didn¡¯t pay much attention to her. Fortunately, Qiao Mai promised to apany her with a horse when she married. Otherwise, Ling¡¯er would have insisted on coaxing Qiao Mai for the whole day.


    The four brothers, along with the steward and a servant, formed a party of six leading the way.


    Following them were musicians ying instruments, and further back were eight sedan carriers, with soldiers at the rear to prevent chaos.


    The bride¡¯s family, responsible for carrying the dowry, had already coordinated everything, so there was no need for additional preparations on their end.


    They proceeded at the auspicious time. Meanwhile, inside the house, Qiao Mai and the others sat in the living room. Old Mistress Wang smiled at her.


    ¡°Raising children is likepleting a mission. Now that he¡¯s married, you¡¯ll have less to worry about.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll leave the household to Rong¡¯er. When my second daughter-inw enters, the household will be handed over to them. As for me, I need to travel between Tianshui Town and the capital. Our family can¡¯t do without help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m old and can¡¯t help you much.¡±


    ¡°Who said that? All the little animals in the house are your hard work.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I love hearing that.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Zihan growing up too?¡±


    ¡°He also passed the imperial examination. He said he wants to establish his career first, so we¡¯re not pushing him to get married.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, this child has grown up under my watch. He must choose well; personality is the most important.¡±


    On the other side, the Duke¡¯s mansion was also well-prepared. The 260 dowry carriages were the first of their kind in the capital. Even if the Duchess wasn¡¯t pleased, she couldn¡¯t change anything. At this moment, she wore a smiling face, entertaining the guests.


    Behind the ount table, the gifting tform was filled with presents. At the entrance of the Duke¡¯s mansion was a lively stream of people, even busier than a marketce.


    Yunfeng and the others rode horses and set off fireworks, arriving at the Duke¡¯s mansion.


    Seeing the groome to greet the bride, the Duke¡¯s fireworks began,sting about two-quarters of an hour before stopping.


    With a loud shout from the ceremonial official, the groom, apanied by his men, dismounted and walked towards the Duke, simultaneously undergoing the Duke¡¯s examination.


    The guests were watching. In both literary or martial aspects, this groom¡¯s dignified appearance impressed everyone.


    Not to mention his smile, which had left countless youngdies astonished and many beautiful women embarrassed.


    Moreover, Yun¡¯er, Chuan¡¯er, and Ling¡¯er were like phoenixes and dragons among people. When the young masters and misses of the noble families in the capital saw this, they couldn¡¯t help but feel inferior..

 Chapter 290 - 290: One Look Led to an Uproar

    Chapter 290 - 290: One Look Led to an Uproar


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    They were not well-versed in social etiquette and did not frequently attend events.


    However, the siblings¡¯ demeanor was refined, and they spoke elegantly, indicating exposure to the world.


    Growing up under Qiao Mai, it would be a wasted life if they didn¡¯t know etiquette.


    In terms of food, clothing, education, and etiquette, they had seen and experienced it all.


    Now, the Duke¡¯s inws were famous. His son-inw was even more prominent in the capital.


    Passing through various checkpoints and oveing challenges, the groom sessfully met the bride, paid respects to his parents-inw, and entered the bridal sedan. Everything went smoothly.


    Within the specified time, the bride was brought to Lucky Garden. Of course, this asion was celebrated with even more excitement.


    Once the newlyweds entered their room, the wedding banquetmenced.


    Since no outsiders were present, all having gone to tter the Duke, the banquet table was filled with the Qiao family¡¯s servants and those who had escorted the bride.


    Seeing the table full of dishes, many people secretly rejoiced. Thanks to attending the wedding, they could enjoy such a splendid feast. Otherwise, they might never experience such a grand asion in their lives.<div>


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    After a while, Yunfeng came out to propose toasts. Everyone was engrossed in eating, and no one bothered him. The feast was devoured quickly. When they left, they all felt embarrassed, their faces flushed.


    Now, they had something to boast about when they returned. Those who didn¡¯t go to escort the bride regretted it.


    Some people even exaggerated it, saying that just breathing the air in the Qiao family made them feelfortable. Many were blown away by such ims.


    The Qiao family was generous, giving each person escorting the bride ten taels of silver and a small gift.


    The feast included rare and exotic dishes, broadening everyone¡¯s horizons.


    Of course, the servants at Lucky Garden were used to it.


    Mu Rong finally married into the family, fulfilling her wish. After the meal, she settled her dowry. With such a spacious Tingfen Pavilion, she could arrange things as she pleased.


    Yunfeng quietly apanied her, doing whatever she asked. In ancient times, finding such a good man was like finding a needle in a haystack.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t require her to pay respects, citing her fatigue from the day. She arranged for the kitchen to deliver meals in the evening and allowed them to rest early.


    The next day, the whole family waited in the living room. Mu Rong didn¡¯t dare to be arrogant; she was now part of the family. The couple woke up early and went to the living room.


    After serving tea respectfully, Yuan Jiaqi went to work. Old Master and Mistress Wang gave their respects.


    Miss Mu also gave her most precious belongings to the old couple and her father-inw and mother-inw. Of course, she didn¡¯t forget the siblings.


    They had known each other for a long time, so their interaction was harmonious.


    Qiao Mai was straightforward, directly handing over the family authority to Mu Rong. ¡°When I¡¯m not here, you will make the decisions in this house. But for important matters, it¡¯s best to discuss with Grandma.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Mu Rong nced at her mother-inw. She¡¯s so young! They look like sisters when standing next to each other.


    But Qiao Mai was a generation higher than her, so it was a must to call her Mother.


    ¡°Also, I want to make it clear to you both. After you have children, I will support you to move out if this house bes too cramped. Don¡¯t be shy. As the family grows, it¡¯s only natural.¡±


    ¡°Mother, we don¡¯t want to live separately. We want to stay together as a family forever.¡¯


    Qiao Mai tapped Ling¡¯er¡¯s head. ¡°How about it? Do you want a live-in husband


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? You did the same.¡±


    ¡°There are too few men like your father in the world. If you meet someone like him, it¡¯s okay. But if you can¡¯t find one, you might end up inviting a wolf into the house.¡±


    ¡°¡®l¡¯nen we¡¯ll Kill It ancl eat W01t meat.¡¯


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes emitted a fierce light. ¡°Alright, today is the second day your wife has entered the door. Feng¡¯er, you should spend more time with your wife.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Remember the gift for the return visit tomorrow. Open the warehouse and let


    Rong¡¯er choose for herself.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    ¡°Mother, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯ll prepare it myself. With so much dowry, picking a few items is enough.¡±


    ¡°What kind of joke is this? You¡¯re the daughter-inw of my Qiao family. How can you use your dowry? Your dowry will be left for your children in the future. Even if the Qiao family is poor, we won¡¯t use our daughter-inw¡¯s dowry to save face.


    ¡°Hehe, thank you, Mother. Then I won¡¯t be polite.¡±


    ¡°Go and choose.¡±


    Feng¡¯er took Rong¡¯er away; Yun¡¯er went to work; Chuan¡¯er was pulled away by Old Master Wang. Old Mistress Wang went to the backyard to feed the animals. Ling¡¯er looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Mother, the shop is built.¡±


    ¡°Choose one room for decoration. I¡¯ll set up a snack shop in the remaining room.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great! We can eat the same snacks.¡±


    ¡°In a few days, Shopkeeper Niu wille. I¡¯ll allocate half of the workers to this side.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Unfortunately, I still have to do it myself over there.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to praise you?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    With that, Nanny Jin took Ling¡¯er away. The living room was left with only Qiao Mai.


    On the day Mu Rong and Yunfeng returned to visit her parents, Shopkeeper Niu arrived with his people, feeling excited.


    Since the beginning of the year, Qiao Mai had instructed him to train new people. Now, the eatery in Tianshui Town was handed over to Shopkeeper Feng, whom he had selected from among the assistants.


    At the same time, they hired a batch of workers. The newbies were all handed over to Shopkeeper Feng, and those who coulde to the capital were all experienced assistants.


    Everyone hurried along and finally arrived. Upon meeting, Shopkeeper Niu took the lead in paying respects to the boss. ¡°Boss, all the old folks have arrived.¡¯ ¡°Is everything arranged in Tianshui Town?¡±


    ¡°Please rest assured, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Well, the shop is on the side and conveniently connected to a small courtyard behind. Just repeat what you¡¯ve done in Tianshui Town. You will be responsible for the shop. If there are any problems,e and find me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    ¡°If youck money and goods, contact the steward and the ountant. Try to open for business as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    With Shopkeeper Niu¡¯s arrival, Qiao Mai breathed a sigh of relief. She would provide money and goods, but dealing with those trivial matters felt unpleasant.


    But, one must make a living, blocking the unstoppable flow of gossip.


    Therefore, Ling¡¯er¡¯s embroidery shop and Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had to be opened in the capital, letting them see what real money-making was.


    The rainy season in the south arrived, and the rain came and went. Qiao Mai stayed in Yuexian Residence every day.


    Ling¡¯er and Shopkeeper Niu were busy with the shop. Finally, on the sixteenth day of June, the two shops officially opened.


    Qiao Mai provided sufficient goods for the shops. As they were not on themercial street or in a bustling area, the opening day weed a small crowd.


    Ling¡¯er wasn¡¯t in a hurry. The same goes for Shopkeeper Niu.


    The family didn¡¯tck money. They all know good things don¡¯t fear a quiet environment. As long as they had quality items, they would eventually sell.


    Sure enough, those idle women and youngdies at home began to gossip when they got together, discussing the Lucky Embroidery Manor.


    They hadn¡¯t been there before, but the two Qiao family shops had be hot topics due to the grand wedding.


    Some people, braving the rain, went to check out the shops.


    One look led to an uproar!


    Lucky Embroidery Manor was filled with exquisite items, each of which they couldn¡¯t put down. Wealthy families didn¡¯t hesitate and bought them.


    After buying, they went to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. Upon entering, they ordered the shop¡¯s specialty ¨C yogurt, iced milk tea, and some snacks to enjoy.


    Oh my, why is the yogurt so delicious? Why is the iced milk tea so tasty? Oh, bring a few more cups of passion fruit tea.


    A few dayster, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and Lucky Embroidery Manor became famous in the capital.


    Fortunately, Qiao Mai¡¯s residence was on a street with almost no shops. The road was wide, so Shopkeeper Niu took the initiative to set up a beautiful awning in front of their shop.


    Under the awning were beautiful tables and chairs. Those who wanted to enjoy the rain scenery could sit outside, taking care of everyone¡¯s preferences.


    For a while, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery was crowded with people..

 Chapter 291 - 291: Pushed Forward to Death

    Chapter 291 - 291: Pushed Forward to Death


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The embroidery shop has many customers, but there are more window shoppers than buyers. After all, they¡¯re facing a target group of wealthy individuals.


    As they n to settle in the capital, Nanny Jin has bought eight clever maids from a young age to cultivate them. Even if Ling¡¯er gets married in the future, they will go along as part of the dowry.


    This was a n Nanny Jin had carefully considered early on. She will go along with the eight maids.


    Now that she considers Ling¡¯er her daughter, Nanny Jin has spared no effort in her upbringing. She couldn¡¯t bear to let Ling¡¯er go to her inws alone. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t stop her. She couldn¡¯t ask for more to have such a loyal servant.


    Qiao Mai decisively entered her space, bought eight sewing machines from the tform, and gave them to Ling¡¯er as a grand opening gift.


    This made Ling¡¯er so happy she almost couldn¡¯t find her bearings. ¡°Mother, is this faster than hand-sewing clothes?¡±


    Qiao Mai saw their doubts and demonstrated them on the spot. A piece of clothing was finished in half an hour. The stitches were even, dense, and neat.


    Nanny Jin kept gulping continuously. She wanted to be the first spectator among the audience, sincerely and humbly learning from Qiao Mai.


    The next was Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°Once you learn it, you can teach it to the others. In the future, your shop can design styles and make them yourselves. The items must be of high quality. If the needles on the machine break and you run out, you can ask me for more. If the machine is broken, you can ask me to fix it.¡±<div>


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    ¡°With these machines, our embroidery shop will be even more impressive!¡±


    ¡°Keep a low profile. We don¡¯tck money in our family. Opening this shop is only to give you something to do.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I want to share the profits with you.¡±


    ¡°Just give me the cost of goods you took. I don¡¯t care about your money.¡±


    ¡°Hehe! ¡±


    Now, the embroidery shop has gained confidence with the help of Qiao Mai asionally buying new clothes from the tform. Within a short month, the shop became more famous than the most prestigious clothing store in the capital.


    As for Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, it promoted the snacks from Tianshui Town and made bank every day.


    People say that people fear fame as pigs fear fattening up.


    If it weren¡¯t for Yuan Jiaqi, a first-rank minister, someone would have caused trouble for the shop long ago.


    Qiao Mai was waiting for trouble toe. She didn¡¯t have time to investigate who was good or bad in the capital.


    She only waited for them to envy and resent. Then, she would have a good reason to eliminate them.


    Sure enough, someone couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. In the middle of the night, they sent men to Lucky Garden.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were sleeping on the brick bed. As the three sheep had a covenant with Qiao Mai, they immediately notified her once they found someoneing.


    ¡°Master, bad people are intruding. How do we deal with it?¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t even get up. ¡°Kill whoeveres and leave one alive.¡±


    When the sun rose, chaos broke out in the capital. People died on the street. Some even found corpses in their homes.


    The sheep were too fierce. Using the horns on their heads, they sent the ck-clothed men flying. Due to the force, it was unclear where they wouldnd.


    This resulted in the scene that morning. Qiao Mai waited until Yuan Jiaqi went to court, had lunch with her family, and then returned to the backyard with the sheep.


    ¡°Master, that person didn¡¯t die. He¡¯s in the east wing, but he¡¯s about to die. If you want to search his soul, you need to hurry.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked into the east wing, where she saw a ck-clothed person lying motionless on the ground.


    She squatted down, pressed on the person¡¯s head with one hand, and rummaged. The man¡¯s breath faltered, and Qiao Mai nced at the sheep.


    ¡°Deal with it yourselves. Toss him wherever you like.¡±


    One sheep bit the man¡¯s clothes and dragged him to the yard, while the other two took a few steps back and rammed into the ck-clothed man.


    The body disappeared from sight.


    ¡°Whoever dares to sneak into Lucky Garden at night will die!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    At this time, several families heads walked with their hands behind their backs, their faces dark. It was clear they had just vented their anger.


    Among them was the Liu family. Although Qiao Mai¡¯s shop had nothing to do with their medical hall, they suspected her for their robbery case. Now, Qiao Mai¡¯s shop was making a fortune in the capital.


    In one month, her shop became famous. They couldn¡¯t swallow this anger.


    So, they sent ten secret guards to Qiao Mai¡¯s house for information. Several other families did the same. Overnight, more than fifty people died at Lucky Garden.


    They knew it was her but could only swallow their anger and dare not admit it.


    If they did, they would receive no justice and only ruin their reputation.


    Why send men to others¡¯ homes? That¡¯s a private residence. Without an official search warrant, the homeowners have the right to deal with as many people as they want.


    These people died deservedly, but it was a pity their bodies affected the streets of the capital.


    However, there was nothing they could do. The sheep didn¡¯t know their limits. Anyway, they pushed forward to their deaths under Qiao Mai¡¯s order.


    Most of the ck-clothed men had their intestines smashed and fell from the sky like pancakes, a fresh way to die.


    No matter how chaotic the capital was, it was time to focus on Yun¡¯er.


    Mu Rong found Qiao Mai. ¡°Mother, should we go to their house to propose marriage?¡±


    ¡°Sure. You¡¯re close to the Xiao family. Choose a suitable day to propose. We are on the groom¡¯s side, so we need to see the bride¡¯s wishes. Prepare the same gifts as when we went to yours. Don¡¯t favor one side too much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay to be partial. I won¡¯t mind. After all, Feng¡¯er and I are the eldest. I should naturally give in to my younger siblings.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not right. In my eyes, a bnced approach is the best. If things are unbnced, it¡¯s easy to cause trouble. I won¡¯t give you a chance to criticize me behind my back.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I dare not. I¡¯ve been disciplined by you and am well-behaved.¡±


    ¡°Enough of your chatter. The ount is with the steward. Go and get it ready.


    On the appointed day, we will go with you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    On the eighth day of August, Qiao Fengyun went with his family to propose.


    After half a month, the engagement was settled. On the sixteenth of September, the betrothal gifts were exchanged. The wedding was scheduled for the following year.


    They didn¡¯t want a wedding in the deep winter; it was too cold, and the food and drinks wouldn¡¯t be enjoyable.


    When the Emperor heard Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s son had another engagement as grand as the first one, he furrowed his brows.


    He tilted his head and asked his close attendant, ¡°Is Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s wife so good at making money?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Just thend she bought in the County She yielded an annual ie of over a hundred thousand taels of silver. Additionally, she has an eatery in Tianshui Town and the capital. Altogether, it¡¯s no less than three to four hundred thousand taels of silver annually.¡±


    The Emperor put down his pen. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s visit her shop.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, isn¡¯t it inappropriate?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate? I¡¯ve been bored in the pce. Let the Golden Dragon Guards protect me. You drive the carriage. Isn¡¯t the street in front of her shop quiet?¡±


    ¡°That was before. Since she opened these two shops, the street has be crowded.¡±


    ¡°Enough. Stop talking.¡±


    So, with Yubao, the attendant, driving the carriage, and the old Emperor sitting inside, they arrived at Huangdao Street.


    Since they came out for a walk, they couldn¡¯t sit in the carriage all the time. The Emperor asked Yubao to stop the carriage on the side and then strolled along the street.


    Autumn in the south was still humid, but the street had beautiful and elegant awnings, making it pleasant to watch.


    Many people made their purchases and sat on the street to rest. The shop assistants immediately came forward with a smile.


    ¡°Excuse me, what would you like to drink or eat? Here is the menu.¡± Seeing such a warm scene, the Emperor immediately joined in.


    ¡°Bring us two of each item on your menu.¡±


    The assistant looked at the Emperor and said, ¡°It¡¯ste autumn now, and you shouldn¡¯t drink too much. Even if you like it, you should drink in moderation.¡± The Emperor thought for a moment. ¡°Well, let¡¯s have a cup of yogurt then..¡±

 Chapter 292 - 292: Eat Himself To Death

    Chapter 292 - 292: Eat Himself To Death


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He looked at the menu at a loss. ¡°Which ones are delicious? You can choose for me.¡±


    ¡°Do you prefer sweet, sour, or spicy vors?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not picky. Just give me the best-sellers from your shop. Let me try a few.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Yubao stood beside the Emperor. The Emperor gestured for him to sit, ¡°We¡¯re outside. Sit.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that inappropriate?¡±


    ¡°I said sit. As the Emperor, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal. Look at the sign outside this shop ¨C Eat what you order, and don¡¯t waste. Food is the result of themoners¡¯s hard work. Not bad for someone from the Yuan family, running a business and still thinking about the people.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan is a good official. I heard he sent people to buy grain for disaster relief in the South. The money came from his wife. With his limited sry, it¡¯s even tough to support a family.¡±


    ¡°Many officials in the court are like this. I don¡¯t allow them to engage in


    business.¡±<div>


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    While chatting, the yogurt arrived, followed by fourrge tes filled with snacks on the table.


    ¡°It¡¯s five hundred coins for snacks and one tael of silver for a cup of yogurt. If you want more, we¡¯ll settle separately. Our rule is to settle the bill immediately after serving the food.¡±


    Yubao took out a silver ingot from his sleeve. ¡°Pack the remaining snacks from your shop for us.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    After the worker left, the Emperor lowered his head and continued to look around. Yubao nced around nervously. He learned to slurp it first.


    ¡°You can suck it this way. The milk and fruit bits wille into your mouth.¡±


    Following his example, the Emperor sucked gently, and the vors of fruit and milk filled his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, sighing lightly at the refreshing and sweet taste.


    ¡°One tael of silver per cup is indeed delicious.¡±


    ¡°Would you like to try this? It¡¯s called popcorn, made by popping corn kernels.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be golden yellow?¡±


    ¡°The brownyer on top is called chocte. Some people like it, and some don¡¯t. It¡¯s a matter of preference.¡±


    Yubao picked one and tried it first. Seeing that he was fine, the Emperor hurriedly took one and put it in his mouth.


    ¡°Have the pce buy it every day. No, you buy it. We should eat fresh food.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called crispy rice. It¡¯s crispy and fragrant the more you chew.¡±


    ¡°Alright. We came here by carriage. Go to the shopter, buy all the snacks, and


    I¡¯ll taste them slowly at the pce.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    The Emperor tasted all four snacks. Leaning back on the chair, he said, ¡°This is the life of the Immortals. Not bad. In the future, I shoulde out more often.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Shouldn¡¯t you return to the pce?¡±


    ¡°No hurry.¡±


    Having eaten his fill, the Emperor decided to stroll to the embroidery shop across the street.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to that shop.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yubao assisted the Emperor to Lucky Embroidery Manor, where two young girls served customers.


    As soon as they saw a male customer, the two girls were momentarily stunned and quickly shouted.


    ¡°Manager Jin, there¡¯s a male customer.¡±


    Nanny Jin stepped out when she saw the Emperor and turned pale with fright. Feeling a sense of familiarity, the Emperor asked, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Nanny Jin nced around, knowing that the Emperor was in disguise, trying to keep it a secret.


    She hurriedly approached, bowing respectfully. ¡°This servant greets Your Majesty. This servant used to serve as a maid by Consort Xian¡¯s side. As I grew older, I was released.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s why you look familiar. After leaving the pce, did you go to the


    Yuan family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am their youngest daughter.¡± ¡°Is this your Mistress¡¯s embroidery shop?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The Emperor walked around the shop, inspecting and nodding. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve managed this shop well. The embroidery here is better than in the pce.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything you fancy? This servant will send it to you as a gift.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a bandit.¡±


    After browsing the shop and picking a few items, the Emperor had Yubao settle the bill. He didn¡¯t stay long and left.


    Once he left, Nanny Jin was drenched in cold sweat. She quickly had someone watch over the shop and rushed to Yuexian Residence to find Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam Qiao?¡±


    Qiao Mai came out of the house, and the two sat in the courtyard. Qiao Mai poured her a cup of hot tea.


    ¡°Is there trouble at the embroidery shop?¡±


    ¡°Today, I saw the Emperor in the shop.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re conducting legitimate business. There¡¯s nothing to fear.¡± ¡°I was scared to death.¡±


    ¡°You reacted out of reflex. He¡¯s not a tiger, and he won¡¯t eat people.¡±


    ¡°Apanying the Emperor is like being with a tiger. If he¡¯s unhappy, my life would be in danger. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯d target our family.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t. He¡¯s just bored in the pce,ing out for fresh air. He heard our shop is doing well and then visited your shop for a stroll after eating at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, bringing some gifts back to his favorite concubine.¡± ¡°Oh, if that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s good. I won¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    ¡°How has business been this past month?¡±


    ¡°Exceptionally good. We¡¯re making a fortune daily.¡±


    ¡°Remember not to be overly excited. We don¡¯t seek trouble, but we¡¯re not afraid of it either. If any issues arise, there¡¯s no need to panic.¡±


    Nanny Jin left, and the Emperor returned to the pce with a pile of gifts. He gave some to his favored concubine and kept the rest in his pce.


    Looking at the paperwork for the meetingter, he said, ¡°Yubao, no wonder Yuan Jiaqi is so willing to spend money on his children. The profits from these two shops alone areparable to the ie of ten other shops.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even I envy what I see.¡±


    ¡°Go. Open that jar of boneless chicken ws for me. I want to eat.¡±


    ¡°Emperor, let¡¯s wait until evening. You¡¯ve already exceeded your normal meal amount, which isn¡¯t good for your health.¡±


    ¡°Do what I said.¡±


    Yubao had no choice but to open the jar and try one.


    ¡°It¡¯s so delicious.¡±


    He quickly filled a small bowl and handed it to the Emperor.


    ¡°Try it; it¡¯s delicious.¡±


    Seeing him salivate, the Emperor knew he wanted to eat it. ¡°Since there¡¯s no one else, take a bowl and eat. After eating, go buy more.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yubao happily took a bowl. After a bite, the Emperor fell in love with the spicy, fragrant, and crispy taste.


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious. How much is this jar sold for?¡±


    ¡°Ten taels. It¡¯s about two catties.¡±


    ¡°Not expensive. How many chickens are needed to fill this jar? It still tastes so delicious. ¡±


    ¡°This one is spicy. There¡¯s another jar of sour and spicy. Want me to open it to see the difference?¡±


    ¡°Go, open it. Let¡¯s taste the difference.¡±


    ¡°Emperor, you exceeded your normal amount.¡±


    ¡°Go! I¡¯ll go out and walk off my appetite. I won¡¯t eat dinner tonight.¡¯


    Yubao thought, ¡°You won¡¯t eat? Don¡¯t lie. With that table full of food, you¡¯ll be unable to resist tasting once you see it.¡±


    As expected, the Emperor had no mood for handling official documents.


    He threw the documents aside, sat at the table, and tasted one dish after another, insatiable.


    He sampled various styles of chicken ws, trying boneless ones ¡ªtiger skin, pickled pepper, and fragrant braised. This culinary exploration widened his horizons.


    Even pigskin, usually avoided by wealthy families, was consumed by the Emperor until his mouth was oily.


    After filling himself, he strolled outside for a while, digested the food, and continued tasting.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery boasted dozens of varieties. The eunuchs serving the Emperor worried he might eat himself to death.


    These snacks, irresistible even to the Emperor, spoke volumes about their poprity in the capital.


    Shopkeeper Niu set the prices for each snack extremely high, but it still couldn¡¯t stop the shop from being fully upied every day, morning to night.


    From the moment the shop opened in the morning until it closed at night, every seat was taken.


    The Emperor was pleased with Yuan Jiaqi, and his impression of Qiao Mai was also favorable.


    After all, one earned money while the other distributed relief to themoners. Thisbination was indeedmendable. For an emperor, it was ideal for every household to be like this, making his rule easier..

 Chapter 293 - 293: Any Casualties?

    Chapter 293 - 293: Any Casualties?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The two inws often visited the shop, showing strong support for the embroidery business. Despite the family rtionship, they never take advantage and always pay for whatever they consume.


    Qiao Mai is rtively satisfied with the Duke and is especially pleased with the Xiao family, introduced by her eldest daughter-inw.


    Whenever there are fresh delicacies in the shop, she sends some to the two families.


    As October ended, people in the south started wearing thin jackets. As the head of the Qiao family, Qiao Mai always prepares early for the servants.


    Mu Rong is well aware of this. As the one managing the household, she does an excellent job. Qiao Mai silently observes her.


    Since the incident with the troublemakers, those who envied the Qiao family dare not send anyone again.


    Not daring to send men is one thing, but watching such a thriving business without getting involved is hard to ept.


    However, how to get involved poses a challenge.


    With just those two shops, the Qiao family neithercks business partners nor desires to open additional branches. They have no intention of taking on new investors.


    However, the capital is vast, and the Ming Dynasty is vast. If every prefectural capital had such a business, how much money could they earn?<div>


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    They only see the money and don¡¯t realize that some delicacies don¡¯t belong here. Without Qiao Mai, they can¡¯t obtain these goods.


    In November, Shopkeeper Niu received a letter from Shopkeeper Feng in Tianshui town. After reading it, he hurriedly found Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Boss, the snack shop in Tianshui Town was attacked by unidentified people.¡±


    ¡°Any casualties?¡±


    ¡°No. Our sheep saved them.¡±


    ¡°With them around, no one can harm anyone from our family.¡±


    Speaking of the sheep, Shopkeeper Niu was skeptical at first, but now, he admired the three sheep. He always said that the boss must have some purpose in raising them.


    Indeed, these three sheep took charge of matters with no guards at home. How could the boss not pay attention to that side?


    It¡¯s unexpected. The seemingly cute sheep are so formidable against those ruthless ck-clothed men.


    ¡°Boss, what are these people doing in Tianshui town?¡±


    ¡°Envy. They want to get the recipe from the staff or headhunt them.¡±


    ¡°They are despicable, trying to gain without working. Boss, you can¡¯t let them off lightly.¡±


    ¡°As long as they dare to show up, they will be taken care of.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu left and calcted the dates. It was time for her to return to Tianshui Town, go through the ounts involving the county, visit old friends, and gather with rtives.


    Just then, a servant reported.


    ¡°Boss, there¡¯s a man named Chen with a woman seeking an audience.¡±


    ¡°Chen?¡± Qiao Mai¡¯s attention immediately shifted to the front hall.


    She saw Lu Ruxin sitting nervously in the living room. The man beside her was probably her husband, surnamed Chen. He was a Rmended Schr.


    ¡°Chase them away with a broom.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face was cold. Looking at Lu Ruxin made her nauseous. After marrying, why is she still so uneasy? The Qian family head is not inferior to her family, just a level lower in official rank than Yuan Jiaqi.


    Now, she is the legitimate daughter of the Qian family. She shouldn¡¯t be looking for her Master, who severed ties.


    Seeing her, Qiao Mai felt ufortable like she had swallowed a fly.


    Withdrawing her mental focus, she poured herself a cup of tea and drank it.


    After Lu Ruxin and her husband were swept out of the door, they stood outside Lucky Garden. Rmended Schr Chen didn¡¯t me her. He had thought of this consequence when he came.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, husband. I didn¡¯t help you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. This was just a test. It seems your Master has a deep prejudice against you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t care about our affairs. We still need to go to the Qian family.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    Darkness fell, and Yuan Jiaqi returned home. Seeing the dinner table set, he quickly washed up and sat beside Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Wife, are you not practicing meditation today?¡±


    ¡°Early tomorrow, I will return to Tianshui town to settle the ounts and return by year-end.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, wife.


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard. When I¡¯m not at home, you and the servants must be careful.


    There have been many recent attempts on our family. I will let one of the sheep follow you.¡±


    ¡°Huh? A sheep following me?¡±


    ¡°Put it on the carriage. Wherever you go, let it wait in the carriage without being seen by others.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are these sheep special?¡±


    ¡°Let me put it this way. Even a hundred martial arts experts may not defeat them.¡±


    ¡°Wow, they¡¯re that powerful?¡± ¡°Trust what I say.¡±


    ¡°Yes, wife. I will listen to you.¡±


    And so, Madam Qiao made arrangements for the household, mounted Dong Zhao, and left.


    When she returnedst year, Dong Zhao kicked quite a few hooligans. This time, she saw many people looking for Dong Zhao. Of course, it¡¯s to seek revenge,


    Unfortunately, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t stop along the way.


    What themoners saw on the road was only the swirling yellow earth and a streak of red lightning.


    On the day Qiao Mai left the capital, Yuan Jiaqi encountered ck-clothed men on his way to the court. Fortunately, he listened to his wife¡¯s words and brought one of the sheep.


    It was still dark, and the surroundings were quiet. When he saw the power of the sheep with his own eyes, he finally believed his wife.


    Indeed, these were not ordinary sheep; they were like fierce tigersing down from the mountain, charging at the ck-clothed men.


    Their hooves also had power. The ck-clothed men who got close were kicked away.


    One sheep stood in front of Yuan Jiaqi, and when an opportunity arose, it appeared like lightning in front of the ck-clothed men. A scream was heard, and the ck-clothed men disappeared.


    It seemed as if they had vanished, but in reality, they were kicked away to God knows where.


    Just as Yuan Jiaqi blinked his eyes, the sheep returned to his side.


    If he wasn¡¯t seeing things, the sheep even winked at him. My goodness!


    Soon, more than twenty ck-clothed men were dealt with by the sheep.


    Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Yuan Jiaqi looked around. There was no trace of the ck-clothed men.


    He nced at the coachman. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the court.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    The six guards he brought with him were also not injured. They witnessed the sheep¡¯s ability and kept scanning the carriage.


    At this moment, the sheep and Yuan Jiaqi exchanged nces.


    ¡°You¡¯re powerful.¡±


    The sheep bumped him with its horn and then bleated a few times.


    ¡°Thanks for your help during my wife¡¯s absence.¡± Yuan Jiaqi even bowed to it.


    In the sheep¡¯s mind, the master¡¯s husband was pretty good; it liked him.


    ¡°Baa. ¡±


    Returning to Tianshui Town, news of Qiao Mai¡¯s arrival spread. People from the Liu family, Qian family, Shopkeeper Tong, and the Qin family came to her house.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a year. Do you still remember toe back?¡±


    ¡°Look at what you¡¯re saying; this is my home.¡±


    The living room was full of people. The servants brought tea, and everyone smiled.


    Regardless of who it was, they were happy about Qiao Mai¡¯s return, especially the servants. When Qiao Mai returned, their confidence was especially strong.


    On the second day of Qiao Mai¡¯s return, a heavy snowfall began in Tianshui Town. Even so, Qiao Mai walked out of her home, dressed in thick clothes. She first ate a bowl of instant noodles at the Liu family, then had a meat-filled bun and checked on their business.


    Then, she went to Lucky Star Academy. Two teachers were diligently teaching the students. Seeing her, they nodded at her. Qiao Mai gestured for them to continue teaching while she observed from outside.


    Afterward, she went to her snack shop. Shopkeeper Feng, who recently took over, respectfully greeted her.


    ¡°Boss, here are this year¡¯s ounts.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat inside the warm shop, and the staff served her hot milk tea along with several tes of snacks.


    She carefully reviewed the ounts. She needs to handle the important matters first.


    It took the whole day. After reviewing the ounts, she nodded. ¡°The ounts are clear. You did well with the bookkeeping. This year is simr to previous years. Make sure to reward all the servants in my courtyard..¡±

 Chapter 294 - 294: A Bowl of Sheep Soup

    Chapter 294 - 294: A Bowl of Sheep Soup


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    Qiao Mai took one hundred thousand taels of silver and handed the rest to Shopkeeper Feng for the New Year. She also checked the warehouse, replenishing enough goods.


    In the evening, she summoned the Steward Xi, had her go over the household affairs, and made arrangements for the New Year.


    She slept well at home. The next day, she rode Dong Zhao back to County She.


    She spent the whole day in the workshop, and the steward stayed nearby. Qiao Mai looked at the ounts and asked as she worked.


    ¡°Has the pine nut harvesting started this year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the first pine forest has produced pine cones, so I arranged for people to start harvesting and processing ording to the recipe you provided.¡±


    ¡°Have some sent over.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    Soon, the freshly cooked pine nuts were brought in. Qiao Mai examined their size and noticed that each had a split.


    She reached for one, peeled it, and tasted it. ¡°Hmm, it tastes good. Are there any vendorsing to the workshop to buy them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, quite a few.¡±


    ¡°Hire more people to separate the pine nuts. Charge different prices for the small,rge, and premium ones. Send the premium nuts to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery in Tianshui Town. Follow the set price.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    After reviewing the ounts, Qiao Mai took the silver and left some for the steward to distribute as bonuses.


    She decided not to head home as it was getting dark. Instead, she stored Dong Zhao in her space.


    She stayed at an inn in the county town, booked a good room, and wandered around in the snow.


    In such cold weather, she unexpectedly saw amb soup restaurant with quite a few customers inside.


    Approaching, she saw several litmps inside the small shop, with almost every table upied.


    It was dinner time. She walked in and sat at an empty table.


    She was about to order when a handsome young man sat across her.


    ¡°Are you alone? Do you mind sharing a table?¡±


    Qiao Mai ignored him and waved to the waiter. ¡°A bowl ofmb soup and two baked buns.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have the same!¡±


    The man ordered the same. The table for two was not small, facing each other, but Qiao Mai still didn¡¯t pay him any attention.


    Soon, themb soup and baked buns were brought to the table. Qiao Mai added vinegar, pepper, and salt. She felt itcked something, so she took a bottle from her sleeve, poured some in, and was about to put it back in her sleeve. The man across from her spoke, ¡°Can you give some to me too?¡±


    Qiao Mai considered it nonsense and immediately tucked it back into her sleeve. She stirred themb soup with a spoon, held a bun in one hand, and drank the soup with the other, ignoring the man.


    She quickly finished both buns and the soup, paid the bill to the waiter, and left.


    The man immediately stood up and caught up with her. ¡°Wait, Madam.¡±


    Qiao Mai turned around abruptly. ¡°Don¡¯t think just because you look decent, any woman should respond to you.¡±


    ¡°I saw you dining alone. How about making a friend?¡±


    ¡°No need. Men and women should keep their distance. Stay away from me.¡±


    ¡°Madam!¡±


    The man tried to reach out and grab Qiao Mai. However, with a swift motion, she immobilized him in ce.


    He could only watch as Qiao Mai left. In no time, someone approached him.


    ¡°How did it go?¡±


    The man looked at the person who came to his rescue. He couldn¡¯t speak or move, signaling with his eyes.


    ¡°Paralyzed?¡±


    The handsome man blinked, and the rescuer tried to release the acupoint, but it didn¡¯t work no matter what he tried.


    In this icy weather, with temperatures reaching negative twenty degrees at night, the rescuer quickly set up a charcoal stove next to him. After two hours of being frozen in ce, the man was almost frozen.


    ¡°I¡¯m freezing to death. Let¡¯s find an inn to warm up.¡± ¡°The woman lives in the inn on the street behind.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I took a fancy to that woman.¡±


    ¡°You better behave. If it weren¡¯t for me just now, you¡¯d have frozen to death on the street.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s strange, though. That woman didn¡¯t touch me at all. How did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Maybe she has protectors around her?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be. With my martial arts, I didn¡¯t sense any experts around.¡±


    ¡°I advise you to give up. Be careful what you wish for.¡±


    ¡°No. None of the women I¡¯ve set my eyes on have escaped from me. Although she¡¯s not pretty, her skin is excellent. I want to grab a handful and feel how amazing it is.¡±


    The two men arrived at the inn and handed a silver ingot to the innkeeper. ¡°The woman who came in two hours ago. Which room is she in?¡±


    The two imposing men looked like trouble, making the innkeeper swallow nervously. He pointed upstairs with a shaky finger.


    ¡°Second floor, second room on the left.¡¯


    ¡°Then give me the first room.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s taken.¡±


    ¡°Then the third room, or the one opposite hers.¡±


    Shaking, the innkeeper handed over the room key. As the assistant came over to deliver it, he was sent back with a stern re.


    The men went upstairs and arrived outside the room where Qiao Mai staved.


    The man smiled wickedly. ¡°Want to join me tonight?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll lose my life.¡±


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t sound like you. They say it¡¯s romantic to die under a woman¡¯s dress. As a ghost, it¡¯s still charming. As long as I get to taste the vor of her smooth skin, death is nothing.¡±


    At this moment, Qiao Mai was meditating in her space while Greeny was selling goods on theputer, muttering to herself.


    ¡°Master, the fifth-grade elixirs are running low. You have to keep working hard to strive for the production of sixth-grade elixirs. I found that their price is more than five times higher. This is a turning point. There are many opportunities. You must work hard.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes and looked at Greeny helplessly. ¡°But I have to raise my cultivation first.¡±


    ¡°Master, you can raise your level to the Nascent Soul Realm in one month.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. My space¡¯s time doesn¡¯t elerate. Let¡¯s take it slowly. Why rush? My goal is to be a Nascent Soul cultivator by the end of next year.¡± ¡°Youck ambition.¡±


    ¡°Look at me; I¡¯m a married woman with a family. It¡¯s always this or that. I also have to deal with my husband at night.¡¯


    ¡°True. But if you don¡¯t work hard, I might have to find a new owner in the future.¡¯


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll live well even if I have to be reborn. Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m a top student. In a few years, I¡¯m almost at the Nascent Soul Realm. Rest assured, one day, I will ascend to immortality.¡±


    ¡°I hope so. Anyway, I don¡¯t have high hopes for you. You¡¯re toozy.¡±


    The banter between the two continued, and Qiao Mai¡¯s external divine sense transmitted sensitive information to her.


    Someone was using a tube to release smoke into the room. Qiao Mai furrowed her brows, recalling the man she encountered today.


    Despite his seemingly serious appearance, she could sense the breath of several women on him.


    He must have been involved with many women, which is why she ignored him.


    Could it be him?


    Greeny pushed aside the spatial barrier, opened the room¡¯s window, and dispersed the smoke.


    Seeing that smoke was still being blown in from outside, it flew over and blocked the hole.


    With a pout, it tapped with a finger, and the man blowing smoke outside was immediately frozen in ce.


    The smoke continued to surge into the man¡¯s body. After a while, he copsed. Just as Greeny was about to deal with him, the door across from Qiao Mai¡¯s room opened.


    Seeing the man copse, the person quickly dragged him inside.


    After closing the door, he pped his face vigorously. When that didn¡¯t work, he picked up a basin and poured cold water on him. It still had no effect.


    The man began to panic; he felt it was not suitable to stay any longer.


    He carried hispanion out without settling the bill. Greeny returned to the space, looking at Qiao Mai. ¡°We can¡¯t just let them go.¡±


    ¡°Them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there are two of them. They are staying right across from us..¡±

 Chapter 295 - 295: Did Anyone See Them?

    Chapter 295 - 295: Did Anyone See Them?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What does he want?¡±


    ¡°That man has targeted you. What do you think he wants? Your attire doesn¡¯t look like that of a wealthy person, and there are aphrodisiacs on his body. He¡¯s a womanizer.¡±


    Qiao Mai instantly emerged from the space, scanning with her spiritual power. She hadn¡¯t used the main entrance, choosing instead to jump out of the window.


    In the pitch-ck night, with snow falling silently, there wasn¡¯t a soul on the streets of County She.


    Qiao Mai teleported in front of the two men. The moment the man saw her, he knew they were in trouble. The man greeted her with sped hands.


    ¡°The one who wanted to make a move on you is him. It has nothing to do with me. Please spare me,dy.¡±


    With that, he tossed the person on his shoulder to the ground. Qiao Mai smirked, swiftly appearing in front of the man. Before he could react, she snapped his neck.


    She nced down at the man and conjured a wind de, cutting his major artery on the neck.


    Then, in a blink, she teleported away.


    The next day, as snow continued to fall, someone stumbled upon two stiff corpses on the street.


    County She erupted in chaos. Such incidents hadn¡¯t happened for many years. The county governor and officials rushed to the scene.


    Examining the bodies, the governor concluded it was a grudge between martial artists.


    The identities of the two men were under investigation.


    Qiao Mai emerged from her guest room veryte. When settling the bill with the innkeeper, he stared at her in shock.


    ¡°Madam, you-st night?¡± ¡°What happenedst night?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Nothing at all.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. From the stable, she led out Dong Zhao, mounted it, and rode away.


    The reason she stayed the night was to inspect the pine forest today.


    Incidentally, she wanted to water each pine tree with the spiritual river water.


    As she stepped outside, she overheard people on the main street discussing the corpses.


    She sneered and left, disappearing into the snowy mist.


    In the afternoon, the governor found out about the inn. The innkeeper concealed the fact that the two men asked about Qiao Mai. He said they left the inn in the middle of the night, and their whereabouts were unknown.


    The investigation halted there, but before nightfall, the governor identified the two men.


    When he learned that the one who had his throat slit was the son of the Martial Arts Alliance¡¯s leader and the other was the deputy leader¡¯s son, the governor¡¯s face turned gray.


    What should he do? With these two individuals dead on his turf, even if it¡¯s considered a vendetta, he bears responsibility as the governor in the eyes of others.


    Although it might be fine on the surface, the me and hatred would be ced on him.


    Even if he managed to keep his position, he was uncertain about the safety of his life.


    Soon, the deceased¡¯s rtives arrived. In the county office, the leader and deputy leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, along with their wives and children, surrounded the two bodies, weeping bitterly.


    After their grief, they questioned the governor about the incident.


    ¡°When were my son¡¯s remains found?¡±


    ¡°Early in the morning, someone stumbled and fell, discovering the bodies. The coroner inspected it. It was a midnight death with a fatal blow.¡± ¡°Did you investigate who my son interacted with these past few days?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about others, but someone saw your son at themb soup restaurant, pestering a young woman. The woman left, and your son followed her.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯tte at that time. Did anyone see them?¡±


    ¡°The woman ran away, but your son stood there for a while. The other deceased came over to him, and they lit a charcoal brazier together. They left two hourster.¡±


    The leaders exchanged nces and simultaneously asked, ¡°Were they acupunctured?¡±


    ¡°It seems so. What happened next?¡±


    ¡°They checked into the Juhu Inn that night. Was the woman also at that inn?¡±


    ¡°Most likely. However, the two left the inn that night. One carried the other while continuously pping the other man¡¯s face.¡±


    The leader red at the governor. It seemed he was annoyed with his phrasing.


    ¡°I want the identity of that woman now.¡±


    The county governor immediately sent officials to the inn, and under constant questioning from the officials, the innkeeper finally couldn¡¯t hold back and showed them the registered identity information.


    When the officials held the identity information and solemnly handed it to the county governor, he was also dumbfounded.


    ¡°This- there must be some misunderstanding.¡±


    After snatching the paper and reading it, the alliance leader fell silent. It turned out Qiao Mai¡¯s information was written on the paper.


    Qiao Mai, female, twenty-eight years old, married, from the capital, residing on Huangdao Street in Lucky Garden.


    Don¡¯t think people in the martial world are ignorant of court affairs; quite the opposite, they closely monitor them. Simrly, people in the court pay close attention to martial world affairs.


    Every high-ranking official has a book with records of martial world matters and important figures.


    Simrly, people in the martial world also have information about high-ranking officials and their families.


    Yuan Jiaqi holds the position of the Ministry of Personnel, so how could they not have information about him? Qiao Mai¡¯s name is especially well-known.


    The county governor in County She is well aware that beyond the town lies thousands of acres of pine forest, all belonging to Qiao Mai. Not to mention the workshops; the annual profits make everyone envious. One cannot forget Madam Qiao.


    And the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery in Tianshui Town ¨C who could forget that without facing senility?


    The alliance leader stared at the paper in a daze. ¡°How could it be her?¡±


    The deputy leader leaned over to nce at the information on the paper. ¡°Yeah, how could it be her?¡±


    The governor hastily exined, ¡°Madam Qiao visits her properties outside the city around this time every year. She should be at the Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town now.¡±


    ¡°Is she attractive?¡±


    ¡°Ordinary, but she is fair. Her skin would make any woman envious.¡±


    ¡°No wonder my son took an interest in her.¡±


    It seemed the leader knew his son well. The deputy leader, aware of his son¡¯s character, nodded.


    ¡°It seems we won¡¯t be able to avenge this grudge.¡±


    The alliance leader red at the deputy, then turned to the county governor.


    ¡°You can leave.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The county governor left. The alliance leader, gritting his teeth, said, ¡°This death must be avenged.¡±


    ¡°Killing the family member of a high-ranking official in the court? If the one on the Dragon Throne finds out, chaos will surely erupt in the martial world. That man is his apple of the eye.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just his family member. Let¡¯s not harm the man, just his woman.¡±


    ¡°Leader, our sons have formidable martial arts. They were killed with a move. That woman¡¯s martial skills should not be inferior to ours.


    ¡°Tomorrow, we will bury the child properly. Then, we will go to Tianshui Town, find an inn, and wait for the right moment. Bring more people; the two of us will act together. No matter how high her martial skills are, can she surpass the two of us?¡±


    ¡°Better to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Should we just do nothing for our son¡¯s death?¡±


    The deputy alliance leader sighed. ¡°It¡¯s all because we spoiled our children too much, or they wouldn¡¯t have caused such a disaster.¡±


    ¡°Humph, this is not a reason for the other party to kill our children. They just enjoy sleeping with women; it¡¯s not murder.¡±


    The deputy alliance leader nced at the alliance leader and sighed lightly.


    At this time, Qiao Mai had already returned to Tianshui Town. She had sorted out everything. For the sake of her cultivation, she didn¡¯t hurry back to the capital.


    Instead, she entered the space, instructing her family not to disturb her unless it was significant.


    While she was immersed in cultivation, a voice echoed in her mind.


    ¡°Master, someone is attacking. There are many people, and two are top-tier experts. We are struggling a bit.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes instantly, left the space, and found the room in darkness. Outside was also pitch-ck.


    The snow had stopped long ago. Opening the door, the white snow outside illuminated the night.


    She twitched her ears and immediately shot towards the southeast.


    At this moment, the three sheep were entangled with the ck-clothed individuals. Two of them keptunching sneak attacks. Although the sheep were not injured by ordinary weapons, they were still in pain..

 Chapter 296 - 296: You ‘re Finally Back

    Chapter 296 - 296: You ¡®re Finally Back


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai unleashed two gusts of wind des. The alliance leader and deputy, both dressed in ck and masked, finally saw the killer who had murdered their son under the moonlight and white snow.


    ¡°You killed my son?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re talking about those two brainless dogs in County She, I¡¯ll tell you. It was me.¡±


    ¡°Then hand over your life!¡±


    The two men rushed towards Qiao Mai together, but before they could reach her, she sealed the acupoints all over their bodies with her internal energy.


    The two were immobilized on the rooftop. At this moment, they realized they had encountered a formidable opponent.


    Qiao Mai nced at the three sheep. ¡°I leave them to you. Don¡¯t let a single one escape.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Instantly, the three sheep transformed into enormous creatures, bewildering all the ck-clothed individuals.


    What kind of monster is this? Why is it so huge?


    Qiao Mai¡¯s gaze swept over them, then sped her hands in front of her chest, reaching out to undo the mute acupoints of the two.


    ¡°Foolish people. For raising your son like that, you dare to hold me ountable. I spared your family because of mercy.¡± ¡°You wicked woman, release us quickly, or¡­¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡±


    The alliance leader couldn¡¯t even finish a sentence. The deputy leader, regretful now, had known it wouldn¡¯t be so simple but still impulsively followed his leader.


    Now, here they were. If they hadn¡¯te, maybe their families would have been spared.


    What kind of existence had they offended? Qiao Mai was indescribable; calling her divine might be more urate. The alliance leader was so foolish that he dared to call her a wicked woman; he was out of his mind.


    ¡°Lady, we, we made a mistake. We got the wrong person.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t make a mistake. I killed them. They deserve death for lusting on me!¡±


    ¡°So what if he lusted after you? You¡¯re just a woman. You¡¯refortable, and he¡¯sfortable too!¡±


    At this critical moment, the alliance leader¡¯s mouth was still despicable!


    Qiao Mai lightly swiped the leader¡¯s neck with her fingertips. ¡°Your son died like this. You can die the same way.¡±


    The leader covered his neck, staring wide-eyed, unable to believe how easily this woman could kill him, just like ughtering a chicken.


    Qiao Mai nced at the deputy alliance leader. ¡°No need to plead with me; it¡¯s useless. You came here. Who else knows?¡±


    ¡°No, no one knows. I can die; I¡¯m not afraid to die. Please spare my family.¡± ¡°As long as they don¡¯t know about this and don¡¯te to trouble me.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t know. They really don¡¯t.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s expression turned icy. She gently reached out and pinched the deputy alliance leader¡¯s neck, causing him to die in the same way as his son.


    Seeing their leader¡¯s death, the ck-clothed men immediately wanted to retreat. But how could Qiao Mai agree to their wishes? She teleported and wiped all of them out.


    ¡°Sheep, throw them into the mountains to the northwest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    With her hands behind her back, Qiao Mai stood against the wind on the rooftop. The night was dark, and the fight didn¡¯t disturb the servants in the house.


    Even if it did, they wouldn¡¯te out. Knowing that the sheep were protecting them and their mistress was there, they wouldn¡¯t let any harme to them. So, they slept peacefully in their beds.


    They pretended not to hear, not to see, and that nothing happened.


    With the two alliance leaders dead, she believed it wouldn¡¯t take long for a storm to sweep through the martial world.


    Qiao Mai knew this was just the beginning, but she was fearless.


    She had alreadymitted murder; what was there to fear? Even if the God of Heaven came, it wouldn¡¯t matter. If they wanted her body, they would have to think twice!


    What happened outside had nothing to do with her. To be stronger, she hadn¡¯t left the house in a month.


    She found that the spiritual energy concentration in her space seemed to have increased, and the spirit stones earned from selling pills were enough. She decided to strive to elevate her cultivation to the Nascent Soul Realm in one go.


    Her efforts paid off. When Qiao Mai opened her eyes, there was a lightning-like brilliance in them.


    Greeny watched her from the opposite side, shocked by this gaze.


    ¡°Master, have you reached the Nascent Soul Realm?¡±


    ¡°Yes, satisfied now?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Master is amazing. Why did I see thunder and lightning in your eyes?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. My spiritual roots are Gold -Wood-Fire, but during the transformation into my Nascent Soul, it seems there was a mutation. I don¡¯t have the thunder spirit roots, but I have the attribute of thunder and lightning.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s great! With the thunder and lightning attribute, your attacks will be even stronger. There aren¡¯t many who can resist the thunder attribute.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll use it if I have it. If not, it doesn¡¯t matter. Everything is experimental on my first time cultivating.¡±


    ¡°With yourprehension, I believe it won¡¯t take a hundred years before you can ascend to immortality.¡±


    ¡°What time is it outside?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already the twenty-sixth?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can rest assured. I¡¯ve prepared everything for the New Year.¡±


    ¡°Alright, looks like we won¡¯t need to hire a carriage this year.¡±


    Qiao Mai finished speaking and left the space. Finding the space boring alone, Greeny followed her out, transforming into a butterfly decoration on Qiao Mai¡¯s head.


    She quickly filled the east wing room with New Year goods, then summoned the steward.


    ¡°Have they sent New Year gifts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they have. Fresh food is in the kitchen, and the rest is in the west wing room of your courtyard.¡±


    ¡°Find someone to deliver our return gifts to each family immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Steward Xi hurriedly brought people and a carriage over. Following Qiao Mai¡¯s arrangements, he delivered the New Year gifts to each family.


    In the afternoon, Qiao Mai quickly arranged things at home and then visited various households in the town. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, she flew back to the capital that night.


    Upon arriving home, Yuan Jiaqi was waiting at the door like a husband waiting for his wife.


    A table was set up at the entrance, candles lit on it. He held a book, dressed warmly, and didn¡¯t feel the cold while sitting there.


    Seeing this scene, Qiao Mai felt a warmth in her heart. She released Dong Zhao from a distance, flipped onto the horse, and quickly arrived at the entrance.


    Hearing the sound of hooves, Yuan Jiaqi put down the book and stood up, reflexively rushing out.


    Seeing Qiao Mai, he smiled, immediately ran to her, grabbed the reins, and led her into the courtyard.


    ¡°Hehe, I finally waited for you toe back.¡±


    ¡°Anxious?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I thought something had happened.¡±


    ¡°During cultivation, I encountered a bottleneck. I missed the time while meditating.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back. I¡¯ve been boiling water for you to bathe every day.


    Quickly take a hot bath. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±


    ¡°Just make a bowl of instant noodles.¡±


    ¡°I can do that, my wife.¡±


    This movement made the whole family aware of her return. They wanted to swarm into Yuexian Residence to see Qiao Mai, but they thought this time was the best opportunity for the couple to deepen their affection. So, they tacitly stopped their steps.


    Inside Yuexian Residence, the lights in the upper room were bright. Qiao Mai was soaking in a hot bath.


    In the kitchen, Yuan Jiaqi cooked the instant noodles, the luxurious kind.


    By the time Qiao Mai finished her bath and changed into her pajamas, sitting at the table, the two bowls of noodles were ready. The couple sat facing each other, smiling, and began eating with a mutual understanding. ¡°Husband, the revenue from County She was 160,000 taels.¡±


    ¡°So much?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have started on the pine nuts. We¡¯ve gained another ie. This year, more than a hundred workers were recruited.¡±


    ¡°Great! It¡¯s solved part of County She¡¯s employment problem for the people.¡± ¡°Yeah, next year, the funds for relief will be there. All will be at your disposal.¡± ¡°Wife, you¡¯re the best.¡±


    ¡°Whenever you need to use it, just ask me. I¡¯m afraid if I leave it with you, you won¡¯t have a ce to store it.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Magistrate Wang¡¯s family mentioned that they n to spend the New Year here because Zihan will be taking the imperial examination next year.¡±


    ¡°Tell them if it¡¯s anything likest year, they should go to Bichun Garden. I want a joyful New Year, not a New Year¡¯s Day that feels like mourning.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother has already told them.¡±


    ¡°Looks like Grandmother understands me..¡±

 Chapter 297 - 297: Ski Area

    Chapter 297 - 297: Ski Area


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After having dinner, Yuan Jiaqi took her hand and led her back to the bedroom. The spacious bed was warm with a burning fire with neatly arranged bedding.


    Qiao Mai took off her shoes and got on the bed. Yuan Jiaqi quickly joined her, massaging her shoulders.


    ¡°Tired?¡±


    ¡°Not too much.¡±


    ¡°Get a good night¡¯s sleep.¡±


    ¡°Have you sent the New Year¡¯s gift to our inws?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. I¡¯m waiting for you. The preparations here are insufficient, and there are many gifts fromst year we don¡¯t have.¡±


    ¡°All right. I¡¯ll take care of it tomorrow.¡±


    The next day, while Qiao Mai was still asleep, Yuan Jiaqi quietly got up and left for morning court, careful not to disturb her rest.


    When the sun was shining brightly, Qiao Mai opened her eyes. Old Master Wang, Old Mistress Wang, and the children were waiting for her in the living room.


    She smiled, feeling grateful for having family waiting for her.


    Lazily, she got off the bed, changed into a clean outfit, and casually tied up her hair before heading to the living room.


    ¡°Wow, looking neat!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you came back. We¡¯ve all missed you.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat down, and soon, the kitchen served her a meal. Everyone watched her as she ate.


    ¡°How¡¯s everything over there?¡±


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve had three snowfalls in the past month.¡±


    ¡°We love snow. We don¡¯t get to see any here throughout the year.¡±


    A thought urred to Qiao Mai. With her cultivation, she could probably conjure snow, but it wasn¡¯t necessary since she had a tform. Even without actual snow, she could create it.


    She kept this idea in mind and chatted with the family for a while before everyone went about their business.


    Qiao Mai first ced the New Year goods prepared in her space in the east wing. Then, she summoned the steward and, apanied by some servants, began the gift-giving.


    They don¡¯t have many rtives and friends in the capital, only the Duke¡¯s family and the General West Gate¡¯s family. After sending out the gifts, Qiao Mai felt relieved.


    With her hands behind her back, she explored the house.


    She looked for a ce to create snow. She remembered the idea of a skiing area. Although the house wasn¡¯trge, it could amodate a small one.


    She arrived at a grove filled with bamboo. It was clean and elegant, with a graceful path leading directly to the backyard.


    There were several paths leading to the backyard from the grove. The grove wasrge and elongated, and she had considered changing it.


    Surveying the surroundings with servantsing and going, she didn¡¯t feel the need to rush into action.


    In the middle of the night, after making sure Yuan Jiaqi was sound asleep, Qiao Mai quietly came to the forest. With a wave of her hand, she stored it in her space. Then, she flew to a barrennd outside the city, created arge pit, and returned to the forest.


    She moved the soil from the pit, creating a hill andpacting it with her mental power.


    Having checked the tform, she decided to bring snow from the north instead of using a snow-making machine. It was not only faster but also more authentic.


    She enclosed the hill with a barrier, flew to the north, brought back arge amount of white snow, and covered the hill with it.


    Looking at both bare sides, she moved some trees into the two sides of the hill, making it more pleasing to the eye.


    She surrounded the area with a barrier and set up an entrance gate. As long as she didn¡¯t remove the barrier, the ice and snow would never melt, even in the hot summer.


    Others wouldn¡¯t be able to see inside unless they entered the gate. She did this for her family.


    Afterpleting everything, the sky was almost bright. Qiao Mai stretchedzily before returning to the room.


    Seeing Yuan Jiaqi sitting at the table with a pot of hot tea, looking at her with a somewhat resentful expression, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re awake?¡±


    ¡°Wife, what were you doing behind my back again?¡±


    As Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t sleepy, she gestured for him toe over. ¡°Put on something warm. Let me show you something.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Right here at home. I want to give the children a New Year¡¯s gift. I worked on it all night.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi, now fully awake, eagerly jumped off the bed. Wearing a padded cloak, he grabbed Qiao Mai¡¯s hand, and they left the room.


    ¡°Where is it? Where is it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so impatient.¡±


    She led him to the outer side of a wall, standing before an imposing gate. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°I don¡¯t remember having this at home?¡±


    ¡°I set it up in one night.¡± He swallowed, ¡°Wife, you¡¯re amazing.¡±


    ¡°ttering. Is it good?¡±


    Qiao Mai took a key from her pocket, unlocked the gate, and led him inside.


    When he saw the snow-covered mountain, Yuan Jiaqi was shocked and stared at everything in disbelief. ¡°Wife, did you do all this?¡± ¡°What else could it be?¡±


    ¡°Are you a fairy, wife?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m a cultivator.¡±


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s nothing. I just moved things from elsewhere, nothing extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°But in this world, no one can do this as far as I know.¡¯


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve said it. You¡¯ll know in your heart. Don¡¯t ask too much.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how do we y with this?¡±


    First, practice skiing. Qiao Mai waved her hand, and two sets of skis appeared on the ground. She stepped onto them, holding support in both hands, and started sliding on the snow.


    She had known how to ski in her past life, although she hadn¡¯t done it for a while. But as soon as she tried it, the familiar feeling rushed back.


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes were filled withplex emotions as he watched his wife skillfully skiing, sliding from low to high and rushing down from a slope, even performing a flip in the air.


    The movements were handsome. ¡°Wife, I¡¯m extremely impressed.¡±


    ¡°You can do it too. Shall I teach you?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly waved his hands, ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not cut out for skiing. I¡¯m good at studying.¡±


    ¡°Now you know where I went all night.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, is this called a ski area?¡±


    ¡°Yes, let the children rx here when they have nothing to do. They all have martial arts skills, and you don¡¯t have to worry about their safety, even


    Chuan¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°The scenery here is mindblowing. I miss the snow in the north. Seeing this scene reminds me of Tianshui Town.¡¯


    ¡°When you¡¯re old, we¡¯ll retire to Tianshui Town. The children can take care of things here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I also have this intention.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, and several pairs of skis appeared on the ground. She put the skis aside, took off the ones on her feet, and then walked out of the gate holding Yuan Jiaqi, locking it behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s give them a surprise on New Year¡¯s Day?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t have to go to court today. The affairs this year were numerous, but after the second day of the new year, he would officially take office.


    The few days they could gather were only these.


    As for the Fengyun brothers, they would take turns in office this year. One on New Year¡¯s Day and the other on the second day. Fortunately, Yun¡¯er was in office on the second day, or his wife must return to her maiden family alone.


    As Qiao Mai had sent the New Year¡¯s gift yesterday, the two inws returned the gift today.


    Qiao Mai hadn¡¯t slept all night. At this moment, she was sleeping soundly on the warm bed. As the family head, Yuan Jiaqi settled the return gifts.


    He chatted with Old Master and Mistress Wang. ¡°Teacher, don¡¯t the Wang and


    Pang family need to send New Year¡¯s gifts? We still have a lot left.¡±


    ¡°The Wang family doesn¡¯t need to send. The Pang family depends on your grandmother.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang rolled her eyes. ¡°We sent it early. Although they don¡¯tck anything, there should be etiquette. I¡¯m a person who won¡¯t lose out, but I won¡¯t take care of your affairs with the Wang family.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve fallen out. I won¡¯t give them anything.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi. ¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Now that you are the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, you need someone you trust to manage around you.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting something?¡±


    ¡°I think Ruyi¡¯s husband has a good character. You can discuss this with the


    Emperor and transfer him to the capital. After the New Year, Chuan¡¯er and Zihan will take the imperial examination..¡±

 Chapter 298 - 298: The Mouse Meets The Cat

    Chapter 298 - 298: The Mouse Meets The Cat


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Do you want me to promote him?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is not forming a faction. It¡¯s about promoting officials with good character.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡¯


    ¡°If Chuan¡¯er and Zihan pass the imperial examination after the New Year, it would be best if they could stay in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t they be sent to the rural area first to experience the hardships of themoners?¡±


    ¡°The capital is like a dyeing vat. Let them learn to deal with all kinds of tricky people first. Then, it¡¯s most suitable for them to be local officials. It¡¯s a kind of training, especially since they haven¡¯t had much contact with society and don¡¯t know its dangers.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re right.¡¯


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing else for you to do now. You don¡¯t need to apany us.


    Your wife has been sleeping for almost a day; she should be awake now.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    As soon as Yuan Jiaqi heard his wife was waking up, he immediately ran back to Yuxian Residence. Indeed, when he entered the room, he saw Qiao Mai drinking water.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯re awake. Are you hungry?¡±


    ¡°A bit. It¡¯s almost dinner time. Let¡¯s eat togetherter?¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t let my wife go hungry. Tell me, what do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go to the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Cut some sausage. I haven¡¯t had it for a long time. Also, get some boneless chicken ws and whatever else you think of.¡±


    ¡°Alright, wait a moment, wife. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    As a high-ranking official, Yuan Jiaqi cared for his wife with great dedication. All the people in the family envied this exemry couple.


    It was widely known in the court that Yuan Jiaqi was a live-in husband because when someone wanted to visit their house, he immediately declined.


    He said he was a live-in husband, and any guest needed his wife¡¯s approval. If there was anything she disapproved of, he wouldn¡¯t do it.


    Everyone knew Yuan Jiaqi was not only a live-in husband but also feared his wife like a mouse fears a cat.


    At first, people were skeptical, and some even asked the servants of the Qiao family to verify.


    Upon hearing that Mr. Yuan personally took care of his wife, from boiling water to serving meals and anything rted to his wife, they had to believe it.


    Many people were itching to see the luxury of Lucky Garden, but unfortunately, they never got the chance.


    Only the Duke and the Xiao family had visited.


    Xiao Qingling, the future second daughter-inw, also liked the Qiao family.


    She often came to stay with the Qiao family for a few days, usually living in Ling¡¯er¡¯s courtyard.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t mind and rarely appeared before them, fearing they might feel ufortable.


    Miss Mu and Ling¡¯er were good friends. They got along well, sometimes wandering around the garden together and asionally going to the amusement park to y like children.


    Although Miss Mu had married into the family, she never felt restricted. On the contrary, she felt morefortable in her inws¡¯ homes than her own.


    Xiao Qingling felt the same way. Coming here for the first time, she had the opportunity to meet Yun¡¯er. The two would chat casually, and staying here felt exceptionallyfortable for her.


    Even though she would soon be married, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t have any reservations and told her she could stay until the wedding.


    However, she didn¡¯t have the nerve to stay for the New Year and returned to the Xiao family. She probably wouldn¡¯te back until she got married.


    The Fengyun brothers were satisfied with these two marriages. They thought highly of Qiao Mai as their foster mother.


    She treated them with the utmost sincerity. Especially with their wedding, she conducted it in a dignified manner, spending a whopping forty thousand taels of silver for each brother¡¯s marriage without anypromise.


    They had inquired and discovered that even in the capital, there were very few families that organized weddings with such generosity.


    For them, it was an honor to be Qiao Mai¡¯s son.


    Miss Mu also handled the role of daughter-inw quite well. She knew her mother-inw had returned home, so she had been waiting outside. If not for fear of disturbing the harmony between her father-inw and mother-inw, she would have rushed in earlier.


    Seeing her father-inw go to the kitchen, she immediately entered the room, greeted Qiao Mai, and sat across from her.


    ¡°Mother.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for your hard work at home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard at all. I enjoy afortable life. You can¡¯t imagine how easy it is.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her belly. ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    Miss Mu widened her eyes, and her hand involuntarily reached out. ¡°Mother, you know how to take pulses?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve gained some insights from recent medical readings. Let me try them out on you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, sure. Go ahead.¡±


    She obediently ced her hand on the table, and Qiao Mai took her pulse, carefully assessing it.


    ¡°You¡¯re about to be a mother, yet you¡¯re bustling around every day.¡± Miss Mu widened her eyes. ¡°A mother? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re two months pregnant.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why don¡¯t I know about it?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have morning sickness; that¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Mother, am I really going to be a mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you need to take it easy. Even though you can handle your affairs, you¡¯re going to be a mother now. Protecting the child should be your top priority.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m going to be a mother. That¡¯s great! Mother, I need to tell my husband about this.¡±


    ¡°Remember to find a physician to check your pulse.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Miss Mu had a fiery temperament, arriving in a whirlwind and departing in the same manner.


    It was considered a joyous asion during the New Year.


    Feng¡¯er was in the room reading a book on military strategy when his wife rushed in, grabbing his shoulder and shaking him excitedly.


    ¡°Husband, Mother just checked my pulse. I¡¯m pregnant with your child. Our child. Are you happy?


    Feng¡¯er was stunned for a moment, then hugged her joyfully, tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°Great! I have a sessor. My parents can finally rest in peace.¡±


    Miss Mu pushed her husband away. ¡°Husband, do you still want to reim your ancestry?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a saying. After all, my parents are watching from above. Although I¡¯m now part of the Qiao family, my blood still carries the lineage of the Jiang family. This is something that cannot be changed.¡± ¡°Husband, we must not be ungrateful.¡±


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t worry. There will never be such a day.¡±


    Miss Mu looked at her husband with a strange expression and nodded slowly. With the news of Miss Mu¡¯s pregnancy, the entire family was overjoyed. Qiao Mai even wrote a recipe for pregnant women and handed it to the kitchen staff, instructing them to prepare a variety of dishes for her three meals a day. Being the daughter-inw of the Qiao family was indeed a good life.


    Upon hearing the news, the Duke and the Xiao family immediately sent valuable gifts. With her due date set for early August, she would soon add another member to the Qiao family.


    While the Qiao family was celebrating, Royal Physician Liu, the owner of the famous Mingren Medical Hall in the capital, paced back and forth in the living room of his home.


    Standing next to him were his three sons. ¡°I heard that Princess Mu is pregnant?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father. They didn¡¯t consult the royal physicians but used the physician from the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s residence.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, sooner orter, they wille to me. When that dayes, I will make the Qiao family taste the consequences of offending us.¡± ¡°Father, why not let us use some tricks before that day?¡±


    ¡°Your idea is to do something to Princess Mu?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Royal Physician Liu gritted his teeth. ¡°Go ahead, but do it cleanly. Since they harmed the financial interests of my Liu family, I will never let them off.¡±


    Late at night, a shadow slipped into Lucky Garden. The three sheep immediately spotted the intruder.


    The head sheep gestured for the other two to continue guarding while it followed the shadow into Tingfen Pavilion.


    Before the shadow could touch the ground, the leader had pierced his heart with its horns.


    The head sheep, carrying the dead body on its head, arrived at Yuexian Pavilion and stood in the courtyard, reporting to its master through telepathy.


    ¡°Master, I caught a big baddie. After he arrived here, he went straight to Tingfen Pavilion.¡±


    By now, Qiao Mai had already gotten up and arrived in the courtyard. She looked at the body carried by the sheep and rummaged through his body to retrieve a packet of medicine.


    She opened the medicine packet and took a sniff. Her face immediately darkened.


    ¡°Scoundrel, you dare to y such tricks..¡±

 Chapter 299 - 299: Must Die!

    Chapter 299 - 299: Must Die!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Master, what does he want to do?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not about what he wants to do; it¡¯s about what the people behind him want. Killing him is a bit early. Next time, get me someone alive.¡±


    ¡°What about this one?¡±


    ¡°Get rid of him, far away. Make sure nobody can find him. It¡¯s even better if wild animals take care of him.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The head sheep disappeared into the night. Qiao Mai carefully held the packet of medicine, axative mixed with musk.


    When used simultaneously by pregnant women, it could destabilize the fetus, leading to a miscarriage.


    Who could be so malicious to harm her grandchild?


    Qiao Mai looked up at the starry sky, vanished in an instant, and went to the Liu family as she suspected them the most.


    The Liu family¡¯s courtyards were mostly dark, except for one where a light was still on.


    Qiao Mai silently approached the roof of the illuminated room, using her mental power to scan inside.


    A man paced back and forth anxiously, asionally ncing at the door as if waiting for something.


    Since her cultivation reached the Nascent Soul Realm, her soul-searching technique had advanced, ensuring no harm to the person¡¯s brain.


    Qiao Mai decisively used her mental power to render the man unconscious and then entered the room.


    She crouched down, cing her hand on the man¡¯s head. After a while, she gently withdrew her hand.


    It was indeed the Liu family¡¯s doing. She gave her form to other medical halls, causing the prices of those two medicines to drop. They held a grudge for it.


    What a prestigious medical family, a healer saving lives!


    Qiao Mai stared at the man on the ground. Suddenly, she used her nails to cut the major artery in his neck.


    ¡°Debts will be repaid, and there¡¯s a debtor for every crime. With how ignorant the Liu family is, I shall send you to meet the King of Hell. If you don¡¯t repent, we¡¯ll settle scores on their heads.¡±


    Given her temperament, knowing the truth tonight would undoubtedly result in the deaths of their entire family. However, considering the Liu family¡¯s history of saving lives, Qiao Mai could spare them this time.


    But the mastermind must die!


    Not dying would not be enough to quench her anger. He had to die for her soul-searching technique; he must die!


    The eldest son of the Liu family died that night!


    A while ago, Yuan Jiaqi would know whenever Qiao Mai went out at night. She hadn¡¯t touched his acupuncture points again. She did almost everything in the open, making sure not to hide anything from him. However, she wouldn¡¯t mention things she didn¡¯t want to talk about.


    ¡°You¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, someone infiltrated Tingfeng Pavilion tonight. I found a medicine on him.¡±


    ¡°What? Wasn¡¯t that person here to kill?¡±


    ¡°Sort of. He wanted to poison our daughter-inw and disrupt her pregnancy.¡±


    ¡°What kind of vicious person would think of this?¡±


    ¡°Royal Physician Liu¡¯s eldest son. I¡¯ve already dealt with him.¡±


    ¡°Good riddance. He deserved it. A healer should save lives, not harm them. Is it because of the prescriptions you gave them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, once I had them make the medicine, I asked them to lower the price, although they couldn¡¯t provide it for free. When I made the prescription public, they couldn¡¯t make as much money and harbored resentment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s absurd. They dared to hold a grudge against you?¡±


    ¡°I hope the Liu family learns a lesson from this. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill each one of them.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I support you.¡±


    ¡°Rest for a while. It¡¯ll be daylight soon. We have children-inw now; we can¡¯t be too casual.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The couple took a short nap. The distant sound of fireworks filled the air.


    All the children gathered in their courtyard, waiting for their parents. When Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi came out, they were all kneeling in the yard.


    ¡°Father, Mother, Happy New Year!¡±


    ¡°Happy New Year. Come, we have red envelopes for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Father and Mother.¡±


    The children stood up, received their red envelopes, and tucked them away.


    ¡°Father, Mother, shall we pay our respects to Grandfather and Grandmother?¡±


    ¡°Have you paid New Year¡¯s greetings to Uncle Wang and Auntie Wang?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. We want to pay respects to you first.¡±


    ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng¡¯s family had arrived a few days ago, living in the guest courtyard. Madam Wang knew that due to Jiaru¡¯s affair, they upset Qiao Maist year, so she behaved obediently.


    Everyone gathered at Old Master Wang¡¯s ce to exchange New Year greetings. The children received red envelopes, and the family sat down for a meal.


    Qiao Mai stood up. ¡°It¡¯s the New Year. We¡¯ve been here for two years. I bet you all miss Tianshui Town. Am I right?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Even though it¡¯s cold there, we miss the snow, the climate, and the feeling of sitting around a warm stove.¡±


    ¡°Alright, follow me.¡±


    Everyone looked curious, and Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°I have a gift for you.¡± Chuan¡¯er rolled his eyes. ¡°Mother, is it inside that newly built enclosure?¡± ¡°Smart boy. I¡¯ve kept it locked. I wanted to give you all a surprise.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi led the way, followed by Old Master and Mistress Wang. The children surrounded them while Wang Zongsheng and his wife walked at the end.


    Reaching the courtyard gate, Old Mistress Wang pointed, ¡°I remember this used to be a bamboo grove?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I had it transformed.¡¯


    Qiao Mai exined while unlocking the gate. Once the gate opened, they saw the scenery inside.


    A vast expanse of white snow greeted them, leaving everyone puzzled as they followed Qiao Mai inside.


    ¡°Heavens, is this snow?¡±


    They eximed simultaneously.


    ¡°I had them cut down the bamboo, piled up the soil to make a slope, and brought snow from the north to cover it.¡±


    Old Master Wang cast a skeptical nce at Qiao Mai, thinking that her words were tall tales meant to deceive others. Nevertheless, the picturesque view in his eyes was undeniably beautiful, reminiscent of Tianshui Town.


    With disbelief in her eyes, Old Mistress Wang grabbed a handful of snow and carefully examined it.


    ¡°It¡¯s real snow! Girl, you¡¯re too incredible.¡±


    ¡°When you miss home,e here to see and y in the snow.¡±


    Qiao Mai picked up a nearby snowboard, tossed it into the air, leaped gracefully, and demonstrated how to y with a ski pole in hand.


    The children were all wide-eyed. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing! We want to learn too.¡±


    After demonstrating, Qiao Mai said, ¡°Follow us to pay New Year¡¯s visits first. When we return, we can figure out how to y. Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    She came to Old Mistress Wang. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll build a few small houses here for you and Grandpa to enjoy tea and the snow.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s good. I can already imagine wearing winter clothes in here during the summer.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at everyone. ¡°Let¡¯s keep our family matters to ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Mom, we understand.¡±


    She nced at Miss Mu. ¡°You have a special condition now; you can watch the snow but can¡¯t y.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Qiao Mai distributed keys to everyone present and then handed a key to Madam Wang.


    ¡°I consider you all as family. Whatever I have, I¡¯ll share with you, and I¡¯ll do my best to help.¡±


    Madam Wang lowered her head with a remorseful expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what happened before.¡±


    ¡°Because you are a mother, and I am too, I won¡¯t hold it against you. We are still one family.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Alright, everyone, do what needs to be done. If you have free time,e over.¡±


    The children reluctantly left, following Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai to go out for New Year¡¯s visits.


    Unlikest year, when they only visited the Duke¡¯s residence, this year they added the Xiao family to their list, observing proper etiquette on the groom¡¯s side to avoid misunderstandings..

 Chapter 300 - 300: She Must Die

    Chapter 300 - 300: She Must Die


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Not only did they go for New Year¡¯s visits, but their hands were not empty. It¡¯s not a problem to be generous with gifts.


    They were weed wherever they went. If it weren¡¯t for the need to visit the Xiao family, the Duke insisted they stay for a meal.


    They were very pleased with this inw. Every year, their gifts never fell short,


    and though all the items were edible, each one was cherished like a treasure.


    No matter what, good rtions must be maintained. However, upon seeing


    Qiao Mai, the Duchess red at her until she left.


    Unfazed, Qiao Mai thought it was for the best. She liked the appearance of someone wanting to be angry but not daring to show it.


    The Xiao family was even more satisfied with this inw. Unlike the Duke¡¯s family, everyone would gather in the living room to express their wee. No one rolled their eyes or showed disdain.


    They dared not; after all, General West Gate and Yuan Jiaqi were of the same rank, though one was martial and the other schrly.


    Unlike the Duke¡¯s mansion, where aside from the royal family, they regarded no one highly.


    Having not eaten at the Duke¡¯s residence, they wouldn¡¯t eat at the Xiao family either. After the New Year visits, the children eagerly rushed home.


    They headed straight for the snowfield. Qiao Mai went along and taught them how to ski while Yuan Jiaqi watched from the side.


    When he wasn¡¯t on duty, he would spend all his time with Qiao Mai, like her shadow.


    The children yed in the snow so much that they learned to ski in one afternoon. Chuan¡¯er even tumbled a few times, but nothing serious happened.


    The highly skilled Fengyun brothers slid with finesse. Qiao Mai looked around.


    ¡°We¡¯re missing a resting ce. I¡¯ll arrange for several wooden cabins to be set up here when I have time.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nced at her, wondering if she meant just arranging or making them appear out of thin air.


    Qiao Mai threw him a flirtatious nce, knowing he had many questions, but she didn¡¯t want to say more at the moment.


    This New Year was a joy for the children.


    However, the Liu family didn¡¯t fare well. As soon as they reported the case, their gate was draped with white cloth the same day.


    While other families celebrated the New Year happily, they were mourning, and it was inappropriate to report the death on such a festive day. Fortunately, the body wouldn¡¯t rot on such a cold day.


    Yet, the city knew about the Liu family¡¯s loss.


    At this moment, Royal Physician Liu seemed deted like a balloon with the air let out, crying with a mournful face, sitting slumped in a chair. On New Year¡¯s Day, such an event urred, and a temporary mourning tent had to be erected in the front yard.


    Staring at the white mourning tent, he remorsefully pounded his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If I had stopped him and prevented him from doing something wrong, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±


    His appearance aged ten years instantly. Just then, his wife walked to the door and happened to hear these words, so she rushed over.


    ¡°Lord, what did you let our son do?¡±


    ¡°Sigh. I didn¡¯t tell him to do anything. He volunteered.¡±


    ¡°What are you hiding from me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re better off not knowing.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t say, I¡¯ll go to the court.¡±


    Madam Liu had suffered from the loss of her son at an old age and had already been heartbroken. Now, her husband knew the truth but didn¡¯t tell her. She grabbed his front clothes.


    ¡°Wife, calm down.¡±


    ¡°Quickly say it. What happened?¡±


    He nced at the living room. Seeing no outsiders, he exined the situation to his wife.


    At that moment, Madam Liu stood there in shock. ¡°Our son drugged Madam


    Yuan¡¯s daughter-inw?¡±


    ¡°Hush, lower your voice. If people find out, this is a grave crime that can lead to the extermination of our family. After all, Miss Mu is a princess.¡±


    ¡°How dare you? How dare you? We are supposed to be physicians saving lives, yet you nned to harm the child in her belly?¡± ¡°We only wanted to teach her a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Does she owe us anything?¡±


    ¡°Although she doesn¡¯t owe us, she leaked the prescription secretly.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s her prescription. Why shouldn¡¯t she decide when we didn¡¯t fulfill our promise on this side?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, it was my momentary greed and resentment that led to the bitter consequences today.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying our son¡¯s death is rted to Mr. Yuan¡¯s wife?¡±


    ¡°What else? Our son did this, and immediately afterward, he died. She is most probably involved.¡±


    ¡°Yes, though she has a point, it doesn¡¯t justify killing our son. I must avenge my son.¡±


    ¡°Wife, you better be careful. The enemy is in the dark, and we are in the light.¡¯ ¡°Humph, she must die no matter what!¡±


    ¡°Wife, do you remember the ck-clothed men on the streets of the capital some time ago?¡±


    ¡°I remember. What about them?¡±


    ¡°There were ten of our family¡¯s shadow guards among them and others. Four or five dozen shadow guards died. That night, I sent them to investigate Lucky Garden, and they were all wiped out. The Qiao family must have a skilled master.¡±


    ¡°Humph, a master? I don¡¯t believe it. Does their family have a master even more powerful than the top martial artists in the martial world?¡±


    ¡°Wife, it¡¯s better to be cautious.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll immediately write a letter to my family. A few people are enough to exterminate that woman¡¯s family.¡±


    Royal Physician Liu listened to these words with great satisfaction. Despite knowing he was wrong, he still felt ted. After all, he lost not only money but a son. This was already a deep-seated hatred.


    At this point, he no longer cared about right or wrong. The Liu family couldn¡¯t have dreamed that their opponent was so powerful, unknowingly dooming themselves.


    Royal Physician Liu had nned to visit Madam Qiao to ensure the safety of his family. However, with his wife¡¯s words, he suddenly became confident.


    Madam Liu is a rtive of the Martial Arts Alliance¡¯s leader. Their rtionship is not distant.


    She still didn¡¯t know that her rtive, the Martial Arts Alliance¡¯s leader, had long since passed away, and the deputy leader had also gone with him.


    By this time, the martial world was already concealing hidden dangers, and the smell of blood was faintly detectable. Everyone wanted to be the leader and have people obey theirmands.


    Qiao Mai naturally knew she had caused a disaster. So, when she left Tianshui Town, she bought three squirrels from the tform.


    They looked inconspicuous, sitting in the trees every day. However, when it came to fighting and killing, they were powerful.


    In the capital, due to therger mansionpared to Tianshui Town, she bought six squirrels in one go.


    These squirrels were herbivores, but they were all fifth-level spiritual beasts.


    Fighting against the top-notch experts in the martial world was as simple as drinking water. She now had six sheep and nine squirrels.


    They were all fed with her elixirs and pills. Due to the contractual rtionship, as her cultivation increased, they benefited as well.


    Squirrels were small and could hide in the corners of the house, making them inconspicuous.


    They were even better at hiding and taking enemies by surprise than formidable assasins. Qiao Mai was waiting for some people to throw themselves into the.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t tell Yuan Jiaqi about such a significant matter.


    She would only mention it if he encountered it. Otherwise, she would keep it in her heart.


    On the third day of the New Year, the Liu family sent people to report the death to all families. They went to every family except Lucky Garden. Both sides understood each other¡¯s intentions.


    On the fifth day, the Liu familypleted the funeral. Still, Madam Liu paced back and forth in her bedroom.


    She wrote a letter and received a reply. Although no one was sent, she was informed of a significant event. She was deeply shocked.


    She could hold her head high in her husband¡¯s family because she relied on the strength of her maiden family. Now, with the Martial Arts Alliance¡¯s leader and deputy leader killed overnight, she lost the backing.


    Not to mention sending people, they were currently overwhelmed with their troubles.


    Madam Liu wept bitterly for a while, then quickly picked up the letter to reread it. Overwhelmed by distress, she had overlooked some details in the letter.


    When she saw that the leader¡¯s death was the same as her son¡¯s, she immediately slumped to the ground..

 Chapter 301 - 301: Is He Really Alright?

    Chapter 301 - 301: Is He Really Alright?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She hurriedly sent someone to investigate and discovered that the day the leader and deputy leader died happened to be the same as Qiao Mai, Mr. Yuan¡¯s wife, returned to Tianshui Town.


    Moreover, the location where they died happened to be in the northern region.


    The more she thought, the more terrified she became. Madam Liu couldn¡¯t help but shiver all over.


    She didn¡¯t want Royal Physician Liu to know about it. She was afraid that he wouldn¡¯t take her seriously anymore, and her status in the Liu family would decline.


    In the evening, she contemted and immediately wrote a letter, urging someone to deliver it urgently to her maiden family.


    Although she couldn¡¯t deal with Madam Qiao, her maiden family should be able to. The Deputy Leader¡¯s family could do so, right? She must take revenge for the death of her son.


    If she exposed that Madam Qiao killed the Leader, Madam Liu wondered if those who had received favors from the Leader in the martial world would tear Madam Qiao apart.


    Thinking of the miserable fate of that woman, Madam Liu couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.


    The New Year went by. Wang Zongsheng and his wife left. Their son, Wang Zihan, stayed behind. Like Chuan¡¯er, he would take the imperial examination this year.


    Therefore, right after the fifth day, Old Master Wang didn¡¯t let the two of them y anymore and urged them to review their lessons at every avable moment.


    Yuan Jiaqi and Fengyun had taken official positions. Ling¡¯er had also opened her shop. Only Qiao Mai and Miss Mu were left at home.


    Miss Mu, managing the household, was also pretty busy. After the New Year, Xiao Qingling did note again. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to, but the Xiao family did not want her toe out again before her marriage.


    Before the wedding, one should not frequently appear in one¡¯s husband¡¯s family; that was the rule.


    Qiao Mai would wander around the house when she had nothing to do and nt some things when she had free time.


    Or she would read books in the room. She found herself bing more and more interested in medicine.


    She realized that medicine, including elixirs, medicinal herbs, and even what people ate, drank, and their lifestyle, were all rted. The more she read, the more she found it fascinating.


    Whenever she had time, she would read medical books. With her exceptional memory, she had memorized all the contents.


    Currently, what shecks is practical experience. During the day, she would disguise herself as a middle-aged man, set up a stall on the streets, and offer free consultations. At night, she would return home.


    Sometimes, she wouldn¡¯t be at home for an entire day. She wasn¡¯t worried; she had six squirrels and three sheep. Even if more people came, she wasn¡¯t afraid.


    Speaking of setting up a stall for medical consultations, she ced it not far from the famous Mingren Medical Hall. She set up a small table with a sailcloth hanging on it, stating ¡°Free Pulse Diagnosis.¡±


    She didn¡¯t mention free prescriptions. She focused on practicing pulse diagnosis and prescribing medications.


    Offering free pulse diagnosis wasn¡¯t a big deal, but she hadn¡¯t decided to provide prescriptions for free yet. After all, if the neighboring medical halls found fault with her, it could lead to trouble.


    Well, she could leave if that happened. However, it would be difficult if she wanted to set up a stall again.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, but she didn¡¯t want inconvenience. She would first pass the pulse diagnosis before considering other things.


    First, she would diagnose the pulse, then use divine consciousness, mental power, and spiritual energy topare them and check if her diagnosis was correct.


    Although the sail stated ¡°Free Pulse Diagnosis,¡± she was still capable of wound dressing and orthopedic procedures.


    Especially with her cultivation level, if she imed to be the second-best in the Ming Dynasty, no one dared to say they were the best.


    Now, herees a case!


    She held a medical book behind the table when she heard amotion not far away.


    ¡°Quick, make way, make way!¡±


    She tilted her head and saw several men carrying an injured man rushing into Mingren Medical Hall. She raised an eyebrow.


    Qiao Mai observed a trail of blood on the ground, flowing from the injured man.


    At the current bleeding rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he died.


    However, she sat there motionless, withdrew her gaze, and continued reading her book. Better to let them handle it first; if they couldn¡¯t, she could step inter.


    Rushing topete with Mingren for business would make people think she was a fraud.


    After a while, the men carrying the injured man came out of the medical hall. Their faces looked unsightly.


    One of them saw Qiao Mai¡¯s stall and brightened. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a wandering doctor over there. Maybe she can help!¡±


    ¡°Even the famous Mingren Medical Hall couldn¡¯t do anything. What can a wandering doctor do?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try. If we don¡¯t, he might die.¡±


    The few men carrying the injured man came to Qiao Mai. ¡°Sir, we have a


    patient here. Do you think¡ª¡±


    Qiao Mai put away her book and nced at the injured man


    ¡°Where is the injury?¡±


    ¡°The thigh. It¡¯s cut from top to bottom, and it seems like the bone is broken.¡±


    ¡°Put him on the table. Don¡¯t block the way.¡±


    The men quickly ced the injured man on her table. Strangely, although her table looked rectangr, it was just the right size for a person to lie on.


    Qiao Mai looked at the wound on the man without any expression. ¡°Five taels of silver. I¡¯ll set his bone and bandage the wound.¡±


    ¡°Ah, will he survive?¡±


    ¡°Who said he will die? Hurry up and tell me if you agree or not.¡±


    ¡°We agree. We¡¯ll each contribute one tael of silver. Sir, please save him quickly.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a wooden box from under the table and quickly retrieved the tools. By this time, the man had fallen into aa.


    Surprisingly, he showed no response to the painful procedure of setting bones.


    More and more people gathered around. Her hands covered in fresh blood, Qiao Mai first set the bones in ce and then sutured the torn flesh.


    The operation was neat and clean. A kind-hearted person brought a basin of clean water for her.


    ¡°Sir, you¡¯re truly a miracle physician.¡±


    ¡°I dare not im that. I can only handle such wounds.¡±


    She cleaned the wound, checked the man¡¯s pulse, and flipped his eyelids.


    Seeing that the pupils hadn¡¯t dted and the pulse was steady, she spoke.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine. Take him away. After going home, take good care of him. It¡¯ll take a hundred days for the injury to heal. His bones are severely injured, so he needs to rest for half a year. Come to me for a change of medicine every three days. It will cost one or two taels of silver.¡¯


    ¡°Is he really okay?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Find another physician to check his pulse.¡±


    The physician from Mingren Medical Hall had been quietly watching. ¡°No need to look for another. Let me check.¡¯


    An elderly man with a white beard walked up, checked the man¡¯s pulse, and was amazed when he saw Qiao Mai. ¡°Truly a master! Did you save this man?¡± ¡°I set the bone and sutured the wound to stop the bleeding. Naturally, he¡¯ll be fine.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so skilled. It¡¯s a waste for you to set up a stall here.¡±


    Qiao Mai received the silver from those men and looked at the old man with a cold face.


    ¡°I¡¯m used to freedom and don¡¯t want to be restrained.


    Anyway, she had a bad impression of Mingren. The old man felt embarrassed.


    ¡°Can we have a private conversation?¡±


    ¡°No. Let¡¯s talk here.¡±


    ¡°I can see that your medical skills are impressive, especially with how you handled that just now. Can you teach us? We will surely reward you generously.¡±


    ¡°Why not? This is a great cause for the country and the people.¡±


    Not again. Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes, frosty like winter, nearly froze the old man.


    ¡°Did Mingren Medical Hall¡¯s prescription ever contribute to the Ming Dynasty? Have you ever shared it with other medical halls?¡±


    In front of so many people, the old man¡¯s face turned from white to red, and he didn¡¯t say anything. He turned and left. The impression themoners had of Mingren Medical Hall was somewhat tarnished.


    Some people even muttered quietly, ¡°How shameless, using the guise of serving the country and the people to snatch others¡¯ medical skills.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. I used to have a good impression of Mingren Medical Hall. It turns out they¡¯re not worth it.¡±


    Exiting the crowd, the old physician who was walking started jogging away.


    Several men bowed to Qiao Mai. ¡°Thank you, Sir. Your medical skills are amazing, and your charges are reasonable. We admire you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, take him away. Let him rest well at home. Come back here for medicine in three days..¡±

 Chapter 302 - 302: This Is A Human Life

    Chapter 302 - 302: This Is A Human Life


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Due to her public disy of surgical skills, more and more people came to Qiao Mai¡¯s stall for pulse diagnosis.


    Some came even if they weren¡¯t sick, creating a bustling scene in broad daylight. Qiao Mai only managed to nibble on a pancake for lunch.


    As the free pulse diagnosis gained poprity, Qiao Mai had to make people line up, refusing to diagnose those who cut the queue.


    Since everyone consumes various grains, there are bound to be some health issues,rge or small.


    Qiao Mai treated each person with great seriousness, checking pulses and making corrections, diagnosing each patient twice.


    Skeptical individuals were now convinced. Some even returned to queue for a symptoms, and daily habits such as sleep and diet.


    Skeptical individuals were now convinced. Some even returned to queue for a second diagnosis after leaving a medical hall.


    They realized her diagnoses were more detailed and precise.


    In no time, Qiao Mai¡¯s free pulse diagnosis stall became well-known. As evening fell, she sent people away and closed up, disappearing into the night.


    Some people who tried to follow her lost track in the alleys.


    These followers were associates of medical halls. Qiao Mai had snatched their business, and they were naturally unhappy. They sent people to trail her.


    It continued for several days, causing the owners of the medical halls on the streets much distress.


    The medical halls wanted to deal with Qiao Mai but felt embarrassed. The self-proimed national medical halls couldn¡¯t tolerate a wandering healer on the street.


    Especially a free pulse diagnosis healer, making them theughingstock.


    Qiao Mai paid taxes for her stall, and she offered free pulse diagnoses. Who would dare to drive her away?


    The people might react negatively, damaging the century-old reputation of those prestigious medical families.


    It was apetitive rtionship, and no one wanted to act first. They preferred watching each other¡¯s misfortune.


    And so, Qiao Mai¡¯s stall became more and more famous.


    Despite her rising fame, Qiao Mai¡¯s clients were mostlymoners as the medical halls had their existing clients.


    Wealthy individuals avoided her stall, thinking it beneath them. However, with so manymoners, the ie quickly added up even at twenty coins per pulse diagnosis.


    The amount they would lose in a month would be significant.


    If Qiao Mai continued her stall, the medical halls in the area would soon face financial difficulties.


    They were overly concerned. Qiao Mai had yet to prescribe any medicine; she was merely practicing.


    The medical halls would likely take action soon, but if they dared, she would start prescribing medicine. Not only that, she possessed medicines far superior to theirs, ten times more effective.


    Their righteous appearance was just a cover. Running a medical hall was all about making money, and they shouldn¡¯t pretend to be so noble, especially when they were essentially robbing people while iming to save lives.


    Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t allow it. If she witnessed such behavior, she would take action.


    Themoners, witnessing the injured man having his medicine changed several times, were grateful and increasingly impressed by Qiao Mai¡¯s medical skills.


    They pleaded with her to prescribe medicine.


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. If I prescribe medicine and you go to the medical halls, they will refuse to sell you the medicine when they hear I prescribed it.¡±


    ¡°Why not? They still make money by selling medicine.¡±


    ¡°But by providing free pulse diagnoses, I cut off one of their revenue streams.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too stingy. They im to save the world, but it¡¯s just for the sake of money, likemon merchants.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled withoutmenting. Soon, it was mid -March, and more people arrived in the capital for the imperial examination. The streets became crowded.


    While Qiao Mai was diagnosing someone¡¯s pulse, a person copsed on the street.


    Chaos ensued, and the injured person was carried into a medical hall. Qiao Mai nced but paid no attention.


    She continued to focus on diagnosing pulses when someone with an unconscious man on their back approached her stall. The person carrying the man knelt.


    ¡°Miracle doctor, please save my young master. The medical hall said they couldn¡¯t help. My young master is dying. You are a divine healer; please save him!¡±


    Qiao Mai looked up and red at the Mingren Medical Hall. Several physicians were standing there, seemingly waiting for her to fail.


    ¡°Put him on the table. Excuse me, everyone. The illness is urgent, and I will save him first.¡¯


    ¡°Of course.


    Qiao Mai checked the man¡¯s pulse and examined his eyes. His pupils were dted.


    She quickly pinpointed the major acupoints on the man¡¯s body. Although the first possibility was a heart problem, his heart was still beating well. The second possibility was a blocked blood vessel, and the third was a cerebral hemorrhage.


    Given his condition, a cerebral hemorrhage seemed most likely.


    Addressing the onlookers, Qiao Mai gestured with her hands. ¡°Bear witness, everyone! Even Mingren Medical Hall dered a death sentence for this man. They couldn¡¯t save him, but I will try my best. If he survives, consider it his good fortune. If not, you can¡¯t use me of ying with lives.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up. This is a matter of life and death. He looks like a student rushing for the imperial examination.¡±


    Qiao Mai took out pliers, knocked open the man¡¯s teeth, and ced a pill in his mouth. Then, she retrieved a set of hollow bone needles she had recently customized on the tform.


    These bone needles were exceptionally sharp and constituted a low-level spiritual tool designed specifically for patients with cerebral hemorrhage and organ fluid umtion.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter one case so soon.


    Using her spiritual sense to prate the man¡¯s head, Qiao Mai identified the bleeding location and skillfully inserted the needles.


    The crowd gasped as she inserted the needles from different directions to facilitate the rapid drainage of blood.


    The man¡¯spanion was dumbfounded, torn between intervening and letting it happen, as the man¡¯s life hung in the bnce.


    Due to the high intracranial pressure from cerebral hemorrhage, no additional measures were necessary; the blood dripped down the needles naturally.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s spiritual sense closely monitored the inside of the patient¡¯s head. Once it seemed sufficient, she ced her hand on the man¡¯s forehead.


    Using spiritual power, she forced thest trace of stagnant blood out of his head. Then, wrapping the needles in spiritual power, she swiftly pulled them out.


    It was a clean and precise procedure, leaving no trace of brain tissue.


    She then checked the man¡¯s pulse again. It was steady, and the pupils began to constrict. Everything was moving in a positive direction.


    The man¡¯spanion stammered. ¡°Miracle doctor, what illness does my master have?¡±


    ¡°Cerebral hemorrhage.¡±


    ¡°Blood inside his head?¡± ¡°Yes. Does your master enjoy drinking?¡±


    ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°His liver is in poor condition, and he¡¯s developed alcoholic liver disease.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s alcoholic liver disease?¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand even if I told you. He loves to drink and can¡¯t go for a meal without alcohol. He also enjoys fatty meat. Judging from his blood, it¡¯s thicker than an ordinary person¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Miracle doctor, you¡¯re truly amazing.¡±


    ¡°Your master also likes staying upte, leading an irregr lifestyle. These factors have contributed to his condition.


    ¡°Can he recover?¡±


    ¡°Take it slow. In the future, he should eat light, avoid greasy food, and have three regr meals daily. If he wakes up, he might be paralyzed. But as long as you follow my instructions, with less oil, less salt, and assisting him in physical activities, he might recover within two or three years.¡±


    The man swallowed hard, about to express gratitude, when Qiao Mai interjected.


    ¡°Ten silver taels. Please settle the bill.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Is his life not worth ten silver taels?¡± ¡°But my master hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± ¡°He¡¯s no longer in life-threatening danger. You can carry him to the inn for rest or hire a carriage to take him home. He won¡¯t be able to take the imperial examination this year.¡±


    Seeing his master breathing steadily, the man reluctantly took out ten silver taels and handed them to Qiao Mai. Then, he carried him away.


    Once again, the bystanders witnessed a miracle. A person abandoned by even the medical hall was saved by a divine healer. They immediately felt honored to have their pulses checked by Qiao Mai..

 Chapter 303 - 303: It’s Not Like I Can’t Afford It

    Chapter 303 - 303: It¡¯s Not Like I Can¡¯t Afford It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai¡¯s reputation became even more prominent. Themoners still didn¡¯t know her surname, so they inquired about it.


    ¡°Miracle doctor, how should we address you?¡±


    This reminded Qiao Mai of the code name from her past life. Although she didn¡¯t like the organization, the code name sounded nice.


    ¡°My surname is Ye!¡± ¡°Miracle Doctor Ye!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    She nced at Mingren Medical Hall; the physicians, not finding it amusing, entered the building with disgruntled expressions.


    Qiao Mai smirked; it seemed these medical halls were unruly.


    Instead of humbly seeking advice, they seemed to pick trouble with her everywhere.


    If she didn¡¯t disrupt their livelihoods, they wouldn¡¯t restrain themselves.


    Apart from causing trouble for her, these medical halls seemed helpless in other aspects. As long as she didn¡¯t prescribe medicine, they couldn¡¯t find a way to manipte her.


    They could only tamper with the prescriptions because they had powerful backers. Any slight maniption could lead to official usations against her.


    Then, they could exert pressure through official channels, keep her imprisoned, and ensure she died quietly in jail. After that, no one would darepete for patients with them.


    Let them dream on!


    She refrained from prescribing medication. For urgent cases like the previous one, she treated them directly and advised the people on dietary and exercise methods and some folk remedies.


    Don¡¯t underestimate these folk remedies; they save money and are effective. For example, for diarrhea, frying white flour in a pan until brown, then pouring hot water over it to make a paste, can be effective. For high fever, wiping the whole body with high-proof liquor can buy time for them to seek medicine.


    Dying the optimal treatment time for high fever can make a person go insane or die.


    Gradually, the people learned about these folk remedies. Some tried them at home and found them effective. These remedies started spreading among themoners.


    Miracle Doctor Ye¡¯s name began to spread throughout the Ming Dynasty.


    On the 26th of March, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t set up her stall; she was taking a day off to apany her two children who were taking the imperial examination.


    The whole family came to see them off. Chuan¡¯er and Zihan seemed a bit nervous.


    ¡°Do your best, and don¡¯t stress too much.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Everyone echoed.


    As the examination hall gate opened, Qiao Mai handed each of them a jade bottle.


    ¡°Inside are invigorating pills. Take three pills per meal. It¡¯s beneficial for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Aunt.¡±


    ¡°Okay, go in.¡±


    Watching the two lining up to enter the examination hall, Feng¡¯er bowed to them.


    ¡°Father, Mother, I will be off to work.¡¯


    ¡°Okay,e back early. Your wife is pregnant. Spend more time with her.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yun¡¯er was also leaving. Qiao Mai asked, ¡°The wedding is approaching. Have you prepared everything?¡±


    ¡°Mother, rest assured. Everything is almost ready.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Go.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    The brothers left. Ling¡¯er and Nanny Jin also bid farewell to go to their shop. Yuan Jiaqi took time off; although he didn¡¯t attend the morning court session, he had to go to work.


    Now, only Qiao Mai, Old Master Wang, and Old Mistress Wang were left. ¡°It¡¯s rare toe out. Shall we go to the teahouse and listen to music?¡±


    ¡°No, I have to feed my little animals.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I have to read when I get back.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, hooking her lips. ¡°It seems like you two don¡¯t like the air outside?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. We feel morefortable at home. The air outside isn¡¯t as fresh.


    Let¡¯s go back. Aren¡¯t youing?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    The three sat in the same carriage. Suddenly, Old Mistress Wang remembered something. ¡°Girl, the cats have given birth to kittens. Do you want to see?¡± ¡°Ah, they¡¯ve given birth after so many years?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Typically, cats have a litter each year after reaching adulthood. I was wondering about it as it took quite a while for them to have offspring.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°Six.¡±


    ¡°Not bad. How many days?¡±


    ¡°Ten days. You¡¯ve been out during the day all this time, and I couldn¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°There were some minor things to attend to. I¡¯ll visit youter.¡±


    Back at home, Qiao Mai apanied them to Peni Pavilion. Old Mistress Wang took her hand and led her to a corner of the room. There, against the wall, Qiao Mai noticed a small house.


    ¡°Is this the nest you built for them?¡±


    ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t have such skills. I felt the cat¡¯s belly was big, and she was in a hurry to find a nest. So, I had a carpenter make one. They love it.¡±


    Qiao Mai went to the front of the house, squatting down to look inside. Xueli Hong was breastfeeding her cubs while Shanli Hong was guarding them. The names were given by Old Mistress Wang, fitting for the colors and temperament of the two cats.


    Seeing Qiao Mai, the two cats looked at her simultaneously. Qiao Mai patted their heads, casually putting a pill into their mouths.


    Surprisingly, the two cats joyfully chewed on them. Old Mistress Wang had someone bring two stools. They sat in front of the house.


    ¡°Do you n to give away these cats?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll raise them myself. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t afford it or have no ce to keep them.¡±


    ¡°Well, this cat alone is worth a fortune. Don¡¯t easily give it away.¡±


    ¡°So expensive?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t find another one like it in the whole country.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. I am the only one to have them.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at her cats with joyful and tender eyes. Old Master Wang observed quietly, his mouth curled.


    He liked these two cats. Despite his stern appearance, he would express his tenderness and love for cats when no one was around. ¡°Girl, how about giving this old man a pet too?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Something like the sheep.¡±


    ¡°You dare to ask for that one.


    ¡°This old man doesn¡¯t want ordinary ones.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get you one. It¡¯s good for you to take it out for a walk instead of reading books all day.¡±


    A smile finally appeared on Old Master Wang¡¯s face. No more eye-rolling or pursing of lips.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t set up her stall for three days, but people still visited daily, expecting the miracle healer to return soon. Since she didn¡¯t announce a permanent absence, people assumed she was temporarily upied.


    They wanted to wait for Qiao Mai, get a free pulse reading, and take home some folk remedies for treating illnesses.


    After a three-day rest at home, Qiao Mai went to pick up Chuan¡¯er and Zihan.


    Upon their return, the two showed no signs of fatigue or exhaustion. They shared their experiences in the examination hall with the family. Old Master Wang, being observant, noticed it as soon as they returned.


    Grumbling in his belly, he thought it must have been the pills Qiao Mai gave them.


    Indeed, Chuan¡¯er looked at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother, those pills you gave us are amazing. Since taking them, we have been full of energy, and our minds are crystal clear. Some questions we had difficulty figuring out before became clear with a little thought. It¡¯s miraculous.¡¯


    ¡°Keep it to yourself.¡±


    Zihan also got up, bowing to Qiao Mai. ¡°Thank you for Auntie¡¯s medicine. I should get a good ranking this time.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. In the examination hall, we¡¯re energetic all day after taking a nap on the desk.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t just talk. Go wash up and change your clothes.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    As the two left, Qiao Mai watched their backs and said, ¡°Zihan is not young now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s even older than the twins. If he hadn¡¯t been sick for those few years¡­¡±


    ¡°Once the results are out, let¡¯s discuss his marriage.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve already written a letter to his mother. She wille soon. By then, matchmakers will be lining up at our door.¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯ll get a metal doorstep.¡±


    ¡°Haha!¡±


    Soon came the day that marked the release of the exam results. All families sent people to check the list.


    Those with candidates, those without candidates, and those with unmarried daughters were concerned.


    They wanted to target a good son-inw as the results were released, but there was no involvement of Chuan¡¯er and Zihan..

 Chapter 304 - 304: It’s a Cub

    Chapter 304: It¡¯s a Cub


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The two stayed inside the house, which was a hundred times better than the outside. They got along well. At the moment, they were in the backyard watching the little animals.


    Qiao Mai had already prepared red envelopes, each containing a hundred taels of silver bills.


    She also had firecrackers prepared. She and Yuan Jiaqi had been waiting in the living room early in the morning.


    Sure enough, the two children did not disappoint them. The government official arrived at the door not long after.


    He dismounted and shouted towards the front gate.


    ¡°Yuan Haichuan, the first ce in the new schrs,e out to receive the good news!¡±


    The servants of Lucky Garden rushed out, setting off firecrackers. Qiao Mai quickly had someone call the two children.


    At this moment, another government official arrived. The two officials met and greeted each other with a bow.


    ¡°Haha, can we consider this a double happiness?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan is remarkable, raising two militarymanders and two schrs.¡±


    ¡°The second ce in the new schrs, Wang Zihan,e out to receive the good news!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi pulled Qiao Mai¡¯s hand, and Old Master Wang pulled Old Mistress Wang¡¯s hand. Behind them, Yuan Haichuan and Wang Zihan followed.


    ¡°Where is Yuan Haichuan?¡±


    Chuan¡¯er stepped forward and bowed. The government official handed him the scroll, and he received it with both hands.


    ¡°Where is Wang Zihan?¡±


    Zihan stepped forward and bowed. The government official handed him the scroll, and he received it with both hands.


    Qiao Mai stepped forward and handed a red envelope to each of them. ¡°Take this and have some tea.¡±


    The official felt the weight of the red envelope. It was light, but considering it was Mr. Yuan¡¯s home, residing in the most famous mansion in the capital, it couldn¡¯t be insignificant.


    He expressed his gratitude and took the envelope. After mounting the horse, he quietly went to a less crowded ce, opened it, and burst into a grin.


    Indeed, the owner of this mansion was generous.


    Meanwhile, the firecrackers continued. When they returned to the living room, the two brothers paid their respects to Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    Chuan¡¯er bowed in gratitude while Zihan followed the etiquette for junior rtives.


    Old Master Wang stroked his beard, his eyes slightly red. ¡°I can finally retire with sess. I don¡¯t need to teach you anymore.¡±


    ¡°Who said that, Sir? Your knowledge will take me a lifetime to learn.¡±


    ¡°Haha, now that you two have be Tribute Schrs, you¡¯ll face the emperor in three days. You¡¯ll soon be assigned positions. After discussing with your father, we¡¯ve decided to let you stay in the capital for now. Are you willing?¡±


    ¡°We will follow the arrangements of our elders.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Grandfather, Chuan¡¯er achieved first ce. Your credit is the greatest. ¡±


    ¡°Haha, so what?¡±


    Qiao Mai pped her hands, and a creature entered, tall and big, like a sheep but not quite. It looked like a dragon drawn in a painting and was pure white. It stared at Old Master Wang and made a strange sound. Old Master Wang stood up excitedly, pointing at it.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°This is its cub. Please take good care of it.¡±


    He turned to Qiao Mai, grateful. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Take it with you when you go out. It will protect you for a lifetime.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi also noticed. He didn¡¯t say it out loud but muttered softly.


    ¡°Bai Ze? The mythical beast that wards off all evil spirits?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a cub. I picked up a stray.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a great fortune to see the mythical beast described in the scriptures. It¡¯s a representation of wisdom.¡±


    ¡°The books say that it is intelligent and loves learning.¡±


    Old Master Wang hade to Bai Ze, excitedly reaching out to hug its neck with one hand stroking its fur.


    ¡°Being able to see the mythical beast mentioned in the scriptures is worth it even if I die.¡¯


    Qiao Mai shouted. ¡°Bai Ze, transform!¡±


    A white light shed, and it transformed into a form simr to the sheep. Puzzled, Old Master Wang turned to look at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Its form is too eye-catching. Bringing it out will cause trouble. Although I am not afraid, I don¡¯t want trouble.¡¯


    ¡°Haha, I almost forgot. I have apanion now!¡±


    Old Mistress Wang nced at him. ¡°I¡¯m yourpanion.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same. You can¡¯t follow me all the time. By the way, girl, what does it eat?¡±


    ¡°Anything. It loves fruits.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call it Yin Shuang from now on?¡±


    Bai Ze nodded, further exciting Old Master Wang, while Old Mistress Wang gave him a disapproving look.


    ¡°I¡¯m going back to see my Hong Hong. What do you say?¡±


    She walked away. Old Master Wang quickly waved to Yin Shuang, taking it with him to catch up.


    The living room fell quiet. Qiao Mai looked at Zihan¡¯s jealous eyes.


    ¡°Zi Han, your three brothers each have a fine steed. How about Auntie giving you one?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Auntie.¡±


    Qiao Mai pped her hands, and a shiny ck horse entered. Zihan fell in love with it at first sight.


    Approaching the horse with delight, he eximed, ¡°I never knew horses could be so beautiful!¡±


    Using the word ¡°beautiful¡± was fitting. Like the ones Chuan¡¯er and the others had, this horse had glossy ck fur shining like ck satin. It was tall and magnificent. Anyone who could own such a horse would probablyugh in their dreams.


    Chuan¡¯er immediately pouted. ¡°Mother, what about my gift?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I give it to you earlier?¡±


    ¡®What?!¡±


    ¡°Hurry up and take Zihan to ride the horse. Keep an eye on him; he¡¯s unlike you with martial arts skills.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    The two brothers left, leaving only the couple in the living room. Yuan Jiaqi looked at Qiao Mai with a slightly sad expression.


    ¡°Wife, what about mine?¡±


    Looking at his gaze, simr to Chuan¡¯er¡¯s, Qiao Maiughed.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. Isn¡¯t the sheep always protecting you when you go to work?¡±


    ¡°I want one that belongs to me.¡± ¡°Do you want it now?¡±


    ¡°No rush. I want a stylish one.¡±


    ¡°Too conspicuous isn¡¯t good. You are a high-ranking official; everything should be ordinary.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi immediately looked at her like a disgruntled woman, making Qiao Mai uneasy. She kicked him lightly.


    ¡°Hurry up and arrange matters in the kitchen. Today is a day of great joy.¡±


    ¡°Wife, what about mine?¡±


    ¡°Are you going or not?¡±


    She would act against him if he didn¡¯t go the next second. Yuan Jiaqi quickly stood up and walked to the door.


    He nced back. ¡°Wife, I want something eye-catching.¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly ran away like a child. Qiao Mai, smiling, walked out of the living room towards the Yuexian Residence.


    She locked herself in her room and entered the tform.


    ¡°Greeny.¡±


    ¡°Master, I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Our space is already level nine, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s evenrger than the Earth where you were in your past life. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve nted vegetation, and there are many creatures.¡±


    ¡°Good. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I am the spirit of the space; this is what I do. Besides, I didn¡¯t do it personally; it was all done with spells.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat in front of theputer, searching on the tform.


    ¡°Master, what do you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°A pet for my husband, inconspicuous but stylish.¡±


    ¡°How about a horse? You¡¯ve already given several to your children. Give one to your husband; it won¡¯t be conspicuous, and horses have highbat power, great for dealing with bad guys.¡±


    ¡°No, the one for my husband has to be unique.¡±


    ¡°How about a unicorn?¡±


    Qiao Mai raised her eyebrows and searched for information about unicorns on the tform.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a sixth-level mythical beast. Can it transform?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t transform into a human form but can take on simr forms, like a horse. It can transform into a horse during the day, and your husband can ride it to work. He already knows martial arts, so riding a horse is nothing for him.¡± ¡°That can be considered. Anything else?¡±


    ¡°How about a Dracaena Horse? Although it¡¯s a horse, it¡¯s extremely powerful. It can also transform into a regr horse, and its colorplements Dong Zhao.


    When it transforms, it can crush thousands of troops.¡±


    Qiao Mai searched for information about the Dracaena Horse on the tform.


    After seeing its description and color, she finally nodded in satisfaction.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s settled..¡±

 Chapter 305 - 305: Forgetting the Master After Having a Wife

    Chapter 305: Forgetting the Master After Having a Wife


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    So, she exchanged ten Level 6 elixirs for a Dracaena Horse.


    When it appeared before her, the joy in her eyes betrayed her inner excitement.


    ¡°Not bad. Dong Zhao is male, and you are female. How about I introduce a boyfriend to you?¡±


    ¡°I will follow your arrangements.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, and Dong Zhao appeared. It often stayed in the space, enjoying the elixirs Qiao Mai refined. Now, it was a Level 3 mythical beast, while the Dracaena Horse was a Level 6 mythical beast.


    Seeing Dong Zhao, there was a bit of disdain in its eyes, but after knowing it was Qiao Mai¡¯s mount, it dared not look down on it.


    Since entering the space, Dong Zhao no longer paid attention to other horses. Even when a young mare approaches it to show affection, it will be ignored.


    However, when it saw the Dracaena Horse, it became excited, frolicking around it.


    Qiao Mai watched on the side until Dong Zhao calmed down.


    ¡°This will be your wife. You two should get along well. Dong Zhao, you are my mount, and your wife is my husband¡¯s mount. It will protect my man at all times, so it won¡¯t stay in the space often.¡±


    Hearing this, Dong Zhao was displeased and neighed.


    ¡°Do you want to go out too?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°Fine, both of you can go outside. Dracaena, when you transform, make yourself the same size as Dong Zhao, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°Although there¡¯s no spiritual energy outside, I will regrly refine elixirs for you to ensure your cultivation only grows stronger.¡±


    Thinking of something, Qiao Mai immediately bought two storage bags on the tform and hung them around their necks.


    ¡°There are elixirs I refined for you inside. If you want to eat, take them yourself. When it finishes,e find me again.¡±


    ¡°Master, can I be with my wife?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t need you to protect me.¡±


    ¡°You can summon me when you need me.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed, feeling forgotten now that they were in love. However, she could understand.


    That day, everyone celebrated the two brothers, and that night, Yuan Jiagi received a gift from Qiao Mai.


    In the Yuexian Residence, with no one else present, the living room was brightly lit. Dong Zhao and Dracaena stood side by side.


    ¡°Husband, Dong Zhao is my mount, as you know. To ensure unity in our marriage, I got a matching one for you. Do you like it?¡± Yuan Jiaqi gulped. ¡°Wife, isn¡¯t it extraordinary?¡±


    ¡°Dracaena, transform.¡¯


    A red light shed on Dracaena, revealing its true form ¨C a horse¡¯s face, dragon horns, dragon tail, and horse body covered in red dragon scales.


    Yuan Jiaqi was stunned on the spot. Qiao Mai nudged him.


    ¡°This is a Dracaena Horse. It will transform into a horse like Dong Zhao. You don¡¯t need to use a carriage in the future; let it be your mount. It will ensure your safety.¡±


    ¡°Wife, this is¡­ so stylish!¡±


    ¡°As long as you like it.¡±


    Looking at it, Yuan Jiaqi suddenly asked, ¡°Is it male or female?¡±


    ¡°Female!¡±


    As soon as Yuan Jiaqi heard it, the impulse to touch the horse immediately stopped.


    ¡°Why not get a male?¡±


    ¡°I want to find a wife for Dong Zhao so they can have a few litters. In the future, I¡¯ll rece the horses for our children.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, wife. I didn¡¯t expect my words to be taken to heart.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t get you one, won¡¯t you be a resentful husband?¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go. Apany me for a ride with the horses?¡±


    Late at night, the couple rode horses around the house. Yuan Jiaqi felt satisfied only after this.


    The next day, he got up early, rode on Dracaena, and went to morning court with six guards.


    Qiao Mai went to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s ce. ¡°Grandmother, I have things to do during the day and won¡¯t be home. If matchmakers areing to discuss marriages for the children, you decide.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re their mother; you should decide on this.¡±


    ¡°I mean, help think about it a bit. If there¡¯s someone suitable, keep an eye on her. We can discuss it together when Ie back at night.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. What have you been busy withtely?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m improving my medical skills, so I¡¯m offering free consultations and pulse readings.¡±


    ¡°Oh, when did you start learning medicine?¡±


    ¡°Long ago. I just needed practical experience.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a proper business. I¡¯ll help with this. However, you still need rest when necessary.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    That way, Qiao Mai informed Old Mistress Wang and headed out after disguising herself.


    After half a month without setting up a stall, themoners were delighted when she appeared again. They visited her usual spot daily, only to return disappointed each time.


    Before long, a line appeared in the street.


    Qiao Mai smiled, set up the table, and sat to pulse read.


    In the house, Chuan¡¯er and Zihan were having a great time at the ski area, wanting to rx after the exams.


    Old Master Wang also stopped forcing them to study and let them do whatever they pleased. It wasfortable.


    At this time, Madam Wang rushed over from Wei City.


    Upon entering the mansion, she heard her son had ranked second in the imperial examination. Overjoyed, she shed tears of happiness. Qiao Mai made all of it happen.


    Although she had been confused for a while, Madam Wang was still broad -minded.


    Unlike her daughter, who remained stubborn.


    Madam Wang held Old Mistress Wang¡¯s hand. ¡°Mother, Zihan is promising. I knew it; our Wang family¡¯s children couldn¡¯t be inferior.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang nced at her, ¡°If not for Madam Qiao, Zihan would still be foolish.¡¯


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I came this time with silver notes. She doesn¡¯t want a share of the dividends, but I still have to give.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t care about your money; keep it. When Chuan¡¯er gets married, you can use it as a wedding gift.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. I came for Zihan¡¯s marriage. He¡¯s in his twenties now. Chuan¡¯er is not in a hurry, but I want to arrange Zihan¡¯s first.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s settle Zihan first. Chuan¡¯er can handle his weddingter.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take care of it tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Alright. Since you¡¯re here, you save me the trouble. Be picky, especially for


    Zihan. You can¡¯t interrupt Chuan¡¯er¡¯s wedding, remember.¡±


    ¡°Mother-inw, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡¯


    Madam Wang moved into Lucky Garden again.


    Since Old Mistress Wang handed over the children¡¯s marriage matters to her, Madam Wang started to get busy. The matchmakers nearly trampled down Lucky Garden¡¯s gate.


    They wanted to use this opportunity to enter and take a look. All the prestigious families in the capital wanted to explore this mansion.


    The matchmakers, using the excuse of arranging marriages, finally could enter. They were all vying to get inside, eager to participate.


    Even Old Mistress Wang¡¯s maiden family sent people to discuss marriage.


    The main branch of the Wang family also sent someone to discuss marriage. Old Mistress Wang scolded her husband whenever she had the chance.


    ¡°Look. Ever since we didn¡¯t lend them moneyst time, we¡¯ve severed ties. Now, they are thick-skinned enough toe and climb the rtionshipdder again. ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t choose our Wang family and your Pang family.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Qiao Mai said that close rtives marrying results in children prone to being mentally or physically disabled. The more distant the bloodline, the better the child will be.¡±


    ¡°I see. Then, don¡¯t consider these two families.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s best not to be involved with them. We don¡¯t need to climb high. As long as the children like each other, it¡¯s enough.¡¯


    Old Mistress Wang sneered, ¡°Just watch; your daughter-inw will keep the good ones for Zihan. The ones she picks for Chuan¡¯er will be average at best.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Zongsheng is only a fourth-ranked official, while Jiaqi is a first-ranked official. Chuan¡¯er is the top schr, and Zihan is second. How can she think like that?¡±


    ¡°But she doesn¡¯t think so. She treats them like she did in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let her return to Wei City. She doesn¡¯t know how much she¡¯s worth.¡±


    It turned out that Old Mistress Wang¡¯s guess was correct. Over the past few days, Madam Wang gave all the prominentdies for Zihan. Even the top schr, Chuan¡¯er, was not as valued.


    After inspecting them in the evening, Qiao Mai found Madam Wang.


    ¡°Aunt, please only handle Zihan¡¯s matters for now. Chuan¡¯er is still young, and we¡¯re about to arrange Yun¡¯er¡¯s marriage. His matters can wait until I¡¯m less busy..¡±

 Chapter 306 - 306: Broadening My Horizons

    Chapter 306: Broadening My Horizons


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Why? I¡¯ve already picked out a good match for him.¡±


    ¡°Aunt, you need to understand that I am his mother. Do you think our family background is inferior to yours or that weck wealth?¡±


    Upon being pointed out, Madam Wang blushed. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll focus on finding a match for Zihan.¡¯


    ¡°Good. Zihan¡¯s marriage will be celebrated at Bichun Garden. Grandmother has said that when the marriage is settled, the estate will be transferred to Zihan¡¯s name.¡±


    ¡°Not here at your ce?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not my son. When ites to such a significant matter as marriage, it should be done in his home. How can one leave their residence and get married in someone else¡¯s house? It doesn¡¯t make sense.


    She put Madam Wang in her ce. Upon learning of the matter, Old Mistress Wang confronted Madam Wang and scolded her fiercely.


    Madam Wang¡¯s decision to arrange a marriage for Chuan¡¯er was driven by the fear of him overshadowing Zihan.


    It¡¯s puzzling what she was thinking with such a pig-headed mentality, especially when the Wang family relied on Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s support, yet she harbored such selfish motives.


    On April 25th, Lucky Garden bustled with activity as the Fengyun brothers took leave for the wedding preparations.


    As the elder brother, Feng¡¯er assisted in organizing the wedding, leveraging his experience.


    Without the involvement of Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi, everything was arranged swiftly and efficiently. Old Master and Mistress Wang nodded in satisfaction.


    Madam Wang followed them closely. ¡°Father, mother, when Zihan gets married, should we also host such a grand wedding?¡±


    ¡°If you have the money, go ahead. Your father and I will attend.¡±


    ¡°How much did Fengyun spend on his wedding?¡±


    ¡°About half a million taels of silver.¡¯


    ¡°We can afford that. Not to mention half a million. We can even spend a million.¡±


    ¡°Well, if it weren¡¯t for Qiao Mai¡¯s recipes, would you have earned so much money in all these years? Yourparison with her is unnecessary.¡± ¡°Mother, the recipes were purchased by our family.¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your father¡¯s reputation, could you have bought such a lucrative recipe for a few thousand taels?¡±


    Madam Wang fell silent. Qiao Mai had sold the recipes to the Wang family out of respect for Old Master Wang. She wanted him to teach her husband and children.


    It was a deal arranged by Wang Jiaru, and Madam Wang had no direct involvement.


    However, she had managed the business over the years.


    Hearing such heartless words from her daughter-inw, Old Master Wang couldn¡¯t stay silent any longer.


    ¡°Did you spend your money to buy the medicines for Zihan?¡± Madam Wang¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Father, I am wrong.¡±


    ¡°You must not forget your roots. I¡¯ve observed your efforts in arranging marriages for Chuan¡¯er and Zihan. Your intentions are clear. After Zihan¡¯s wedding, you don¡¯t need toe here. Even if you visit the capital, go to Bichun Garden.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Being scolded by her mother-inw could make her cry, but being criticized by her father-inw made her contemte suicide.


    What did she do wrong? She only wanted to prevent Chuan¡¯er from overshadowing Zihan, all for the family¡¯s sake. Why?


    Why did everyone think she was wrong?


    On April 26th, it was the joyous day of Qiao Fengyun¡¯s wedding. Everyone enthusiastically weed the new bride into the family.


    For this second wedding, civil and military officials no longer swarmed Yuan Jiaqi, shamelessly seeking invitation cards as they had done before.


    Families split their gifts into two, one to the Xiao family and the other to the Qiao family.


    No one wanted to miss out on the festivities at the Qiao residence. Those who regretted not attendingst year were determined to go this time. They wanted to enjoy the wedding feast and witness the famed Lucky Garden, which had been praised so highly that they had to see it.


    Anticipating therge attendance, the Qiao family had their chef prepare fifty tables of delicacies.


    Even the emperor took notice. ustomed to frequenting Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, he couldn¡¯t resist attending the Qiao family¡¯s celebration.


    However, if he were to go to the Qiao family, who would dare to eat and drink? He can¡¯t disrupt his subordinate family¡¯s wedding.


    He ordered Prince Shunqin to find a way to obtain an invitation. Disguised as Prince Shunqin¡¯s rtive, the emperor will join the festivities.


    He also wanted to visit the minister¡¯s luxurious residence to see how extraordinary it was and finally meet Madam Qiao.


    This put Prince Shunqin in a difficult position, considering his status. Attending the wedding of a first-ranked official seemed to elevate them, but it was the emperor¡¯s request. He had to secure an invitation.


    Faced with the impossibility of pleading with Yuan Jiaqi, he suddenly remembered that his son, Li Longji¡¯s wife, was from the Wang family. Their elders seemed to reside in Lucky Garden. He entrusted this challenging task to Li Longji.


    Helpless, Li Longji visited the Qiao residence at night with generous gifts to get an invitation from Old Mistress Wang.


    The royal family, including the emperor in disguise, attended the Qiao family¡¯s wedding. The celebration was lively, breaking away from conventional customs and offering a fresh and extraordinary experience.


    As guests roamed the Qiao family¡¯s garden, they marveled at its unique features.


    ¡°Have you noticed? There¡¯s no dampness or mosquitoes in their garden.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I haven¡¯t been bitten all day.¡±


    ¡°I heard even breathing the air here is morefortable. Can you feel it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s better than outside.¡±


    ¡°Look at the clear water and the fishes. It¡¯s so beautiful.


    ¡°Which family¡¯s fish aren¡¯t fat? Look carefully; the water here is so clear you could drink it, and not a single bug inside.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s true.¡±


    ¡°Wow, their backyard is beautiful, like a fairnd.¡±


    ¡°Have you been to a fairnd?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just slightly better than an ordinary garden.¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re jealous!¡±


    ¡°Wow, look at their little animals. So cute!¡±


    With people everywhere in the garden, the emperor, apanied by the Old Prince, toured the premises.


    Returning to their seats, the exhausted emperor quickly sipped some tea.


    He realized even the tea was better than what he had in the pce. He furrowed his brows in contemtion.


    ¡°I¡¯ve broadened my horizons. My subordinate¡¯s home is better than the imperial pce.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the Old Prince suggested, ¡°Your Majesty, how about I talk to


    Old Mistress Wang and have them send anything you like to the pce?¡± ¡°No need. That would make me the same as bandits.¡± ¡°I heard these exotic items are all acquired by Madam Yuan from overseas.¡± ¡°I see. I never thought she had some tricks up her sleeve.¡±


    ¡°If you want to try something new, I heard you can pre-order from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. Madam Qiao promises to deliver whatever she can. If she can¡¯t, she informs the customers who pre-ordered.¡±


    ¡°Alright, list it for me. Note down anything I praise. Later, you can pre-order from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.¡± ¡°Understood, Brother!¡±


    ¡°The tea was quite good.¡±


    ¡°I liked it too. I¡¯ll get an extra portion.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The pre-order service was an arrangement made by Qiao Mai and Shopkeeper Niu after the New Year. Anyone who wanted something rare had to ce an order with Shopkeeper Niu in advance.


    Qiao Mai would then determine the price based on the items listed in the order, ignoring unreasonable requests.


    Finally, the eagerly awaited wedding feast began. The emperor didn¡¯t bring Yubao. He relied on Prince Shunqin to be his food taster. They upied a whole table with their family.


    Tasting dishes with names unknown to them, the emperor took a sip of wine and eximed, ¡°The wine is excellent!¡±


    Prince Shunqin noted it in his mind and ate. ¡°This dish is also good!¡±


    ¡°Brother, we can¡¯t pre-order the dishes.¡±


    ¡°Buy their recipes!¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    All the guests enjoyed the feast, indulging in never-before-tasted wines, unfamiliar beverages, and unique dishes.


    No one was pretending or putting on airs anymore.. They all let loose, and the only word that mattered was ¡°Eat!¡±

 Chapter 307 - 307: Just Like Her Mother

    Chapter 307: Just Like Her Mother


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the guests left, Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai stared at each empty table. The tes were wiped clean.


    They were indeed not polite; every te was wiped clean.


    Servants cleared the tables, and the family members took a break. Marrying a bride was tiring and not easy at all.


    Seeing the banquet at the Qiao family, Madam Wang went back to Peni Pavilion with Old Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Mother, can we have the same banquet as the Qiao family for Zihan¡¯s wedding?¡±


    ¡°You should discuss this with Qiao Mai; she provides the ingredients for the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll talk to her.¡±


    Qiao Mai, who was resting and drinking tea, heard Madam Wang calling her in the courtyard. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes met hers, asking a wordless question.


    ¡°Let her in; you don¡¯t need to leave. Just listen.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi weed Madam Wang into the house, and she sat across from Qiao Mai.


    ¡°I came to discuss something with you.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°On the day of Zihan¡¯s wedding, can I borrow your chef and have you provide the ingredients like today?¡±


    ¡°Sure, I can provide the ingredients and the chef.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Consider it a gift from our Qiao family. Is that eptable?¡±


    ¡°How much did you spend on today¡¯s banquet?¡±


    ¡°The ingredients alone cost at least a hundred thousand taels of silver.¡± Madam Wang took a sharp breath. ¡°I thank you on behalf of Zihan.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    After Madam Wang left, Yuan Jiaqi escorted her to the courtyard gate. When he returned, he saw Qiao Mai with a gloomy expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering who Jiaru learned from. Turns out it¡¯s her mother.¡± ¡°What did she mean by asking about the cost of the ingredients?¡± ¡°Humph, she was checking the price, examining the weight of our gift.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Madam Wang to have such a narrow mind.¡±


    ¡°Although she looks generous, she is calctive.¡±


    ¡°I think her family is also a prominent official in the court. I wonder who it is.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care who it is. At most, it¡¯s a first-rank official. Even if she¡¯s ennobled or made a princess, I¡¯m not afraid. I only gave her face out of respect for the Old Master and Mistress.¡±


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    Completing another task, Qiao Mai felt a bit more rxed. Both daughters-inw were devoted to the Qiao family, which pleased her.


    She appreciated how they considered this ce their home. Moreover, the eldest daughter-inw and the second daughter-inw, once best friends, were now sisters-inw, getting along harmoniously.


    Shortly after, Miss Mu handed over the family affairs to Xiao Qingling.


    ¡°Mother, I feel heavy now. Managing the family is a bit challenging. With Qingling¡¯s arrival, I can hand it over to her. If there¡¯s anything she doesn¡¯t understand, I can teach her.¡±


    ¡°You two figure it out. Whoever manages the family is fine; take care of things at home.¡±


    Thus, the new daughter-inw started managing the household on the second day of her arrival. When news spread to the Xiao family, they thought their daughter married into a good family.


    On the day of Xiao Qingling¡¯s return to her maiden family, Qiao Mai prepared a gift simr to the one Miss Mu received. She was impartial.


    This story became a well-known tale in the capital, and even the emperor sighed upon hearing it.


    ¡°Your Majesty, why are you sighing?¡±


    ¡°On the day I attended the Qiao family¡¯s wedding, I didn¡¯t see Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°She looks quite ordinary, but there¡¯s one aspect where she stands out.¡±


    ¡°What aspect is that?¡±


    ¡°She has snow-white skin. Describing her as having skin like ice and jade is not an exaggeration.¡±


    ¡°Well, fair skin hides ugliness. I see. Thanks to Madam Qiao, Yuan Daren is not interested in other women.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true. I heard Mr. Yuan is not involved with other women, thanks to Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°I know that. Many years ago, Princess Heyi insisted on marrying him. He refused to marry anyone else, even at the cost of his life, just for that woman.


    Truly a virtuous husband.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of this matter, it seems strange.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s strange?¡±


    ¡°When Princess Heyi returned from the north, she seemed to havepletely forgotten about Mr. Yuan. She epted the arranged marriage obediently. This isn¡¯t like Princess Heyi¡¯s usual character.¡±


    ¡°I asked her about it. She said she couldn¡¯t remember anything. It¡¯s better that way. It avoids making a fool of herself by thinking about someone else¡¯s husband¡±


    Yubao lowered his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. His eyes flickered as if brewing something.


    Aftering to the capital for over two years, many families wanted to send their daughters to be concubines to Yuan Jiaqi. Some high-ranking families even wanted their daughters to be principal wives. Yuan Jiaqi scolded them all away.


    If he exined nicely, these people wouldn¡¯t listen.


    Only by scolding could he have a fallout with them and discourage them from sending their daughters. Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t care about these imperial, wealthy, powerful, and noble families. As long as they sent women, he scolded them.


    He cursed others for ill intentions, sending women to sow discord between him and his wife, intentionally making him appear unfaithful, and deliberately disturbing the peace of his household.


    Who would dare to continue? In these two years, almost everyone had been scolded by him among the civil and military officials.


    Many people privatelyined to the pce. Upon hearing theseints, the Emperor dropped the idea of rewarding Yuan Jiaqi with a few pce maids.


    He scolded those whoined and protected the officials he valued. Not epting women was not a fault. If they persisted, it was inviting scolding.


    Therefore, for these two years, the Qiao family lived quietly.


    Unable to send their daughters to Yuan Jiaqi, some people wanted to send them to the twin brothers. Someone even wanted to send their daughter to be a concubine after Xiao Qingling got married.


    When the three women found out, they drove the matchmaker away together. Standing at the gate of Lucky Garden, the mother-inw and daughters-inw acted like three tigresses, leaving a reputation in the capital.


    Lucky Garden was like an unassable fortress. Many people envied it, wanting to enter but could not.


    Yuan Jiaqi even posted a notice at his door, advising those in the capital not to send women to his home. Otherwise, he would report them to the authorities for disturbing the peace.


    When Miss Mu and Miss Xiao were alone together, they often expressed gratitude for having a good mother-inw.


    She never forced them to pay respects, and they discussed household matters together. She always spoke to them in a gentle and harmonious tone.


    Any good things that came into the house were first given to the daughters-inw. If they made reasonable requests, she never refused.


    Chuan¡¯er and Zihan were assigned to the Hanlin Academy, one as a sixth-rank official and the other as a deputy sixth-rank official, a slight improvement from Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s initial rank.


    In June, the rainy season arrived in the south, but living in Lucky Garden was refreshing.


    The rain fell and cleared, leaving the ground consistently clean. ustomed to living here, Madam Wang didn¡¯t want to return.


    She had her eyes on the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, but the matchmaker came for Chuan¡¯er, which angered her.


    She thought, ¡°Although my husband is only a fourth-rank official, that¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t want to return to the capital. Otherwise, he would have reached the first rank by now. Why should we be looked down upon?¡±


    Others weren¡¯t looking down on her. In ancient times, the emphasis was onpatibility between families. The Minister of Rites and the Minister of


    Personnel were first-rank officials, making them a suitable match.


    But Madam Wang had a lofty attitude, wanting a high-status daughter-inw. After looking around, she chose the main branch of the Qian family, which was also the legitimate daughter. The Qian family held the highest rank of second rank.


    Miss Qian had good character and appearance, just turning sixteen, a suitable match for Zihan.


    Fortunately, the Qian family didn¡¯t mind Zihan. After they met, both parties were satisfied. Madam Wang then wrote a letter to Wang Zongsheng, asking him to hurry to the capital.


    In mid-June, the matchmaker went to the Qian family to propose the marriage. At the end of the month, Wang Zongsheng brought his wife and son to the Qian family to finalize the engagement.


    In July, Wang Zongsheng moved to Bichun Garden with his wife and son. He was about to send the betrothal gifts and couldn¡¯t do so from Lucky Garden.


    Even Wang Zongsheng understood this principle. Although he had a good rtionship with the Qiao family, he wouldn¡¯t act inappropriately.


    But Madam Wang, who cared deeply about face, wasn¡¯t happy. It was too prestigious to marry from Lucky Garden; she enjoyed the attention she gained from it..

 Chapter 308 - 308: You Have to Be Mentally Prepared

    Chapter 308 - 308: You Have to Be Mentally Prepared


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She brought up this matter with Wang Zongsheng, but he tly rejected it.


    ¡°Did you discuss this with Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°If you dare to bring it up, get out of the Wang family.¡±


    ¡°Why? Since she considers us one family, what does it matter if our son marries in her house?¡±


    ¡°Humph, people care about face and reputation. Even if our rtionship is good, we¡¯re still two separate families. She¡¯s surnamed Qiao, and we¡¯re surnamed Wang. Do we not have a house? Are we supposed to have our son marry in someone else¡¯s home?¡±


    ¡°But we won¡¯t be living in her home. We¡¯ll return to Bichun Garden after the wedding.¡±


    ¡°Why bother with all this? It¡¯ll just make peopleugh. Don¡¯t bite more than you can.¡±


    ¡°We only have this one son.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s spend some money to buy a house.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s a million taels of silver.


    ¡°You¡¯re not without any!¡±


    ¡°After the betrothal gifts, there won¡¯t be much left.¡±


    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be. We have over a million prepared. Where¡¯s the money?¡±


    ¡°My maiden family borrowed half a million.¡±


    ¡°What? Borrowed?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng stared at her. ¡°Do you have a promissory note? This is not a small amount.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t trust my family?¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t trust them. They have never repaid any amount they borrowed.


    They won¡¯t refuse to repay again, right?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t.¡± Madam Wang hurriedly waved her hand.


    ¡°When our daughter-inw enters the family, let her handle the household ounts. From today onwards, if you lend money to your family again, even a small amount, we will separate. I won¡¯t divorce you, but I can¡¯t afford a woman whose heart is not with her husband¡¯s family.¡±


    Madam Wang was scared and immediately sat on the ground, then burst into tears.


    ¡°You heartless man! If it weren¡¯t for me managing your business, could you earn so much silver?¡±


    ¡°I could. Those silvers are handled by my shopkeepers. They merely report ounts to you. Tell me, which silver coin did you earn?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t live anymore. I gave birth to a son and a daughter for you. Our daughter is even a princess.¡±


    ¡°Look at the daughter you raised. Not only was she confined by others, but all she cared about waspeting in extravagance. I dare not evene to the capital. Mentioning her, I feel like I¡¯ve lost all face.¡±


    ¡°And our son? He¡¯s a schr, ranked second in the imperial exam.¡±


    ¡°You still have the nerve to mention our son? If it weren¡¯t for you taking him to your family and him being pushed into the water by your eldest brother¡¯s child, almost drowning, would he be mentally challenged? His second-ce ranking is thanks to Madam Qiao¡¯s efforts. If not for her medicine, how could our son recover? You¡¯ve done your duty by giving birth to a son and a daughter. Every woman gives birth to children. Do you think you¡¯re the only woman?¡±


    ¡°What about me? Did I not treat you well? For so many years, you have been the only woman in this family. I think you don¡¯t appreciate what you have.¡±


    Madam Wang couldn¡¯t argue with Wang Zongsheng and was so angry that she wanted to throw something. Wang Zongsheng pointed at her.


    ¡°If you dare to smash something today, I¡¯ll ensure you end up just like your daughter.¡±


    Madam Wang timidly withdrew her hand, looking at Wang Zongsheng¡¯s almost icy gaze. She was genuinely scared and refrained from uttering another word.


    She obediently followed Wang Zongsheng back to Bichun Garden and began arranging for the renovation of the estate in preparation for their son¡¯s grand wedding.


    In mid-July, the Wang family sent the betrothal gifts, and the wedding was scheduled for May of the following year.


    People in the capital preferred not to celebrate weddings in winter, considering it was too cold. The southern regions were several-fold colder in winter than the north.


    At this time, Miss Mu¡¯s belly was already quiterge, nearing the expected delivery date.


    Qiao Mai informed the public and stopped setting up her stall. She stayed at home daily, keeping a close eye on Miss Mu and ensuring she walked around the garden daily.


    Qiao Mai also checked her pulse daily and controlled her diet.


    Having enjoyed rich meals at her inws¡¯ house, Miss Mu¡¯s baby was chubby. Qiao Mai was concerned about her ability to give birth. Miss Mu cooperated well.


    At this juncture, Qiao Mai unintentionally checked the pulse of her second daughter-inw and discovered that she was also pregnant. Upon hearing the news, Yun¡¯er immediately took leave and returned home.


    The family organized a small celebration that evening. Unexpectedly, while everyone was in high spirits, Miss Mu went intobor.


    Amidst the hustle, they carried her back to Tingfen Pavilion. They hadn¡¯t invited a midwife because Qiao Mai insisted on delivering the baby, expressing her distrust of others.


    Thus, it was only Miss Mu, her maid, and the old nurse. Qiao Mai tidied up the misceneous items in the room.


    With a wave of her hand, a set of tools appeared on the table, astonishing the old nurse and the maid.


    Though surprised, Miss Mu remained emotionally stable.


    Her mother-inw is a capable person. As long as she agrees to something, she won¡¯t fall short.


    After the preparations were done, Qiao Mai sat by the heated brick bed. ¡°Childbirth is painful; are you mentally prepared?¡±


    ¡°My sister-inw gave birth once, and I waited outside. Hearing her screams, I was terrified.¡¯


    ¡°With me here, you and the child will be safe.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother. You¡¯re the best mother-inw in the world.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m delivering your baby?¡±


    ¡°No. In all aspects, no other mother-inwpares to you.¡±


    Miss Mu concealed waves of pain as Qiao Mai checked her pulse. ¡°The first childbirth will be painful, but it gets much better the second time. When your contractionse, it¡¯s time to deliver. What would you like to eat?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already August, and the weather is hot. I¡¯d like something cool.¡±


    Qiao Mai immersed her consciousness into the space, selecting a chocte ice cream stick for her from the freezer.


    Like performing magic, she transformed the ice cream stick into her hand and handed it to Miss Mu. ¡°Go ahead. You can eat it now. After giving birth, avoid getting cold for the next six months. This period is crucial for your future health and lifespan.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Gulping, Miss Mu Mu reached out and took the ice cream stick, taking a bite. Her eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s natural. All my food must be delicious.¡±


    While they talked, the Duke¡¯s family arrived. Learning that the mother-inw herself was delivering the baby, they were moved to tears.


    While Miss Mu hadn¡¯t startedbor yet, Qiao Mai allowed them to enter. Seeing her eating strange things while enduring pain, their concerns were relieved.


    ¡°Father, Mother, why are you all here?¡±


    ¡°Your inws sent a message. How can we note when you are giving birth?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m fine.


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve met her, all of you go out. After you finish the ice cream, we can start the delivery. Rest assured. With me here, I guarantee the safety of the mother and child.¡±


    ¡°Mother and child?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I diagnosed it; it¡¯s a baby boy.¡±


    ¡°Haha, we¡¯re going to have a grandson.¡±


    The Duke¡¯s family left, and Miss Mu finished the ice cream stick. Qiao Mai gave her a pill.


    ¡°Taking this will make yourbor less painful.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I knew Mother wouldn¡¯t let her daughter-inw suffer so much.¡±


    ¡°Talkative. When I say something, do it. As long as you cooperate, it will be over quickly.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    At this moment, the mother-inw and daughter-inw seemed more like chatting than preparing for childbirth. The old nurse and the maid couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Half an hourter, a baby¡¯s cry echoed from the room.


    Everyone outside cheered with excitement. After another moment, Qiao Mai walked out.


    ¡°The baby has been born. He¡¯s an eight-pound baby boy.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great! Bring the prepared chicken soup, eggs, and red sugar water for Mu Rong.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you can go in to see her now. But even though it¡¯s hot, the mother and child cannot be exposed to the wind with so many people around.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly walked over, helped Qiao Mai sit down, and poured her a cup of tea.


    ¡°Hard work, Wife. We are about to be grandparents.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of this status, I suddenly feel old.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you are not old. Many people have told me about you, saying you still look like a youngdy in her twenties.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. I took good care of myself..¡±

 Chapter 309 - 309: Don ‘t You Want Your Son?

    Chapter 309 - 309: Don ¡®t You Want Your Son?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Old Mistress Wang went in for some time beforeing out. ¡°Oh my, the baby is chubby and adorable, truly delightful.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Both his parents are good-looking. The child must be as well.¡±


    At this moment, Feng¡¯er was in the room, holding his child, smiling foolishly. His eyes were slightly red, with tears still lingering.


    He arrived at the Qiao family when he was seven. Now, more than ten years have passed. Holding an important position in the court and with a child of his own, his wife waspetent, giving birth to a son in the first attempt. The Jiang family¡¯s lineage was secured.


    Before long, the Old Duchess and Duchess came out, all with slightly red eyes.


    Outside, a circle of men sat because they couldn¡¯t enter the delivery room.


    Qiao Mai looked at the Duke¡¯s family. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, and it¡¯s getting dark, why not have dinner at my ce before leaving?


    ¡°Sure! We¡¯ve been craving your delicious dishes. The food you prepared for Yun¡¯er¡¯s wedding day was incredible. We¡¯ve been thinking about your meals since then.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll instruct the kitchen to prepare a meal simr to the one on the wedding day, alright?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that would be fantastic! Thank you, inw.¡±


    And so, the Duke¡¯s family took advantage of Miss Mu giving birth and stayed for dinner with the Qiao family.


    The next day, they sent various supplements. Although they knew it wouldn¡¯t be as good as those from the Qiao family, they still felt it wasn¡¯t enough.


    The Xiao family sent many supplements. Those with good rtions with the Duke¡¯s family also sent many gifts, nearly filling up Tingfen Pavilion¡¯s courtyard.


    Miss Mu felt exceptionally happy in the Qiao family, especially during her postpartum period. The soups made in the kitchen were delicious.


    She found out her mother-inw would supervise the kitchen and sometimes even cook soup for her. Miss Mu was moved and felt like crying. If it weren¡¯t for the prohibition on crying during the postpartum period, she would have hugged her mother-inw and cried her heart out.


    Such a good mother-inw couldn¡¯t be found even if one searched with antern.


    When the Old Duchess heard about it, she sent her best set of jewelry from her dowry to Qiao Mai as a thank-you for taking such good care of her granddaughter.


    Qiao Mai epted it without hesitation. She only did what an ordinary mother-inw should do in her previous life.


    Calcting the due date of Miss Xiao, it should be in April of the next year. Fortunately, the weather at that time was neither too cold nor too hot, making it suitable for postpartum recovery.


    During this month, she added some ingredients to her daughter-inw¡¯s meals, all beneficial to her health.


    Miss Mu could feel the love and care of the Qiao family. Every sip of soup and bite of food felt different from usual.


    One day, Feng¡¯er took leave to apany her. Holding their son, he watched her and smiled.


    ¡°Rong¡¯er, shall we return to Tianshui Town when you recover?¡±


    ¡°Our parents are here, and so are our grandparents. Why return to Tianshui


    Town?¡±


    ¡°I want to hold our son and pay respects to my biological parents. Let¡¯s visit their graves.¡±


    Mu Rong furrowed her brows slightly. ¡°I heard it¡¯s not good to visit graves with a baby. It might be fine for our parents, but what if there are unclean things in the wilderness?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll go during the day, not at night. It¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Husband, is this a good idea? You¡¯re now a son of the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I do have biological parents. Let¡¯s pay respects to them, fill in the soil, and reassure them about our situation.¡±


    ¡°But what about Mother?¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t mind. Don¡¯t worry; you don¡¯t know her as well as I do.¡±


    Miss Mu still felt uneasy but didn¡¯t say anything. She was in a dilemma, torn between her kind mother-inw and her husband. She didn¡¯t know if she should mention this matter to Qiao Mai.


    Yunfeng had never mentioned his desire to return to Tianshui Town to Qiao Mai, as if he was doing it secretly and cautiously.


    It was almost October. Miss Mu hadpleted her postpartum period and recovered well. She often brought her child over to chat with her mother-inw.


    Having settled the affairs at home, Miss Xiao also joined the conversation. Her belly was already showing.


    Every time, Qiao Mai reminded her of some precautions, and both daughters-inw enjoyed talking to their mother-inw.


    Seeing the crisp autumn weather, Feng¡¯er took a one-month leave and nned to take his wife and child back to Tianshui Town.


    He found Yun¡¯er. ¡°I want to take your sister-inw and our child to visit my parents¡¯ graves. Are youing?¡±


    ¡°No, I now bear the name Qiao, not Jiang. I won¡¯t go to their graves.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just to visit their graves, not to change your surname. Do you have to be so extreme? Isn¡¯t this being unfilial?¡±


    ¡°Our parents are buried in the ancestral tomb. They have the descendants of the Jiang family to offer sacrifices. If I go there as a Qiao family¡¯s son, it would be as if I¡¯ve forgotten my roots. If not for Mother, who saved us back then, how could we have survived?¡±


    ¡°But we are still alive.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s due to her kindness. I don¡¯t want to hurt her feelings. She has sacrificed too much for us. Besides, have you discussed it with Mother?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ no. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll get angry. I didn¡¯t dare to say.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to visit the graves of your parents, will you stay in Lucky Garden or at an inn?¡±


    ¡°At¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t bring himself to mention Lucky Garden.


    ¡°Brother, do you think it¡¯s appropriate to eat from someone¡¯s bowl while looking at another pot?¡±


    He was about to say that Feng¡¯er was thick-skinned and an ingrate.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to visit our parents¡¯ graves, fill in the soil, and update our current situation. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°But I still feel it¡¯s not right!¡±


    ¡°But forgetting one¡¯s roots is even worse. We do have biological parents. If their graves are left untended, it¡¯s unfilial.¡±


    Yun¡¯er sighed. He knew no matter how he put it, persuading Feng¡¯er was impossible.


    ¡°Brother, I hope you at least tell Mother about this. She is understanding. If you go without telling her, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go tell her.¡±


    Feng¡¯er came to the entrance of Yuexian Residence, took a deep breath, and walked in.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai sat in the courtyard reading a book. When she saw Feng¡¯er, she was a bit surprised. This eldest son of hers rarely came to her alone since taking up his official post.


    ¡°Mother.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Your son wants to take Rong¡¯er to Tianshui Town for a while.¡±


    Qiao Mai was startled for a moment, then immediately understood the reason.


    ¡°Do you want to visit your parent¡¯s graves?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. Feng¡¯er was somewhat nervous at this point. To be honest, he was a bit afraid of his mother.


    ¡°Your wife has given you a son, and the Jiang family¡¯s line is secured. It¡¯s time to visit their graves and light incense.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother, for understanding.¡±


    ¡°I have a suggestion. I¡¯ll say it, and you can tell me if it¡¯s eptable.¡±


    ¡°Please go ahead, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re all grown up, my purpose of saving you back then was to let you live. But I¡¯m a businesswoman; I invested with the expectation of returns. While I won¡¯t take back the martial arts and the energy I invested in you, you must pay back my money. You can continue to be the descendant of the Jiang family if you wish.¡±


    Feng¡¯er¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°I spent 500,000 taels of silver on your marriage. Since you¡¯re seven, I¡¯ve spent


    100,000 taels. That¡¯s a total of 600,000 taels. Since you¡¯re going to Tianshui Town, settle the household registration there. Change your surname back to what it used to be. When youe back, move back to your own house.¡± ¡°Mother, do you not want your son anymore?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You¡¯ve always had trouble forgetting the Jiang family. Rather than being torn between two worlds, it¡¯s better to help you fulfill a wish. If Yun¡¯er is willing to return to the Jiang family, I won¡¯t stop her either.¡±


    She said these words calmly as if she had nned them for a long time.


    ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me ¡®Mother¡¯ anymore. I¡¯m not angry. I understand your desire to return. But you can¡¯t have the best of both worlds. You have to choose one..


    Don¡¯t you agree?¡±

 Chapter 310 - 310: I Will Let It Slide

    Chapter 310 - 310: I Will Let It Slide


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    From the moment Yunfeng mentioned this matter, she had decided to let him leave the Qiao family.


    It was to avoid him constantly thinking about the Jiang family. She also knew they would not forget their filial duty no matter how well she treated them.


    Instead of letting it linger, she decided to let him go. However, the money he spent must be repaid to her because he now had the capability.


    He had achieved merit on the battlefield, and the spoils of war were not few. It would be almost enough with the emperor¡¯s rewards and returning the betrothal gift she gave to Miss Mu.


    She could also reim his martial arts and literary talents.


    But, considering the reason he wanted to return to his biological parents, she decided to leave that to him.


    After more than ten years, Feng¡¯er understood Qiao Mai¡¯s temperament. Once she spoke, her words were not subject to change.


    He knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°I am unfilial.


    ¡°Go. Do whatever you need to do. I am not in a rush. After you settle things there, you can move if you want.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Feeling ashamed, Feng¡¯er left the Qiao residence. As he informed Mu Rong about this, she was stunned.


    ¡°Mother asked you to leave?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she allowed me to acknowledge my roots. If Yun¡¯er wants to leave, she agrees too.¡±


    ¡°This doesn¡¯t match Mother¡¯s character. What else did she say?¡±


    ¡°She said to repay her for all these years of spending.¡±


    ¡°Why are you such a fool?¡±


    ¡°Mother¡¯s words cannot be taken back. I only wanted to ask her for leave. I didn¡¯t expect it to turn out like this. Moreover, I am also considering returning to the Jiang family myself.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Miss Mu quickly handed the child to the nanny and hurriedly came to Yuexian Residence.


    ¡°Mother.¡± When she saw Qiao Mai, she immediately knelt.


    Qiao Mai helped her up. ¡°Get up. I will not take back my words. Instead of letting him be constantly obsessed, it¡¯s better to fulfill his wishes. He is the eldest of the Jiang family, and now they have a sessor. It¡¯s better to let them prosper.¡±


    ¡°But didn¡¯t he take advantage of you?¡±


    ¡°Take advantage? Forget it. Let him take advantage once. Back then, they were as weak as ants, wanting to use me to survive. What¡¯s wrong with that? Now that they are paying me back, it¡¯s fine. You are his wife. Follow him, but you can still find me if you have any problems in the future.¡±


    ¡°1- I don¡¯t have the face to see you again!¡±


    ¡°Go back and get ready. Whether you return to Tianshui Town first or move, discuss it with your husband.¡±


    ¡°Mother!¡±


    Qiao Mai ignored her and went back into the house. Seeing the closed door, Mu Rong could only stand up, wiping away the tears in her eyes.


    She had chosen Yunfeng. When she returned to Tingfeng Pavilion, she saw him having someone organize the warehouse.


    Seeing her return, Yunfeng looked embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Why say these things? I¡¯ve already married you. Naturally, I¡¯ll go wherever you go. Let me arrange the things.¡±


    Mu Rong had the servants move all her dowry and the betrothal gifts from the Qiao family to the courtyard. She calcted and found she had only a little more than before.


    The inws gave nearly four hundred thousand taels of betrothal gifts, and she had thirty thousand taels of dowry. Besides the shop and the estate, everything was moved to Qiao Mai¡¯s side.


    Standing on the side, Yun¡¯er was so angry that he wanted to beat Feng¡¯er. But considering what his elder brother had done, he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    His elder brother had done such a thing, and it was inappropriate for him to stay in the Qiao family.


    He found Xiao Qingling and told her about the matter.


    ¡°Wife, should we also return to my estate?¡±


    ¡°Why? What does it have to do with you?¡±


    ¡°My elder brother did such an ungrateful thing. How can I, as his real brother,


    ¡°Ah, you two are a pair of ungrateful brats. Back then, I married into the Qiao family for them, not for you.¡±


    ¡°I know. If you want to stay, then stay. I¡¯ll go back on my own. I don¡¯t have the face to see Mother.¡±


    ¡°If you regret itter¡ª¡±


    Helpless, Xiao Qingling had to let people pack up their things. She and Mu Rong had all their dowries and betrothal gifts moved to Yuexian Residence.


    Qiao Mai was drinking tea in the room, aware of themotion outside.


    Two courtyards were vacated. In the future, she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with the troubles of receiving and sending gifts.


    Having experienced life and death, what couldn¡¯t she let go of? If they wanted to leave, let them. If she stopped them, people would say she was petty.


    On the same day, they moved out of the Qiao residence and into the estate rewarded by the emperor.


    Yunfeng nned to return to his hometown that day, but he had to stay for two or three days to settle things, arrange manpower, and get everything in order.


    When Old Mistress Wang learned about this, she hurriedly came to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Girl, why did they leave the mansion?¡± ¡°They can¡¯t forget their biological parents. I want to fulfill their wishes.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I can¡¯t say anything about this.¡±


    ¡°Even you find it difficult to say, so I can only let them leave.¡±


    ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    ¡°No, if it were for other reasons, I could have dealt with them, but I can¡¯t say anything about this. Fulfilling their wishes is the best, but I¡¯m a businesswoman. I won¡¯t engage in losing deals. Over these years, they have enjoyed my benefits and spent my money. I can¡¯t let them continue while thinking about their biological parents, right?¡±


    ¡°Ah, what a pity.¡±


    ¡°Not a pity. I don¡¯t care. Moreover, look at that pile in the yard; I even made a


    profit.¡¯


    ¡°Over the years, you have given more than that. Some things cannot be bought with money.¡±


    ¡°Let it be. Let them go.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked into the yard, waved her hand, collected these things into her space, and handed them to Greeny. Old Mistress Wang left after confirming she was fine.


    When Yuan Jiaqi learned about this at night, his brows furrowed so tightly they could pinch a fly to death.


    ¡°They should cut off all ties with the Jiang family when they recognized us as their parents. We treated them better than their biological parents over the years, but now that they have gained fame and fortune, they want to return to the Jiang family. This is uneptable.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. After all, when I raised them, they were seven years old. They have feelings for their biological parents. I can understand that. As long as they are devoted to the country and the people, I will tolerate this matter.¡±


    ¡°Are they gone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Yun¡¯er left because he couldn¡¯t face us after hearing what Feng¡¯er did.¡± ¡°Sigh, let them go if they want to. Don¡¯t be sad about it.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been through life and death. What¡¯s there to be sad about?¡±


    The next day, she asked the steward to bring the household register to the brothers and exined her intentions. After hearing it, the faces of the two brothers turned pale.


    Qiao Mai asked them to transfer their household register to another surname. In the future, they were not allowed to use the Qiao surname and had to take their original names.


    The steward took them to the court. They wanted to handle this matter quietly, but it was too big.


    Their father was a first-grade capital official, and they were fourth-grade military officers. This was equivalent to cutting off rtions with their parents. How could this matter be small?


    The officer even informed Yuan Jiaqi for instructions. He didn¡¯t say much and let them handle it ording to what the steward said.


    This matter immediately spread in the capital.


    When the emperor heard about it, he summoned the two brothers to the pce.


    The two knelt in the Imperial Study. The emperor¡¯s face was stern. ¡°I never thought that my subjects would turn out to be a pair of ungrateful men.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I didn¡¯t think of leaving the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°But you wanted the best of both worlds. You were using the Qiao family¡¯s resources while thinking about your parents. No, I should say that you had long wanted to acknowledge your roots, but you couldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t dare to say it, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty, I did have that idea, but I never thought of being ungrateful. I only wanted to burn incense, offer paper money, and bury my parents. That¡¯s all..¡±

 Chapter 311 - 311: Returning To His Roots

    Chapter 311 - 311: Returning To His Roots


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Yet you should worship at the graves of the Qiao family. Since you be a part of the Qiao family, your ghost belongs to them. What you¡¯re doing seems a bit ungrateful.¡±


    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t I remember my birth parents?¡±


    Seeing that he still held this view, the emperor shouted at them.


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    They left the pce dejectedly, exchanging nces. Qiao Yunfeng, or rather Jiang Yunpeng, spoke.


    ¡°I asked for a month off. It¡¯s been five days, and I¡¯m nning to return to pay respects to our parents. Are youing?¡±


    ¡°No. I didn¡¯t request time off. Besides, my wife is pregnant. You go ahead.¡±


    Jiang Yunsheng walked away without even looking at him. He was left alone, walking aimlessly.


    From that day on, the Qiao family no longer had the presence of the Fengyun brothers. Jixiang Courtyard became much quieter.


    When Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er heard about it, they didn¡¯t even go to see them off or visit their new home. They severed all ties with them.


    Old Master Wang was also angry; after all, his efforts went into their upbringing.


    s, he knew Qiao Mai¡¯s temperament. Speaking up for them was undoubtedly provoking Qiao Mai and risking her displeasure.


    The Duke and the Xiao family were shocked when they learned about this. What used to be a first-ranking official as their inws now had be a dead couple.


    How could they ept this? They rushed to the Jiang residence, where Jiang Yunpeng¡¯s new home was.


    But they were toote; he had already left with his wife and child for Tianshui Town.


    So, they found Xiao Qingling. After hearing the whole story, they fell silent. Not everyone shared Qiao Mai¡¯s perspective.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too much? It¡¯s not like he¡¯s denying her a ce to retire. He just wants to pay respect to his birth parents.¡±


    ¡°Mom, Dad, my mother-inw has raised them and saved their lives. After being reborn, they should forget the past and wholeheartedly serve her. However, Big Brother wants the best of both worlds, which is wrong. Besides, my mother-inw isn¡¯t angry; she wants them to focus. If they can¡¯t forget their birth parents, then change their surname. Why linger between two families?¡±


    ¡°I heard she asked them to return all the money she spent on them for over a decade?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that fair?¡±


    ¡°Are they going to take advantage of her? Saving them for nothing? Raising them for nothing? Holding their wedding for nothing? Do they think they can use and discard her?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too much. They had over a decade of mother-son rtionship.¡±


    ¡°If it truly existed, he should be wholeheartedly devoted to his adoptive mother.¡±


    ¡°Why are you still siding with that woman even now?¡±


    ¡°She did the right thing. If it were me, I¡¯d ask for all the money back and even demand their lives. Big Brother and my husband learned martial arts from Mother-inw. They are ungrateful wretches.¡±


    ¡°I heard your husband isn¡¯t like that.¡±


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t bear to stay in the Qiao family after what happened, so he left with his brother. If he were like his brother, I would have divorced him. Only Mu Rong cares about that scoundrel.¡± ¡°What about the annual gifts at festivals? Won¡¯t they stoping now?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that good? We save money.¡±


    ¡°How could it beparable? You won¡¯t be able to get what the Qiao family has even if you have money.¡±


    Sighing, Xiao Qingling said, ¡°Yes, we can¡¯t. Even if we have money, we can¡¯t buy what the Qiao family has. I can¡¯t even enjoy the meticulous care of my mother-inw during the postpartum period.¡±


    ¡°What if you and your husband just go back?¡±


    ¡°Go back? I have no face. They are brothers. If the elder brother changes his name and returns to his roots, how can the younger brother still stay?¡±


    ¡°What can we do now? You guys are fools.¡±


    On the other side, Qiao Mai intended to rest for a while and handle Chuan¡¯er¡¯s marriage. Unexpectedly, matchmakers flocked to her.


    Now that Chuan¡¯er was the only legitimate son in the Qiao family, he would inherit the vast family business in the future with the thriving shop.


    Most of the potential matches were from wealthy families. Even the emperor set his eyes on the Qiao family.


    The main reason was his deep love for the delicacies from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. After working, he asked Yubao.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t my little princess fourteen this year?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she just came of age and is waiting for Your Majesty to choose a husband for her.¡¯


    ¡°Summon her. Oh, wait, get me Minister Yuan first. I want to y matchmaker personally.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yubao hurriedly went out to send someone to summon Yuan Jiaqi. He arrived soon.


    ¡°Your Majesty, are you looking for me?¡±


    ¡°I heard your son is currently discussing marriage?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°How old is he?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, you don¡¯t even know the schr you appointed?¡± ¡°With so many officials, how can I remember each one?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s seventeen.¡±


    ¡°Good, I have a little princess who just came of age. What do you think about the two bing a couple?¡±


    ¡°My son won¡¯t enter the royal family.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter; my daughter can marry into your family.¡±


    ¡°They need to like each other. My son and I don¡¯t appreciate forced matches.¡±


    The emperor looked at Yuan Jiaqi with a deep gaze. This guy still harbored resentment from the time he forced him to marry Princess Heyi.


    ¡°Have him wait at home today. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring Princess Jiamei to visit.


    You can apany us, and I¡¯d also like to have a meal at your ce.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, my house has simple and rough meals; I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t suit your taste.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. Your family¡¯s reputation for delicious meals is well-known. I want to taste it for myself. Go and make arrangements.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    In the evening, Yuan Jiaqi returned home and ryed the news to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Let hime. What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want my wife to be too tired. After all, the emperor is the kingdom¡¯s ruler, and there will be many things to handle when he visits. I¡¯m afraid you will be overwhelmed.¡±


    ¡°Well, we can¡¯t fulfill all the requests he makes.¡±


    ¡°Wife, what about the ski area?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If hees, I won¡¯t let him see it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we shouldn¡¯t show him anything too rare. Otherwise, once he asks for it, what will you say?¡±


    ¡°Haha, when did you be so stingy?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. These are your efforts. I don¡¯t want to give them to others.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Should I tell the kitchen staff?¡±


    ¡°No need. You¡¯ve had a tiring day. I¡¯ll take care of it. We can discuss it tomorrow morning.¡±


    The next day, the family had breakfast, and Yuan Jiaqi informed the elders about the emperor¡¯s visit. Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er had known about it sincest night.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say earlier? I would have had the servants clean the house properly.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of it? Our home is already clean. There¡¯s no need to make it too exaggerated. Besides, no matter how good a minister¡¯s home is, it can¡¯tpare to the pce. We should treat it with a normal attitude.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this disrespectful to the emperor?¡±


    ¡°No. Just listen to me.¡±


    In this household where Qiao Mai was in charge, everyone trusted her words.


    The servants did what they were supposed to do. Qiao Mai asked Yuan Jiaqi to take their son to the living room to await the emperor.


    Ling¡¯er was sent to the embroidery shop, and Qiao Mai asked her not to return.


    She didn¡¯t want her daughter to be seen. After all, the emperor had a history of numerous concubines, and it was better not to draw attention to her outstanding daughter.


    Qiao Mai returned to Yuexian Residence. Soon, the kitchen staff arrived, carrying several baskets of ingredients from the side room.


    Following her instructions, they went back to prepare the meal.


    At the ski area, Qiao Mai waved her hand to set up an invisible barrier. While the rest of the house didn¡¯t need such precautions, this ce did, especially when dealing with the cunning old fox.


    Rushing to visit the Qiao family today, the emperor had no mood for the morning court session. He found an excuse to leave early.


    Yesterday evening, he had sent someone to inform Princess Jiamei but hadn¡¯t mentioned the matchmaking part. He simply told her to apany him to visit a minister¡¯s house..

 Chapter 312 - 312: Easy to Use

    Chapter 312 - 312: Easy to Use


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Over the years, which families has the emperor visited?


    None. He hasn¡¯t visited any family but chose to visit Mr. Yuan¡¯s house, bringing a princess. Any discerning person could see what was going on.


    Upon hearing this, Princess Jiamei¡¯s mother, Consort Rui, immediately had someone gather information about Mr. Yuan¡¯s family. It turned out Yuan Haichuan was currently engaged in marriage negotiations.


    As the emperor¡¯s close confidante, Consort Rui quickly understood his intentions.


    Regarding her future son-inw, she was pretty satisfied. Although he held only the sixth rank, he showed great potential. Moreover, Mr. Yuan was highly favored by the emperor, and the Yuan family had a good reputation.


    Early in the morning, Consort Rui dressed up her daughter.


    Princess Jiamei¡¯s title was earned because she had been beautiful since childhood and had a good personality. The old emperor cherished her, hence the title.


    The emperor was quite pleased with her appearance today.


    They set out in a carriage, with Princess Jiamei and the emperor disguising themselves to leave the pce.


    Arriving at the entrance of Lucky Garden, Princess Jiamei alighted first, then helped the old emperor down. She disyed no airs of a princess but resembled an ordinary father-daughter pair. This was precisely why the emperor liked her.


    The gate was wide open, and the servants quickly came forward to greet them.


    ¡°Is this the distinguished guest our mistress arranged to meet?¡±


    The emperor was taken aback. It seemed Mr. Yuan did not publicize his visit, and he became even more satisfied with him.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°Pleasee inside; our master and young master are waiting in the living room.¡±


    The steward led the way while someone hurriedly went to report.


    Yuan Jiaqi came, quickly bringing his son to greet them. The group entered the living room, and the emperor took a seat at the top, with Yuan Jiaqi and his son sitting below after paying their respects.


    ¡°Where is your wife?¡±


    ¡°We heard you wereing, so she¡¯s in the kitchen overseeing.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, then take me for a tour of your house?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The emperor nced at Yuan Haichuan. Seeing his upright posture and handsome appearance, he was pleased with his future son-inw.


    He then looked at his daughter, equally satisfied. Comparing the two, he felt it was a perfect match.


    Unlike the previous incident, where the emperor had to use his authority as the ruler, this time, both were unmarried, one handsome and the other beautiful. Wasn¡¯t this a perfect match?


    If they still hesitated, he would decree the marriage forcefully. Hmph!


    The group continued their tour at Lucky Garden. The emperor listened to Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s exnations and nced at the young couple following them.


    ¡°By the way, Yuan Haichuan?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡±


    ¡°Jiamei is behind us and can¡¯t hear clearly. Introduce her to her surroundings.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t discuss his thoughts on the potential match with his daughter, but Qiao Mai had informed her son. Knowing Yuan Haichuan¡¯s personality, he wouldn¡¯t pay much attention without a proper introduction.


    Simr to his father, Yuan Haichuan wasn¡¯t interested in women and could be described as a bookworm. If not for the marriage arrangement, he wouldn¡¯t have taken charge.


    The previous visit had been too rushed. This time, the emperor decided to spend a day at their house.


    He inquired about this and that.


    ¡°Why is a high-ranking official like you raising chickens at home? It seems there are no chicken egg sellers in the capital.¡±


    ¡°My wife said many families save up eggs for a long time before selling them.


    They are not fresh. With the chickens she raises, we can have fresh eggs. Moreover, the eggs have a different taste from others.¡±


    ¡°Oh, then send some to the pce for meter.¡±


    ¡°I dare not. Many people dislike me. If something happens to the eggs, I won¡¯t be able to exin.¡±


    ¡°You sly one. Just send them; you won¡¯t be held responsible if anything goes wrong.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes internally, thinking, ¡°He¡¯s so greedy for a few eggs! But well, if it¡¯s my wife¡¯s creation, it must be exceptional, and the emperor is no exception.¡±


    ¡°Wow, can such small birdsy eggs too?¡±


    ¡°These are quails. Although their eggs are small, theyy plenty, and their nutritional value is even higher than chicken eggs.¡±


    ¡°Alright, send some to the pce for me.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi saw through the emperor¡¯s intentions. Under the guise of a matchmaking visit, he hade to his house for a feast. If he had known earlier, he would have prepared porridge and pickles for lunch.


    The emperor indulged in the abundance of food, picking and choosing freely.


    Yuan Jiaqi wouldn¡¯t dare to entertain such thoughts if not for Qiao Mai.


    Yuan Haichuan also introduced to the princess carefully. Jiamei listened attentively and was fascinated.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang didn¡¯te. They disliked the emperor. They were getting old and didn¡¯t want to get involved. After having an early lunch, they returned to Bichun Garden to check on the ongoing renovations.


    In the backyard, they naturally didn¡¯t encounter Old Mistress Wang. They enjoyed the scenery and watched the small animals. The emperor didn¡¯t miss any opportunity.


    ¡°I saw many strange nts in your garden.¡±


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t strange nts. My wife dug up thewn and nted medicinal herbs instead.¡±


    ¡°Can your wife practice medicine?¡±


    ¡°A bit. She grows medicinal herbs to sell. She calls it space utilization.¡±


    The emperor smirked. ¡°She¡¯s also fallen for money?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t argue. Whatever the emperor said was the truth.


    ¡°Oh, do you keep deer?¡±


    ¡°Yes, these are musk deer. These small animals produce excellent medicinal herbs.¡±


    ¡°Are those to sell too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The emperor swallowed and didn¡¯t say anything else. He moved to the side of the martial arts practice field and pointed to some strange devices.


    ¡°What are these?¡±


    ¡°These are for fitness. They¡¯re suitable for adults, children, and the elderly.¡±


    ¡°I want to see your kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Pleasee this way.¡±


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in the kitchen at this time; she was reading a book in her courtyard.


    Upon entering the Qiao family¡¯s kitchen, the emperor realized that his imperial kitchen was nothingpared to this.


    Everywhere was spotless, and everything was heartening to see. The emperor observed the icehouse, the warehouse, the chefs, the quality of the tools, and the ingredients.


    He felt bitter. ¡°Did your wife buy these kitchen tools from overseas?¡±


    ¡°Yes, one of her friends frequently goes abroad. The round trip takes about half a year.¡±


    ¡°Can I get a set of these kitchen tools? They¡¯re so beautiful. The chef used one of those things, and the ingredients immediately turned into fine shreds.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a grater for shredding and slicing. It¡¯s useful.¡±


    ¡°And this one?¡±


    ¡°This is a peeler to peel apples.¡±


    ¡°Oh, your kitchen tools are ingenious. Can 1¡­?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if my wife still has any. I¡¯ll askter.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t want him to keep looking. ¡°Shall we rest in the living room?¡±


    ¡°Finished with the tour?¡±


    ¡°Yes, about one round.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m tired too. Brew a pot of your best tea for me. Don¡¯t hide anything, okay?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi almost shouted, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t ask or request anything, I¡¯ll provide it!¡±


    In the living room, the servants hadid out a table with snacks and fruits.


    Seeing these fruits, Princess Jiamei was astonished. ¡°It¡¯s November now. How are these fruits still so fresh? I¡¯ve never seen many of them before.¡± Yuan Haichuan sighed inwardly, resigning himself to exin.


    ¡°This one is called green mano, a type of grape. Princess, please try some.¡± He picked one and handed it to her.


    The princess blushed and epted it, taking a bite. ¡°It¡¯s delicious and not sour at all. I suppose it¡¯s not from our Ming Dynasty?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. My mother brought them.¡±


    ¡°And this?¡±


    ¡°This is mangosteen, exceptionally sweet. The inside of the fruit looks like garlic cloves, and it¡¯s as white as cotton. Do you want to try it?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    At this moment, the emperor took a sip of tea and let out a long sigh.


    ¡°This tea is good.¡±


    ¡°As long as you like it!¡±

 Chapter 313 - 313: What Do You Think?

    Chapter 313 - 313: What Do You Think?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I quite like it. By the way, if I want some tea, do I need your wife¡¯s permission?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nodded awkwardly. It was then that the emperor realized he hadn¡¯t met thedy of the house yet.


    ¡°Where is she? You said she was in the kitchen, but I didn¡¯t see her when I went there. Could it be that she dislikes me and doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡±


    ¡°No, she should be busy with something. Your arrival has everyone in my house on edge.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t believe his excuses. Yuan Jiaqi usually appeared honest and straightforward. He hadn¡¯t expected him to be so slick.


    ¡°Hurry, go call your wife. I will taste some fruits.¡±


    The old emperor sat down at the table. ¡°Continue. I¡¯ll taste the fruits here.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi reluctantly stood up and went to Yuexian Residence to invite his wife.


    The emperor watched as Chuan¡¯er introduced and tried one thing after another, savoring what he hadn¡¯t eaten before.


    Soon, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi stood side by side in the front hall.


    ¡°Greetings to the Emperor.¡±


    Qiao Mai merely offered a slight bow, but the old emperor felt a sudden wave of perspiration, a pressure emanating from Qiao Mai thatpelled him to scrutinize her.


    Why did she look so familiar? He couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen her before.


    ¡°Rise, Madam Qiao. I¡¯m a guest in your home today.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ¡°It¡¯s only right.¡±


    ¡°This is my youngest daughter, Princess Jiamei.¡±


    ¡°Greetings to the princess.¡±


    Jiamei quickly stood up, using her hands to support Qiao Mai¡¯s bowed hand. ¡°Even though I¡¯m a princess, you are my elder. Jiamei has met Madam Qiao.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave Jiamei a score of 80 for being modest, gentle, and sensible satisfactory qualities.


    The five of them sat around the table.


    The old emperor enjoyed his meal. ¡°Madam Qiao, are these items all imported?¡±


    ¡°More or less.¡¯


    ¡°The kitchenware in your kitchen seems different.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s called stainless steel. It¡¯s made by adding other metals to iron, making it harder than iron and more resilient.¡±


    The emperor had a sudden realization. The food in his mouth no longer tasted as good.


    ¡°What if it¡¯s used for weapons?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s several times sharper than iron. Iron tools are no match for it.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Do you have the making method?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why not present it?¡±


    ¡°I am a merchant, Your Majesty. You must understand that I can use the money I earned to help the people through my husband, but I won¡¯t give away my knowledge for free.¡±


    The emperor swallowed. ¡°What do you want in return?¡±


    ¡°Grant my husband a title, like an honorable prince or something.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want anything?¡±


    ¡°I am a woman; what use do I have for such a title?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it. No, as long as your knowledge proves useful, I will immediately decree the confer the title of Duke of Blessings upon Yuan Jiaqi.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    Qiao Mai took a stack of paper from her sleeve and handed it to the emperor. ¡°Remember to keep your promise.¡±


    ¡°I am the sovereign of a nation.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t hum any longer. The emperor stared at the paper, absorbed. At this moment, he had no appetite for food and was eager to return, sending people from the Ministry of Works to try it out in the pce.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here, Your Majesty, enjoy your meal in peace. The things on this paper can¡¯t fly away.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    Although he said so, his mind wandered as he ate. Yubao, tasting dishes by his side, knew the emperor the best.


    ¡°Your Majesty, we¡¯ve endured so many years. Take it easy today. You¡¯ve finally left the pce. Enjoy yourself a bit?¡±


    The old emperor sighed, ¡°I want the kingdom to be strong and the people prosperous.¡±


    ¡°There will be such a day.¡±


    After lunch, the emperor asked the princess to stay with the Qiao family. He instructed Chuan¡¯er to escort her back before the pce gates were locked. Then, he hurriedly left with Yubao.


    Jiamei sighed lightly, ¡°Father is like this. He always has national affairs on his mind. The food today was so delicious, but he ate it tastelessly.¡± ¡°I should have given him the papers after he finished eating.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because he asked.¡±


    ¡°Princess, would you like to rest in the guest house?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll return to the pce. I¡¯ve been out for a day. I¡¯m afraid Mother is worried.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let Chuan¡¯er escort you back.¡±


    ¡°Aunt Qiao, thank you for your hospitality. Jiamei takes her leave.¡±


    Outside, several carriages were prepared for the princess. Chuan¡¯er and Jiamei rode in the same carriage.


    ¡°Your home is beautiful. Aunt is also very kind. The pce food can¡¯tpare to your home.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Princess.¡±


    ¡°Can Ie to your house often in the future?¡±


    ¡°Well, it might be inconvenient. My family and I are busy and not at home during the day. My mother is about to return to Tianshui Town to inspect her business and won¡¯t be back until the end of the year.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay. Whenever you¡¯re not busy and Aunt is back, I¡¯lle then.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Chuan¡¯er nced at her and lowered his head. He was satisfied with the princess¡¯s performance today.


    Like Yuan Jiaqi, he didn¡¯t care much about appearance, only valuing character.


    If a person¡¯s character is unkind, it won¡¯t work, no matter how good-looking they are. After all, the household would eventually be handed over to the wife. If she had a wicked heart, the family¡¯s fortune would decline because of her.


    Also, they would have to serve their parents, and a person with a bad character couldn¡¯t sincerely attend to his elderly parents.


    With several carriages of gifts, the princess returned to the pce. She had the servants move everything into her room and checked them with her mother.


    ¡°Mother, the food from her family is delicious. These are all fresh. Fortunately, it¡¯s cold now, so they canst a few days. When you¡¯re free, try some.¡±


    ¡°They all look tempting.¡±


    ¡°Of course, these can¡¯t be bought with money.¡±


    The princess sliced fruits for Consort Rui, and the mother and daughter sat at the table talking.


    ¡°Jiamei, have you seen Mr. Yuan¡¯s son?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I saw him today. He also introduced his family to me.¡±


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°How is his personality and looks?¡± ¡°He¡¯s quite good, a rare talent.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Consort Rui finally breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn¡¯t expected the emperor to arrange such a good marriage for her daughter.


    Princess Jiamei selectively shared only the less important details with her mother and kept quiet about the stainless steel.


    She knew the emperor disliked talkative people, especially in the harem. She didn¡¯t mention it to her mother, siding with the emperor. ¡°Mother, what¡¯s wrong with you today?¡±


    ¡°Silly girl, why did you think your father took you out?¡±


    ¡°To visit Mr. Yuan¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°That was to set you up for marriage. He was afraid you wouldn¡¯t get along with each other, so he didn¡¯t make it clear.¡±


    Jiamei blushed. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Why not? It must be. If you don¡¯t believe it, wait and see.¡±


    Now Jiamei felt a little flustered. She tried hard to recall what had happened. To be honest, she had a good impression of Chuan¡¯er.


    The more she liked him, the less she wanted to leave a bad impression on her future inws.


    If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have talked so much. She saw many rare things, asked many questions, and didn¡¯t know if Chuan¡¯er would find fault with her.


    On the other side, when Chuan¡¯er returned, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi summoned him to Yuexian Residence.


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er, what¡¯s your impression of that girl?¡±


    His face turned red. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I didn¡¯t take a good look at what she looks like, but her character should be eptable.¡± ¡°In that case, we will decide for you?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The emperor is pushing for this marriage. If your mother disagrees, he won¡¯t let it go. He will decree the marriage.¡±


    ¡°Son has no other thoughts. Everything is up to my parents.¡±


    ¡°Good, that settles it.¡¯


    Indeed, while busy with the stainless steel affair, the emperor still took some time to inquire about Jiamei¡¯s feelings.


    He also called Yuan Jiaqi and asked about Chuan¡¯er¡¯s opinion. Hearing that both sides had no objections, he immediately decreed the marriage.


    As Jiamei had just reached marriageable age, the emperor wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He set the wedding for a yearter, on Jiamei¡¯s sixteenth birthday.


    This way, it would allow this young couple to spend more time together and get to know each other better.


    The emperor also had ulterior motives. Using this reason, he could legitimately go to the inws¡¯ house for a meal anytime he wanted..

 Chapter 314 - 314: Who Will Report a Case to the Court?

    Chapter 314 - 314: Who Will Report a Case to the Court?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the old emperor and his entourage left, Yuan Jiaqi looked at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Wife, did you do it on purpose?¡± ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°The matter with the steel?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it gave me quite a scare, but fortunately, the emperor is a wise ruler. No one has tried to negotiate conditions with him yet.¡±


    ¡°You must believe me. I dare not say anything else, but in the Ming Dynasty, no one could bully our family, including the emperor. When I negotiate conditions with him, it¡¯s a sign of respect.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi embraced her, feeling a sense of pride.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to sacrifice anything for me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just the method to make steel. The emperor is still a good person. I am willing to contribute to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. After all, constant warfare makes life difficult for the people, and if they have no money, who will patronize my business?¡±


    ¡°Haha, makes sense.¡±


    Since the emperor decreed the marriage, the Qiao family became a hot topic in the capital. Typically, a royal princess vies for a live-in husband, but Jiamei is marrying down. This reflects the emperor¡¯s high regard for Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s family.


    At this time, Jiang Yunpeng was bringing Princess Mu to Tianhe Town.


    They didn¡¯t stay in Tianshui Town, partly because they were ashamed and wanted to avoid being criticized by the vigers for returning to their roots.


    They found an inn in Tianhe Town and settled there. Jiang Yunpeng¡¯s original house was no longer suitable for habitation.


    He returned to pay respects to his parents. As for the matter of acknowledging his ancestry, he hadn¡¯t thought about it yet. After all, he and his brother had suffered a lot. He wanted his family to plead for him to consider.


    Now, he could be considered returning in glory, with a position equal to a prefectural governor in this remote town, surpassing even the county governor.


    When he returned, he brought a hundred elite soldiers as an escort, putting on a show of strength.


    Although they were unaware of the uing marriage between Chuan¡¯er and the princess, Jiang Yunsheng, who was in the capital, knew about it.


    Upon returning home, he and his wife exchanged bitter smiles. Now, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s career was flourishing, and the Qiao family was thriving, while they had nothing to do with it.


    Madam Wang was infuriated by this situation in Bichun Garden. Yuan Jiaqi had quickly climbed to a high rank, and the Qiao family had be prosperous, leaving her family behind.


    Her two sons, who had finally made something of themselves, had left the Qiao family. But now, her youngest son will marry a princess.


    Chuan¡¯er was only a sixth-rank official. She was sure the emperor would find a way to promote him.


    However, her own son, while marrying a girl from a reputable family, did not have the same morous status as the princess. Moreover, his position might not be promoted anytime soon.


    She was frustrated and angry, but she dared not speak out. She feared being ridiculed by others and scolded by her inws.


    Thus, long before Zihan¡¯s wedding, she came to Qiao Mai to remind her not to forget to send the chefs and ingredients to Bichun Garden.


    This time, it was Qiao Mai¡¯s turn to be angry. The wedding was still more than half a year away, yet she came to remind her. Was it because she knew the princess was marrying into the Qiao family and wanted to give her a hard time?


    She thought to herself, ¡°Damn, I really want to make it difficult for her when the timees. I won¡¯t provide any cooks or ingredients, making her lose face.


    But out of respect for Old Master and Mistress Wang, she held back.


    Don¡¯t think that with great skill, one can disregard everything. There are times when one feels helpless.


    In the capital, the news of the rise of the Yuan family spread widely. When


    Yuan Jiaqi attended the court sessions, all officials cast envious nces at him.


    They all wanted to tter the apple in the emperor¡¯s eyes, hoping to send their beautiful daughters to him.


    However, looking into Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s profound eyes, they all retreated. He might not hit them physically, but he could make them want to jump into the river or hang themselves with his sharp tongue.


    They couldn¡¯t send women to Yuan Jiaqi, and sending them to Chuan¡¯er was even more impossible. After all, his legitimate wife was a princess.


    The youngest daughter of the emperor and the most favored one. Who would dare to cause trouble for the emperor at this time? They must not want to live anymore!


    Qiao Mai paid no attention to what they said. Seeing that the weather was getting colder, she continued her daily clinic.


    When she didn¡¯t set up her stall, the other medical halls regained their confidence. When she resumed her stall, they lost their vigor.


    The Liu family was particrly troubled. Royal Physician Liu came to his wife.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to deal with the Qiao family? How are they thriving now, even more so after the princess married into their family?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t take long. My family has had some issues recently. I believe the Qiao family will have bad luck soon.¡± ¡°Send a few people to deal with the wandering physician across the street first.¡± ¡°The wandering physician?¡±


    ¡°Woman, you don¡¯t know anything. You stay at home all day, not knowing what¡¯s happening outside. There¡¯s a person who started snatching our business recently. ¡±


    ¡°Husband, rest assured. I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Find a skilled assassin. The wandering physician could fight.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Several other medical halls in the capital also wanted to hire an assassin to deal with Qiao Mai. However, every time they attempted to trace her, they lost her.


    One day, Qiao Mai had just set up her stall, and a shadow flew towards her. Qiao Mai narrowed her eyes. Have they lost patience?


    The action was so fast that bystanders, waiting for Qiao Mai to start her pulse diagnosis, assumed it was just peoplepeting to be the first to get diagnosed.


    Little did they know that the person had an unusual speedpared to ordinary people. Qiao Mai judged that it was an assassin immediately.


    Before he could reach Qiao Mai, he fell to the ground. The bystanders hurriedly helped him up.


    ¡°Miracle doctor, please check him. What happened?¡±


    Qiao Mai naturally used her spiritual power to kill him.


    She quickly had people lift him onto a table, checked his pulse, and shook her head.


    ¡°There¡¯s no pulse at all. He¡¯s already dead.¡±


    ¡°Ah? Didn¡¯t he die too quickly?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s possible he had an illness. He ran too fast just now, so¡­¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Qiao Mai told them, ¡°Go to the court and report the case. But all of you must testify that I didn¡¯t touch him.¡±


    ¡°We know.¡±


    Soon, the government officials arrived. After routine questioning of the bystanders, they carried the body away.


    Qiao Mai looked at the Mingren Medical Hall with a mysterious gleam in her eyes. It seemed they had no tolerance whatsoever.


    It hadn¡¯t been long since she started her stall. The people who came to her for medical consultations were mostlymoners. The other medical halls relied on the support of wealthy families and were notcking in consultation fees.


    However, they sent someone to assassinate her. Since stalking her didn¡¯t work, they were shameless, weren¡¯t they?


    Let them send as many assassins as they want. She would consider it payback for these self-righteous people and see if they could learn a lesson.


    She had only set up her stall for twenty days and encountered over a dozen assassins, all of whom were quietly dealt with by her without anyone knowing.


    Now, those medical halls were panicking. Was the miracle doctor an immortal? No matter how they tried to kill her, she remained unharmed.


    Moreover, they couldn¡¯t even find an opportunity to expose her weaknesses. They were finding it difficult to understand. How could they fail to kill her?


    Turning intote December, the weather became colder, but there were still many patients seeking her help.


    However, Qiao Mai had to leave for the northern regions to collect debts. Before leaving, she announced she wouldn¡¯t set up her stall until after the New Year.


    The scouts of several medical halls conveyed this news. They all heaved a sigh of relief.


    However, on that night, all the medical halls in the capital, as long as they were on the same street, had their buildings copse by half.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t go all out because she considered themoners. If she destroyed all their shops, where would the people go for medical treatment? If not for her kindness, she would ruin all the medical halls.


    When she left the capital, Madam Liu¡¯s maternal rtives finally sent someone over.


    On a quiet night, Madam Liu warmly entertained her rtives at the Liu family¡¯s guesthouse and the family of the former deputy leader..

 Chapter 315 - 315: I’ll Let You Live A Few More Days

    Chapter 315 - 315: I¡¯ll Let You Live A Few More Days


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°What took you so long?¡±


    ¡°Many things are going on at home, and I had to take care of the affairs of the new alliance leader.¡±


    ¡°Who got the position?¡±


    When this matter was mentioned, the faces of the people present turned ugly.


    ¡°Someone else got it, but the new alliance leader hasn¡¯t troubled our families much. However, we still need to be cautious. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t havee until now. Are your words true?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confident.¡¯


    ¡°Tell me about it.¡¯


    Madam Liu narrated her spection and mentioned that Royal Physician Liu had sent people to investigate the Qiao family at night, resulting in all of them being wiped out.


    ¡°Back then, were you in City Wei at County She?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°She lives in Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town. I heard she also has industries in County She, and she checks and collects ounts every twelfth month when she goes back.¡±


    ¡°Does she have any connection with the alliance leader?¡±


    ¡°How could she not? I analyzed it for you. With the nature of my eldest nephew, he definitely wouldn¡¯t let her go if he saw her.¡±


    ¡°Is she good-looking?¡±


    ¡°No, but her skin is exceptionally good.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying my son was also killed by her?¡±


    ¡°Think about it. The wife of a first-rank official and a martial arts expert attracted your son¡¯s attention. Can you believe she did nothing? There must be something in between. When the alliance leader and deputy leader investigated the matter of my eldest nephew¡¯s death and went to her, they unexpectedly got killed. Do you think this is possible?¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding? She¡¯s a woman and from a vige. Even if she learns martial arts, she can¡¯t possibly be stronger than my son and the alliance leader.¡±


    ¡°Did you find out who the murderer is?¡±


    ¡°If you believe my words, investigate it yourself. Do a background check on her.¡±


    ¡°Where is she?¡±


    ¡°She should have returned to Tianshui Town to collect ounts.¡±


    ¡°It would be the New Year when she returns. How about this¡­¡±


    Seven or eight people in the room nodded as Madam Liu provided suggestions.


    When Qiao Mai left, she had arranged everything at home. Whoever went out had a spirit beast apanying them. Both inside and outside the house, creatures were protecting them.


    As long as intruders dared to appear, there would be no bones left.


    It was even less of a concern for herself. With her cultivation, even if the sharpest weapon in the world was swung at her, there would be no damage.


    This was still under the condition that she allowed people to swing at her. If she didn¡¯t want it, the others wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to approach.


    On the night she returned, she arrived at Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town within half an hour.


    There were no changes at home, and everyone was doing well.


    She wandered around her home, brought gifts, and visited old acquaintances, seeing that everything was fine. Only then did she rx and went to County She the next day.


    Afterpleting important matters and doing the things she did every year, she closed herself off.


    This time, she didn¡¯t rush to cultivate. Instead, she wandered around her space. Wherever she wanted to go, just a thought was enough.


    Greeny had been with her all the time. ¡°Master, you¡¯re diagnosing pulses, drinking tea, reading books, and practicing all day. Isn¡¯t there anything better to do at home?¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡±


    ¡°Women like flowers. Do you like them?¡±


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t like beautiful things?¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve nted a sea of flowers. Master, would you like to see?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, sure.¡±


    Although Qiao Mai was practical, she was still a woman. No one didn¡¯t like beautiful flowers.


    Standing in front of the endless sea of flowers, she enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Greeny picked a bunch of red roses.


    ¡°Master, this is for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°What kind of flowers do you like? Shall I pick some for you?¡±


    ¡°I like all kinds. Each has its beauty.¡±


    ¡°Master, you are beautiful too, but you don¡¯t dress up.¡± ¡°My appearance without makeup is just an ordinary person.¡±


    ¡°Why not makeup?


    ¡°I prefer a natural look. There¡¯s no need for makeup.¡± ¡°Master, you don¡¯t take good care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Who says that?¡±


    Qiao Mai picked a rose and ced it in her hair. ¡°Do I look good?¡±


    ¡°You look more beautiful with double eyelids and thicker eyebrows. However, it depends on what your husband says.¡±


    ¡°He likes it as long as it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He likes your soul, not your appearance. Some people only care about looks. Falling in love at first sight is just a matter of seeing someone attractive.¡± ¡°Haha, reading a lot on the inte, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Feeling bored? Shall I find you a male green worm?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tease me. I¡¯m not interested in males and is busy enough taking care of your space.¡±


    Qiao Mai strolled through the sea of flowers, feeling great. She sat on the ground with her legs crossed and started cultivating.


    Seeing her master working hard, Greeny didn¡¯t disturb her anymore and flew off into the distance.


    After cultivating for ten days, her divine sense moved, indicating that strangers were approaching Lucky Garden. The sheep conveyed the message to her.


    ¡°Master, there are six men in ck who entered our house. There is no killing intent on them; it seems they¡¯re here to investigate.¡±


    ¡°Keep an eye on them. If anything happens, kill them immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Disturbed, Qiao Mai lost interest in cultivation. She left the room, lit a candle, and made herself a pot of hot tea.


    Soon, there was a light tapping sound on the roof tiles. Qiao Mai waved her hand, and a scream echoed through the night sky.


    Then came a heavy thud, the sound of a heavy object falling. She opened the door and saw the ck-clothed men in the courtyard, covering their eyes and moaning in pain.


    Three sheep stood in her yard, and three squirrels stood on the roof. Despite their small size, dealing with a few ck-clothed men was a piece of cake.


    With a swipe of their ws, the men were thrown into the yard.


    Their strength was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. One was still alive on the ground but was no match for the spiritual beast.


    All that could be heard was a thud, and there was not even a miserable cry. The person had died.


    Qiao Mai reached out and touched the head of the blinded man. After a while, she let go and sent him to his death.


    ¡°Throw them onto the mountains in the northwest. In winter, there¡¯s a food shortage for creatures over there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The six spiritual beasts returned in no time.


    Qiao Mai filled their storage bags with pills. These were for their cultivation and a reward for their meritorious service in guarding the house.


    She stood in the courtyard, thinking she should give the Liu family a big gift for the New Year.


    She can¡¯t leave Madam Liu alive. As for Royal Physician Liu, how could he be alive alone if his wife died?


    Husband and wife should share blessings and misfortunes. They shouldn¡¯t each go their own way in times of crisis.


    Let them live a few more days. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry for revenge. These six ck-clothed men were here to test her.


    Even though they knew she had the strength to kill the two leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance, they still dared to provoke her. They were overestimating their abilities.


    After settling the ounts and receiving the silver notes, Qiao Mai asked the steward to post notices to various families, inviting them to her house for a meal.


    The atmosphere in Tianshui Town became lively again, and the kitchen finally made some decent dishes to entertain guests.


    Mayor Qian held the invitation, smiling. ¡°I never expected Madam Qiao would have such good luck, having a princess as a daughter-inw.¡±


    Lu Sanniang, ying with her son, smiled gently.


    ¡°Yes, she is capable and has good fortune. But I am fortunate too.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true. Since she invited us, why not deliver the New Year¡¯s goods in advance?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll prepare it tomorrow.¡±


    Others wanted to deliver New Year gifts early too. Everyone seemed to have discussed it beforehand, sendingrge and small packages to Lucky Garden.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t decline everyone¡¯s goodwill. She had also prepared New Year¡¯s gifts.


    The living room was divided into two halls. On both sides, there were side halls with one table each. The room was warm, and everyone enjoyed the Qiao family¡¯s meal, which they only got to eat once a year. Everyone smiled happily, and no one treated Qiao Mai as a stranger just because she was the wife of a first-rank official. On the contrary, they were more enthusiastic and missed her because they only saw her once a year..

 Chapter 316 - 316: You Are Suited to Be a Monk

    Chapter 316 - 316: You Are Suited to Be a Monk


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Before she left, Qiao Mai prepared six hundred-year-old ginseng roots and reishi mushrooms.


    Her space was filled with a variety of herbs, including thousand-year-old ones. Since people need a diverse diet to stay healthy, ginseng and reishi are excellent medicinal ingredients that can¡¯t be found easily in pharmacies. They can also be used as a valuable asset; in times of urgent need for money, they can be exchanged for silver. This gift was precious.


    When the recipients saw these gifts upon returning home, they were astonished.


    They quickly sealed the ginseng, storing it safely in cabs. These were precious items that couldn¡¯t be acquired easily with money.


    This gift has touched the depths of their hearts.


    Qiao Mai stayed in Tianshui Town until the 25th before returning to the capital. This time, she didn¡¯t bring any gifts because most of the staff from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and the chef had moved to the capital.


    So, preparing these New Year goods upon returning home is not toote.


    The Duke and General West Gate no longer had any connection with the Qiao family. She only needed to prepare a gift for the emperor.


    The old emperor eagerly awaited, being on the bride¡¯s side; it was customary for the groom¡¯s side to present gifts. Whether the emperor reciprocated or not depended on his mood. He was not an ordinary inw; he was the kingdom¡¯s ruler.


    Yuan Jiaqi, who would only have a breakter, was especially happy that Qiao Mai returned early.


    The two leaned on each other, chatting about family matters.


    ¡°Wife, what should we give the emperor for the New Year?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve asked Shopkeeper Niu to prepare two baskets of intestines, boneless chicken feet, canned meat, fruits, ten jars of wine, and ten pounds of top-quality tea. Will that be enough?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a lot. He can¡¯t finish all that alone.


    ¡°That¡¯s his problem. If we give too little, he¡¯ll ask for more. Before, he might be embarrassed, but with this rtionship, he¡¯ll surely take full advantage of it.¡±


    ¡°He keeps so many women in the pce. Let him take care of them; we shouldn¡¯t use our family¡¯s goods to fill their mouths.¡±


    ¡°Pfft.¡¯


    Qiao Mai burst intoughter. ¡°With a thousand beauties in the pce, he only likes a few.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to enter the pce. I get a headache just thinking about a group of women.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more suitable to be a monk; they stay away from the female charm.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only close to one woman.¡±


    ¡°You and your silver tongue!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m letting my wife experience my smooth talking.¡±


    Instantly, the two were ying around, and soon, the lights in the room went out.


    The next day, the emperor received the New Year¡¯s gift. Having just finished the morning court and with a year of peace and prosperity without wars, the Ming Dynasty became stronger. He was happy.


    Seeing what he had been yearning for, he was even more delighted.


    Having this inw was great; not only did they have money, but they could also prepare top-notch delicacies. The emperor asked Yubao with his head tilted.


    ¡°How¡¯s the steel from the Ministry of Works?¡±


    ¡°It has been produced. We are currently forging weapons such as steel knives and spears.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s mood was even better. Thinking of his promise to Qiao Mai, he reached for a fruit he loved to eat, returned to the desk, and wrote three imperial edicts.


    The first awarded Yuan Jiaqi the title of Duke of Blessings in recognition of his contributions to presenting his knowledge to the court.


    The second, feeling that Madam Qiao had not been conferred any title even though she was the mother-inw of his daughter and had provided stainless steel, a valuable resource, he conferred the title of a First-Rank Noble Consort.


    In the third, considering that the princess¡¯s husband being a sixth-rank official was unbing of his status, he promoted Yuan Haichuan to third rank, jumping three levels.


    Yuan Jiaqi had just returned home after getting off work. He received three imperial edicts, apanied by his son and daughter.


    He thanked the emperor for the edict rted to Qiao Mai, saying that she had not yet returned home, and bowed to express his gratitude.


    The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict did not say much while he received a generous tip, leaving happily.


    As long as the money was in ce, no one dared to say anything. As Qiao Mai mentioned, anything that could be made resounding with money should not be taken lightly.


    The day after the imperial edicts were issued, the court was abuzz with discussions.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Mr. Yuan is so lucky. He has such an important form.¡±


    ¡°Humph, what a ridiculous form. It¡¯s just a ploy by the emperor. When the princess marries, he wants to elevate his inw¡¯s official rank. Otherwise, why would Mr. Yuan, Madam Yuan, and their son all get promoted?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. The Ministry of Works has already produced something called steel. The emperor has been keeping it a secret, and he¡¯s tirelessly forging weapons. Iron weapons are fragilepared to steel; they break with a single touch.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s true, conferring the title of a Duke to Mr. Yuan is deserved. This is a great achievement.¡±


    When they saw Yuan Jiaqi, they bowed respectfully, ¡°Duke!¡±


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Good morning to you.¡±


    ¡°Congrattions.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Seeing him acting as usual without any airs, everyone sincerely admired him. Indeed, the man chosen by the emperor possessed excellent character, manners, and an extraordinary demeanor that others couldn¡¯tpare to.


    The Duke of Zhenguo and General West Gate watched from the side, not knowing how to strike up a conversation.


    Their son-inw¡¯s actions made them lose face. The previous passion they shared with Yuan Jiaqi was now reced by awkwardness.


    ustomed to the food and lifestyle of the Qiao family, they had none of it this year. When they sent someone to buy from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, they were shocked by the high prices of the food they usually consumed.


    It was distressing; they cursed Jiang Yunpeng in their hearts.


    At the same time, Jiang Yunpeng was also ufortable. Used to the Qiao family¡¯s lifestyle, especially riding the horses gifted by Qiao Mai, they received envious looks from their colleagues. Their hearts felt uneasy at the moment.


    Yunsheng had no face to ride the horse, so he returned it to the Qiao residence. However, Yunpeng was reluctant to part with the horse.


    But seeing Yunsheng send it back, he couldn¡¯t bear to ride it anymore. Reluctantly, he sent someone to return the horse to the Qiao family.


    Because Miss Mu and Miss Xiao had used their dowries to offset the debt owed to Qiao Mai, the two brothers gave them all the money they had.


    This also served aspensation for the pain in the hearts of the two women. They were reluctant to leave the Qiao family. Back then, they had chosen the brothers because of the Qiao family. Now, it seemed like they had traded one for another.


    Fortunately, there were the harvests from the fields and the shop that came with them. Otherwise, life would be tough, theplete opposite when they were with the Qiao family.


    When the two chatted, they often mentioned the Qiao family, and tears would fall together.


    Hearing that they had sent back two Arabian horses, Qiao Mai sneered.


    ¡°At least they still have some conscience.¡±


    She brought the horses into the space, where she could take better care of them than outside.


    The affairs of the Qiao family were discussed daily in the capital. The departure of the two brothers was discussed for several months until it was temporarily suppressed by the news of Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s Duke title.


    However, someone would bring up the topic of the two brothers again.


    This year, the Qiao family was likely to be the hottest topic.


    ¡°Do you think those two brothers regret leaving the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°Definitely. They had a good life there but chose to leave like ungrateful brats.¡± ¡°I heard it was Madam Qiao who asked them to leave.¡±


    ¡°If it were me, I would have asked them to leave. Who wants someone who betrays their benefactors? It¡¯s better to have someone loyal.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Madam Qiao has been extremely good to the two of them. Just consider their marriages¡ªeach spent nearly five hundred thousand taels. Once they¡¯ve made something of themselves, they want to reim their ancestry. Who wouldn¡¯t feel upset about it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not entirely true. They are their biological parents; how can they forget that? It¡¯s a matter of paying respects at the ancestral grave. You guys are making it too serious.¡±


    ¡°Greater gratitude should be shown for raising someone than for giving birth.¡± ¡°How could she raise them if they aren¡¯t born?¡±


    ¡°If Madam Qiao hadn¡¯t saved them, they would have been buried long ago..


    How could they even visit the grave?¡±

 Chapter 317 - 317: Who Is That Person?

    Chapter 317 - 317: Who Is That Person?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Due to the Qiao family¡¯s affairs, some gossip-loving people started arguing and almost got into a fight at the teahouse. It¡¯s speechless.


    On the twenty-eighth day, Yuan Jiaqi took a break from work. When he returned, he had an invitation in hand.


    Qiao Mai noticed his furrowed brow and concerned expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The emperor never hosted banquets in the pce. Now that the kingdom is doing slightly better, he starts making trouble.¡±


    He threw the invitation onto the table in annoyance. Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, just go. After so many years of holding back, he finally gets a chance to rx. It won¡¯t hurt to attend.¡±


    ¡°Humph, extravagant and wasteful. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°But the emperor instructed me to bring the whole family.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s attend for our inws.¡¯


    Upon hearing that Qiao Mai wanted to go, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, and his expression gradually improved.


    ¡°Since my wife wants to go, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to go. It¡¯s just to give the princess and Chuan¡¯er more time together. Ling¡¯er is also of age, so it¡¯s good to let her experience it earlier. Keep an eye on them.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    ¡°When is it?¡±


    ¡°On the thirtieth night.¡±


    ¡°Good. We don¡¯t need to buy additional clothes. I made several sets for us during the New Year. We can wear something new.¡±


    ¡°How about we all wear the same color?¡±


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s wear matching family outfits.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi called the children to Yuexian Residence and informed them about attending the pce banquet.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, dress appropriately. Don¡¯t be too shy. Ask Nanny Jin if she¡¯s willing to apany you. If she doesn¡¯t want to, don¡¯t force her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. Should I bring Yue Hong and Yue Xia?¡±


    ¡°No need. The pce has strict rules. They¡¯re used to freedom in our house.¡±


    ¡°What color should we wear?¡±


    ¡°Just wear that blue outfit. Let Chuan¡¯er wear the same color.¡±


    ¡°Should our whole family wear the same color?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that way, we¡¯ll look like a family.¡±


    The couple looked at their son, who stood tall and elegant, with refined manners and a gentle demeanor. Their daughter appeared charming, cute, and full of liveliness.


    Satisfaction filled their hearts. This situation kept Nanny Jin busy. As soon as she heard about going to the pce, she became concerned. Initially reluctant, she agreed to apany them, fearing something might happen to Ling¡¯er.


    Nanny Jin spent the entire next day coaching Ling¡¯er on pce etiquette.


    On the thirtieth, she carefully matched all of Ling¡¯er¡¯s essories during the daytime and found that pink suited blue the best.


    She chose a set of pink diamond jewelry, sparkling but not too shy.


    On the other hand, Qiao Mai selected a set of amethyst. She styled her hair elegantly, adorned with a purple jade hairpin.


    A small amethyst hair essory adorned each side of her temple, and her earrings were naturally purple. Though seemingly understated, the glimmering shine indicated their significant value.


    Qiao Mai also wore an amethyst diamond ne and a purple diamond ring on her hand.


    As an inw invited by the emperor, she couldn¡¯t afford to be overshadowed.


    After all, the capital knew she was a wealthy woman, and she needed to solidify this image.


    Having been in the capital for several years, it was about time she met these influential figures.


    The family, along with Nanny Jin, rode in a carriage without guards. They returned the Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s guards.


    The steward drove the carriage, with Dongzhao and his wife pulling it. With the two of them, there was nothing to fear.


    In any case, Yuan Jiaqi was reassured. Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er were still unaware of their mother¡¯s abilities.


    In the family, only Old Master Wang discovered it first, and Old Mistress Wang learned about it from him. Yuan Jiaqi found out on his own.


    Others in the family only knew Qiao Mai was special, but the specifics were unknown.


    The entire family, including Nanny Jin, wore New Year¡¯s clothes, all in blue, courtesy of Qiao Mai.


    The carriage stopped at the pce gate, and the family got off. The steward dismounted and led the horses away, finding a spot near the pce gate.


    Nanny Jin led Ling¡¯er, Yuan Jiaqi led Qiao Mai, and Chuan¡¯er followed them.


    Upon seeing Yuan Jiaqi, the guards didn¡¯t even check the invitation and let them through. Pce maids received them and led the way.


    They walked towards Ronghua Hall, designed to entertain court officials and foreign envoys.


    Walking into the pce, they attracted the attention of the officials.


    Lower-ranking officials greeted Yuan Jiaqi respectfully, while those higher in rank received ms courteous greetings m return.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes, however, were on Qiao Mai and Ling¡¯er.


    Ling¡¯er blinked her lively eyes, looking around. Princess Jiamei walked over to them.


    ¡°Uncle, Aunt.¡± she greeted respectfully despite being a princess. Qiao Mai held her hand.


    ¡°Tomorrow is the first day of the new year. If you have no ns,e to my ce. I¡¯ll prepare delicious food for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Aunt. I¡¯ll introduce Ling¡¯er to some friends. They are well-behaved; please rest assured.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Ling¡¯er was led away. As Jiamei left, she cast a nce at Chuan¡¯er. When their eyes met, both blushed.


    Qiao Mai clicked her tongue. ¡°So shy!¡±


    The pce attendant guided Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai to a small table. ¡°My lord, this is your table.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai generously rewarded the pce attendant with a pearl. The attendant happily epted it with a bow and left.


    The otherdies in the group sneered. Qiao Mai was indeed a wealthydy, even tipping for being shown the way.


    As the couple sat down, refreshments were served.


    Qiao Mai nced around, thinking arge round table would be better. Having separate tables for each family, with young people paired based on rank, was ufortable. There were no chairs, just cushions, making it even more awkward.


    The Ronghua Hall resembled a council chamber, withyers uponyers. The higher the position, the higher the seating.


    She looked up at the dragon throne. Neither the emperor nor the empress had arrived yet. The Empress Dowager was rumored to have passed away, making the empress the highest authority in the rear pce.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t interested in others¡¯ opinions of her. She focused on Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er.


    Despite the apparent luxury of the pce, it was one of the dirtiest ces. The women inside schemed against each other, and no one¡¯s hands were clean. At every banquet, there were always people plotting.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai ced her spiritual awareness on Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er to detect any danger and locate them immediately.


    Better safe than sorry. Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er were of marriageable age. Who knew if someone would emerge to cause trouble?


    Qiao Mai discreetly assessed the crowd. Yuan Jiaqi, noticing her serious gaze, introduced her to some of the attendees.


    Although he didn¡¯t socialize much with court officials privately, he was well acquainted with civil and military officials due to his position as the Minister


    of Personnel.


    Qiao Mai pointed to a young man in the distance. ¡°Husband, who is that person?¡±


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°The one in dark red clothes, about seventeen or eighteen, staring at my daughter-inw?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi followed her gaze. ¡°He is the eldest son of General Zhennan. The emperor once intended to betroth Jiamei to him.¡±


    ¡°No wonder he looks at Chuan¡¯er with malice and at Jiamei with infatuation.


    And the other one?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s County Princess Rongyu, the legitimate daughter of Prince Bao. What about her?¡±


    ¡°She likes Chuan¡¯er, but Chuan¡¯er doesn¡¯t even look at her. Unrequited love is not good; those who can¡¯t get what they want often resort to all means to obtain or destroy it. The boy is the same. We have to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Does mydy mean something might happen tonight?¡±


    ¡°Humph, in historical records, banquets are always full of schemes. If anyone dares to harm our children tonight, I¡¯ll make sure they regret it..¡±

 Chapter 318 - 318: Underestimated Her

    Chapter 318 - 318: Underestimated Her


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t worry. Everything is fine now. It¡¯s the New Year; let¡¯s not look for trouble.¡±


    ¡°I hope nothing will happen.¡±


    Thinking about this, she remembered the Liu family. After tonight¡¯s banquet, she must make a trip.


    Without giving the Liu family a lesson, they wouldn¡¯t stop. They didn¡¯t know her capabilities yet.


    Tonight, Royal Physician Liu came with his family. Mr. Yuan¡¯s family was thriving, unexpectedly bing like a royal family, which made him somewhat envious.


    If he sent someone to act now, and it failed, his family would be in real trouble.


    In the past, he might have had the courage, but now, any of them could crush him.


    With the emperor valuing the Qiao family and forming a rtionship with them, how could he dare to act against this woman?


    Royal Physician Liu and Madam Liu looked at Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai. They sighed simultaneously, seeing hesitation in each other¡¯s eyes.


    However, once the knives were out, they couldn¡¯t be retrieved. The Liu family knew who the murderer was, but without evidence, they couldn¡¯t file aint. They could only investigate privately and attempt to assassinate Qiao Mai.


    Several men in ck mysteriously disappeared in Tianshui Town, and they knew Qiao Mai¡¯s background. She could kill the alliance leader, so they assembled a group of assassins, believing they would soon send a crowd to kill Qiao Mai.


    Tonight, Qiao Mai¡¯s attention was on her children, naturally ignoring them. This made the two feel a bit safer.


    But when they thought about Qiao Mai¡¯s skills, a chill ran down their spines.


    If she found out the Liu family had hired assassins, what would she do?


    Neither had the mood to attend the banquet. They wanted to quickly return home and inform the martial artists living with them, hoping to cancel the assassination.


    Just then, the emperor, apanied by the empress and a few consorts, arrived.


    The officers quickly knelt and paid their respects. Qiao Mai only symbolically squatted on the ground; after all, she wore a dress. It wasn¡¯t noticeable.


    The emperor smiled and asked the officers to rise. He nced in Mr. Yuan¡¯s direction, spoke encouraging words, then waved his hand, and the music and dance resumed.


    Next, pce attendants shuttled around serving dishes. Qiao Mai watched the food prepared by the royal chef. Yuan Jiaqi quickly picked up his chopsticks to help her.


    asionally, Qiao Mai nced at the higher tiers and saw the emperor staring at their table as if saying, ¡®Look at how our foodpares to yours.¡¯


    Consort Rui smiled at her, and Qiao Mai nodded in response.


    Since her son and the princess were engaged, Consort Rui had never invited her to the pce. She respected her inws, knowing Qiao Mai disliked socializing and had a cold temperament. She never extended an invitation. This was their first meeting.


    Qiao Mai had a good impression of her, so she responded.


    Yuan Jiaqi also nodded to Consort Rui. ¡°Our inw is not bad.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. We can see her mother through


    Jiamei.¡±


    ¡°Due to the engagement between Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er, she has been titled the Royal Noble Consort by the emperor, just a step below the empress.¡±


    The empress did not show any displeasure because Consort Rui did not have a prince by her side and did not vie for management power. Her expression was still good.


    The dishes were served, and the wine was brought in. Officials raised their cups together to toast the emperor and empress.


    The scene was lively, but Qiao Mai only made superficial efforts. Her gaze was always on her children.


    Yuan Jiaqi was moved. It was fortunate to be her child. She cared so much, fearing her children would suffer.


    Luckily, Ling¡¯er had Jiamei to protect her. Suddenly, Qiao Mai thought she should give her daughter a title. Otherwise, how could she mix with these upper-ss figures in the capital?


    Thinking of the forms in her hand, Qiao Mai smirked.


    She still had many opportunities to negotiate with the emperor. Suddenly, the empress signaled, and the dancing was stopped.


    Next was the appreciation of the talents of the officials¡¯ daughters. Qiao Mai frowned; this wasn¡¯t appreciation but a matchmaking event. It provided an opportunity for the men and women present to interact.


    Qiao Mai lifted her cup and took a sip. She wasn¡¯t interested in their performances; they were dancing, ying musical instruments, or painting¡ª it was clich¨¦.


    While she was bored, a pce maid passing by Chuan¡¯er tilted her body slightly, and the tray with the wine pot spilled on him.


    Chuan¡¯er¡¯s clothes were stained with wine. Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes went cold. Finally!


    The pce maid kneeled next to Chuan¡¯er, bowing and apologizing, suggesting to lead Chuan¡¯er to a side hall to change clothes.


    Qiao Mai had instilled these tricks in Chuan¡¯er since he was ten years old. He could easily see through the underhanded tactics.


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, shall this servant take you to change?¡±


    Yuan Haichuan¡¯s face sank. ¡°I told you to get lost. Didn¡¯t you hear?¡±


    ¡°This servant¡­¡±


    Someone nearby advised, ¡°Mr. Yuan, why not go change? It won¡¯t hurt your image, will it?¡±


    ¡°No. What¡¯s wrong with a man having a bit of wine on him?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t it affect your image?¡±


    ¡°No means no. Do you want to ask the emperor to make me change?¡±


    His colleagues beside him didn¡¯t say a word. The kneeling pce maid tried to persuade him again, but Yuan Haichuan stood up and kicked her to the ground.


    This caught the attention of Jiamei, the emperor, and even Yuan Jiaqi.


    He was about to get up and check, but Qiao Mai held him back. ¡°Sit down; Chuan¡¯er will handle it himself.¡¯


    At this moment, the emperor spoke.


    ¡°Haichuan, what happened there?¡±


    Chuan¡¯er immediately bowed to the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty, this maid identally spilled wine on me. As a man, and it being winter, a bit of wine on me doesn¡¯t matter. I told her to leave, but she wouldn¡¯t give up. So, I kicked her.¡±


    The emperor squinted; he had grown up surrounded by such conspiracies.


    He understood.


    ¡°Drag her down and flog her to death!¡±


    The maid was frightened and fainted on the spot. The guards dragged her away, and the situation returned to normal. Everyone continued to watch the talent show.


    Yuan Jiaqi breathed a sigh of relief and asked quietly.


    ¡°Wife, did you already know?¡±


    ¡°Since that maid intentionally spilled wine on Chuan¡¯er, I knew. I¡¯ve told the children about these tricks since they were young. Although it¡¯s their first time encountering this situation, Chuan¡¯er reacted quickly, not wasting my teachings. ¡±


    ¡°Who would dare to harm Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s not the time to investigate now. We¡¯ll seize the opportunityter.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s frustrating that I can only watch and do nothing.¡±


    ¡°You have me. Don¡¯t worry; I will make those who plotted against Chuan¡¯er receive their punishment sooner orter.¡±


    The couple looked at their son, safe and sound. Then they turned to Jiamei¡¯s side, where Ling¡¯er seemed to have sensed something. She exined something to Jiamei, who looked grim.


    Consort Rui also noticed. She pursed her lips, refraining from speaking. But she turned to the servant who attended to her and whispered a few words.


    The servant quietly withdrew. Even the emperor instructed his confidant to investigate.


    Gradually, the talents of the courtier¡¯s daughters finished their performances.


    The empress looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Madam Yuan?¡±


    Qiao Mai did not respond. The empress called again, ¡°Madam Yuan?¡±


    Only then did Qiao Mai slowly stand up, bowing to the empress. ¡°Is the empress calling this humble woman?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Aren¡¯t you Madam Yuan?¡±


    ¡°No. My husband is married into my family, so I am Madam Qiao, not Madam


    Yuan.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The empress was not angry. ¡°Madam Qiao, rumors have been circting in the capital about your great abilities.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just gossip. I manage food business.¡±


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°Does knowing a few overseas merchants also count as a skill?¡±


    ¡°Why is Mr. Yuan so devoted to you then?¡±


    Before Qiao Mai could speak, Yuan Jiaqi immediately stood up.. How could he let his wife stand while he sat?

 Chapter 319 - 319: Just Hold It

    Chapter 319 - 319: Just Hold It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Your Majesty, my wife saved me and my son¡¯s lives in the past. I am willing to protect her for a lifetime, unwaveringly devoted. It goes against my principles to give up on her.¡±


    This statement left the empress speechless. At this moment, Qiao Mai felt malicious eyes on her.


    Looking up, she saw a couple at the table above her. The woman red at her with hostile eyes.


    Oh, it¡¯s the old acquaintance, Princess Heyi. Her mother was the empress?


    It seems she has regained her memory. That¡¯s good. With Qiao Mai¡¯s improved cultivation, she can erase memories and ns to use them on the princess.


    However, at this point, she is already married and apanied by her husband. She cannot act recklessly. Watching Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi disying their affection, Princess Heyi¡¯s eyes burned with envy.


    Thinking back to the scene where this woman once beat her, she couldn¡¯t help but wish to kill her.


    Qiao Mai smirked at her and then turned around. Before she could speak, the empress spoke up. It seemed she had no intention of letting Qiao Mai off today.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re fortunate. Mr. Yuan treats you so well.¡±


    ¡°I will also treat him well.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, can you showcase your talents for us? I heard your culinary skills are excellent. Perhaps you could prepare a dish.¡±


    Only now did the emperor realize the empress¡¯s malicious intent. He red at her but couldn¡¯t scold the empress in front of the courtiers. He decided to settle the matterter.


    Qiao Mai nced at the empress and sneered. ¡°Cooking is unnecessary. The smell of oil will ruin thedies¡¯ makeup.¡± ¡°What talent do you want to showcase then?¡±


    Qiao Mai walked out slowly, with Yuan Jiaqi following closely behind.


    ¡°My wife, shall I assist you?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    The couple arrived at the central stage. Qiao Mai looked at the emperor and empress, who were high above.


    ¡°Please prepare a tray for me and a piece of red cloth.¡±


    Before the empress could speak, the emperor said, ¡°Servant, prepare a tray and a piece of red cloth for Madam Qiao.¡±


    In no time, a eunuch brought a tray with a piece of red satin. Yuan Jiaqi took it.


    ¡°Wife, what should I do?¡±


    ¡°Just hold it.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the empress. ¡°Your Majesty, what fruit do you like?¡±


    The empress was taken aback, then slowly replied, ¡°I like oranges.¡±


    Qiao Mai took the red cloth, spread it over the tray, and held the center of the cloth with her right hand. She slightly lifted it to create some space inside, then grabbed something from the air with her left hand and threw it onto the red cloth.


    It seemed like something was thrown into the red cloth. She quickly removed it, revealing a tray full of bright oranges.


    Fresh leaves were still attached, as if they were just plucked from the tree.


    The emperor and empress were stunned. This couldn¡¯t have been prepared in advance, as it was Qiao Mai¡¯s first time attending a banquet.


    In addition, she was a married woman, and the talent show was an impromptu challenge from the empress.


    Yuan Jiaqi called a young eunuch to serve the oranges to the emperor and empress.


    The emperor picked up an orange. Yubao was about to test it for poison, but the emperor stopped him.


    This shows how much trust there is in Madam Qiao. The emperor didn¡¯t hesitate to peel the orange and start eating.


    ¡°How sweet and delicious! This is the best orange I¡¯ve ever had. Empress, are you satisfied now?¡±


    The empress, grinding her teeth, forced a smile. She knew the emperor¡¯s intentions, fearing she might frame Qiao Mai. ¡°Madam Qiao, can you showcase something else?¡±


    ¡°Emperor, what fruit do you like?¡±


    The emperor grew interested. ¡°I want to eat the Golden Honeydew sold in your shop. Can you do that?¡±


    ¡°I will try.¡±


    Once again, Qiao Mai used her spatial abilities to conjure arge Golden Honeydew. This time, the emperor was thrilled.


    ¡°Haha, quickly cut it open. Everyone, have a taste. It¡¯s perfect to relieve my excess alcohol consumption.¡±


    In the hall, everyone stared dumbfounded at Qiao Mai on the stage.


    This couldn¡¯t be a magic trick; those were usually pre-prepared. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t have known about the empress¡¯s challenge in advance. In other words, she hadn¡¯t hidden anything on her.


    How was this possible?


    Everyone wore expressions of disbelief. Qiao Mai suddenly looked at Consort Rui.


    ¡°Dear inw, what would you like?¡±


    ¡°Dear inw?¡±


    Consort Rui hadn¡¯t reacted yet, but the emperor chuckled.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t call it wrong. Madam Qiao should address you as ¡®dear inw.¡±¡®


    Consort Rui finally came to her senses and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a preference. I like everything.¡±


    ¡°Today is our first meeting. Let me give you a gift, considering our rtionship. I believe the emperor and empress won¡¯t object.¡±


    The emperor finished nibbling on a piece of melon and immediately wiped his mouth. ¡°Of course. Whatever is given between the two of you is only natural.¡±


    Qiao Mai approached the tray, exchanged a smile with Yuan Jiaqi, tossed the red cloth into the air, and revealed it again.


    This time, a dazzling light emanated beneath the red cloth, instantly dimming the candlelight.


    The old emperor stood up in excitement. ¡°Madam Qiao, is this a night pearl? It¡¯s so bright!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a diamond from overseas. I believe some people in the capital are familiar with it.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen concubines wearing diamonds before.¡±


    ¡°The diamonds they wear are small. Each of mine is ten timesrger. This is a set of amethyst jewelry encrusted with tinum. Do you know what tinum


    ¡°It¡¯s gold, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but a different color. Using tinum and amethyst makes them even more beautiful. This set of jewelry is suitable for Consort Rui. As it is our first meeting, I offer this as a gift. I hope you ept it.¡±


    An eunuch approached with a tray and carefully presented it to Consort Rui.


    ¡°Consort Rui?¡±


    Consort Rui looked at the emperor, who was stroking his beard.


    ¡°It¡¯s for you; naturally, it¡¯s yours. Why haven¡¯t you taken it yet?¡±


    She quickly epted it. The beautiful and grand jewelry immediately caught her eye. The emperor could hear the sound of people swallowing around him.


    He carefully examined the jewelry. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, Madam Qiao. Is this set expensive?¡±


    ¡°Money can¡¯t buy it.¡±


    In the entire hall, there was a collective gasp of admiration.


    The Duchess of Zhenguo rolled her eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she give me this jewelry back then?¡±


    The Duke red at her. ¡°Look at what you were like back then. Could anyone treat you well? Besides, can youpare with Consort Rui?¡±


    ¡°What about Madam Xiao?¡±


    ¡°How shameless. Everyone wants topete with Consort Rui. Who do you think you are?¡±


    The scolded Duchess of Zhenguo could only watch, her eyes full of envy. Jiang Yunpeng and the others could only watch, feeling bitter.


    The empress was even more infuriated. She initiated this but only received a few oranges. On the other hand, Consort Rui got a priceless treasure. It was maddening; after all, she was Jiamei¡¯s stepmother.


    She also liked the set of jewelry. No, she couldn¡¯t let this go. She had to make Madam Qiao create another set.


    Yuan Jiaqi felt it was about time. ¡°Emperor, Empress, is my wife¡¯s performance satisfactory?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment. I still want to ask Madam Qiao to transform something else.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes immediately darkened. She was about to retort when the emperor red at the empress.


    ¡°Have you had enough?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I just wanted to see Madam Qiao¡¯s talents. There¡¯s no other intention. ¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao is a person, not a God. Don¡¯t go on endlessly.¡±


    Seeing the emperor warning her with his gaze, the empress shut up. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause.


    Lady Rui knew that the empress also liked this set of jewelry. Usually, she didn¡¯tpete with her, but she would never give up this jewelry for her..

 Chapter 320 - 320: Not Satisfying at All

    Chapter 320 - 320: Not Satisfying at All


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Today, Qiao Mai¡¯s performance truly stunned their eyes. The empress kept a stern face until the banquet ended.


    Many people were still secretly specting on how Madam Qiao conjured these things. Some even wanted to ask if she had simr jewelry and wished to have them¡ªthey were just too beautiful.


    After the banquet, Consort Rui asked Qiao Mai and her family to stay.


    ¡°Rx and have a seat. We are family. When we meet privately, there¡¯s no need for formalities.


    Qiao Mai took the lead and sat. Consort Rui nced at her son-inw and then at Ling¡¯er, nodding approvingly.


    ¡°Your family¡¯s Feng Shui is nourishing. Your son is talented and handsome, and your daughter is exceptionally charming.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for thepliment, but I usually don¡¯t like socializing, so I haven¡¯t visited the pce. Please forgive me.¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite. I knew you didn¡¯t like these things, so I didn¡¯t actively invite you to the pce. But now we¡¯ve met, haven¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Marrying into the royal family is different from other families. It¡¯s a bit ufortable.¡¯


    ¡°There¡¯s no choice; there are many rules in the royal family. When I first entered the pce, I wasn¡¯t used to it either.¡±


    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve met, let¡¯s discuss the betrothal gifts?¡±


    ¡°Sure, a royal princess¡¯s dowry is one hundred and twenty carriages.¡±


    ¡°Our two adopted sons also had a betrothal gift of one hundred and twenty carriages. Combining the betrothal gift with the dowry, one hundred and forty carriages doesn¡¯t sound pleasant. Let¡¯s go for a good omen. How about our family gives a betrothal gift of one hundred and sixty carriages?¡±


    Consort Rui was pleased to hear this. She only had one daughter, and her inws valuing her was an affirmation.


    ¡°Not bad. I will include the betrothal and wedding gifts, making it two hundred and eighty carriages. I¡¯ll send everything back when the timees.¡±


    ¡°When should we send the betrothal gifts?¡±


    ¡°You should prepare first. The royal family has many matters, so we¡¯ll choose an auspicious day. You can send the betrothal gifts when the wedding is approaching. ¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t understand these matters; we¡¯ll follow your arrangements.¡±


    The two women sat together, chatting intimately. Yuan Jiaqi and the others listened with their heads bowed.


    Later, Consort Rui selected various treasures from her private treasury and gave them to Ling¡¯er.


    Seeing that it was gettingte, Consort Rui let them leave.


    There was no one at the pce gate. The steward still sat upright in front of the carriage, waiting.


    Seeing his mastering out of the pce, he quickly drove the carriage forward.


    Qiao Mai let the three sit in the carriage. She looked around, a sly smile appearing on her lips.


    She told the steward, ¡°Take it slow.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    At this hour, the streets were empty except for the night watchmen. Even they would onlye out at a certain time.


    The carriage traveled for about a quarter of an hour when Qiao Mai said, ¡°Stop!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nervously asked, ¡°Wife, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°We are being followed. The three of you stay in the carriage and don¡¯t move.¡±


    At this moment, Yuan Jiagi and the others regretted not learning martial arts


    seriously. They always let Qiao Mai take the lead when something happened,


    feeling useless.


    Qiao Mai jumped down from the carriage and created a barrier around it with a wave of her hand.


    The two horses stood quietly. They knew they didn¡¯t need to move a hoof with the master around.


    At this moment, numerous ck-d figures flew from all directions towards the carriage, like bats in the night. Yuan Jiaqi gently lifted the carriage curtain and witnessed this scene.


    Qiao Mai stood on the carriage¡¯s roof, looking down from a high vantage point to better protect the people inside.


    The ck-d figures rushed towards Qiao Mai, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. Her eyes emitted a bloodthirsty red light. With a wave of her left hand, a golden light in the shape of an arc swept around her.


    Unable to dodge in time, the ck-d figures used their hands and feet to block. They all had their hands and feet severed, emitting miserable cries.


    In the silent street, the scene was particrly eerie.


    Yuan Jiaqi and the children were dumbfounded. They watched as Qiao Mai effortlessly waved her hand, killing a group of people. It seemed as easy as sweeping the floor.


    Looking at the limbs falling from the sky, the three sat in the carriage, gripping their hands tightly.


    They had seen killings before, but it was the first time they witnessed Qiao Mai. Assassins were like floods, continuously surging toward her.


    They were ustomed to moving forward, and by the time they saw theirpanions being killed, it was already toote.


    It had been a long time since she felt the sensation of cutting flesh. A one-sided battle didn¡¯t give her any satisfaction. She hoped to meet someone evenly matched.


    Unfortunately, there was no one here!


    A few sharp-eyed individuals turned to escape, but with her cultivation level, who could escape from her? All were killed on the spot.


    The steward sat in front of the carriage, almost fainting as he watched this scene. The master was too frightening, killing people without blinking.


    Seeing the master so valiant, the steward finally understood why Qiao Mai was so aloof and why she disliked socializing.


    Someone like her did not need to amodate anyone.


    ¡°Steward, drive the carriage and go home!¡±


    Qiao Mai returned to the carriage, and the three people quickly assessed her.


    ¡°Wife, are you injured?¡± ¡°Mom, why are you so clean?¡±


    ¡°Mom, are you okay?¡±


    Seeing the three concerned people, Qiao Mai smiled gently.


    ¡°They can¡¯t get close to me. Where would the injuries and bloode from? Don¡¯t worry; go home and rest well. Don¡¯t mention today¡¯s events to anyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mom!¡±


    Nanny Jin sat in the back of the carriage, her face pale, tightly biting her lips without uttering a sound.


    Qiao Mai nced at her but remained silent. She believed that someone who hade from the pce wouldn¡¯t be so fragile and would quickly adapt.


    Back at home, Nanny Jin took Ling¡¯er to rest, and Chuan¡¯er also left.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi returned to their courtyard. ¡°Husband, return to the room and rest.¡±


    ¡°Wife, what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to seek revenge. I never do things passively.¡±


    ¡°The Liu family?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°I will wait for your return!¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him and disappeared into the night. She had inquired with sheep and the little squirrels. No one had tried to attack the house tonight, so it seemed that those ck-d people were targeting her.


    They probably had confirmed she was the one who killed the alliance leader and waited outside the pce for revenge.


    Arriving at the Liu residence, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t find the two elders in the backyard, so she searched around the estate and unexpectedly found them in the guest courtyard.


    At that moment, the two conversed with Madam Liu¡¯s maternal rtives. ¡°Can we let the matter with Madam Qiao go?¡±


    ¡°The enmity of killing a father and the pain of losing a child are insurmountable.¡±


    Madam Liu regretted escting the situation, ¡°Her husband is a duke and holds an important position in the court. If anything happens, we won¡¯t escape the government¡¯s pursuit.¡±


    ¡°If we were afraid, we wouldn¡¯t havee. Besides, you¡¯re toote. One hundred assassins are already waiting for her outside the pce gates. I believe she won¡¯t escape tonight.¡±


    Hearing the mention of one hundred people, Madam Liu¡¯s eyes lit up.


    She hoped these assassins would kill Madam Qiao. Ideally, her husband and child would meet their demise as well, allowing the Liu family to vent their frustration.


    Listening from the rooftop, Qiao Mai thought it was their own fault for not choosing a better path.


    She had shown mercy, but if they insisted on dying, she would fulfill their wishes.


    In mid-air, Qiao Mai immediately created a barrier around the building. Arge hole appeared in the barrier, and with a forceful p of her hands, the structure copsed with a resounding crash.


    Royal Physician Liu and Madam Liu were crushed instantly. Three skilled martial artists managed to break free from the wreckage, but Qiao Mai sneered, pping her hands on the barrier again, causing them to be fatally shaken atop the ruins.


    Using her psychic abilities to sense the area below, she confirmed no signs of life. Qiao Mai then turned and flew toward the imperial pce..

 Chapter 321 - 321: It Wasn ‘t Me Anyways

    Chapter 321 - 321: It Wasn ¡®t Me Anyways


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Phoenix Pce, where the empress resides, was brightly lit, indicating that she had not retired for the night. Qiao Mai arrived on the rooftop and scanned with her mental power.


    ¡°Oh, Princess Heyi is here too.¡± She found Princess Heyi kneeling before the empress, quietly sobbing while holding onto her legs. ¡°Mother, I beg you to avenge your child.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mother will definitely seek justice for you.¡±


    ¡°Please help me kill that woman. As long as she lives, your child will suffer every day.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mother will avenge you. But it¡¯s impossible for you and Yuan Jiaqi anymore.¡±


    ¡°What I can¡¯t get, no one else can. Let¡¯s kill them together. They seem so loving.


    Let them both die, one crushed and the other unrecoverable.¡±


    The empress sighed lightly as she looked at the anger in her daughter¡¯s eyes. What she said was easy, but doing it was difficult.


    If anyone from the Qiao family were harmed, the emperor would investigate thoroughly. Her position as empress would be jeopardized if she was exposed.


    She wouldn¡¯t have feared it in the past, but in recent years, the emperor held military power. Her family¡¯s influence couldn¡¯t threaten the emperor anymore. In his eyes, if she yed her role as empress well, she could continue, but any mistake could lead to her recement.


    With her eldest son incapacitated, she no longer had the ambition she once had. Regardless of who became emperor, she would always be the legitimate empress dowager.


    Her family wanted to send another beauty into the pce, but feeling his age, the emperor no longer participated in selecting consorts. Now, he focused on governance and rarely visited the rear pce.


    His body is much better than before. He could sit on that dragon throne for another ten years without any issues.


    Qiao Mai was infuriated by the conversation. She had spared Princess Heyi, only erasing that portion of her memory. Yet, the princess still harbored thoughts of wiping out Qiao Mai¡¯s family.


    Since they wanted to kill her, there was no need for mercy.


    What about inws? Anyone who dared to harm her family would face the same fate!


    The empress and princess were no different from the Liu family. If it needed to be done, it should be done. Otherwise, it would lead to endless troubles, something she disliked.


    Just as she was about to take action, she suddenly remembered something.


    Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er will have a grand wedding next year. If the empress died, Jiamei would have to observe mourning for three years.


    Forget it. Let it be a boon for the two of them.


    On the night of New Year¡¯s Eve, the empress and the princess became idiots.


    The emperor, about to sleep, rushed to call the royal physician when he heard about their condition.


    He arrived to find both women biting their fingers,ughing foolishly at everyone. Luckily, it wasn¡¯t madness; it was idiocy. Otherwise, the scene would have been more chaotic.


    After examining their pulses, the royal physician frowned. Sitting on his throne, the emperor wore a dark expression.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°Their bodies are perfectly normal. It seems like trauma to their heads.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me what happened to them.¡±


    ¡°They seem to be idiots.¡±


    ¡°How can they suddenly be idiots? My Imperial Guards are stationed all over the pce. Who could have harmed them like this?¡±


    The royal physician dared not speak out and lowered his head. In any case, it¡¯s not him.


    At that moment, themander of the Imperial Guards hurriedly approached the emperor and half-knelt.


    ¡°Emperor, the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Royal Physician Liu¡¯s house copsed. Royal Physician Liu and his wife were crushed to death on the spot. His wife¡¯s family members were killed as well. The Liu family reported the incident, and the local authorities wasted no time investigating.¡±


    The emperor mmed the table in anger, ¡°Copsed? How is that possible? Their house was not old. How could it copse?¡±


    ¡°The officials are conducting on-site investigations. It seems external force from above caused the copse, but there is no sign of any heavy objects at the scene.¡±


    ¡°Command the local authorities to investigate quickly. Find out who the Liu family might have offended, who they provoked, and if they engaged in immoral activities.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Themander left, and the emperor nced at his foolish wife and daughter before turning to the court physician.


    ¡°Do everything possible for their treatment. If they cannot be cured, post a notice to invite a miracle doctor!¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°A bunch of useless people!¡±


    The emperor stormed off with his hands behind his back. As hey on the dragon bed, sleep eluded him. This was undoubtedly the work of human hands. However, how could someone capable of taking his head without any issue remain hidden in the martial world?


    It must be a hidden master. Did the empress and Heyi offend such a person?


    All of this happened on the thirtieth night. Did the Liu family also offend a formidable figure?


    As far as he knew, the top martial artists could not freelye and go in his pce.


    Could it be a master among masters? The emperor pondered, and as he did, he took a deep breath. Who could it be?


    Just as he contemted, an eunuch entered gently.


    ¡°Your Majesty, there have been reports of dead bodies found on the streets.¡±


    ¡°Leave it to the authorities in the capital!¡± The emperor was impatient and wanted to vent his anger.


    ¡°Over a hundred people have died, all dressed in ck.¡±


    ¡°Over a hundred people?¡±


    ¡°Yes, all from the martial world. It looked like they were trying to assassinate someone and were counter-killed.¡±


    ¡°Have the coroners determined their time of death?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be shortly after the pce banquet ended.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s mind involuntarily thought of Madam Qiao. Then he shook his head abruptly.


    ¡°How is that possible? Just overnight, three major incidents happened in a row. Tell the authorities to investigate thoroughly. Don¡¯t miss any clues.¡±


    That night, the emperor couldn¡¯t sleep at all.


    Returning home, Qiao Mai found that Yuan Jiaqi had prepared porridge for her in the kitchen, along with four side dishes, knowing she hadn¡¯t eaten well in the pce.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ¡°I was thinking of having porridge. Let¡¯s eat together!¡±


    The couple enjoyed their porridge and the pickled side dishes from the snack shop. Yuan Jiaqi hadn¡¯t asked her about what happened.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know their fate?¡±


    ¡°If my wife wants to say, I¡¯ll listen.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about it. You¡¯ll find out tomorrow morning. It will make headlines in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Are you deliberately keeping me awake by piquing my interest?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, if you want to hear, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to hear.¡±


    ¡°The empress and her daughter were rendered idiots by me. They conspired to harm our family, nning to make you and me suffer.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill them?¡±


    ¡°Did you forget about Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er? She is the empress. If she dies, our son will have to wait three years for the wedding.¡±


    ¡°What about the Liu family?¡±


    ¡°The person behind those assassins was staying in their house. When I arrived, they were waiting for news. I took action and demolished their house, crushing them to death.¡±


    ¡°Good kill. If they were alive, we would have died many times without you.¡±


    ¡°If people don¡¯t offend us, we won¡¯t offend them. If they dare to attack us, we must repay a hundredfold or a thousandfold.¡±


    ¡°Well said. We must make those with evil intentions fear so they won¡¯t dare to harm others easily.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought about the legends in the cultivation world. When one reached a certain level, they could speak words with the power ofw. At a higher level, they could establish rules. If she reached that level, she would establish rules to punish evildoers.


    For instance, those lecherous would be perpetually impotent. Murderers would be instantly punished with death.


    Those who harmed others would receive double the harm in return, and so on.


    ¡°My wife, what are you thinking about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s eat and go to sleep quickly. Although we¡¯ve lost two inws, we still need to visit Bichun Garden tomorrow. Old Master and Mistress Wang are still there.¡±


    ¡°Shall we bring them back on the third day? It¡¯s not asfortable over there as it is here.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s ask them. After all, they are their parents and grandparents..¡±

 Chapter 322 - 322: Getting Serious

    Chapter 322 - 322: Getting Serious


    The next day, the capital exploded with activity as soon as dawn broke. On the first day of the new year, instead of the traditional New Year greetings, the city was abuzz with explosive news.


    Upon hearing this news, who could still find the heart to celebrate the New Year?


    Those who had gathered for New Year¡¯s greetings discussed these events together. The empress and the princess became fools. The death of Royal Physician Liu and his wife, along with over a hundred dismembered bodies on the streets, made the people shudder with fear.


    This was the capital, the heart of the country. Three shocking events urred overnight. Who wouldn¡¯t be afraid?


    Even in the heavily guarded imperial pce, someone could enter freely; what about ordinary households? Just thinking about it made one break into a cold sweat. Due to this, every household reinforced its defenses. Even the idle young elites became much more obedient.


    The Qiao family had breakfast and received New Year¡¯s greetings from their servants, rewarding them. After that, they took a carriage to the Bichun Garden.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang also learned about these events. The two didn¡¯t engage in small talk; they exchanged a nce.


    Wang Zongsheng was the same. Only Madam Wang was still foolishly asking him.


    ¡°Will Madam Qiao¡¯s familye today? Will they look down on us now that they¡¯ve be a Duke?¡±


    Wang Zongsheng red at her. ¡°Hurry and instruct the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous feast.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t care. They eat delicacies daily. Why would they be interested in our food?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! Did you forget about the New Year¡¯s gifts? They sent us a considerable amount¡ªfive carriages full. What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you going or not?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Wang Zongsheng red at her. ¡°If you don¡¯t, go back to Wei City. Don¡¯te here to annoy me. You heartless woman.¡±


    ¡°How am I heartless? Haven¡¯t I given her enough silver over the years?¡±


    ¡°Not enough. Let me remind you again. If you can¡¯t remember, we might as well separate. Without her, your daughter would have be aughingstock in the capital. She saved Jiaru¡¯s marriage and turned your son from a fool into an official appointed by the court. How do you n to repay such kindness? A bit of silver? Does sheck that? She epted it to let us be at ease.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! If it weren¡¯t for her, my daughter might have married someone else. Instead, she is confined in the prince¡¯s mansion because of her.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng pped her harshly. On the first day of the New Year, Madam Wang got a beating. He coldly looked at his wife.


    ¡°If you think so, I¡¯ll write a separation letter for you now. Take your dowry and get out of my family.¡±


    ¡°In your dreams! I¡¯ve given birth to a son and a daughter for you. If you dare to divorce me, I¡¯ll go to my parents, and they will deal with you.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ll deal with me? Because of a Duke? Are you sure your family dares to offend them?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps your family members would try to curry favor with them. You and your daughter are equally ignorant.¡±


    Madam Wang was rendered speechless by Wang Zongsheng¡¯s words.


    After a while, she retorted, ¡°In any case, it was our family that first showed kindness to her. She owes Jiaru and Zihan.¡±


    ¡°Kindness? Taking care of her? Do you think she needs you? Hmph!¡±


    Wang Zongsheng red at her, walked to the desk, and began writing the separation letter. He didn¡¯t want an idiot woman like her.


    Seeing him taking it seriously, Madam Wang was scared and immediately knelt.


    ¡°Husband, I was wrong. Don¡¯t write it. I¡¯ll arrange things in the kitchen and make sure the Qiao family is satisfied.¡±


    Just as she spoke, Qiao Mai¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°No need. We won¡¯t dine at your house. Uncle, Happy New Year.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng awkwardly smiled. It looked worse than crying. ¡°Happy New


    Year.¡±


    Following them were Old Master and Mistress Wang, who cast a stern re at Madam Wang. If not for her, the Qiao family wouldn¡¯t have witnessed this spectacle today.


    Qiao Mai turned around and smiled at them. ¡°Grandfather, grandmother, when will you return to the residence?¡±


    ¡°Probably on the sixth day. I¡¯ll be going to my mother¡¯s house on the second day, and on the third, fourth, and fifth days, I¡¯ve made ns to meet with some old friends in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be waiting for you at home.¡±


    The family paid their respects before walking away. Old Master and Mistress Wang remained seated in their chairs.


    He roared, ¡°Kneel!¡±


    Terrified, Madam Wang knelt in front of Old Master Wang.


    ¡°Because of the Qiao family, your mother-inw and husband have advised you countless times. Can¡¯t you change your ways? You are like a dog who can¡¯t stop eating shit.¡±


    ¡°I was wrong!¡±


    Old Master Wang had never spoken to her in such harsh terms before. The words she said to her husband just now were heard by her inws and Madam Qiao.


    In reality, she knew the situation, but she was just unwilling.


    People tend to be like that. When they see others living better lives, they feel a twinge of envy. Conversely, if they see others facing difficulties, it can evoke a sense of kindness.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve been living toofortably. If you feel that Zongsheng¡¯s official position is too low, you can divorce him and find someone with a higher rank.¡± ¡°No, no. It was merely a moment of anger.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that Zongsheng doesn¡¯t want to rise in rank. Our family¡¯s businesses are all in the north, and they need someone to look over them. The capital is not a ce for us; it¡¯s full of deceit. Sooner orter, the Wang family will face irreversible cmity. I¡¯ve told you this countless times. We need to keep a low profile. How did you be like this now?¡±


    ¡°Enough. I understand you¡¯re upset about Jiaru. But if her character doesn¡¯t change, the prince¡¯s mansion won¡¯t release her. Do you think Madam Qiao has the power to alter her nature?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang sighed and spoke gently.


    Madam Wang knelt on the ground, crying. ¡°As her mother, it¡¯s heartbreaking to see Jiaru like this. I can¡¯t do anything for her.¡±


    ¡°But if she doesn¡¯t change, she¡¯ll bring trouble upon herself. Do you want to see her facing assassination attempts like this morning or live out her life peacefully?¡±


    Hearing this, Madam Wang raised her head and looked at her mother-inw. Old Mistress Wang continued.


    ¡°The queen and Princess Heyi must have offended someone. Even the royal family can¡¯t escape retaliation. Do you think someone like Jiaru, once released, won¡¯t cause any trouble? Think about it.¡±


    ¡°Father, Mother, your words have enlightened me. I realize my mistakes now.¡±


    ¡°Since you have this mindset because of Jiaru, I¡¯ll give you another chance. If you cause trouble again, we won¡¯t allow Zongsheng to keep you.¡±


    ¡°Yes! I will change.¡±


    Wang Zongsheng put down his pen and snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll spare you this time for the sake of Mom and Dad. If you cause trouble again, it won¡¯t be a separation letter but a divorce letter.¡±


    The Wang family matters were resolved like this. The Qiao family returned home. If they didn¡¯t invite Jiamei the night before, they wouldn¡¯t be in a hurry to go home.


    They had to wander around the capital.


    The streets and alleys were still the same, unaffected by the three shocking news items.


    This wasn¡¯t something human power could handle. Even the emperor was powerless. Who could solve these cases?


    After the authorities cleaned up the streets, removed the remnants, and cleared the bloodstains, everything went quiet. Although the Liu family had reported the case, the emperor decided to let them take care of the deceased¡¯s funeral.


    With Royal Physician Liu gone, the Liu family no longer had anyone as influential as him, and the famous Renyi Medical Hall would gradually decline.


    This would give Qiao Mai some peace for a while.


    Because of these three incidents, the emperor decided to skip the New Year¡¯s greetings in the pce and catch up on sleep on the morning of the New Year.


    Jiamei also reported to her mother early and went to Lucky Garden with her personal maid and guards.


    This was her first time visiting the Qiao family alone. Since thest time she came with the emperor, she had not visited again.


    Her upbringing was excellent. If her fianc¨¦¡¯s family didn¡¯t invite her, she wouldn¡¯te on her own.


    This time, she didn¡¯te empty-handed. She brought many gifts.


    Upon entering, she was also gentle with the Qiao family¡¯s servants. Not to mention Qiao Mai, even Yuan Jiaqi was quite satisfied with her. Upon seeing her, Ling¡¯er shouted.. ¡°Has our sister-inw arrived?¡±

 Chapter 323 - 323: I’ll Take You to See a Rare Scenery

    Chapter 323 - 323: I¡¯ll Take You to See a Rare Scenery


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Her words made Jiamei¡¯s face red with embarrassment, and she stepped forward to greet and pay respects to her future parents-inw.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi gave her a generous red envelope, inside which Jiamei could feel banknotes. She didn¡¯t check the amount and handed it to her maid for safekeeping.


    After exchanging a few words, Qiaomai asked Chuan¡¯er to apany Jiamei, while Ling¡¯er was also invited to join.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi went to the kitchen to prepare specialty dishes.


    During their previous visit, it was a brief and cursory nce.


    This time, Ling¡¯er held Jiamei¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Sister-inw, let me take you to the amusement park.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that for children?¡±


    ¡°Adults can y too. In my family, there are no children. When you enter the family, make sure to have a few little ones. As their aunt, I¡¯ll y with them daily.¡±


    Jiamei shyly tapped her with her hand. ¡°Girl!¡±


    She sneakily nced at Chuan¡¯er, and their eyes met, causing his face to turn even redder.


    Inside the amusement park, Ling¡¯er led Jiamei to slide down slides, ride carousels, and y on seesaws.


    ¡°Sister-inw, don¡¯t worry. The ce is cleaned daily. Your clothes won¡¯t get dirty.¡±


    ¡°Your house is spotless. I feel reassured.¡±


    ¡°My mother is particr. Every corner must be neat and tidy. When you marry in, you¡¯ll gradually understand her.¡±


    Seeing his sister and fiancee getting along well, Chuan¡¯er just smiled and watched.


    He carried a small basket with various fruits on his arm. When they got tired of ying, he handed them a piece.


    ¡°Wow, these oranges are like the ones Auntie conjuredst night. They¡¯re so good.¡±


    ¡°When you visit our house often, I¡¯ll give you all kinds of fruits,¡± Chuan¡¯er said softly to Jiamei.


    ¡°I¡¯lle when you¡¯re not busy.¡±


    ¡°Come over whenever you¡¯re free. My brother won¡¯t be around, but I¡¯ll be here.


    You can find me in the embroidery shop.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle when I¡¯m free.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll show you something rare. Hehe, ordinary people can¡¯t go there.


    Only our family can. Sister-inw, you¡¯re now part of our family. I asked Mother, and she agreed to take you there.¡± ¡°What ce is that?¡±


    ¡°Come on. You definitely haven¡¯t seen it.¡±


    Ling¡¯er pulled her along, and Chuan¡¯er followed closely. After opening a small courtyard gate, Princess Jiamei was stunned.


    Oh my, is this the snow scene described in books?


    It¡¯s incredibly beautiful. Next to the courtyard gate was an exquisite wooden house with a transparent-colored zed window on one side, offering a view of the interior.


    There was a table in front of the window surrounded by various flowers and nts, thriving and presumably warm.


    ¡°Sister-inw, when we first came here, we had the same expression. Haha.¡±


    ¡°Is this real snow?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Let us teach you how to ski.¡±


    ¡°No, I prefer quiet over action. You two can ski, and I¡¯ll watch.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s broaden your horizons. Brother, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s give sister-inw a few rounds to watch!¡±


    Chuan¡¯er took out the skis and handed them to his sister, then looked at Jiamei.


    Are you cold.


    ¡°A bit.¡±


    ¡°How about going inside?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll watch you guys ski outside, andter we can go inside together.¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    Watching her fianc¨¦ and sister-inw skillfully climb onto the skis, holding two sticks, slowly sliding up the slope, and then sliding down at lightning speed, performing several tricks in between, Jiamei couldn¡¯t help but envy.


    She squatted down, picked up a handful of snow, and looked at it closely.


    It really seemed like snow, cold and icy. Having grown up in the capital, she had never been to the north. Now, she was finally fulfilling her wish.


    After Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er skied a few rounds, they took off their skis and returned to Jiamei.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s warm inside.¡±


    Entering the house, Jiamei eximed, ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so warm in here.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Want something to drink? We have fruit juice.¡± ¡°No, my stomach isn¡¯t good. I can¡¯t drink cold beverages.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get hot fruit juice!¡±


    Chuan¡¯er walked away, took three bottles of fruit juice, ced them on a tray, and brought them over.


    ¡°Jiamei, what vor do you like?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not picky.¡±


    ¡°Then you can have this one. It¡¯s mango juice. Little sister, you can have grape juice, and I¡¯ll take peach juice.¡±


    The three sat by the window, admiring the snowy scenery outside. Jiamei held the colored ze bottle, feeling its warmth. She took another sip of fruit juice. The taste was delicious, warming her stomach and making her feelfortable.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, what¡¯s that round thing?¡±


    ¡°A heater. My mother brought it from overseas.¡±


    ¡°Do you always use colored ze bottles for fruit juice?¡±


    ¡°Is this colored ze? My mother said it¡¯s ss. Putting fruit juice in it and sealing it can preserve it for a year.¡±


    ¡°Are these also from overseas?¡±


    ¡°It seems so. We didn¡¯t ask, but most rare items my mother brought are from overseas.¡± ¡°Your mother is talented.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    Seeing that it was almost time, Chuan¡¯er took the two girls back, locking the courtyard gate behind them.


    Returning to the main hall, the connected dining room had already set the table.


    ¡°Where¡¯s father and mother?¡±


    ¡°Master and Mistress are in the kitchen,¡± a servant replied.


    As soon as the words fell, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi returned. ¡°Chuan¡¯er, did you take Jiamei around?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we went to the ski area.¡±


    ¡°Jiamei, you¡¯re not an outsider. Sooner orter, you will know about this. We won¡¯t hide it from you, but please keep it a secret.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I tell Father and Mother?¡±


    ¡°I understand, Aunt. I won¡¯t say a word if you don¡¯t want me to.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good child. Are you all hungry? Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Everyone sat down. Jiamei, looking at the delicious dishes on the table, couldn¡¯t help but swallow.


    During herst visit with the emperor, she couldn¡¯t forget the taste of the food. Though not a glutton, the delicacies of the Qiao family were irresistible.


    This time, the dishes looked even more exquisite than the previous one. Just by smelling the aroma, she felt like eating.


    Qiao Mai picked up her chopsticks, and everyone followed suit.


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er, Ling¡¯er, take care of Jiamei. Jiamei, don¡¯t be polite. Make sure to eat well. ¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aunt.¡±


    On the other side, Yuan Jiaqi had already started peeling shrimp for his wife. ¡°Wife, have some.


    ¡°Okay, there are guests.¡±


    ¡°For me, you are the most important.¡±


    Jiamei asionally stole nces. She envied her future inws. They were affectionate; no wonder her father-inw had never taken a concubine.


    He only needed a woman with her mother-inw¡¯s abilities.


    It was said that the Qiao family had established rules, allowing their men to have only one wife throughout their lives. If that were true, Jiamei wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Yuan Haichuan taking concubines.


    Once he took concubines, his mother wouldn¡¯t tolerate it.


    After the meal, Ling¡¯er took her to rest in the courtyard. Nanny Jin also liked Princess Jiamei very much.


    When she was in the pce, she knew Jiamei had been well-educated by Consort Rui. It seemed to be true.


    The two sat on the warm brick bed, eating fruits.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, there¡¯s no fire pit in the south. Don¡¯t you sleep in a bed at home?¡±


    ¡°My mother grew up in the north and got used to the brick bed. We all like it.


    It¡¯s warm and bright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get insects?¡± ¡°No, my mother used many methods to make the house less humid and used herbs to keep the house free of mosquitoes. You don¡¯t need to worry about these things. If you don¡¯t want to return to the pce, send them back and tell Consort Rui.¡¯


    ¡°No, my mother would be unhappy if I stayed overnight at your house. I have to return. ¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go after dinner?¡±


    ¡°No, the pce gates close after dark.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Wait here..¡±

 Chapter 324 - 324: A Fool to Reject

    Chapter 324 - 324: A Fool to Reject


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Ling¡¯er went to the cab and took her precious jewelry, all brand new, and ced them on the heated brick bed.


    ¡°Sister-inw,st time we met in a hurry, but this time, I came prepared.


    These are for you.¡±


    Jiamei looked at the jewelry and couldn¡¯t help but swallow. ¡°These are too precious. You should keep them and use them as dowry when you get married.¡±


    ¡°My mother will prepare everything for me at that time. This is just a little gift from your future sister-inw. You must ept it, okay?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, little sister.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it. We¡¯re going to be a family. No need to be so formal with your future sister-inw.¡±


    Jiamei felt embarrassed. The gifts she brought were all prepared by her mother. Nothing was specifically prepared for anyone.


    Seeing her future sister-inw treat her warmly and kindly, a sense of guilt emerged in Jiamei¡¯s heart.


    When she bid farewell to Qiao Mai, she didn¡¯t expect so many gifts prepared for her there. Some were for her, some for her mother, and some specialty snacks from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, along with various fruits¡ªtwo carriages full of gifts.


    ¡°Uncle, Aunt, I¡¯m embarrassed by so many gifts.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because we have them. If not, we couldn¡¯t take it out. Take them, and don¡¯t be polite.¡±


    Jiamei quickly paid her respects to the couple and got on the carriage, taking two carts full of gifts back to the pce.


    The Royal Noble Consort was waiting for her daughter in the Auspicious Pce. She believed that with her usual teachings, Jiamei would not embarrass her.


    Sure enough, when her daughter returned with two carriages of gifts, she knew that the Qiao family cared for her daughter. Otherwise, why would they send so many gifts?


    ¡°Did you have a good time with the Qiao family?¡±


    Thinking of her future mother-inw¡¯s advice, Jiamei smiled at the Noble Consort.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Someone, quickly bring those things into the house.¡±


    Jiamei looked at the gifts, cing the valuable ones on the table.


    ¡°Mother, these are gifts from Aunt Qiao for you. These are for me, and the ones on the ground are snacks and fruits. She said it¡¯s for us to taste.¡± ¡°I heard that the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery¡¯s snacks are popr?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I would have brought you to taste them, but you can¡¯t leave the rear pce. But it¡¯s okay. If you want to eat something, I¡¯ll bring it back for you.¡±


    At this moment, a voice came from outside. ¡°Who said you can¡¯t leave the pce? When I go out incognito next time, I¡¯ll take your mother with me.¡±


    It turned out that the emperor, feeling annoyed by the events of the previous night, came to the Auspicious Pce for a stroll after waking up.


    ¡°Your Majesty, why did youe?¡±


    The mother and daughter quickly paid their respects to the emperor, who sat at the table and pointed.


    ¡°Jiamei, are these gifts from the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I went to the Qiao family this morning upon Aunt Qiao¡¯s invitation.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, not bad. Madam Qiao knows how to please. She sent an invaluable set of jewelry to your motherst night, and today, she didn¡¯t let you return empty-handed either.¡±


    ¡°With the frequent back and forth, how much money is involved? She even has to prepare dowry for Jiamei.¡±


    ¡°She has plenty of silver. After driving away those two ungrateful adopted sons, she immediately received over a million silver, not to mention her snack shop and other industries in the county, racking in money annually. She¡¯s a wealthy woman who¡¯s not short of silver. If she wants to give, take it. Only fools would reject.¡±


    ¡°Father, the Qiao family gave me many rare fruits. Shall I pick a few for you to taste?¡±


    ¡°Sure. You¡¯ve tasted them at the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are delicious.¡±


    ¡°If they weren¡¯t good, would her family sell them? Haha!¡±


    While Jiamei was picking fruits, the Noble Consort, taking advantage of the opportunity, finally asked.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I know you are troubled, and I shouldn¡¯t ask, but I still want to know. How are the empress and Princess Heyi?¡±


    ¡°They are currently under treatment. It will take some time for them to recover. Do you want to manage the harem? Can you handle it?¡±


    ¡°I am willing to share the burden with Your Majesty, but as you know, I have never interfered in harem affairs. I am unfamiliar with it. If someone in the pce is capable, it is better to entrust the responsibility to that person.¡± ¡°Your temperament is always like this, notpeting or snatching.¡± ¡°I only hope Jiamei can marry into a good family and live a peaceful life.¡±


    ¡°Me too, but being in the imperial family, how can there be a peaceful life?¡±


    At this moment, Jiamei had brought the fruits. ¡°Father, try this one. It¡¯s mango; sweet and not sour. This one is mangosteen, with snow-white flesh inside, even sweeter than mango¡­¡±


    The old emperor stopped talking to the Noble Consort and happily epted the fruits handed over by his daughter.


    ¡°Father, you promoted Mr. Yuan and Yuan Haichuan, and Aunt Qiao has been granted a title. Last night, Aunt Qiao gave a valuable gift to Mother, and today, I brought back two carriages of gifts. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to ask something for the Qiao family?¡±


    ¡°Father, there is still a daughter in the Qiao family. All the men have been promoted, but what about their daughter?¡±


    The emperor was taken aback. ¡°Look, I forgot about this matter. She is your younger sister. If you take her out, it will be aughingstock.¡±


    Jiamei was overjoyed when she heard this. ¡°Father, why not grant Qiao


    Wanling a title?¡±


    ¡°What title do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°Since Uncle Yuan is an honorary prince, should the title be hereditary? ¡°Of course. Your future husband will be a prince, which befits your status.¡± ¡°Then my future sister-inw should be a county princess, right?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s give her a title to confirm her identity as a county princess.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t eat the Qiao family¡¯s food in vain. You have a conscience. Alright, I¡¯ll grant her the title of Princess Tianshui. How about that?¡±


    ¡°Their family used to be in Tianshui Town. Using the town name as the title is good. So, Princess Tianshui it is. Thank you, Father.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll issue a decree soon. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll send Eunuch Yu to the Qiao family to deliver the decree and add the hereditary title of Honorary Prince to them. Are you reassured now?¡±


    Mother and daughter knelt together to express their gratitude. The emperor¡¯s mood suddenly improved.


    ¡°In a few days, I will take you both to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. There are many things I haven¡¯t tasted yet.¡¯


    ¡°Father, you have no idea. When I went to the Qiao family today, there were many dishes you haven¡¯t tasted.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? With you around, I have many reasons to go to their house for a free meal. Haha!¡±


    On the sixth day, the imperial decree arrived at the Qiao residence. It was received by Yuan Jiaqi and Ling¡¯er, as Qiao Mai had never epted such decrees. Whenever an imperial order arrived at the Qiao residence, she would always be absent.


    This incident caused a slight surprise among the people but didn¡¯t escte further. After all, the emperor favored the Qiao family, bestowing titles upon them openly. The young princess and prince were inevitable.


    It was a pity, however, that the two adopted sons had left. If they had stayed, they could have benefited from the imperial favor.


    Even if they couldn¡¯t inherit the title, the emperor would have elevated their ranks. But now, they remained as fourth-ranked military officers. Despite the efforts of their inws, the emperor¡¯s obstruction made it impossible for them to advance.


    Why did the emperor hinder them? It was clear enough.


    He disliked the two and wanted to vent his anger. Yet, he wouldn¡¯t demote them; he merely blocked their promotions.


    Jiang Yunpeng was unaware of this matter initially, as he was often away from home. It was the Duke of Zhenguo who informed him.


    Upon hearing the news, he remained silent, watching as the Qiao family prospered while he and his brother were left behind.


    He couldn¡¯t ept it. He and his brother had risked their lives on the battlefield, yet they were not as sessful as a mere schr.


    By now, he had distanced himself from the Qiao family, referring to Yuan Jiaqi and Yuan Haichuan as mere schrs.


    He was no longer the obedient young boy from the Qiao family. In private, he often cursed the Qiao family, especially Qiao Mai, for being too ruthless. She had a narrow heart that couldn¡¯t amodate the memory of his deceased biological parents.


    These thoughts were confined to his heart. He dared not express them openly, for if someone found out, the first person to deal with him would be Mu Rong..

 Chapter 325 - 325: Why?

    Chapter 325 - 325: Why?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    His wife was upright, kind, and always supported the Qiao family. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have used her dowry and betrothal gifts to settle the debts owed.


    If it were him, he wouldn¡¯t have given so much money to the Qiao family.


    He had reservations about Mu Rong, but she was a county princess, and he was merely a fourth-ranked official. He had to be careful, choosing his words wisely.


    He was also angry with Yun¡¯er and his wife. His silly wife followed suit and used all the betrothal gifts and dowry without leaving anything behind. What a waste.


    If they had assets, he could have used some money to gain favor with the higher-ups. Perhaps his position could have been further elevated.


    Thinking about the emperor¡¯s obstruction, he could only sigh helplessly.


    Why bother making a big deal about going home to pay respects to his birth parents? He could have quietly gone and returned. Why did he have to inform her?


    In idle moments, Jiang Yunpeng often sat in a daze, regretting his foolishness.


    On the other hand, Jiang Yunsheng continued to live a peaceful and content life. He was grateful to his adoptive parents. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t be where he was now. Therefore, he fully supported Xiao Qingling¡¯s decision to give the dowry and betrothal gifts to Qiao Mai.


    Now that his wife had given birth to a son, he felt satisfied guarding his family. He had no other thoughts.


    The two brothers had different perspectives¡ªone filled with regrets, the other calm.


    If you treated Qiao Mai well, she would treat you well. When the emperor conferred the title of county princess on her daughter, she would repay him.


    Before the morning court session, Qiao Mai handed a bag of rice seeds to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°This is a new type of rice seed. Now that the north has wheat, we should also improve the quality of crops in the south!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at the bag of rice seeds with shining eyes. He had long wanted his wife to think of a solution for the people in the south.


    He didn¡¯t dare to urge his wife. Now that Qiao Mai had finally taken action, he was overjoyed.


    ¡°How good is the yield per acre?¡±


    ¡°The southern soil is fertile, so it should be at least a thousand kilograms per acre.¡±


    She casually included a small booklet. ¡°Here is the method for cultivating the new type of rice. Present it to the emperor together.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I trust you.¡±


    During the morning court session, Yuan Jiaqi stood up with the bag of rice seeds in his hands after the emperor discussed national affairs with the officers.


    ¡°Your Majesty, my wife obtained a bag of rice seeds from overseas merchants. After cultivating it at home for a season, the yield is approximately one thousand kilograms per acre. She wants to present it to you.¡±


    The emperor widened his eyes and quickly beckoned him over, ¡°Quick, bring it to me.¡±


    A eunuch took the bag from Yuan Jiaqi with a ttering expression. In the entire court, including members of the royal family, who didn¡¯t try to please him?


    Even so, Yuan Jiaqi remained like before.


    Behind his back, people called him the ¡°iron rooster.¡±


    People were indignant. He had so much money but never treated anyone to a meal. He never attended anyone¡¯s events.


    Unless there is an imperial decree, he wouldn¡¯t bring any gifts even if he attended. How annoying!


    When his position was lower, people dared to mock him openly and covertly. Now that he had be an honorary prince, who would dare?


    Where did he get so many forms? First, a new wheat variety, then a form for steel, and now, a rice seed variety.


    It was never-ending. Should they also send someone overseas to see if they could bring back some forms?


    His title relied on these forms. They still looked down on him.


    Ecstatic over the new rice seed, the emperor promptly summoned the head of the agricultural office.


    ¡°Hurry and send people to nt it. If it works, let the people in the south use the new rice seed within three years.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    The head of the agricultural office was a farming expert with deep knowledge. He had a passion for farming and was selected by the emperor.


    He was loyal to the old emperor. Taking the rice seeds from Yuan Jiaqi, he left in great excitement.


    The old emperor smiled and looked at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Your family has contributed money and effort to the kingdom. I am pleased. This time, your wife has made a great contribution. How should I reward you?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, my wife said she doesn¡¯t need a reward. As citizens of the Great


    Ming Dynasty, we must think for the kingdom and the people.¡±


    ¡°Haha, thank your wife on my behalf.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    The officials breathed a sigh of relief. No reward was good; otherwise, they would be jealous.


    After the morning court session, everyone went back to their respective duties. Unexpectedly, another imperial decree was sent to the Qiao family in the afternoon.


    Delighted by the new rice seed, the emperor thought about Madam Qiao, who only held the title of a first-rank nobldy. It seemed incongruent with her husband¡¯s status. Therefore, he issued a decree, promoting Qiao Mai to a first-rank noble consort.


    That night, many people had trouble sleeping. What was going on? Did Lucky Garden¡¯s feng Shui really work so well?


    Anyone who entered the Qiao family would be promoted. Why?


    Old Master and Mistress Wang returned to Lucky Garden on the sixth day of the New Year. They continued to live as they had before. They didn¡¯t mention anything about the Wang family.


    They were overjoyed about the consecutive joyous events in Lucky Garden.


    Knowing Qiao Mai didn¡¯t like socializing, they instructed the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous meal,id out fine wine, and celebrated as a family.


    Royal Consort Rui, Princess Jiamei, and the emperor all sent gifts.


    Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t ept anything from others. Only those three were exceptions.


    Having received the gifts, the old emperor now had an excuse toe and enjoy a meal.


    When Yuan Jiaqi mentioned this to Qiao Mai, she couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    ¡°How can I endure having an old man freeload at my ce?¡±


    ¡°Let the kitchen prepare something for him. Just make a few ready-made dishes; there¡¯s no need toplicate it.¡±


    ¡°Just him alone?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s Royal Consort Rui and Princess Jiamei as well.¡±


    ¡°Fine. For their sake, let¡¯s entertain him properly.¡±


    This time, Qiao Mai specifically asked the two elderly whether they wanted to join. They repeatedly shook their heads.


    ¡°No. Entertain them well. We¡¯re at such an old age and used to being carefree.¡±


    Once again, they declined, knowing that entertaining distinguished guests was troublesome, let alone for someone like Qiao Mai.


    ¡°That girl is a workaholic. She worried about those two boys. Now that they¡¯re grown, they want to return to their roots. Now, the emperor is a glutton. He will bring his family to freeload at our ce. Qiao Mai is meticulous; she won¡¯t let our family lose face. She¡¯ll arrange it properly, making it look decent.¡±


    ¡°Yes, managing the house, worrying about those two children, marrying off, having daughters-inw, and grandchildren, and even taking time for free clinics.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, do you know the rumors outside?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m old; I don¡¯t want to bother with external matters. What rumors?¡±


    ¡°I heard there¡¯s an elusive miracle doctor who often volunteers outside the Mingren Medical Hall. He can cure illnesses even the medical hall can¡¯t handle. Do you think it could be Qiao Mai?¡±


    Old Master Wang took a sharp breath. ¡°Has her medical skills reached such a level?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I merely suspect. I heard he is a middle-aged man.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Qiao Mai know how to disguise herself?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. She¡¯s busy managing the house, yet she¡¯s also volunteering outside. With so many responsibilities, she must be exhausted.¡±


    ¡°Capable people take on more tasks. If she¡¯s tired, she won¡¯t push herself beyond her limits. We shouldn¡¯t worry too much. We¡¯re old and don¡¯t have the energy to help her. Taking care of our home is enough.¡±


    ¡°Our daughter-inw seems to haveints about us. Instead of staying here, she prefers to live elsewhere.¡±


    ¡°She should thank Qiao Mai. Without us there, she has less pressure and more freedom. She is taking care of us for her. If she doesn¡¯t appreciate it, I¡¯ll have Zongsheng divorce her.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see. In a month, it will be Zihan¡¯s wedding. I gave her two hundred thousand taels of silver for it..

 Chapter 326 - 326: Becoming a Monk For a Month

    Chapter 326 - 326: Bing a Monk For a Month


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°She¡¯s trying topete with the Qiao family!¡±


    ¡°Let her be. I¡¯d rather give up on her than sever ties with Qiao Mai.¡±


    Apanied by his wife and children, the emperor visited the Qiao family in disguise. As it was Royal Consort Rui¡¯s first visit, Qiao Mai apanied her inws to tour their home. Jiamei also joined them.


    Having seen everything twice, the emperor naturally did not follow along for the tour. Yuan Jiaqi kept himpany in the living room over tea. ¡°Jiaqi, I heard Old Minister Wang and his wife are staying at your house?¡±


    ¡°Yes, because of their old age, I took the liberty not to invite them.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t mind. Is all your knowledge from Old Minister Wang?¡±


    ¡°Yes, thanks to his generous teachings. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today.¡±


    ¡°Well, you repay kindness and have a good character. Do you want me to promote Magistrate Wang to a higher position for you?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t want toe to the capital. He says his temperament isn¡¯t suitable for staying here and prefers doing practical things for the people in the local area. Over the years, a portion of Magistrate Wang¡¯s earnings has been sent to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, and another has supported themoners. He keeps only a small part for himself.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a share too?¡±


    ¡°We did initially, but because of Magistrate Wang¡¯s daughter, my wife declined to ept it.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi knew the emperor¡¯s spies were everywhere in the capital, and certain things could not be hidden from him. It was better to be straightforward.


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ve heard about it. After she came to the capital, she was manipted by some people. But rest assured, Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion won¡¯t mistreat her. The legitimate wife¡¯s title will always be hers, and there won¡¯t be any foul y to cause her early demise.¡±


    Hopefully, that would be the case. Otherwise, no one in their family would escape Qiao Mai¡¯s retaliation.


    Even though they were no longer sworn sisters, she would not passively ept the situation as long as Old Master and Mistress Wang is living here.


    The conversation between the emperor and his subject flowed smoothly, covering state affairs and family matters, including some legal cases.


    Yuan Jiaqi handled the earlier part well, but as the conversation progressed, he started feigning confusion.


    His wife had done all those things, and he was not ignorant. Living with his wife for a long time, he had learned some of her virtues.


    He believed decisive actions were needed. Those people should be dealt with; otherwise, there is a risk they will continue to harm his family.


    While he kept up with the conversation, his mind roared in protest.


    When Qiao Mai and the others returned, they were still chatting amicably.


    Being on a private visit for the first time, Royal Consort Rui was refreshed by the experience. There weren¡¯t many formalities, much like an ordinary family. ¡°Your Majesty, our inw¡¯s home is truly wonderful. I feel enlightened.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not inferior to my imperial pce, right? Especially the food, it¡¯s even better than what the imperial chefs make.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly exined, ¡°While the food in our house may be delicious, the imperial physicians in the pce ensure it is good for the emperor¡¯s health. ¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t your family¡¯s food good for health too?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t often eat oily food. It¡¯s not healthy. It¡¯s just for your visit today.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re benefiting from my presence? Serve the dishes quickly; I¡¯m hungry.¡± Qiao Mai got up to leave, instructing the steward to prepare the meal.


    Watching the servantsying out one dish after another, the emperor and his family couldn¡¯t help but salivate.


    They hade for the delightful food of the Qiao family. ¡°Eat,¡± the emperor didn¡¯t hesitate, sitting at the main seat.


    ¡°Sit. It¡¯s been long since I¡¯ve tasted your family¡¯s food.¡±


    Without waiting for Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s reply, the emperor picked up his chopsticks and started eating. Yubao was outside anxiously waiting.


    There was no food tasting and no effort to control his mouth. How could an emperor eat whatever he wanted like this?


    He would asionally sneak nces inside and only stopped when the emperor red at him. Only then did the emperor happily resume eating.


    Jia Mei and her mother also enjoyed the meal, drinking warm fruit juice and relishing the delicious food.


    Royal Consort Rui, moved by the experience, almost shed tears. Having the Qiao family as her inw was wonderful. If she could leave the pce, she hoped Qiao Mai could shelter her.


    If the emperor passed away, she didn¡¯t need to stay in the pce.


    But the emperor wasn¡¯t going to die. With Qiao Mai taking care of their family, she might even concoct a longevity pill for him if she continued to improve her skills.


    If not, he could also die soon.


    The steward had prepared a sumptuous feast in the side hall, inviting Yubao to join them. Yubao followed the steward when he saw the emperor no longer needed him.


    Honestly, he also longed for the Qiao family¡¯s cuisine. His actions earlier were merely part of his duty. He and the emperor had grown up together, so he was anxious due to the bond between them.


    After enjoying the Qiao family¡¯s meal, all grievances, fatigue, and weariness disappeared.


    The two confidants to the emperor and Yuan Jiaqi enjoyed their meal and drinks together. They conversed easily, even adopting a fraternal tone as they continued to indulge in food and beverages.


    After the meal, they visited the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and Ling¡¯er¡¯s embroidery shop.


    Upon seeing Nanny Jin, Royal Consort Rui recognized her at a nce, but they didn¡¯t engage in much conversation.


    Ling¡¯er paid her respects to the three visitors, showing them around her shop. As a gesture of goodwill, she presented Royal Consort Rui and Jiamei with a set of ethereal dresses.


    Royal Consort Tui gave Ling¡¯er a waist token and invited her to visit the pce at any time.


    With the conclusion of this covert visit, Qiao Mai¡¯s expression turned stern as soon as the guests departed.


    ¡°You tell that old emperor not toe again. My time is wasted on these social obligations. How annoying.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I am a subject, and he is the emperor. How can I refuse?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Anyway, you figure it out. If he keepsing, who can handle it? Do I have nothing to do?¡±


    Biting his teeth, Yuan Jiaqi said, ¡°Next time, if hees again, I¡¯ll say you¡¯ve returned to Tianshui Town. I can¡¯t cook.¡±


    ¡°If he really craves it so much, take him to the restaurant run by the Wang family. They have plenty of dishes there. You can bring a jar of wine from home. In the future, visit our house less. If Royal Consort Rui or Jiameies, it¡¯s fine.¡¯


    ¡°Uh, understood.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s only been so long, and he took away two carts of my things smoothly.


    Hmph! Starting tomorrow, I¡¯m going into seclusion for a month.¡±


    ¡°What about me?¡±


    ¡°Just consider yourself a monk for a month.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at him and returned to Yuexian Residence, with Yuan Jiaqi closely following.


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be angry. Anger harms the body. Let me give you a shoulder massage.¡±


    Passing by several servants, all of whom suppressed theirughter, Yuan Jiaqi never cared about these things. His love for Qiao Mai was engraved in his bones.


    Subsequently, every time the emperor wanted to speak, Yuan Jiaqi pretended not to notice or quickly found an excuse to leave.


    Meanwhile, although Qiao Mai didn¡¯t go into seclusion, her whereabouts were untraceable. She spent the whole day conducting free medical consultations. At the end of April, seeing no hope for the empress and Princess Heyi¡¯s illnesses, the emperor transferred the management authority of the harem to Royal Consort Rui.


    Now, she became the most powerful person in the rear pce and the one the emperor trusted the most.


    Why wasn¡¯t the power given to the consorts with sons? The emperor wasn¡¯t foolish. Having enjoyed a peaceful period, he didn¡¯t want to encourage the ambitions of those with sons.


    He still had six sons and more than a dozen grandsons. He had no intention of sitting on the throne until death. He wanted to live a long life, which meant he couldn¡¯t always be involved in state affairs.


    So, he secretly sent the Golden Dragon Guards to observe his sons and grandsons, recording every move they made. He wanted to see who was suitable to be heir.


    But these were all matters for the future.


    Qiao Mai resumed her free clinic, bringing joy to themoners. Once again, long lines formed on the streets.


    She witnessed the decline of the Mingren Medical Hall. Sometimes, those in the same profession could be the most formidable enemies, even in medicine and pharmacy..

 Chapter 327 - 327: She Was Also His Favorite

    Chapter 327 - 327: She Was Also His Favorite


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The other medical halls often caused trouble for the Mingren Medical Hall through frequent medical idents or other tactics.


    Whether it was a prescription mistake leading to poisoning or someone dying, there was never a peaceful day.


    Without Royal Physician Liu, the Liu family was vulnerable, and anyone could take advantage of them.


    Qiao Mai observed coldly as the Liu family¡¯s medical hall operated at a loss.


    She continued to diagnose patients, refusing to treat severe cases or prescribe medicines.


    Unless she opened her medical hall, she wouldn¡¯t let anyone have a handle on her.


    As the weather got warmer, May arrived. In a few days, it would be Zihan¡¯s grand wedding.


    Madam Wang had everything prepared except for the ingredients from the Qiao family and a chef.


    Although worried. she had be more restrained and dared not trouble Qiao Mai again after the incidentst time.


    In a year, she had learned a lot. Qiao Mai was not someone she could afford to offend.


    As a royal princess consort, Qiao Mai was even sought after by her maternal family to gain favor.


    The Qian family, rtives of Magistrate Wang, sent valuable gifts, but Yuan Jiaqi promptly returned them intact.


    His rule of refusing gifts applied to everyone, regardless of their background.


    The Qian family head was Mayor Qian¡¯s elder brother, Qian Youwei. After the New Year, he received a promotion and became the Minister of Justice. With a rmendation letter from Mayor Qian, he visited the Qiao family with his wife.


    Yuan Jiaqi received them. As someone holding an official position and serving the court, he had surpassed the status of a first-rank official.


    Although they had met in court before, this was the first time they sat down to talk, thanks to the letter from Mayor Qian.


    This first real encounter allowed Yuan Jiaqi to form a general understanding of him.


    Fundamentally, Qian Youwei was a decent man, but being in the capital had made him somewhat cunning. Calling him an old fox wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration.


    As for the Wang family, Yuan Jiaqi naturally sought guidance from his mentor.


    ¡°Teacher, the Wang family has sent someone over several times. The first time, they sent valuable gifts, but I returned them. Now, they came under the pretext of visiting you. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Decline it. Since they schemed against Jiaru¡¯s marriage, our rtionship with them has been severed.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll send them back.¡±


    ¡°Jiaqi, wait a moment.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang called out to him, caressing the head of a red cat, hesitant to speak.


    ¡°Grandmother, feel free to speak!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about Jiaru. Your wife has great abilities. Please ask her to check on Jiaru. If she has corrected her bad habits, we can go to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion and beg for her. But if she hasn¡¯t changed, let it be. She¡¯s been confined for many years.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell my wife about it when she returns.¡±


    After Yuan Jiaqi left, Old Master Wang red at her. ¡°You mustn¡¯t act recklessly like your daughter-inw.¡±


    ¡°No, I only want her to check whether Jiaru has changed.¡±


    ¡°If she had changed, she would have been released long ago.¡±


    ¡°Are you thinking about Zihan¡¯s wedding and hoping to have Jiaru participate?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. As her elder sister, how can she miss such a big event?¡±


    Old Master Wang fell silent too. Jiaru was his granddaughter, someone he had seen grow up. She was also his favorite.


    After a day of providing medical care outside, Qiao Mai returned home. Yuan Jiaqi had prepared a meal and was waiting for her. ¡°Wife, are you tired? Have some food first?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The couple sat face to face to eat. Yuan Jiaqi mentioned the request from Old Mistress Wang regarding Jiaru.


    ¡°It seems Old Mistress Wang wants her to attend her brother¡¯s wedding.¡±


    ¡°Her stubbornness remains unchanged. Even if she is released, she would still disrupt the wedding. However, Grandmother has never asked me for anything before. I¡¯ll see her in a while.¡¯


    ¡°Wife, don¡¯t set up a stall tomorrow. Rest at home for a few days?¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    After dinner, Qiao Mai stood up. ¡°Read your book. I¡¯ll go to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion to see her.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you toe back.¡±


    Familiar with the route, Qiao Mai arrived at the courtyard where Wang Jiaru was confined.


    The courtyard was pitch ck, with only a faint light showing through the bedroom. Inside, a maid was sitting in front of amp, sewing.


    On the bedy a woman. Her face was haggard, her lips pale, and ayer of dry skin had formed. Her appearance resembled that of an olddy.


    This person was Wang Jiaru, simr in age to Qiao Mai. Qiao Mai was now 31, while Wang Jiaru was 30. Despite her young age, she looked pitiful.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t feel sentimental. In her previous life, she was an assassin. Now, she stood at the pinnacle of power. How could she be soft-hearted?


    ¡°Miss, please go to sleep earlier.¡±


    ¡°How can I sleep? Even though I¡¯m the legitimate wife, I can¡¯tpare to a concubine. I can¡¯t even see my child.¡± ¡°Miss, have you ever thought about the past?¡±


    ¡°The past?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Back in Wei City, you were cheerful, lively, and kind. You were approachable, never looking down on rural people. You never sought connections with the wealthy and powerful. At that time, your whole family cherished you. But now?¡±


    ¡°Who are you to speak to me like this? Who sent you? What qualifications do you have to make me recall those unbearable pasts?¡±


    The maid sighed. ¡°Miss, do you still not recognize it? The prince liked you back then. Not the current you. No matter how you howl, you will forever be imprisoned here if you don¡¯t change.¡±


    ¡°Humph, are you unwilling to stay with me here? If you don¡¯t want to, leave!¡± Under the moonlight, Wang Jiaru revealed a ferocious expression, ring fiercely at the maid.


    Qiao Mai watched this scene, knowing that she couldn¡¯t save her. Her heart had already twisted, and changing her was impossible.


    The only solution was to erase her memories, making her stay in¡­ stay at the time when she had just married Prince Shunqin. No, what about the two children?


    Could she erase her memories from after she gave birth to the two children? Unfortunately, Qiao Mai¡¯s cultivation level was still low. If only she could modify her memories.


    Qiao Mai sighed slightly.


    The maid finished thest stitch and tidied up the clothes.


    ¡°Miss, please rest. I¡¯ll sleep on the pallet nearby. If you need anything, call me.¡±


    The prince¡¯s mansion had sent over people who used to serve her, but seeing that she remained unrepentant, they withdrew them. Now, only the old maid who had been with her before her marriage stayed by her side.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to intervene. Even if she erased her memories, Wang Jiaru could never go back to the past.


    Her actions had already left a negative impression on Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, and her two children didn¡¯t feel close to her.


    It might be better to wipe everything clean. She wouldn¡¯t remember anyone. That way, there would be no harm.


    She purchased a Memory Crystal Ball on the tform using her mental power, then instantly appeared by Wang Jiaru¡¯s bedside.


    Without waiting for her to open her eyes, Qiao Mai struck her unconscious and pressed her hand on her forehead.


    With a single pull and grab, a white light appeared, and she pped the white light into the Memory Crystal Ball.


    The entire process was smooth and silent.


    Back home, sitting at the table, she picked up a cup of warm tea and drank it in one go.


    ¡°Wife, is it done?¡±


    ¡°She looks like she¡¯s in her fifties. Even in that state, she remains unchanged.


    Just like her mother.¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡±


    ¡°I erased her memory. She won¡¯t cause trouble anymore.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean she won¡¯t recognize anyone from now on?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go to see Grandmother tomorrow. I¡¯ll ask her to go to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion and plead for her. Let¡¯s see if she cane over and stay for a few days. We¡¯ll start with recognizing family members.¡±


    ¡°So, she has to start over?¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, what can we do? I¡¯m giving her a chance at rebirth. It depends on whether she has the fortune for it..

 Chapter 328 - 328: Is This Really Me?

    Chapter 328: Is This Really Me?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The next day, Qiao Mai went to Peni Pavilion.


    ¡°Grandmother, about Jiaru¡¯s situation, I went to see herst night. It¡¯s still the same. Her temperament hasn¡¯t changed.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, when someone is set on something, it¡¯s impossible to change their mind even if they know it¡¯s wrong. You¡¯ve had a hard time. Just let it be.¡± ¡°She looks like fifty. If we don¡¯t do something, she might pass away early.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang became anxious, ¡°What should we do? She is my granddaughter, after all.¡±


    ¡°I gave her the Forget Dust Pill. All her memories have been erased.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t remember anything from her past. It¡¯s like starting anew. You can take her in, and maybe with some re-education, there¡¯s hope?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Old Mistress Wang knelt.


    ¡°Girl, I thank you!¡±


    Qiao Mai quickly helped her up. ¡°Alright. My abilities are limited, and this is the best I can do.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s already good enough. Do you agree to us bringing her over?¡±


    ¡°Now that she doesn¡¯t remember anything, there won¡¯t be any conflicts. Why should I hold a grudge against her?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good child. You¡¯ve done a great favor to our Wang family.¡±


    ¡°Go to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion and submit the request. Try to bring her as soon as possible. Zihan¡¯s wedding is just around the corner, and we hope she can attend together.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Old Master Wang¡¯s eyes were also red as he looked at her. ¡°Child, thank you.¡±


    ¡°Go quickly.¡±


    The couple quickly changed their clothes, arranged for a carriage, and headed to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion.


    As for how they negotiated with Prince Shunqin, that was their business. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t intervene.


    The experienced couple managed to handle matters. They went to the Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion. Not long after, they brought Jiaru back with them before lunchtime.


    Apanying her were some old servants who used to serve her. Peni Pavilion was spacious, so Old Mistress Wang arranged for them to stay there.


    When Jiaru woke up, she didn¡¯t recognize anyone and was frightened.


    Fortunately, the maids attending to her were kind. Afterforting her, they quickly reported the situation to the Old Princess Consort.


    The Old Princess Consort rushed over with the house physician, but the diagnosis was inconclusive. So, she summoned the imperial physician from the pce.


    They concluded Jiaru had amnesia, a condition that couldn¡¯t be faked.


    No matter how one tries to conceal it, their true colors will eventually show. With so many people surrounding Wang Jiaru, she screamed when she saw a group of unfamiliar faces.


    Only those who made her feel familiar could calm her down momentarily.


    Moreover, she regarded everyone as strangers. This couldn¡¯t escape the discerning eyes of the Old Princess Consort. Coincidentally, the old couple arrived at Prince Shunqin¡¯s Mansion.


    When Old Master and Mistress Wang saw Jiaru, they used her illness as an excuse and requested to let Jiarue with them.


    In the west wing of the Peni Pavilion, Wang Jiaru sat on a chair, staring nkly at Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I am your grandmother, and I am your grandfather!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You are sick, so we brought you back to recover.¡±


    ¡°Sick? Am I sick?¡±


    The maid brought a mirror. ¡°Miss, take a look. Do you think you are sick in this condition


    When Wang Jiaru saw herself in the mirror, she instinctively threw it on the ground.


    ¡°Why am I so ugly? Is this really me?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang gentlyforted her. ¡°Because you are sick. You need to eat well to restore your previous beauty.¡±


    ¡°I just need to eat well?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    She now resembled a child. Everything needed to be taught from scratch. For Old Mistress Wang, who was already in her old age, the pressure was indeed great.


    But no matter how difficult it was, she insisted on personally teaching. She was determined not to let Jiaru return to her previous state and entrust Jiaru to her daughter-inw.


    Upon hearing the news, Qiao Mai did not go to visit. Old Master and Mistress Wang did not bring up the matter with her.


    Having her stay in Lucky Garden was already good enough; they didn¡¯t dare to have any more extravagant hopes. They knew that Qiao Mai¡¯s kindness to them far exceeded the favor of teaching her children.


    Several days flew by quickly. A day before the wedding, the chefs and ingredients from Lucky Garden had not yet arrived at Bichun Garden.


    Madam Wang was in a state of anxiety when the people from Jixiang Yuan arrived.


    ¡°Madam Wang, our mistress asked me to tell you that the ingredients and personnel will arrive at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Remember to have someone open the door.¡±


    ¡°Why do they have to arrive at that time? Couldn¡¯t it be today?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too hot during the day. If the ingredients are transported too early, they won¡¯t be fresh.¡¯


    ¡°I see. Understood.¡±


    Madam Wang was somewhat displeased. Who is Qiao Mai looking down upon? They also had an ice cer; it¡¯s just not asrge as theirs.


    On that night, Old Master Wang brought Old Mistress Wang and Wang Jiaru to Bichun Garden.


    Seeing her daughter, Madam Wang joyfully embraced her and burst into tears, frightening Jiaru, who looked at Old Mistress Wang for reassurance.


    ¡°Grandmother, who is she?¡±


    ¡°She is your mother. Don¡¯t you see how much you resemble each other?¡± Jiaru looked at her mother in confusion and tentatively called out.


    ¡°Mother?¡±


    ¡°Daughter, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°She has amnesia. She doesn¡¯t remember anyone.¡±


    Qiao Mai was not mentioned. The couple didn¡¯t want the sensitive Madam Wang to misunderstand Qiao Mai.


    ¡°They bullied her too much in Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion. How could they have tortured my good daughter into this state?¡±


    ¡°No one bullied her. She had three meals a day and didn¡¯t suffer any losses.¡± ¡°Then why did my daughter be like this and lose her memory?¡± ¡°She refused to eat andy in bed. When she woke up, she became like this.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°It is. Just ask Jiaru¡¯s maids.¡±


    ¡°Humph, they must have been bribed by Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang pped her. ¡°Wake up. Setting aside her character, consider whether Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion needs to bribe anyone. You won¡¯t even dare to say anything if they kill her.¡±


    Madam Wang covered her face. ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°From now on, Jiaru will live with me. The environment there is better. I¡¯ll take care of her daily life.¡±


    ¡°No, I am her mother. Taking care of her is my responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Take care of her? And make her return to her previous state?¡±


    ¡°Mother, I have changed. Please let¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up. Based on your careless remarks earlier, talking about Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion without understanding the situation, you haven¡¯t changed.¡±


    ¡°Mother¡­¡±


    ¡°This matter is settled. If you still want Jiaru to attend Zihan¡¯s wedding, don¡¯t say anything more. If not, we¡¯ll take her back.¡±


    Seeing her daughter relying on her mother-inw like this, Madam Wang wiped away her tears and went to arrange their amodations.


    The next day, as promised, the ingredients and chefs from Lucky Garden arrived at Bichun Garden before dawn.


    Upon entering the kitchen, the previous chef was asked to leave because the menu and recipes were involved. He couldn¡¯t stay there.


    More than a dozen people, including chefs and helpers, arrived. Madam Wang went to check on them after settling down the old couple and Jiaru.


    ¡°Make it as grand as the feast during Haichuan¡¯s wedding.¡±


    ¡°Madam Wang, rest assured. We brought the menu from that day, and the ingredients prepared were more than enough. We won¡¯t dy your affair.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s about right.¡±


    Before leaving, she gave the chef a stern look, leaving him grumbling.


    ¡°Our mistress treated her so well. Who would have thought she¡¯s such an ungrateful person?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. If it weren¡¯t for Old Master and Mistress Wang, our mistress definitely wouldn¡¯t have paid her any attention. What nonsense.¡±


    The chefs and helpers couldn¡¯t help but vent their frustration, criticizing Madam Wang behind her back. Madam Wang was currently in the front hall weing guests with Wang Zongsheng.


    The Wang family¡¯s celebration attracted many guests, most of whom came because of the rtionship between the Wang family and the Duke of Blessing.


    Only a small portion were their rtives and friends..

 Chapter 329 - 329: So What If I Swapped It?

    Chapter 329: So What If I Swapped It?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Madam Wang couldn¡¯t contain her joy. Wang Zongsheng, being a discerning person, humbly entertained the guests.


    Before long, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s family also arrived. They waited until after the morning court session and then came together with their children, Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er.


    A family with an honorary prince, a first-rank royal consort, a third-rank official, and a county princess made the Wang family shine brightly.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang sat in the living room,forting Jiaru, who behaved obediently, calling anyone as they pleased.


    When Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai entered Bichun Garden, a table was set up at the entrance. They walked straight past it without presenting any gifts.


    Everyone waited to see what gifts they would give. Unexpectedly, they gave nothing. No wonder people said Mr. Yuan was stingy; it seemed true.


    They felt bnced after seeing the Yuan family not present any gifts to the Wang family, who they had a great rtionship with.


    Eagerly looking outside, Madam Wang was displeased when Qiao Mai didn¡¯t present any gifts.


    ¡°Stingy!¡±


    Wang Zongsheng overheard this remark. He couldn¡¯t believe how his wife had changed.


    Although their family had a good rtionship with the Qiao family, his wife had taken advantage of the connection, bing increasingly unreasonable.


    He red at her and quickly went to wee them.


    ¡°Jiaqi, you¡¯ve arrived?¡±


    ¡°Uncle, how can we note for Zihan¡¯s wedding?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at Madam Wang behind him. ¡°Uncle, I won¡¯t offer any formal gifts. Will you consider these ingredients as a gift?¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite. It¡¯s good that you¡¯vee. Please, have a seat.¡±


    Madam Wang couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°Is that meager thing considered a gift?¡±


    She thought that with so many people, Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t confront her. However, Qiao Mai stopped and turned around.


    ¡°Oh? Hundreds of thousands worth of ingredients aren¡¯t considered a gift?


    Then what should it be?¡±


    ¡°Back then, we gave you over a million taels.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s settle the pills I gave to Zihan. One pill is worth a hundred thousand taels. A bottle contains ten pills, and I gave you five bottles, totaling five million taels. Adding up what your daughter asked from me over the years and deducting what you gave me, you still owe me two million taels. Pay up.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ You¡¯ve gone too far!¡±


    ¡°Who is going too far? Me, or you?¡±


    Guests looked towards them. Madam Wang¡¯s face alternated between pale and red.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, do you know what the asion is now?¡±


    ¡°If you know, you wouldn¡¯t act so recklessly.¡±


    Old Master Wang, Old Mistress Wang, and Wang Zongsheng were stunned by


    Madam Wang¡¯s shameless words, unable to react. They couldn¡¯t scold or hit her; their faces turned pale.


    Fortunately, Zihan came over at this moment. ¡°Aunt, have a seat here. My mother seems not awake yet; don¡¯t argue with her.¡±


    ¡°Seeing that it¡¯s your wedding, I¡¯ll let her go this time.¡±


    At this critical moment, Prin Shunqin¡¯s family arrived to save the day. To maintain face for the inws, the young prince did not bring any concubines.


    Thus, with the arrival of Jiaru¡¯s inws, the farce ended.


    The young prince saw Jiaru and wanted to greet her, but seeing his wife not recognize him, he could only follow his parents to sit aside.


    The Old Princess Consort asked Old Mistress Wang, ¡°Dear inw, how is Jiaru?¡±


    ¡°She has been eating well these days and hasn¡¯t caused any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Well, she looks a bit more lively. Rest assured. Even if my son has many concubines, Jiaru will be the legitimate wife. Once she recovers, we will take her back.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been tough on you over these years.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? Back then, I treated Jiaru as my daughter.¡±


    The two whispered to each other. Old Master Wang also apanied his inw in conversation, and Zihan went to receive the bride.


    Everyone gathered, chatting and waiting.


    ¡°I heard that Madam Wang prepared a dowry of one hundred and twenty carriages for the Gao family.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, they are only marrying an unpopr illegitimate daughter. I wonder if thedy of the Gao family will return everything intact.¡±


    ¡°Look, with Madam Wang¡¯s temperament, there might be some excitement to watch. ¡±


    After an hour, Zihan finally weed the bride. The dowry from the Gao family followed the bridal sedan.


    The quantity was not small, a hundred and eighty carriages. The Gao family gave sixty, but Zihan led the bride into the bridal chamber after the ceremony.


    Madam Wang was enraged when she saw the dowry list and immediately took people to make a scene at the Gao family.


    At this time, the Gao family was also entertaining guests. Seeing their inw causing trouble before the guests, they knew things were bad.


    But even if they wanted to stop her, they couldn¡¯t. ¡°Everyone, please judge. We brought a hundred and twenty carriages as a betrothal gift to the Wang family. They reced all the good things with cheap ones. I¡¯ve never seen an inw like this. Is your family so poor?¡±


    The face of the Minister of Rites turned red with embarrassment, and he red at Madam Gao immediately.


    ¡°Are you crazy? I asked you to prepare the dowry properly. How dare you swap the gifts?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Their Wang family¡¯s princess consort is already like that.


    Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion won¡¯t stand up for them. Mr. Yuan and they are just ordinary friends. ¡±


    Just as they talked, Yuan Jiaqi, along with Qiao Mai and Prince Shunqin¡¯s family, arrived at the Gao family.


    Now, it was lively. The Old Prince Shunqin knew he had to step in at this moment.


    With a stern face, he looked at Minister Gao. ¡°Quickly return the embezzled dowry, or I¡¯ll go to my brother and tell him your family is so poor that you need a raise.¡±


    ¡°I dare not. I will settle it right away.¡±


    In front of so many guests, Minister Gao forced Madam Gao to return everything mentioned in the Wang family¡¯s dowry list. There were twenty boxes of valuable items, and Madam Gao felt heartbroken.


    With her head held high, Madam Wang ordered people to carry these items back. At this moment, she only realized she had the support of her inws and the Qiao family. She had forgotten about belittling Qiao Mai just now.


    Back in Bichun Garden, the banquet had already begun. It was already noon, and they couldn¡¯t keep the guests waiting.


    Old Master Wang took charge and began the festivities.


    Some important guests were in the room, with Old Master Wang apanying Prince Shunqin¡¯s family at one table and Qiao Mai¡¯s family at another. They sat with another prince, but he did not receive much attention. The Duke and General West Gate¡¯s family did note, let alone Jiang


    Yunpeng and the others.


    As for princes and princesses, it was naturally impossible for them to attend, considering the status of Magistrate Wang.


    However, the Wang family did produce a royal consort, Consort Xian in the imperial pce.


    When the Wang family and their main branch didn¡¯t fall out, most of their money and possessions were sent to her.


    Later, when Magistrate Wang stopped sending money to the main branch, Consort Xian found herself in financial straits. But learning about Zihan¡¯s wedding, she must make a show as the aunt.


    She even sent a gift. Despite Old Mistress Wang¡¯s reluctance, they had to ept it first.


    The gift was received when their son was not home. When he returned, they would talk to him properly to figure out what to do.


    Their family was not afraid of a consort. After all, the Qiao family¡¯s inw was a Royal Noble Consort. She was even managing the harem. With the emperor¡¯s trust in her, they believed she would secure the empress¡¯s position.


    Offending an unpopr consort was something they were not afraid of, but they still had to be cautious.


    After all, the tricks of viins were tough to guard against, and they didn¡¯t want to trouble Qiao Mai.


    This wedding ended without incident.


    Although the Wang family married a low-born girl from the Minister of Rite¡¯s family, her¡¯s character and appearance caught Zihan¡¯s eyes, making her a good choice.


    After the banquet, the chef and his team cleaned up the kitchen. They didn¡¯t even ask for the leftover ingredients and left without having a meal, returning to Lucky Garden..

 Chapter 330 - 330: Thinking Too Much

    Chapter 330 - 330: Thinking Too Much


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the Qiao family heard about this upon returning home, they all gave a thumbs up.


    ¡°Admirable! Each person will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver. If you want to eat something, make it yourself. Fill your stomach first.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°Madam Wang is truly disappointing. Our people worked hard for her for a whole day, yet she didn¡¯t even reward them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m getting more disappointed with her. Well, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    The people who helped were overjoyed. Qiao Mai was generous, and working for her always felt confident.


    After a few days, the emperor learned about the matter, summoned Minister Gao to the pce, and scolded him thoroughly before letting him go.


    When he returned home, Minister Gao gave Madam Gao a severe beating.


    It wasn¡¯t just about withholding the dowry; it revealed the family¡¯s character.


    This incident served as a warning to families with illegitimate daughters. They all warned theirdies not to mistreat them.


    Magistrate Wang also gave Madam Wang a good beating, and the old couple didn¡¯t care. After drinking the daughter-inw¡¯s tea the next day, they returned to Lucky Garden.


    This incident became the talk of the town for a long time.


    Meanwhile, Zihan found fortune in the incident. Before long, he was promoted and became a fourth-rank official, just like Magistrate Wang. With the support of Minister Yuan, Zihan¡¯s career was likely to rise and not fall.


    Old Master Wang knew that the emperor did this out of consideration for Minister Yuan and Prince Shunqin.


    Zihan, apanied by his wife, visited Lucky Garden. Qiao Mai presented them with a greeting gift and invited the couple to have a meal.


    Despite the strained rtionship with Madam Wang, Zihan was a good kid. Considering their respect for Old Master Wang, there was still room for interaction between them.


    After Zihan¡¯s matter passed, the rainy season arrived. The rain fell intermittently, annoying everyone.


    Even Qiao Mai was toozy to set up her free medical stall. She spent her days practicing cultivation, but matchmakers flocked to her door whenever the weather improved.


    Ling¡¯er was almost fourteen years old. Once she reached maturity, she could get married.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want her daughter to marry too early, so she wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Ling¡¯er herself wasn¡¯t in a hurry either.


    With a shop to run, she was busy.


    Previously, only women visited the store, but now, young men who hadn¡¯t been engaged yet often found excuses to patronize.


    Ling¡¯er was beautiful, and thanks to Qiao Mai¡¯s asional adjustments to her body, anyone who approached her felt a sense offort. Her vibrant and graceful aura was attractive to the spirited young men around.


    Regardless of their social status, whether from humble backgrounds or noble families, they all came to the shop, hoping Ling¡¯er would fancy them.


    Those with less favorable backgrounds hoped to rise to prominence and be sessful men, while those from more privileged families aspired to experience love at first sight with the county princess.


    Men and women came. Even mothers-inw assessing their prospective daughter-inw visited.


    Princes and princesses came to join the excitement. The emperor hoped to establish a closer rtionship with the Qiao family, but Qiao Mai immediately refused any proposal rted to the royal family.


    Any daughter of the Qiao family refused to marry into the royal family, steering clear of the power struggles among the princes. Without needing Yuan Jiaqi, Qiao Mai made her rejection straightforward.


    The emperor was pretty disappointed, but mostly, he felt gratified. It seemed his kindness to Minister Yuan was not in vain.


    He did not take a stance, staying away from the struggle for the throne and remaining loyal to him alone ¡ª that¡¯s good!


    If Qiao Mai knew about this, she would surely scoff at the emperor¡¯s overthinking. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to marry into the royal family to avoid all those yboys.


    Once the emperor was happy, he started thinking about freeloading.


    Every time this happened, Minister Yuan pretended to be ignorant and foolish, offering various excuses and leaving the emperor speechless.


    Seeing the emperor¡¯s craving for it, Minister Yuan took him to the Wang family¡¯s restaurant, bringing a cask of good wine from Qiao Mai¡¯s personal collection.


    He was finding ways to prevent him froming. On the other hand, Jiamei visited two or three times a month and never had Qiao Mai apany her. Instead, Qiao Mai delegated this task, assigning it to Chuan¡¯er or Ling¡¯er.


    Taking advantage of a break, Qiao Mai decided to focus on her cultivation.


    If her cultivation doesn¡¯t progress, it¡¯s as if she¡¯s regressing. Spending too much time in the mortal world can indeed lead to regression. She has to continue diligently cultivating to have a chance to leave this ce.


    For some reason, she never feels a sense of belonging here despite investing so much effort. Even when busy, it¡¯s merely a way to pass the time.


    One day, she opened her eyes and looked at the drizzling rain outside. She grabbed an umbre and walked out.


    Using her mental senses, she observed six squirrels hiding in various corners to avoid the rain and three sheep grazing on the corridor.


    Yuan Jiaqi wasn¡¯t at home; Old Master Wang was reading, and Old Mistress Wang was instructing Wang Jiaru carefully.


    Everything at home seemed fine. So, she headed to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. Due to the rain, there were fewer customers, but the shop was still almost full.


    She didn¡¯t enter and instead went straight to the embroidery shop. At the entrance, she saw a young man apanied by two servants.


    He was trying to strike up a conversation with Ling¡¯er. Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia guarded Ling¡¯er with displeased expressions.


    ¡°Sir, if you¡¯re here to buy embroidery, pleasee this way. If not, please leave!¡±


    ¡°Oh, so I can¡¯t be here if I¡¯m not buying?¡±


    The two servants behind him chuckled maliciously. They didn¡¯t seem like good people, and their master was pretending to be a gentleman.


    ¡°I came to make friends with Miss Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°You?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am the legitimate second son of His Majesty¡¯s fifth son. I am also the second son of Prince Li¡¯s mansion. How about that? Are you scared?¡±


    Nanny Jin turned pale, but she didn¡¯t show any weakness.


    ¡°So what? You¡¯re a prince, but our Miss is a county princess.¡±


    ¡°Humph, she¡¯s just a daughter of an honorable prince, while I am of royal blood.¡±


    ¡°Our Mistress has dered that Miss Ling¡¯er will not marry into the royal family.¡±


    ¡°Tch, as subjects of the Ming Dynasty, everything belongs to the king. Do you dare to refuse? I will go to the pce and ask His Majesty to arrange the marriage. You can¡¯t stop it.¡±


    Ling¡¯er put down the needle and thread. ¡°If you can do it, then go. Don¡¯t waste your breath here. I don¡¯t want to be friends with you. Please leave!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave. What can you do to me?¡±


    ¡°You.¡±


    At this moment, Qiao Mai walked in. ¡°Not leaving?¡±


    The self-proimed little prince didn¡¯t give her a proper look. ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t leave. What can you do?¡±


    Qiao Mai walked up to him and sent him flying with a p. Then, with two more strikes, she sent his servants flying as well.


    The three fell to the ground, unconscious.


    Ling¡¯er quickly ran to Qiao Mai, tightly gripping her arm. ¡°Mother, I¡¯ve caused trouble for you.¡±


    ¡°Does hee to bother you every day?¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded, and Qiao Mai¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t be polite with such people.¡±


    Qiao Mai summoned the second sheep with her mind. Ling¡¯er happily stroked it.


    ¡°Mother, why did you summon it?¡±


    ¡°To kick them out.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Mother, are you kidding? Can it really kick them?¡±


    Just then, several inconspicuous individuals walked in. These people were the guards protecting the young prince, who had been waiting outside.


    Qiao Maimanded the sheep, ¡°Kick them out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    The sheep turned its hindquarters toward them. With a gentle kick, the intruders were sent flying out of the shop.


    Nanny Jin, Ling¡¯er, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia stared with widened eyes.


    ¡°Mother, is this sheep so powerful?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Let it protect you from now on.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mother! This cute little guy is surprisingly powerful. I like it. When


    I get married, will you let me take it?¡±


    ¡°When you get married, I¡¯ll gift you another cool one.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Mother knows me best..¡±

 Chapter 331 - 331: Dazzling the Eyes of the World

    Chapter 331 - 331: Dazzling the Eyes of the World


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai walked to the entrance, where the people, looking disheveled, struggled to get up and pointed at her menacingly.


    ¡°How dare you hit the emperor¡¯s grandson? Just wait for it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I will. File aint. I¡¯ll look down on you if you can¡¯t get rid of me.¡±


    At this moment, people snacking in Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery came out upon hearing themotion. Witnessing the scene, their enthusiasm ignited.


    ¡°Look, the Royal Consort beat up the ninth imperial grandson. Well done! Even better if his parents can¡¯t recognize him.¡±


    ¡°Serves him right! He thinks he can unt his power because he¡¯s from the royal family. Now, he¡¯s in trouble. With the emperor¡¯s favor towards Mr. Yuan, he¡¯ll be scolded harshly.¡±


    Qiao Mai overheard thesements and nced at the onlookers. She lowered her head, looking at the group of scoundrels on the ground.


    ¡°If you disturb my daughter in the shop again, I¡¯ll beat you up every time you show up.¡±


    ¡°Do you dare?¡±


    ¡°Try me. Get ready, sheep.¡±


    A bleating sound followed, and the sheep charged down the steps. The group was scared off, drawingughter from the onlookers.


    ¡°Royal Consort of Blessings, this man¡¯s father is not easy to trifle with. Be careful.¡¯


    ¡°If someone offends me, I¡¯ll repay a hundredfold or a thousandfold!¡±


    ¡°Well said! If everyone in the capital acted like you, these arrogant aristocrats wouldn¡¯t dare act so recklessly.¡±


    Qiao Mai affectionately patted the sheep. ¡°So the emperor cleaned up the ruffians and scoundrels just a few years ago, and now the capital is in chaos again?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know? The emperor¡¯s crackdown was mainly on the officials. He is reluctant to discipline the members of the royal family.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Her eyes deepened, and she turned back, waving to the people in the shop. ¡°Carry on. I¡¯m going for a walk.¡±


    The sheep stayed in the shop; it wasn¡¯t afraid of causing trouble. With Qiao Mai providing support, what did it have to fear?


    The customers returned to the shop. Leaning against the counter, Shopkeeper Niu peered out of the window. After a nce, he straightened his posture.


    Qiao Mai never picked fights without confidence. Since she dared to beat the ninth grandson, she must be able to offend the royal family without fear.


    Who exactly was the master? He was curious!


    One day, she would shine brilliantly, dazzling the eyes of the world.


    Speaking of that ninth grandson, after being carried back to Prince Li¡¯s residence, the Old Prince and Princess Consort hurriedly summoned the imperial physician from the pce.


    After a thorough examination, they found that three of his ribs were broken but not puncturing the lungs, which would have been fatal.


    After applying medicine and dressing the wounds, the imperial physician left. He then recounted the day¡¯s events to his parents.


    His parents were initially stunned and almost furious.


    ¡°Why did you go to the embroidery shop and cause trouble? You¡¯re not allowed to see each other. Just wait; I¡¯ll ask your father to propose marriageter. You were caught red-handed by the Royal Consort, and there were witnesses among themoners. How can we face the emperor with this?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. You must avenge me. I¡¯ve decided to marry that girl from their family. No, not marry, but take her as a concubine.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a county princess. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s marry her first. Once I¡¯m better, we can take revenge a hundredfold or a thousandfold.¡¯


    ¡°Marriage is not that simple. Aside from whether your father will agree, a royal wedding involves a lengthy process. It will take at least half a year.¡±


    ¡°Half a year? Then let¡¯s seek revenge first!¡±


    The couple exchanged nces, gritted their teeth, and decided to test whether the emperor valued his grandson or the official more.


    So, they had him carried to the pce. In the study, the emperor nced at his fifth son kneeling on the ground with his ninth grandson on the stretcher. ¡°Look at what parents you¡¯ve be, indulging him like this.¡±


    ¡°Father, it was Madam Qiao who attacked him, breaking three of his ribs.¡±


    ¡°Who told him to act recklessly? He went to the embroidery shop to show off his might. He usually causes trouble, teasing girls on the streets, even in brothels. Now, he¡¯s harassing the daughter of my inws. Does he think I¡¯m a fool?¡±


    ¡°Father?¡±


    ¡°Get out. Go back and teach him a lesson. If I see him causing trouble again, your family will be banished to the ancestralnd. Don¡¯t stay in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, I am your grandson! They are your subjects; if you order them to die, they have no choice but to die.¡±


    ¡°I am not a fool. I can love my people like my children, and I should take even greater care of my ministers. Get out! If there is another incident, your family will be sent back to your fiefdom. Don¡¯t stay in the capital anymore.¡±


    With that, the couple hurriedly had their son carried away, fearing that if they stayed longer, the emperor might find another reason to punish them.


    They cherished their son, but they had no intention of returning to their fiefdom, a poor ce they wouldn¡¯t willingly go to even if forced.


    Although Prince Li had been granted a title and a fief, losing his eligibility for the throne, he still had several sons. If one of them caught the emperor¡¯s favor and was chosen as the heir, he could be the Grand Emperor.


    The other princes were also harboring such ambitions.


    Today, the ninth grandson could not get his revenge. Qiao Mai was confident the emperor wouldn¡¯t me her and leisurely strolled through the streets.


    The wet ground, the spacious streets, and the sparse pedestrians created a serene atmosphere. Holding an umbre, Qiao Mai walked while contemting.


    It had been a year, but she had only advanced a small step. Advancing to the next stage became more challenging.


    Greeny appeared unnoticed, fluttering its wings above Qiao Mai¡¯s head.


    ¡°Master, with so many things upying your days, it¡¯s natural that your cultivation progress is slow. With your aptitude, understanding, and the assistance you have, it¡¯s still possible to advance one major stage every year.¡±


    ¡°While in the mundane world, it¡¯s natural to prioritize worldly matters. I¡¯m currently in the Third Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, which has a lifespan of five hundred years. It¡¯s sufficient for me to advance to higher stages. However, for Jiaqi and the others, their lifespan is only around a hundred years. I need to spend more time with them.¡±


    ¡°Master, if they focus on health preservation, living up to a hundred and fifty years is not a problem. Additionally, with the life-prolonging pills you refine for them, living beyond two hundred is also achievable.¡±


    ¡°People are greedy. I naturally want them to be like me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible. Even Immortals have their day of decline, not to mention mortals. Don¡¯t think about it.¡±


    Qiao Mai rarely roamed around the capital and spent even less time alone.


    ¡°Selling flowers! Selling flowers! One copper coin for one, two copper coins for two! Selling flowers!¡±


    A crisp voice echoed in her ears. Retrieving her thoughts, she saw a seven or eight-year-old girl holding arge bunch of peonies. She walked in the rain without an umbre and approached Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Do you like flowers, madam? These are flowers from my family. Would you like to buy one?¡±


    Qiao Mai crouched down, looking at the little girl who appeared thin, with sunken eyes indicative of malnutrition.


    ¡°Do you live in the capital?¡±


    ¡°No, in a vige in the suburbs of the capital.¡±


    ¡°You came to the capital to sell flowers. How far did you walk?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I walked here. If I can¡¯t sell all the flowers, I¡¯ll sleep on the street.


    The next day, I¡¯ll continue selling.¡± ¡°And if you still can¡¯t sell them?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go home.¡± ¡°How do you eat in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Hungry. I¡¯m starving.¡± ¡°Are you hungry now?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Come with me.¡±


    For some reason, this little girl struck a chord with Qiao Mai, looking unusually pleasing to her eyes.


    They arrived at a steamed bun shop. ¡°Two vegetarian buns.¡±


    ¡°Alright. It¡¯s six copper coins.¡±


    Qiao Mai took six coins from her purse, received two buns, and handed them to the girl. However, the girl didn¡¯t take them.


    ¡°Madam, I don¡¯t have money to give you.¡±


    ¡°You are likable to me. This is a gift for you. No need to pay me.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t take this for nothing.¡±


    ¡°Heh, not bad! You understand that?¡±

 Chapter 332 - 332: Kick Him to Death

    Chapter 332: Kick Him to Death


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°My father is a schr but has never be a Rmended Schr.¡±


    ¡°A schr? And you have to sell flowers?¡±


    ¡°His legs were broken by bad people. My stepmother grows flowers. The family relies on her for support.¡±


    ¡°Is she unkind to you?¡±


    The little girl shook her head and then nodded. Qiao Mai continued, ¡°Do you have any siblings?¡±


    ¡°I have a younger brother, born to my stepmother.¡±


    No wonder. With the family relying on the stepmother, the father cannot say anything even if his daughter is mistreated, especially since he is disabled.


    Qiao Mai sighed. ¡°If I buy you, you will serve me as a maid and won¡¯t have to sell flowers anymore. Are you willing?¡±


    The little girl lifted her head and looked at her. ¡°Can I have enough to eat?¡±


    ¡°You will have three meals and no chores at night.¡±


    While eating buns, the little girl shed tears.


    ¡°But what about my father? Although his legs are broken now, he was good to me.¡±


    ¡°If you continue to stay in that family, you might die before your father. If you can¡¯t even protect yourself, how can you protect your father?¡±


    ¡°Madam, you are a good person. I am willing to sell myself to you.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, finding the girl amusing. She brought her back to Lucky Garden and had the steward summoned.


    ¡°Old Zhang, take her back to her family. Buy her for fifty taels of silver, bring her back, hand her over to Nanny Jin, let her train for a month, and then send her to Yuexian Residence.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master!¡±


    Steward Zhang took the little girl away. It had been long since anyone entered the master¡¯s courtyard, and it was rare for Qiao Mai to ept a servant, even if she was a little one. Faithful servants had to be cultivated from a young age. As night fell, Steward Zhang returned. He reported to Qiao Mai and handed over the contract of sale.


    ¡°Master, thedy of that family is too outrageous. When she heard I wanted to buy the girl, she asked for a thousand taels of silver.¡±


    ¡°She dares to ask for so much. She¡¯s not afraid of pushing it too far,¡± Qiao Maimented.


    ¡°When I heard that, I turned and left. She called me back hurriedly, and we settled on fifty taels. She was still unhappy.¡± ¡°Does her husband know about this?¡± ¡°No. She talked to us outside.¡± ¡°You handed her over to Nanny Jin?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. Rest.¡±


    Soon after, Yuan Jiaqi returned. ¡°Wife, did you have a hard day today?¡±


    ¡°Haha, you already know?¡±


    The two sat in front of the table. After a while, servants brought in the food, arranged it, and retreated.


    ¡°The emperor called me into the pce. He didn¡¯t make it difficult for me, only mentioning the matter. Wife, your kick was well-deserved. It¡¯s a pity he¡¯s still alive. If this scoundrel lives one more day, the women in the capital will suffer. You don¡¯t know how notorious this guy is.¡±


    Qiao Mai ate without lifting her head.


    ¡°The emperor knows what kind of person his grandson is. He only supervised his officials but not his family. If he makes me mad, I¡¯ll show him some color one day.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s hand trembled, shocked by his wife¡¯s strength. Could she challenge the emperor so casually?


    Seeing him stunned, Qiao Mai coldly snorted. ¡°Do you want to be the emperor?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi shook his head quickly. ¡°No one in this world doesn¡¯t want to be the emperor, but this position is not something anyone can take. Without a foundation, soldiers, and generals, it is just a death sentence.¡±


    ¡°You see through it clearly. This is just a warning to the royal family. If there is another time, it won¡¯t be just a broken rib.¡±


    ¡°The dandies in the capital need a good lesson. They bully themoners with their wealth and power. The families who suffered dare not say a word.¡± ¡°Investigate the bullies in the capital, write a list, and hand it over to me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, wife, can you give me a hundred thousand taels of silver?¡±


    ¡°Is there another disaster in the south?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there have been heavy rains in several ces. If relief is not timely, there may be an epidemic.¡±


    ¡°Do you need grain?¡±


    ¡°11 you are willing to nup, more IS Deuer.¡¯


    After dinner, Qiao Mai gave him a silver note of a hundred thousand taels. Then she took him to the door.


    With a wave of her hand, a mountain of grain bags appeared out of thin air in the courtyard, each weighing about a hundred catties.


    ¡°Tomorrow, have someone count it. If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll give you more.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi gulped. ¡°It should be enough. There are hundreds of thousands of catties here.¡±


    ¡°Okay, figure out how to distribute this grain yourself.¡±


    ¡°I have applied to the emperor for disaster relief. I¡¯m afraid I will leave the capital for a month or two.¡±


    ¡°You have me at home. Take Dong Zhao and Dracaena with you. The horses can swim, and they will protect you.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    The following day, Yuan Jiaqi attended the court session early in the morning. After returning, he immediately started dispatching people to inventory and transport the grain.


    His day was consumed by thisborious task, leaving him too upied to converse with Qiao Mai. Exhausted, he went to bed early.


    Observing him in peaceful slumber, Qiao Mai sighed softly. She gently touched his ear, imbuing him with her divine consciousness.


    Despite their intelligence, Yuan Jiaqi and Chuan¡¯er could not guard against potential threats.


    She could only resort to such measures. In case of any anomaly, she could promptly appear by his side.


    As a concerned wife, Qiao Mai prepared some belongings for him that night.


    The next day, Yuan Jiaqi departed from the capital with arge group of people.


    Since her husband would leave for one or two months, Qiao Mai secluded herself and focused on improving her cultivation.


    Just as she was about to close the door, a servant came to report.


    ¡°Mistress, there is a couple outside seeking an audience, iming, iming¡­¡±


    ¡°Speak!¡±


    ¡°They say they havee to acknowledge their kinship.¡±


    ¡°Acknowledge kinship?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they im to be the biological parents of the county princess.¡±


    Qiao Mai was momentarily stunned, then suddenly smiled, finding it ridiculous someone came to acknowledge her daughter.


    Her face turned icy as she carried a murderous intent to the main hall, where she saw a couple of simr age to her.


    The couple immediately stood up and somewhat awkwardly gave their respects.


    ¡°Greetings, Royal Consort.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush to acknowledge kinship. First. tell me who you are and where you


    live.¡±


    ¡°We reside in the capital. My surname is Yu, and this is my wife, Madam Yu.


    Our family has been in business for generations.¡±


    ¡°Where was your child lost?¡±


    ¡°She was not lost. My wife was chased by someone. In desperation, she could only leave the child at the doorstep of a family in Tianshui Town and then hurriedly left.¡±


    ¡°Tell me in more detail. What was the weather like at the time? How old was the child when you left her? What kind of nket did you wrap her in, and what clothes was she wearing?¡±


    ¡°My wife suffered from amnesia after barely escaping. She only remembers the general details. Unfortunately, she can¡¯t recall the specific circumstances.¡± ¡°How did you hear that my daughter was adopted?¡±


    ¡°After my wife remembered this incident, we searched in Tianshui Town. Residents mentioned your family had arrived in the capital, so we came here.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure my daughter is yours?¡±


    ¡°We are not sure. We only want to confirm this clue and fulfill our wish. Please grant our request.¡±


    ¡°Go back. She is not your child.¡±


    ¡°Royal Consort! Please, fulfill our wish!¡±


    The couple immediately knelt before her. Qiao Mai looked at these two people acting. They were probably backed by someone who had investigated thoroughly, making the scheme seamless.


    Qiao Mai tapped her fingers and nodded to a servant waiting on the side.


    The servant hurriedly left. After a short while, Ling¡¯er arrived at the hall. She looked at the unfamiliar couple.


    ¡°Mother, who are they?¡±


    ¡°Greetings, County Princess!¡±


    ¡°They im you are their daughter, so I called you here. Surprisingly, there is a slight resemnce. The people behind you worked hard for this.¡±


    Hearing this, the couple pretended to be clueless, ¡°Royal Consort, the princess really looks like us..¡±

 Chapter 333 - 333: Coming Prepared

    Chapter 333: Coming Prepared


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°There was a family in Tianshui Town who used toe now and then. They imed to be rted to my daughter and looked simr. However, the blood test failed three times. In this world, many people look alike. I can¡¯t let everyone im my daughter, can I?¡±


    ¡°Royal Consort, you are right. How about we do a blood test?¡±


    ¡°It seems you came prepared.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled at them, her eyes making the couple feel like they were on hot coals.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do a blood test then!¡±


    Madam Yu took a bowl from her bosom, ¡°For fairness, we brought our own bowl. Could we borrow water from your well?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Take thisdy to the well to fetch water. Remember to wash the bowl thoroughly several times. This way, it will be fair to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The servants immediately understood the mistress¡¯s instructions.


    They led thedy to the well, and sheined, ¡°There¡¯s no well here?¡±


    ¡°Humph, our family has a pressure well. Who uses those deep wells for water?


    Wait a moment!¡±


    The servant pressed the well a few times, and water flowed out. ¡°Hurry up and wash the bowl clean. Don¡¯t y tricks; wash it several times. Don¡¯t force me to do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Madam Yu dawdled, and the servant stared at her intently. ¡°Are you going to wash it or not? Why are you dragging your feet? Is there something fishy about this bowl?¡±


    Madam Yu reluctantly washed the bowl, carried the water, and returned to the hall.


    Qiao Mai pulled Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll do it for youter. It won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Ling¡¯er showed no affection for the couple. She stood by Qiao Mai, watching everything calmly.


    Qiao Mai watched Madam Yu ce the bowl on the table. ¡°You two should drip blood first. Let me see. Don¡¯t tamper with the bowl. I believe you two are not rted by blood, and your blood won¡¯t mix.¡±


    Since it hase to this point, the couple had no choice but to proceed.


    Madam Yu took a needle from her bosom and pricked herself and the man. After their blood dripped into the bowl, Qiao Mai walked over with Ling¡¯er.


    The two looked at the bowl. After a while, the blood did not mix. Qiao Mai quickly and lightly pricked Ling¡¯er¡¯s finger, letting a drop of blood fall into the bowl.


    The couple nervously watched the bowl. Even after fifteen minutes, the blood didn¡¯t mix.


    ¡°Have you given up now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, we are guilty. We have troubled you.¡±


    Saying that, they knelt and bowed deeply to Qiao Mai and Ling¡¯er. When they tried to leave, their bodies suddenly went limp, and they fainted.


    Although Ling¡¯er was puzzled, she rarely spoke up.


    She watched her mother walk over and press their heads for a while. Soon, the couple woke up as if in a daze. Hand in hand, they walked out of Lucky Garden.


    ¡°Mother, are they okay?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re fine. I cast an illusion on them. They won¡¯t remember me knocking them down just now.¡±


    Ling¡¯er asked, ¡°Mother, do you know about my background?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit curious, but I won¡¯t be like Fengyun. I only want to know whether I was abandoned or something else.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, motioning for the servants to leave.


    She held Ling¡¯er¡¯s hand and looked into her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mother looks like you in some way?¡±


    Ling¡¯er widened her eyes. ¡°Mother, are you saying¡­ Ling¡¯er is your biological daughter?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°But why did you do that?¡±


    ¡°Back then, Mother worked tirelessly in the Tian family, even when my belly grewrger. They used me of having an affair outside. The Tian family kicked me in the belly, forcing me to give birth to you prematurely.¡±


    ¡°At that time, you were like a fragile kitten, barely clinging to life. I was in a vulnerable state. To avoid trouble from the Tian family, I pretended to bury you, secretly cing you in a hidden location.¡±


    ¡°Later, when I found a haven, I quietly brought you back, keeping you by my side in secret. It wasn¡¯t until you were six months old that I found an opportunity to let you live openly and honestly by my side.¡±


    Ling¡¯er gulped. ¡°So, was Tian Sanzhuang my¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes. Do you want to recognize that type of family?¡±


    ¡°No. They almost killed us. I won¡¯t recognize them. But¡­ Mother also dripped your blood into the bowl, right?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. With a flip of her hand, a bowl of clear water appeared on the table.


    She then cut her finger and Ling¡¯er¡¯s finger with a knife. A drop of blood from each fell into the bowl and quickly merged.


    Seeing this, Ling¡¯er hugged Qiao Mai and cried. ¡°Mother, you are my birth mother. It¡¯s great. I always wanted to be your biological daughter, and it turns out it¡¯s true. It¡¯s wonderful.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes turned red, and she gently patted Ling¡¯er¡¯s back.


    ¡°Of course, you are my daughter. Otherwise, why would I spoil you so much?¡±


    ¡°But you treat my brothers well too.¡±


    ¡°I treat vou the best!¡±


    ¡°Hehe. But Mother, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡±


    ¡°At that time, you were still young and couldn¡¯t distinguish right from wrong. The Tian family wanted to take you back. They would say anything to deceive you. It wasn¡¯t suitable to talk about this matter at that time.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m an adult now. I understand these things.¡±


    ¡°Mother wanted to have the best of both worlds. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve been living quietly all these years. What does it matter if you are biological or not? You live happily in this family.¡±


    ¡°What about that couple just now?¡±


    ¡°Some people wanted to disgust Mother and tried to deceive you. They used nasty means.¡±


    ¡°Who are they? How can they be so evil?¡±


    ¡°Mother will investigate. Now that you know I¡¯m your birth mother, you can rest assured, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, yes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because Mother doesn¡¯t want to give the Tian family a chance. You don¡¯t want


    Mother to be troubled by themter, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, then only we will know about this.¡±


    ¡°Good girl. Do your work now. Mother needs to cultivate.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother!¡±


    Ling¡¯er happily left. Now that she knew her birth parents, she had no more worries.


    Qiao Mai watched her daughter happily leave,ughed, and shook her head. She thought about the person behind her, and her smile immediately disappeared.


    Is she offending the royal family? Many of the old emperor¡¯s sons have fallen into her hands. Now, there¡¯s another one.


    Want revenge? Bring it on. Let¡¯s see who cries in the end!


    They would keep bothering her about Ling¡¯er¡¯s ancestry. How about dealing with it decisively?


    In the middle of the night, it started raining with no wind. It was hot and stuffy outside, but it was a different scene in Lucky Garden.


    Old Master Wang and the others were sound asleep. The spiritual beasts had foundfortable ces to rest. In such weather, it wasn¡¯t suitable for that kind of activity.


    But who was she? Qiao Mai, dressed in ck, floated into Prince Li¡¯s residence.


    Today, she didn¡¯t n to bother with that Ninth Prince.


    Her target is the wealth of the Wang family, Prince Li¡¯s left leg, and his wife¡¯s right leg. Only then would they be a matching family.


    When dawn broke, Qiao Mai had changed into her nightgown and was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.


    This period of unsuitable seclusion has its reasons. She liked to go with the flow. If something happened when she wanted to seclude herself, it meant even the heavens didn¡¯t want her to do so.


    Prince Li¡¯s residence was thoroughly robbed. Prince Li and his wife each had one broken leg. This news reached the emperor¡¯s ears after the morning court.


    Who could the emperor send to handle this case? Even in a hurry, the emperor knew it was useless.


    After the morning court, he ordered someone to go to Prince Li¡¯s house and forcibly carried him into the pce..

 Chapter 334 - 334: Think About It

    Chapter 334 - 334: Think About It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In the imperial study, the emperor red at him with a dark expression.


    ¡°Speak. What immoral things have you been up to recently?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯ve been wronged!¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to list all the hical things you¡¯ve done over the years?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything!¡±


    ¡°You must confess truthfully, or I¡¯ll depose you.¡±


    ¡°Father, I haven¡¯t offended anyone.¡±


    ¡°Think about it.¡±


    Prince Li recalled painfully. In these recent days, he had been honest and well-behaved. He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong or offended anyone.


    As he pondered, he suddenly remembered something and looked at the emperor strangely.


    ¡°Father, I sent someone on a job, but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s bad.¡±


    ¡°Spill it out!¡±


    ¡°I sent someone to investigate Minister Yuan¡¯s background. I found out Princess Tianshui was adopted and thought of hiring a couple to act as her birth parents. However, it didn¡¯t seed.¡±


    ¡°Why did you do so?¡±


    ¡°You know that my son is interested in her. Madam Qiao refused, so I thought perhaps her birth parents could decide her marriage. Even if the recognition failed, it might trouble Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°You fool! What kind of person is your son? He dares to think about Princess


    Tianshui. I¡¯d rather send my best grandson to marry her. Your useless yboy wants to marry a precious pearl like her? What are you?¡±


    If Prince Li hadn¡¯t been injured, the emperor wanted to use the inkstone on the table to smash him.


    ¡°Father, I was foolish. Even if my son is terrible, he is still your grandson. As his father, I couldn¡¯t ignore my son¡¯s injury. I should seek revenge on his behalf.


    ¡°Have you avenged him? No? If you don¡¯t discipline him properly, do you see what happened today? Such incidents have urred many times in the capital. Who found out? Just because you are royal, does it give you the right to do as you please? Talented individuals are as numerous as hairs on an ox.¡±


    ¡°Father, what should I do?¡±


    ¡°Your wife has many properties. You won¡¯t starve. Figure it out yourself and be honest from now on. Get out!¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t say more and had him sent back. He wanted to find a breakthrough by bringing his fifth son here.


    Sitting at the dragon desk, he tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table.


    He had investigated Madam Qiao, who had skills and connections but wasn¡¯t powerful enough to steal from Prince Li¡¯s residence entirely.


    The likelihood of her breaking the Fifth Prince¡¯s legs isn¡¯t very high because Prince Li has skilled individuals by his side. The idea of someone silently breaking the couple¡¯s legs is something he couldn¡¯t fathom.


    Could it be that mysterious figure from that night, the one dressed in ck and wearing a hat?


    Was it him? He had been staying in the capital, observing the royal family.


    Otherwise, how could several of his imperial sons be consecutively robbed? He wouldn¡¯t know what they had done if not for these cases.


    Was that person intervening to discipline his sons on his behalf? Or perhaps, was that person displeased with them? Had his sons offended that mysterious individual?


    The emperor couldn¡¯t help but specte in his mind. Thinking of the person who conjured up so much food out of thin air, it was undoubtedly the work of that divine being.


    Could that person be Madam Qiao? The emperor tried to ovep the images of the two in his mind but couldn¡¯t be sure.


    ¡°Yubao!¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I am here!¡±


    ¡°Summon Madam Qiao into the pce.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°No, invite Madam Qiao to the pce.¡±


    Yubao hesitated, then took the order and left.


    When he arrived at the Qiao residence, Qiao Mai had just woken up. Wearing her nightgown, she was drinking cold tea. Yubao stood outside her bedroom.


    The emperor used a polite tone, employing the term of invitation rather than amand, to discuss the matter amicably. Therefore, Yubao dared not act presumptuously.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, His Majesty invites you to the pce.¡± ¡°Would you prefer to return first or wait for me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    Qiao Mai changed into a new outfit,bed her hair, and tied it up casually. She followed Yubao into the pce.


    In the study, the emperor weed her with a smile, asking her to sit and serve tea.


    ¡°As inws, let¡¯s speak frankly.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, please go ahead.¡±


    The crafty emperor carefully observed Qiao Mai, trying to glean something from her.


    ¡°Last night, Prince Li and his wife were attacked. Their wealth was stolen. This matter¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s great. Haha.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao has a straightforward nature. It seems you harbor a deep hatred for Prince Li.¡±


    ¡°As a member of the royal family, he should restrain his children, setting an example for the people and officials. But he indulges his children in their misdeeds. They even dare to harass the wives and daughters of ministers. My daughter has been humiliated. If I had the ability, I wouldn¡¯t have only crippled their legs. Hmph!¡±


    The old emperor blushed at Qiao Mai¡¯s words. ¡°I have already reprimanded them.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, are you speaking as the emperor or an inw?¡±


    ¡°Naturally, as your inw.¡±


    ¡°In that case, let me speak inly. As a wise ruler, why only punish officials?


    Why not clean up the pests in the royal family?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°Who has been repeatedly indulging them? Is it Prince Li? No, it¡¯s you. You, the emperor who showers favor on the royal family, allow them to act recklessly. They think of how to drain the people¡¯s blood or how to devour the people¡¯s flesh. You¡¯ve witnessed such incidents many times when you¡¯ve roamed the streets in disguise. Have you intervened?¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s words hit the emperor hard. Before he could get mad, she continued.


    ¡°Are you angry now? I only speak the truth. What about themoners? They live being fried in a pot of oil.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to infuriate me to death?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I speak as your inw to tell you the truth.¡±


    ¡°How bold of you!¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, although you rule the world, there are many formidable individuals you can¡¯t afford to offend. Lead by example, and your kingdom will be secure.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°You summoned me, suspecting that I might be the culprit.¡±


    ¡°What do you say?¡±


    ¡°umte goodness, and the people will love you; umte evil, and the people will remove you!¡±


    ¡°You admitted it?¡±


    ¡°As the emperor, you can determine any conviction.¡±


    Qiao Mai stared directly at the emperor. The emperor, confronted with her gaze, had never felt so unsure. At this moment, Consort Rui arrived.


    Her entrance broke the subtle confrontation between the two. It wasn¡¯t really a confrontation; Qiao Mai merely didn¡¯t want to expose herself.


    Dealing with the old emperor would be a matter of minutes. Consort Rui came in, gave the emperor a bow, and then warmly approached Qiao Mai, pulling her hand and starting a lively conversation. ¡°I heard you came, so I rushed over in joy.¡± ¡°The emperor was asking about my husband.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I am inquiring about Minister Yuan.¡±


    ¡°Today, you mustn¡¯t slip away. Come to my pce. I¡¯ll have the chef prepare some of their specialties.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The emperor watched the two women walk away hand in hand and wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.


    Qiao Mai was not simple. He had always known that. He didn¡¯t expect her to dare to offend the emperor.


    People like her were either insane or straightforward or had immense confidence, not fearing the royal family.


    In this confrontation with Qiao Mai, the old emperor ssified her as a person of unpredictable depth.


    He summoned two Golden Dragon Guards. ¡°Secretly observe Madam Qiao from a distance. Don¡¯t let her notice you. Report immediately if anything unusual happens..¡±

 Chapter 335 - 335: This Fruit Doesn’t Need to Be Washed

    Chapter 335 - 335: This Fruit Doesn¡¯t Need to Be Washed


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At noon, Consort Rui hosted Qiao Mai in her pce with Jiamei.


    The emperor apanied them, though he initially hesitated. He attended to observe Qiao Mai up close.


    Thinking of the New Year¡¯s Eve banquet, the old emperor struggled for conversation as they ate.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, the magical way you produced items out of thin air that day, is it a trick or a skill?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s both. Magic is considered a form of skill, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, can you show us another trick now?¡± ¡°It depends on what Your Majesty desires.¡±


    ¡°What else can you produce?¡±


    ¡°Fruits. ¡±


    ¡°What about the set of jewelry you gave to Consort Rui that day?¡±


    ¡°I already had that set of jewelry on me. I intended to give it to my inw.¡±


    The emperor questioned, attempting to unveil the mystery, ¡°Are the fruits in your shop also magically produced?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, that¡¯s like asking for a recipe. Will I reveal the secrets of my trade?¡±


    ¡°With this hot weather, I crave melons. Can you conjure up a few for me?¡± ¡°Bring a table and some trays. Cover them all withrge red cloths.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, ncing at the emperor. She sensed his suspicion, but she didn¡¯t care. Let him guess; she wouldn¡¯t admit anything.


    The more she acted this way, the more the emperor grew wary of her. Let him continue guessing; it was challenging for him at his age.


    Effortlessly, she conjured a variety of melons on each tray. It happened before them, yet none of the three could make sense of it.


    ¡°This is Qilin Watermelon. It has thin skin, red flesh, and is sweet. In this weather, you must want something chilled. This is Golden Melon, your favorite. This is Honeydew, this is White Jade Melon, this is Horned Melon, this is Sweet Melon, and this is Papaya. Although itcks vor, it has a breast- enhancing effect. ¡±


    The three gulped, watching as Qiao Mai lifted each piece of red cloth, introducing a different type of fruit, leaving them thoroughly amazed.


    ¡°Can you produce anything else?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Since the emperor was so keen on seeing through her abilities, she decided to indulge him.


    ¡°Rui,st time, I gave the chance to the empress. This time, it¡¯s your turn. Let me watch.¡±


    ¡°Can Jiamei also choose?¡±


    The mother and daughter opened their mouths in surprise, ¡°Oh.¡±


    Consort Rui thought for a moment. ¡°I like apples. Can you?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled, moved the melons aside, and covered the trays with red cloths.


    ¡°Watch closely.¡±


    She swiftly uncovered one cloth, revealing a pile of red. ¡°These are red apples.¡±


    Another cloth revealed yellow. ¡°These are yellow apples.¡±


    ¡°These are green yellows.¡±


    ¡°This is Snake Apple, a variety of apples. This is Sugar Heart Apple, and this is Cream Apple. The taste of each apple is different. If you want to know the vor, you can have someone cut them into small pieces. Jiamei, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°Aunt, I like any sweet fruits.¡±


    In no time, Qiao Mai conjured several sweet fruits for her¡ªfirstly mangosteen, incredibly sweet, followed by mango, lychee, cherry, winter jujube, and persimmon.


    The fresh fruits left Jiamei in awe.


    ¡°Wow, these fruits don¡¯t seem to be in season.


    Suddenly, the food on the table lost its appeal. The three gathered around, and the emperor quickly instructed someone to wash the fruits.


    ¡°Your Majesty, you don¡¯t need to wash them. You can consume them directly.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t need to wash?¡±


    ¡°Let it be. I don¡¯t want to exin. If you want to wash them, let someone do it.¡±


    After saying this, Qiao Mai paid no more attention to him. Instead, she and Jiamei indulged in eating.


    These fruits originated from her space, containing spiritual energy. They satisfy cravings and also bring benefits to the body.


    The old emperor enjoyed the fruits immensely, forgetting the tense scene in the study just a while ago.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, will Jiamei be your only daughter-inw in the future?¡± ¡°Ah, what do you mean, Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking that once we¡¯ve chosen the heir, I¡¯ll bring Consort Rui to your home. Is that eptable?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that staying in your home isfortable and rxing. Everything smells nice and pleasant. I bet even sleeping would be dreamless.¡± ¡°It seems Your Majesty needs a good rest for some time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, everyone is eyeing this position. While it¡¯s good, it¡¯s also tiring.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not old yet, just in your fifties. For the position of the heir, older candidates won¡¯t do. You can groom the younger ones; there will always be someone suitable. In history, have some emperors lived a long life? Yes, but very few. Most are busy with state affairs. You can¡¯t have everything. It¡¯s a matter of life or power, depending on Your Majesty¡¯s choice.¡±


    Consort Rui watched Qiao Mai speak boldly to the emperor and was frightened into silence. Surprisingly, the emperor didn¡¯t get angry. How strange.


    ¡°I heard Madam Qiao is highly skilled in martial arts.¡±


    ¡°Good enough to protect my family.¡±


    Hearing this, the emperor spected, ¡°Madam Qiao, aren¡¯t you enticed by wealth and power?¡±


    ¡°Those who are capable don¡¯t care about such things. We long for freedom and vast horizons.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you get a title for your husband?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what he deserved? Our family contributed so many prescriptions, bringing immense benefits to you. I am a businesswoman; it¡¯s a matter of trade rules. ¡±


    The emperor was dumbfounded. Was there such a perspective? How did he not know? Under the heavens, who dared to negotiate conditions with him? Only her. Truly a daring woman, fearless of anything.


    Qiao Mai left the old emperor speechless. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like the imperial pce was her garden.


    Others were constrained, but she was carefree and speaking with ease!


    After returning from the imperial pce, incessant rain fell over the capital. Qiao Mai wondered about her husband¡¯s disaster relief efforts in the South.


    Up to now, there had been no sign of his presence. Ling¡¯er¡¯s side also remained calm. Since the incident, no man hade to harass her.


    Half a month had passed, and Qiao Mai became a bit anxious. One night, she left the capital, following her divine sense to find Yuan Jiaqi.


    Flying along the way, sheined. It was stuffy, hot, and humid.


    The north was fine, with just a little over a month of humidity.


    In the southern regions, especially in low-lying areas, there were continuous puddles of water, and clothes rarely dried.


    Living conditions were challenging everywhere. Qiao Mai shook her head and sighed.


    Following her consciousness, she encountered more and more disaster victims. Fortunately, relief supplies seemed to have been distributed in areas with a higher concentration of victims, indicating Yuan Jiaqi was not far away.


    Finding a secluded spot, she selected an ordinary set of clothes from her space, disguising herself as a vige woman with a bag slung over her shoulder, and continued walking along the official road.


    The area had been affected by floods, transforming the once-t road into a differentndscape after the waters receded.


    In the middle were deep wheel imprints, obviously left by heavy loads. Qiao Mai sighed; she was a worrier.


    Slowly advancing, she traveled southwest.


    She used her spiritual power to sense. Not far away was a city, notrge, probably a small county.


    Arriving at the gates, she didn¡¯t see many disaster victims. The gate was open but quiet.


    No one asked for an entrance fee. She directly entered the city. Inside, it was lively; some victims rested on both sides of the streets.


    Carrying a bundle, Qiao Mai squatted in front of a family of victims.


    ¡°Has the court distributed relief supplies?¡± ¡°They have. Silver has also been distributed.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you still here?¡±


    ¡°Some officials came, arranging the victims with the county magistrate batch by batch. We camete and are in the back.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Where can we collect relief supplies?¡±


    ¡°Up ahead, past two intersections, turn right, and keep going. On the left is a magnificent gate with the words ¡®County Office.¡¯ The high-ranking officials from the capital are there.¡±


    ¡°Thank you! ¡±


    Qiao Mai arched her hand and went to the county office. At this moment, there was a long line outside. Qiao Mai used teleportation to go in..

 Chapter 336 - 336: All For Naught

    Chapter 336: All For Naught


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She immediately saw her husband, Yuan Jiaqi, the county magistrate, and a group of officials arranging for the disaster victims.


    They wanted to search for a suitable vige in the county.


    Qiao Mai stood at the side and looked at her husband, whom she had not seen for a long time. He had lost weight and looked haggard. Even his beard had grown out.


    However, he seemed to be in good spirits. Just as she was about to walk up and greet her husband, a woman walked to Yuan Jiaqi with a bowl of soup.


    ¡°Minister Yuan, you haven¡¯t eaten your fill yet. This is the chicken soup I made for you. There¡¯s ginseng in it. Would you like to have a sip?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t even raise his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I must settle the matters here and reply to the emperor¡¯s orders as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°But your health is more important than a moment, right?¡±


    When Qiao Mai heard this, she cursed under her breath. Women would keep appearing around him like flies. Which family was this girl from? Taking advantage of her absence to poach him?


    Yuan Jiaqi stopped what he was doing and raised his head to stare coldly at the girl.


    ¡°There are many people around who haven¡¯t eaten for a day like me. Can you give them the chicken soup?¡±


    ¡°W-why?¡±


    ¡°I only drink the soup my wife stews.¡±


    After saying that, he lowered his head and continued to record. The woman was embarrassed. In front of so many people, she had no choice but to ask a servant girl to divide the chicken soup into several bowls and distribute it.


    Qiao Mai smiled. Her husband had done well, so she took a big apple from her bag.


    She quietly came to the table and ced the apple in front of Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°Minister Yuan, thank you for your hard work!¡±


    When Yuan Jiaqi heard this voice, he raised his head abruptly. The moment he saw Qiao Mai, he stood up and rushed forward to hug her in his arms. Breathing in the unique fragrance on his wife¡¯s body, he asked happily.


    ¡°Wife, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I was worried, so I came to see you. Look at how much you¡¯ve lost weight. It seems I have failed as your wife.¡±


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t.¡±


    The woman had wanted to scold Qiao Mai, who had suddenly appeared, but when she heard Yuan Jiaqi call her wife, her face immediately turned pale.


    She coldly sized up Qiao Mai. When she saw her looking like a vige woman, her confidence immediately soared.


    Qiao Mai looked at Yuan Jiaqi gently.¡± Have an apple first. I¡¯ll make you something deliciouster.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi picked up the apple and started eating.¡± Oh, it¡¯s so delicious. I haven¡¯t eaten anything from home for more than a month.¡±


    ¡°Are you done here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all. After settling the disaster victims in the city, I can leave.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you?¡±


    The couple¡¯s lovey-dovey appearance was too eye-catching. The girl was so angry that she sped her hands together. She exchanged nces with a man present. The man shook his head at her. The woman remained silent and did not take further action.


    She was the daughter of the county magistrate. When she first saw the mature and dignified Yuan Jiaqi, she had fallen in love with him.


    But with her current identity and status, she was not even qualified to be a concubine of an honorary prince.


    So she told her parents about her thoughts. They didn¡¯t object, but the county magistrate inquired about Yuan Jiaqi with the men he brought.


    This man was afraid of his wife, and all his money came from the Royal Consort. The passion in his heart immediately cooled by half.


    What was there to climb up to? They couldn¡¯t count on anything. Even if they wanted to take advantage, they had to depend on Qiao Mai. Other than the girl herself, no one had any fantasies.


    It had been several days, but Yuan Jiaqi did not even give her a chance. She was so anxious that she was running around in circles.


    Yuan Jiaqi asked someone to move a chair for Qiao Mai to sit beside him. He let her watch from the side when he was working. The two looked at each other and smiled from time to time.


    The girl was unwilling to give up and came to Qiao Mai¡¯s side.


    ¡°The daughter of the county magistrate of Yuanshan, Sun Shumin greets the


    Royal Consort.¡±


    ¡°Yes. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°After Mr. Yuan is done with his work, why don¡¯t youe to my house? My culinary skills are decent¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Qiao Mai interrupted her.


    ¡°My husband and I have never had any dealings with any officials of the imperial court privately. Work is work. If there¡¯s anything, we¡¯ll talk here. If there¡¯s nothing, we¡¯ll go home.¡±


    This sentence made Miss Sun¡¯s face turn red. How could she continue?


    She could only curtsy and say, ¡°Yes, Royal Consort,¡± before standing to the side.


    The sky gradually darkened. The people registered today would follow the official to the vige early in the morning to arrange their settlement.


    Yuan Jiaqi stood up and held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Wife, the people I brought are all staying in the inn. Let¡¯s go to the restaurant to eatter?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need me to cook for you?¡±


    ¡°You are also tired. Have a good rest for the night.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi held his wife¡¯s hand and didn¡¯t even look at Miss Sun. He walked in front, and the people he brought followed behind.


    The Yuanshan County Magistrate sighed and let his subordinates finish up the work.


    ¡°Daughter, stop being delusional. It¡¯s impossible for what you have in your heart. Don¡¯t let it be all for naught.¡±


    ¡°Father, I like him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not the one for you!¡±


    ¡°With my beauty, I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t enter his eyes.¡±


    ¡± Don¡¯t lie to yourself. He didn¡¯t even look at you.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, as long as he takes a serious look at me, he will be mesmerized by my beauty.¡±


    The county magistrate looked at his daughter with a strange gaze, not knowing what to say.


    His daughter was a famous beauty in Yuanshan County. If she said she was second, no one would im first. Even if she wasn¡¯t devastatingly beautiful, she could still be considered stunning.


    She was good-looking but conceited. How could she be willing to stay in such a small ce?


    Naturally, she wanted to marry up. With her status, she did not fancy a small family, but she couldn¡¯t marry into a noble family. Now, she was seventeen but had not set a marriage.


    Yuan Jiaqi had always been good-looking. He was gentle and refined, but he had also been socializing with the emperor and officials in the capital over the years. He had cultivated a noble aura. All the women wanted to have him as a partner.


    Not to mention the girls from a small county, even the wealthy and prominent families in the capital wanted him.


    Unfortunately, they were all defeated by Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s vicious mouth and ruthlessness.


    Until now, Yuan Jiaqi had never looked Miss Sun in the eye.


    In a private room on the second floor of the restaurant, a sumptuous meal was served. Yuan Jiaqi handed Qiao Mai a pair of chopsticks.


    ¡°Wife, why don¡¯t you try the dishes from the South?¡±


    ¡°Alright, hurry up and eat too. We¡¯ve been busy all day. Don¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Royal Consort!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi wanted to peel some prawns for Qiao Mai, but she stopped him. ¡® Eat your food. This is a critical period. I won¡¯t stop you from doing whatever you want when we get home.¡±


    ¡°Uh, then I¡¯ll start eating?¡±


    Everyone at the table wolfed down their food except for Qiao Mai. They were all her husband¡¯s subordinates and were loyal to him, so Qiao Mai naturally couldn¡¯t mistreat them.


    She took a jar of wine from under the table. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes lit up as he took it. ¡°Don¡¯t just eat. Come, let¡¯s have a bowl of wine each. Drink it to relieve your fatigue and have a good sleep.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Yuan!¡±


    To prevent dying things, he did not allow his subordinates to drink wine these days. When Qiao Mai arrived, they could finally taste alcohol again.


    They were about to die from craving it. A subordinate took the wine jar and asked the shopkeeper to send in a few bowls. He filled a bowl for everyone.


    Opening the lid, just smelling the fragrance of the wine relieved the tiredness in their body.


    Someone couldn¡¯t wait to take a sip. ¡°Wow, this wine smells so good. It¡¯s warm in my stomach and dispelled my fatigue. It¡¯s really good wine.¡± ¡°This is the medicinal wine I made. It¡¯s good for your bodies.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Royal Consort.¡±


    Qiao Mai picked up the wine bowl for her husband. ¡°Drink up. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight recently. Now that I¡¯m here, you can have a good sleep.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Yes!¡±


    When everyone saw this, they quickly lowered their heads and returned to the inn to rest.


    The two ate and walked hand in hand on the streets of the county town.


    ¡°Where are Dongzhao and Dracaena?¡±

 Chapter 337 - 337: Have Some Decency

    Chapter 337 - 337: Have Some Decency


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°At the inn and all the way here, everything went smoothly without any hitches. There are over a hundred thousand disaster-affected people in the two counties. Each family received grain and silver. I¡¯ve also made arrangements in low-lying areas to prevent recurrent disasters. We shouldn¡¯t let them suffer every year. This time, the measures are more thorough.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve learned from Tianshui Town. Ditches andrge pits were dug to divert water.¡±


    ¡°For ces prone to flooding, it¡¯s better to dig channels on both sides, leading to north-south waterways. This way, the solution is moreprehensive.¡±


    ¡°Wife, how about we take a boat tour along the north-south waterways when we have the chance? I heard that even in the north, there¡¯s no shortage of water these years, and many ces are breeding fish and shrimp.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps when the time is right. Now is not suitable. Let¡¯s wait until our son gets married and our daughter finds a husband.¡±


    As they talked, the voice of Miss Sun came from behind.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, what a coincidence.¡±


    The couple exchanged nces, revealing a helpless expression. Without turning around, they continued walking.


    With two maids, Miss Sun panted as she ran up, blocking their way.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, Madam Yuan!¡±


    After exchanging greetings, Qiao Mai looked at her.


    ¡°What is a youngdy like you doing, wandering outside when it¡¯s dark?¡±


    ¡°As it is the Royal Consort¡¯s first visit, my father asked me to represent him in extending hospitality!¡±


    ¡°No need. My husband and I haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time. We want to walk alone. Miss Sun, please don¡¯t disturb us.¡± This direct sentence immediately silenced Miss Sun.


    The couple passed by Miss Sun, continuing on their way. Miss Sun burst into tears loudly. She had never suffered such humiliation here.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan just nced at me earlier. Why didn¡¯t he show the infatuation in his eyes like other men?¡±


    ¡°Miss, Mr. Yuan lives in the capital. He must have seen many beauties.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe there are so many beauties in the capital. I want to go to the capital. I want to follow him to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Miss, don¡¯t cry. Your aunt has married to the capital. We can visit her as a pretext and go to the capital together?¡±


    ¡°Humph, what¡¯s so good about her? She looks average, like a vige woman. I don¡¯t know why Mr. Yuan prefers her.¡±


    Back in the inn where Yuan Jiaqi stayed, he was about to light a candle when Qiao Mai waved her hand. Two objects appeared on the table.


    ¡°Wife, what is this?¡±


    ¡°No need to light candles. The light is weak. Use this instead.¡±


    She found two ces, hung the objects high, and pressed a button, nearly blinding Yuan Jiayi.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a sr light stick. It has an object covering it outside; otherwise, it would be even more dazzling.¡± ¡°Does it absorb sunlight?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°The room is so bright now. Everything looks clear.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the room¡¯s facilities. ¡°This room is damp. The bed is so small; how do we sleep?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not small. You are used to a big bed. This room is the upper-ss room, enough for both of us.¡±


    She immediately set up a barrier for the room and pasted an anti-moisture talisman at the door. On the table, she put a few fruits and looked at Yuan Jiaqi, noticing his damp appearance.


    Arge wooden bathtub appeared on the ground, filled with water that seemed to emit a certain gas.


    ¡°Husband, you¡¯ve worked hard. Take a bath?¡±


    Although he was used to these sudden urrences, Yuan Jiaqi was still taken aback.


    ¡°Go in and have a good soak. Tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll surely feel refreshed.¡±


    Yuan Jiayi blushed. Usually, he attended to his wife¡¯s bath, and now, it was his turn. He felt a bit embarrassed.


    Qiao Mai helped him undress, and he groanedfortably in the tub.


    ¡°Wife, did you add medicine to this too?¡± ¡°A bit.¡±


    ¡°No wonder. I feel sofortable all over.


    Qiao Mai handed him a banana, peeling one for herself.


    ¡°Wife, how about apanying me to the court tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I will prepare lunch for you. Let¡¯s also have dinner together at the restaurant?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s great to have my wife around.¡±


    After a short conversation, the man fell asleep in the tub. Qiao Mai wiped him dry, ced him on the bed, cleaned the room, andy beside him.


    The room was now dry. She took out a nket from her space andid it over his stomach.


    Looking at her husband¡¯s peaceful sleeping face, Qiao Mai realized that without her, he probably couldn¡¯t sleep soundly. When she was by his side, or when they were at home, he could truly rx and sleep well.


    When Yuan Jiaqi opened his eyes the next morning, he saw a table of his favorite breakfast.


    ¡°Awake?¡±


    ¡°Wife, you prepared breakfast?¡±


    ¡°You are from the north. Southern breakfast is definitely not to your taste. I borrowed someone else¡¯s kitchen to make it. Get up and eat.¡±


    Wearing clean clothes left on the bed, Yuan Jiaqi stretchedzily.


    After washing up and sitting at the table, the couple had breakfast. Yuan Jiaqi saw a basket of stuffed buns and meat.


    ¡°Is this for them?¡± ¡°Yes, your subordinates have worked hard. You can let them have a good meal.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, wife!¡±


    Yuan Jiayi covered the cloth on the basket, picked it up, and left. Qiao Mai closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and followed him with her spiritual power.


    Several subordinates were waiting outside the inn. When they saw Yuan Jiaqi carrying a basket, they immediately crowded around. ¡°Sir, is this from Madam Yuan for us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a deal for you. Eat well after finishing the work.¡±


    ¡°Thank you! ¡±


    Each of them held a stuffed bun, wolfing them down.


    ¡°Madam Yuan has great culinary skills. These stuffed buns with meat are too delicious. We don¡¯t have this in the south.¡± ¡°Eating can¡¯t shut your mouths.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, I¡¯ll pick you up to the court.¡±


    Hearing this voice, Yuan Jiaqi felt annoyed. He looked at Miss Sun, who was blushing.


    ¡°Have some decency. I really dislike you and hope you won¡¯t appear in front of me again.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, how can you speak so heartlessly?¡±


    Hearing this, Miss Sun was heartbroken. He didn¡¯t take care of her pride in front of so many people.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. I have a wife, and I won¡¯t take concubines. Whether you genuinely like me or seek higher status, I have no interest. Please, youngdy, stay at home and focus on your duties.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yuan!¡±


    ¡°If you persist in entangling with me, don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so good about her?¡±


    ¡°You are not worthy topare with my wife. You are not even worthy to carry her shoes.¡±


    Several subordinates wanted tough. They saw the county magistrate¡¯s daughter pestering Yuan Jiaqi daily, but Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t even give her a proper look.


    Even so, she has not given up. Her face was as thick as a city wall.


    Regardless of whether she was heartbroken, Yuan Jiaqi went to the court with his subordinates. He scolded the county magistrate when he saw him.


    ¡°Take care of your daughter. If she causes my wife to be angry because of her entanglement, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡±


    The county magistrate¡¯s face turned pale. He hurriedly bowed to apologize,


    ¡°Yes, I will discipline her properly.¡±


    When Miss Sun caught up to the court, she was blocked by the bailiff and taken away.


    With one less nuisance around, Yuan Jiaqi felt much more rxed working in the court.


    Qiao Mai retracted her spiritual power, with a smile on her lips, thinking about what dishes to cook for her husband and his subordinates for lunch.


    Simple, delicious, and hassle-free.


    At this time, the capital was as lively as during the New Year. The neighboring countries had sent a letter to the emperor, proposing marriage alliances to promote friendship between the kingdoms.


    During Qiao Mai¡¯s absence, envoys from various countries arrived in the capital one after another.


    Now, there were many foreign envoys with strange costumes on the streets. The people looked at them with eyes full of resentment.


    These shameless people had just lost the war. Yet, they shamelessly came here for a marriage alliance.. Who gave them the courage?

 Chapter 338 - 338: Not a Chance

    Chapter 338: Not a Chance


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    If it weren¡¯t for the soldiers protecting them, themoners would have long thrown rotten eggs and vegetable leaves at them.


    What virtue is this? A group of defeated subordinates still dares to swagger in the Ming Dynasty, showing off their might.


    Relying on the fact that they were envoys from another country, they took whatever they wanted in the capital. When asked for payment, they pretended not to understand, behaving like bandits.


    Even so, some court officials treated them as treasures.


    They nodded and bowed to them, making themoners furious.


    In their hearts, they cursed. ¡°These bootlickers. If you want to be apdog, don¡¯t do it in the Ming Dynasty. Go to their country.¡±


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery did not escape this. The foreign envoys wanted to grab things from the shop, but they were kicked out by the guardian sheep. And Ling¡¯er, just because she was standing at the door watching themotion, caught the eye of one of the foreign envoys.


    After inquiring, they found out she was a county princess of the Ming Dynasty. They did not dare to bully her but secretly submitted a note to the emperor, proposing marriage to Princess Tianshui.


    Four foreign envoys came with four princesses and princes. The princesses would choose three princes or imperial grandsons, and the princes would choose three princesses or county princesses.


    Unfortunately, Ling¡¯er was selected by them. The old emperor wasn¡¯t foolish, after all.


    Hearing about the actions of the envoy in the capital, he immediately summoned them to the pce.


    In the Grand Council Hall, the emperor looked down upon them from above.


    ¡°You are here to ease tensions between countries. Behave yourselves. This is my territory. If there is another incident of plundering the people, my Golden Dragon Guards will show no mercy. Defeated subordinates have no right to swagger in my country.¡±


    Seeing the old emperor¡¯s domineering demeanor despite his age, they all lowered their heads.


    ¡°Your Majesty, your words will be heeded by our envoy.¡±


    ¡°I hope you remember, or don¡¯t me me for not following the rules.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Alright. In a few days, I will host a banquet and invite the daughters and sons of third-rank officials and above.¡¯


    The envoys exchanged nces. They would bring up the matter of Princess Tianshui at that time. The emperor was still angry now.


    From that day on, there were always foreign envoys peeking into the Lucky Embroidery Shop.


    Ling¡¯er was disgusted by this. Fortunately, her mother left her a guardian sheep. Otherwise, she worried about how to deal with it.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang also knew about this. They woulde to the shop from time to time.


    Old Master Wang even left Bai Ze at Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery during the day and let it guard Lucky Garden at night.


    He was afraid that if something happened while Qiao Mai was away, they wouldn¡¯t be able to exin.


    The emperor had been waiting. For some reason, he wanted to wait until Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi returned to host the banquet.


    Not to mention other things, her ability to create objects out of thin air would surely amaze the envoys.


    At this moment, Qiao Mai had changed out of the vige woman¡¯s clothes. Even in such simple clothes, she was notparable to the daughter of a county magistrate.


    She prepared two meals daily at the inn, delivering one to her husband at noon and taking his subordinates to the restaurant to treat them in the evening.


    Miss Sun was confined at home by the county magistrate. She had no chance at all.


    After staying in Yuanshan County for five days, they finally arranged for all the disced people. Yuan Jiaqi stretchedzily.


    ¡°We will have a good meal tonight and leave for the capital early tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    These days, thanks to Qiao Mai¡¯s blessings, they ate well, slept well, and were happy. When they heard they could return to the capital, they were all overjoyed.


    When Dongzhao and Dracaena were moved out of the stable the next day, they happily ran to their owner.


    Qiao Mai smiled and patted their heads, feeding them a few pills.


    ¡°Wife, shall we ride horses instead of taking a carriage?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The carriage was given to some weak civil officials. The couple rode horses in front.


    ¡°Riding a horse is enjoyable.¡±


    ¡°Women who often ride horses can lose weight and maintain their figures.¡± ¡°My wife on horseback looks particrly mighty.¡±


    The journey seemed long when they set out, but on the way back, they felt rxed. The six-day journey waspleted in three days.


    Upon entering the city gate, Yuan Jiaqi instructed his subordinates to return home.


    ¡°Hmm? Wife, why does the capital feel different?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we get home.¡±


    They dismounted at their doorstep, and their horses were led inside by the servants. The couple decided to visit Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    They sat outside. Shopkeeper Niu rushed over when he saw them.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯ve finally returned!¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Foreign envoys came to visit the Ming Dynasty but were not well-behaved. They took things from themoners without paying and were finally reprimanded by the emperor.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°I feel they have ill intentions. Recently, we¡¯ve noticed that the attendants they brought with them wander around our area without reason.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be polite. Anyone who doesn¡¯t follow our rules should be dealt with. Beat them until they learn their lesson.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡¯


    Shopkeeper Niu went off to attend to his duties, while Yuan Jiaqi decided to go to the imperial pce immediately to report and seek an audience with the emperor.


    Resting for a while at his shop, he then summoned Dracaena and rode it to the pce.


    Hearing that her mother had returned, Ling¡¯er ran over from the embroidery shop.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve finally returned!¡±


    ¡°Has anyone bullied you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t go out. Besides, the sheep is quite formidable. It won¡¯t cause any trouble for you.¡±


    ¡°Good, just take the sheep with you when you go out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go out when you¡¯re home. When you¡¯re not, I stay at the shop. Weck nothing at home, and I don¡¯t need to buy anything.¡±


    ¡°Except for your sister-inw, haven¡¯t you made any friends?¡±


    Ling¡¯er sighed softly, ¡°Mother, although they treat me well on the surface, I know they look down on me. They think I¡¯m from a small ce, ignorant of manners, andck proper upbringing.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! My daughter is the best in the world.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not angry. Let them say what they want.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a good girl.¡±


    Looking at her daughter, who was obedient and sensible, Qiao Mai wished she could give her the best things in the world.


    Not long after, the pce sent out invitations.


    The emperor even instructed the eunuch to deliver the invitation to make sure Madam Qiao attended with her family.


    Qiao Mai sneered at the idea of her daughter being used for political alliances. The emperor must be dreaming if he thought she would willingly let her daughter be married off. If they tried to force it, she wouldn¡¯t go easy on him.


    Three dayster, the family of four dressed inly and rode in a horse-drawn carriage pulled by Dongzhao and Dracaena.


    The coachman was still Steward Zhang.


    At the pce entrance, there was a long queue of people with invitations.


    Peeking through the curtains, Qiao Maimented, ¡°Tsk, how many political marriages have had good results throughout history? I don¡¯t know what to say to them dressing up nicely and eagerly delivering themselves. Are they cheap?¡± ¡°Mother, did you not let me dress up because you don¡¯t want me to marry?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to?¡±


    Ling¡¯er pouted. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to leave my parents or Lucky Garden. How about I find a live-in husband instead?¡±


    ¡°Think it over. In the Ming Dynasty, finding a man as good as your father is almost impossible.¡±


    Blushing, Ling¡¯er lowered her head. ¡°We can talk about it when the timees. After all, I haven¡¯t found anyone I like.¡±


    ¡°You should go out more to meet more people. How else will you know who¡¯s right for you?¡±


    The family of four disembarked and entered without showing their invitation. Jia Mei was waiting for them.


    ¡°Aunt, Uncle, Haichuan? Ling¡¯er, you¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Jiamei led them into the grand hall, arranging seats for them. To make things convenient, each family had a small square table. For those with more family members, they used round tables, each with a cushioned seat..

 Chapter 339 - 339: She Has the Right to Decide

    Chapter 339: She Has the Right to Decide


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Simr to thest banquet, there were only a few unfamiliar faces this time.


    The bearded bordend people, inders with brown eyes, and people whose appearance and skin color were simr to those of the Ming Dynasty.


    They were dressed in the attire of their country, sitting there looking around, pointing, and selecting potential marriage candidates.


    Good. She didn¡¯t see any foreigners with big noses and blue eyes or pirates with single eyelids and short stature.


    This made her somewhat relieved, but she noticed several people staring at Ling¡¯er with lecherous eyes, which made her angry.


    Damn it! Look at all you want. Appreciating a graceful and virtuousdy is normal, but such disgusting looks? Who do they think they are?


    Qiao Mai silently unleashed her mental power, rushing towards the eyes of one of the men. There were no screams, but the eyes staring at Ling¡¯er inexplicably became increasingly blurry.


    No matter how they rubbed their eyes, they couldn¡¯t see clearly, as if they were severely nearsighted.


    At this moment, the emperor arrived with his consorts. Noble Consort Rui, sitting high above, nodded and smiled at Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai also smiled at her. The officials and envoys present all stood up to pay their respects.


    Today was a banquet to select the spouses for young men and women from both sides. Since they had already had formal discussions, there wasn¡¯t much to say today.


    As the emperor arrived, it was time to serve the food. The singing and dancing began.


    On such an asion, performances were inevitable. The four princesses of the envoy performed dances and yed musical instruments while the four princes showcased their skills in swordsmanship, staff techniques, knife skills, and hidden weapons.


    The emperor watched silently from above, asionally whispering to Consort


    Rui.


    A representative from the envoy stood up, bowing to the emperor.


    ¡°Your Majesty, why haven¡¯t Princess Jiamei, Minister Yuan Haichuan, and his sister Princess Tianshui disyed their talents?¡± ¡°They are not within the marriage consideration.¡±


    ¡®Why?¡±


    The emperor was somewhat displeased. What kind of question was that? Couldn¡¯t they use their ears to listen? Were they pretending to be ignorant?


    ¡°Jiamei is Haichuan¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡±


    ¡°I see. What about Princess Tianshui?¡±


    ¡°I promised that Princess Tianshui¡¯s marriage would be decided by herself.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, our Second Prince has fallen in love at first sight with Princess


    Tianshui. Could you fulfill his wish?¡±


    The emperor looked at Ling¡¯er. ¡°Princess Tianshui, what do you say?¡± Ling¡¯er stood up, her posture straight. ¡°Your Majesty, Tianshui is unwilling.¡± ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°These envoys are impolite andck manners. Theye to our victorious country and behave arrogantly. I assume that in their country, they treat their people as ves. I am a princess of the Ming Dynasty and naturally despise the behavior of these lowly dogs. Whoever wants to marry them can do so. In any case, I won¡¯t.¡±


    After her words, the girls who intended to marry foreign princes lowered their heads.


    The envoy smiled. ¡°Princess, I think you¡¯ve misunderstood. The previous incident was a joke due to thenguage barrier. It hasn¡¯t happened again.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I am not interested. How can two countries be friendly through marriage? Do you not harbor any intentions to spy on my country? I must like the man I marry. He must treat me as well as my father treats my mother. You meet none of these criteria.¡¯


    The envoy looked at the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I am the ruler. Once I¡¯ve made a promise, I won¡¯t change it.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stood up. ¡°Your Majesty, as a wise ruler, you will never engage in banditry. Even if there is a marriage, it should be willingly. Please give them the freedom to choose. Whether it seeds or not depends on fate. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course. Fate is emphasized in Buddhism. Those without fate will eventually part even if they walk together.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The envoys from the four countries stood up simultaneously.


    ¡°A monarch is a monarch, and a subject is a subject. If the monarch orders the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. Your Majesty, can¡¯t you even decide on the marriage of your subjects?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t. I seldom arrange marriages. I believe in Buddhism, heaven, and forced melons won¡¯t be sweet. Though I am the king, I am not the ruler of the world. I also need to umte virtues. Refusing to do hical things doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not fit to be the king, right?¡±


    The emperor¡¯s way of speaking was quite something, but the officials seemed to love it.


    The envoys were silenced. The Duke of Zhenguo stood up, ¡°A defeated country has no businessing to us to pick spouses. These princesses should be presented to our country instead.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! A defeated country doesn¡¯t even deserve to contribute. Why should theye to our country to pick brides? It¡¯s unfair!¡±


    The banquet turned into a condemnation, with the emperor sitting above, smiling indulgently as his officials stirred up trouble.


    The envoy team found themselves in a dilemma, mouths agape, faces filled with embarrassment, unsure of what to say.


    Seeing that it was about enough, the emperor finally spoke.


    ¡°Alright, both countries have not killed each other¡¯s envoys. That¡¯s enough. The princesses who came to our country, which one do you fancy?¡±


    The princesses¡¯ expressions were quite unpleasant, and they whispered to each other.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the princess of the Great Qin Dynasty is willing to marry the second son of Prince Chu. Please grant your approval!¡±


    The emperor¡¯s eyes flickered as he looked at Prince Chu. ¡°Has your second son gotten engaged?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡±


    ¡°Fine, let it be then.¡±


    Prince Chu¡¯s expression changed slightly. He looked at his second son and whispered.


    ¡°Son, you might be wronged.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind, Father. I¡¯ll follow your arrangements.¡±


    They all knew the fate of marrying a princess from an enemy country¡ªbeing isted. However, as members of the royal family, they couldn¡¯t escape such political marriages.


    The other three princesses chose members of the imperial family, intending to infiltrate the Ming Dynasty¡¯s royal circle.


    The emperor cursed inwardly, thinking they were deluding themselves. He couldn¡¯t let them have their way now. He nned to wait a few years to demote these princesses to concubines, preventing them from causing trouble.


    He was wary of these people. If the four countries joined forces, his chances of winning were almost zero.


    With the princesses chosen, it was time for the princes. Many officials¡¯ daughters were willing to marry as the primary wife, but they all backed down after hearing Ling¡¯er¡¯s words.


    No girl dared to step forward, turning the marriage alliance into a one-sided affair.


    The four envoys had no choice but to propose marriage to the emperor. However, all of them were rejected, as none of the officials wanted to send their daughters to marry in a defeated country.


    Wouldn¡¯t that result in inviting humiliation? They can¡¯t allow that. How could they lift their heads if they sent them there?


    At this moment, the Second Prince of the Great Qin Dynasty stood up. ¡°Your Majesty, if Princess Tianshui agrees to marry me, our country is willing to cede five border cities. What do you think?¡±


    The emperor was immediately tempted, but the Duke of Zhenguo stood up. ¡°Exchanging cities for women? How will the men live in the future? The cities are defended by us, the warriors. We don¡¯t need Princess Tianshui.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. We don¡¯t need to trade women for cities. If we want a city, we¡¯ll conquer it ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Humph, but that will cost many lives.¡±


    ¡°If we use women to trade for cities, how can we, the men of the Ming Dynasty, hold our heads high? Cities we¡¯ve won with our blood and lives should give us peace of mind.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, stop with this act. We won¡¯t buy it.¡±


    The emperor, who was initially interested, immediately gave up the idea. He secretly nced at Qiao Mai, only to see her calmly sipping her wine, showing no signs of anger.


    Feeling relieved, the emperor couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued by her.


    He still couldn¡¯t figure out her background; she was too mysterious. Was she performing magic, or could she really manipte things remotely?


    Before figuring out her abilities, he thought it best not to offend her.


    The Second Prince gritted his teeth. There is no woman under the sky that he couldn¡¯t get.


    ¡°How about ten cities?¡±


    The emperor¡¯s hands were trembling a bit. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. Compared to cities, my promise is more important.¡±


    The girl, whom the Great Qin Dynasty couldn¡¯t obtain with ten cities, instantly became the center of attention. Envious res from other girls were directed towards Ling¡¯er..

 Chapter 340 - 340: I Won’t Stop You

    Chapter 340: I Won¡¯t Stop You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She has good looks but hasn¡¯t reached the level of breathtaking beauty. What¡¯s so good about her that is worth ten cities?


    They wondered if the prince from that country was blind. Many of them are more beautiful than Princess Tianshui.


    Only the second prince who has set his eyes on Ling¡¯er knows she possesses something other girls don¡¯t. Those blind to it cannot see her goodness.


    Seeing the rejection again, the second prince¡¯s eyes revealed a malicious gaze.


    If soft methods don¡¯t work, he¡¯ll try the hard way. He has already sent people to investigate. Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s family doesn¡¯t even have a guard; the only formidable ones seem to be those sheep.


    Even if they are formidable, they could only kick his subordinates. He ns to send a few experts to handle those sheep and chop them up.


    He also ns to take Ling¡¯er away and hide her somewhere. Then, he will bring her out of the Ming Dynasty. There¡¯s no way he can¡¯t get what he wants.


    For the foreign envoys, today¡¯s banquet was a failure. They didn¡¯t get what they wanted, but fortunately, several princesses stayed. It¡¯s like nting their roots in the Ming Dynasty. With time, people from their country will prosper.


    The banquet ended, and Yuan Jiaqi left with his family. Yuan Haichuan looked at Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother, I think the so-called second prince won¡¯t give up easily.¡±


    ¡°Let theme if they don¡¯t fear death. After all, the want to take advantage and explore the situation in the Ming Dynasty. If they die here, it¡¯s a good excuse to continue the war.¡±


    ¡°The emperor doesn¡¯t want to start a war again. We barely got through thest one.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s his business. I gave him the steel form and provided rice and wheat seeds. If he can¡¯t be stronger, he might as well step down.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I think these visitors from the other countries are unfriendly. Do you


    have any ns?¡±


    ¡°What is his Ministry of War doing? Are they all ipetent cowards? Each of them points fingers at my form. Without me, would the Ming Dynasty have perished?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi awkwardly grinned, contemting his wife¡¯s words. She was right¡ªrelying solely on her without seeking progress would lead the country to a grim end. Even with powerful weapons, a nation couldn¡¯t prosper without striving for advancement.


    ¡°Sorry. I was too impatient.¡±


    After everyone had gone to rest at home, Qiao Mai used her telepathy to contact her contract partners.


    She asked them to stay wary day and night.


    The second prince couldn¡¯t die in the Ming Dynasty. Since the Great Qin Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty share a border, they¡¯ve long wanted to conquer the Ming Dynasty. She couldn¡¯t provide them with a reason to attack the Ming Dynasty.


    The first night went by peacefully. Yuan Jiaqi continued his duties, and Ling¡¯er worked in the shop.


    She sent one squirrel to the embroidery shop and one to the Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. Combined with the sheep, they were more than enough to handle unexpected situations.


    Qiao Mai knew the second prince hadn¡¯t given up on Ling¡¯er. She left a trace of her divine sense on Ling¡¯er.


    The second night was also uneventful. On the third night, a group of ck-d people came to the Qiao residence.


    As soon as they flew onto the roof, they were annihted by the squirrels.


    Their bodies fell to the ground with a thud. This time, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t let them handle the bodies. Instead, she had Steward Zhang surround the area and take the bodies to the official court to file a report.


    If these foreign killers were quietly dealt with, the shameless envoys would have asked the emperor for people, iming that the Ming Dynasty was unruly. Killing them like this would have put the enjoys on the spot.


    Sending men to intrude into the homes of court officials, whether for assassination or conspiracy, is a vition. ording to thews of the Ming Dynasty, invading a private residence grants the homeowner the right to execute the intruders.


    After filing a report, the officials from the capital took all the ck-d men away. When dawn broke, the report was given to the emperor.


    Because many foreigners were among these ck-d men, the emperor was furious and summoned the envoy team into the pce again.


    He had them identify the culprits face to face, but they all denied involvement. It wasughable.


    Why identify anyone? If they did, they would be guilty. If they didn¡¯t, it was better for them.


    This yed right into Qiao Mai¡¯s hands. On the first night, eight ck-d men came. On the second night, twelve, and the number kept increasing every night.


    Not only did their numbers increase, but their martial arts skills also improved.


    It seemed they were desperate. Well, there were casualties every night in Lucky Garden. The emperor was furious, summoning Yuan Jiaqi into the pce.


    ¡°I say, inw, can you leave me a live one?¡±


    In his anxiety, he directly called Yuan Jiaqi inw.


    ¡°These are all desperate characters; how can we let them live? Once we capture them, they¡¯ll bite the poison hidden in their mouths andmit suicide.¡± ¡°But people are dying daily, causing panic among the people in the capital.¡¯


    ¡°My wife said it¡¯s almost done. They¡¯re running out of people. When they have no one to use, they won¡¯te anymore.¡±


    ¡°who?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, do you really not know, or are you feigning ignorance?¡± With Qiao Mai supporting him, Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s boldness rose as well.


    ¡°Are you talking about the second prince of the Great Qin Dynasty?¡±


    ¡°Humph, who else? Failing to get what he wants overtly, he is now resorting to covert methods. Since he couldn¡¯t obtain my daughter with ten cities, he is trying to snatch her.¡±


    ¡°This is unreasonable! They are too audacious. Where do they ce me?¡± Angered, the emperor mmed the desk, but it was useless. He red at Jiaqi.


    ¡°Did Madam Qiao really kill them all?¡±


    ¡°Well, it seems so. I was busy with official duties during the day and slept soundly at night, not fighting battles with my wife.¡±


    The old emperor pursed his lips. Fighting battles? Yuan Jiaqi doesn¡¯t know anything except to chew on words. He¡¯s not even as good as him.


    His eyes rolled again. ¡°Your wife has great moves!¡±


    ¡°Of course. With my wife around, these petty thieves are nothing. Even if moree, we¡¯re not afraid.¡¯


    ¡°All right, since the Qin Dynasty envoys won¡¯t admit their guilt, I¡¯m saved from trouble.¡±


    Thus, Lucky Garden killed over a hundred assassins in five days. Originally well-known in the capital, it became even more famous.


    Everyone knew there was hidden danger in the Duke of Blessing¡¯s residence. They reminded their family members not to enter without permission.


    The Qin Dynasty envoys finally behaved. With no more men, they could only obediently stay at the inn.


    The second prince was furious, wanting to lead people into the pce, use Princess Jiamei as a threat, and force the emperor to hand over Ling¡¯er. But after entering the pce, he nearly lost his life there.


    The emperor deployed all the Golden Dragon Guards to guard various ces in the pce. As soon as they entered, they were discovered.


    Later, they thought about ambushing Yuan Haichuan and Yuan Jiaqi on their way to the court meeting, intending to capture them and force Ling¡¯er to surrender. However, they were wiped out by Dongzhao and Dracaena.


    The envoy team from the Great Qin Dynasty came with two hundred people. Now, there were only fifty-something left. It was a miserable situation.


    Upon hearing this, the emperor burst intoughter. Now, they can¡¯t evenin.


    Serves them right!


    He won¡¯t stop them from seeking death.


    The marriage of the four princesses proceeded hastily. They were betrothed in July and married in September. However, no girls were willing to marry the princes. The emperor was quite pleased to see them frustrated.


    People said the emperor treated his officials benevolently, not forcing them. He was willing to give up ten cities if the girls were unwilling. This earned him the reputation of a wise ruler.


    The princes of the four countries were interested in Ling¡¯er, but after witnessing the disastrous defeat of the Great Qin Dynasty, they wouldn¡¯t throw themselves into a hopeless situation and let their subordinates die in vain.


    Seeing that it was about time, the old emperor began to drive them away.


    The girls from the Ming Dynasty didn¡¯t want to marry foreign men. What are they still doing in the capital? Leave quickly!


    Thus, the envoy teams packed their belongings, rode in carriages, and left the capital on a morning, with Ming Dynasty soldiers escorting them.


    People from the border left from the North Gate, the Great Qin Dynasty from the West Gate, and the other two countries from the South and East Gate.


    Once the envoy teams left, those families that married foreign princesses immediately split up. They didn¡¯t fully separate but extracted the sons who had married foreign girls into separate households..

 Chapter 341 - 341: If I Don’t Kill Him, Who Should I Kill?

    Chapter 341: If I Don¡¯t Kill Him, Who Should I Kill?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    They were all proving to the emperor that even though they married foreigndies, they harbored no intention of treason.


    The emperor didn¡¯t mind this. In the future, their descendants, while ineligible for the throne or militarymand, could still hold various official positions.


    The royal bloodline demanded purity. Once a royal descendant married a foreign princess, they lost the qualifications to inherit the throne. This was amon urrence in history. Even if an emperor married a foreign princess, she would only be granted the title of concubine. Any outstanding sons born of such unions wouldn¡¯t ascend to the throne.


    The old emperor cared about tradition, and the officials understood it. They quickly drew a line to make the emperor feel at ease. It had its benefits, at least to ensure the emperor¡¯s trust.


    Qiao Mai learned from Yuan Jiaqi that the delegation from the Qin Dynasty left through the west gate. She didn¡¯t act hastily but waited until they were outside the city before moving.


    The actions of the Second Prince had angered her. Once they entered the territory of the Qin Dynasty, she struck at a station, wiping them out.


    The Qin Dynasty¡¯s emperor was furious. Even though this son was not particrly favored, he was still his flesh and blood. Unfortunately, he died on their soil. Otherwise, the emperor would have taken full advantage of him.


    After hearing about it, the old emperor shivered. Madam Qiao was powerful enough to kill them on their territory.


    Indeed, it was pretty impressive.


    Now, he couldn¡¯t underestimate his inws. Being the emperor for many years, he had a knack for judging people and decided to let her be.


    Upon receiving this news, he immediately sent someone to invite Qiao Mai to the pce.


    He smiled on the surface, ¡°Madam Qiao, did you get rid of the Second Prince?¡±


    ¡°That shameless guy targeted my daughter. If I didn¡¯t get rid of him, who would?¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, it happened on their turf; otherwise, I would have trouble.¡±


    ¡°Inw, you can rest assured. I handle things with care.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Now that we have steel, we must quickly produce weapons to equip the army.


    Otherwise, be wary of simultaneous invasions from the four nations.¡±


    The emperor gulped. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. The Ministry of War is working day and night. Soldiers already have sharp steel knives and spears. The enemy¡¯s armor can be cut through with one sh, and their chest protectors pierced with one spear.¡±


    ¡°Yes, and not only that, you should train a group of elite soldiers for surprise attacks. At the same time, let the Ministry of War develop weapons with exceptionally strong killing power.¡±


    ¡°Inw, you know a lot!¡±


    ¡°I like to read books in my free time. Military strategy is not something only men can understand.¡±


    The emperor looked at her with an unusual gaze. ¡°I never expected to find such a talented person in the world.¡±


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, I will have someone arrange the marriage between Jiamei and Haichuan.¡±


    ¡°Both are fine. I¡¯ve prepared the dowry on my side. We can discuss the wedding


    anytime.¡±


    ¡°Haha, good. Also, I see that your daughter Ling¡¯er is outstanding. I have a grandson around her age. Let¡¯s make our families even closer as inws?¡± The emperor had a pleasing smile. Qiao Mai returned it.


    ¡°As long as my daughter likes him, and he has only her as his wife, treating my daughter well for a lifetime, it will be enough.¡±


    The emperor furrowed his brow. ¡°Only one wife? That¡¯s a bit difficult.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, the heir¡¯s position is for only one person. Why have so many women? Why give birth to so many children? Are they going to fight each other for session?¡±


    The emperor sighed lightly. This woman dared to say anything. If it were any other official, he would have convicted them without hesitation.


    But he couldn¡¯t help feeling that this woman was extraordinary. Well, let it go.


    He wanted to gamble, cing the bet on this woman. He bet that she had a connection to gods or immortals. If she wasn¡¯t an immortal herself, she was at least a rtive of one.


    ¡°Someday, I¡¯ll bring my grandson to your home?¡±


    ¡°Grandson?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How do we determine the seniority in this generation?¡± ¡°It can be separate dealings in your house and the pce.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too chaotic. Uneptable!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal; I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Is the emperor nning to establish the Crown Prince?¡±


    ¡°I have the idea, but it depends. If my youngest son¡¯s leg improves, I would be satisfied with him as the Crown Prince.


    ¡°How old is he, and is he handsome?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, he¡¯s better looking than his mother. His mother passed away. He has been living in the pce. He¡¯s eighteen this year, but due to his leg, he hasn¡¯t married yet, ranking eleventh.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bring your grandson; just bring him.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about marriage first. When hees, let me take a look at his leg.¡±


    The emperor thought his ears were ying tricks on him. ¡°You want to examine his leg?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I might have a way to cure him.¡±


    Excited, the emperor felt a glimmer of hope.


    ¡°When? How about tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Wait until my husband and Haichuan have some free time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too far off. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll give them a day off and bring Eleven over.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    The old emperor licked his lips. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s been a long time since I had a meal at your ce. Prepare some delicious dishes?¡± ¡°You can eat whatever the kitchen staff makes. ¡°Who is the emperor here? You or me?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Qiao Mai left, leaving the emperor feeling stifled. Of course, he wasn¡¯t angry; he needed time to adapt. He was not used to people speaking to him like this.


    Yubao had been serving on the side, cautiously ncing at the emperor.


    Was this the same man who used to be aloof and domineering? How did he be like this when he saw Madam Qiao?


    ¡°Your Majesty, this Madam Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Speak less. I know how to handle my affairs. Hmph!¡±


    Yubao was frightened and dared not say another word. He couldn¡¯t see what was different about Madam Qiao. Wasn¡¯t she just good at cooking and performing magic tricks? Did the emperor need to be like this?


    Qiao Mai returned home and talked to Yuan Jiaqi about it.


    ¡°What? The emperor wants to bring the eleventh prince to our house?¡±


    ¡°Yes, his leg is disabled. I¡¯ll take a look. If I can cure him, he might be the next emperor.¡±


    ¡°Why did the emperor think of this?¡±


    ¡°He intends to deepen the connection with our family. He even insisted on introducing his grandson to Ling¡¯er. Isn¡¯t this a generation gap?¡±


    ¡°Did the emperor agree to your proposed conditions?¡±


    ¡°If he disagrees, there won¡¯t be a marriage. What¡¯s so difficult about it? Let¡¯s cure his leg first.¡±


    Qiao Mai tilted her head, looking at the little girl she had bought.


    ¡°Xiyu, make a pot of tea.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t mind adding a little girl to the courtyard. Since Qiao Mai brought her back with good intentions, she would be raised here.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the eleventh prince.¡±


    ¡°I heard he¡¯s good-looking. Our daughter likes handsome men. A mother knows her daughter best.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that attract too much attention?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here. As long as our daughter likes him, that¡¯s enough. With me as her support, even if a thousand troops and ten thousand horses pass by, who would dare to bully her? I¡¯m not scared of the emperor.¡±


    ¡°We married a princess, and now we will produce an empress too?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t it be done?¡±


    ¡°When will we have a child?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not meant to be. My body has always been healthy, but if I can¡¯t conceive, there¡¯s nothing I can do. I¡¯m not in a hurry. With Haichuan¡¯s


    bloodline, he will inherit this ce.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er also said she wants a live-in husband.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll renovate her hall in the pce. I won¡¯t let her suffer.¡±


    ¡°Anyone would be blessed to have you as their mother.¡±


    In the pce, the emperor walked into the most secluded hall in the north with heavy footsteps, where his beloved son lived.


    His son requested to live there. Whenever the emperor had time, he would visit his son. The father and son would sit for a while, talking.


    Despite everything, there was still affection between them. The emperor looked at his son¡¯s handsome face, and his voice carried a hint of regret.


    ¡°Xuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Father!¡±


    ¡°What have you been readingtely?¡±


    ¡°Some misceneous records. Please, have a seat, Father.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, apany me out. I¡¯ve found a divine doctor for you. She can help you with your stubborn leg ailment..¡±

 Chapter 342 - 342: A Crippled Body But Not A Crippled Will

    Chapter 342 - 342: A Crippled Body But Not A Crippled Will


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Upon hearing this, the young man¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. ¡°Father, I¡¯ve consulted numerous divine physicians about my leg. I¡¯d rather not.¡±


    ¡°It is different. Think of it as a visit to her home, a chance to enjoy delicious food better than what the pce chefs can make.¡±


    Seeing the emperor so excited, he reluctantly agreed to prevent hurting his father¡¯s feelings.


    The next day, the emperor skipped the morning court session and brought his beloved son, Li Yuxuan, to Lucky Garden.


    Upon seeing the eleventh prince, Qiao Mai nodded approvingly.


    ¡°Looks good.¡±


    Li Yuxuan looked at the emperor in confusion, who immediately exined. ¡°Address her as Aunt. She is the future mother-inw of your sister Jiamei.¡±


    ¡°Uncle, Aunt, good to see you!¡±


    After everyone was seated, Qiao Mai went straight to the point, instructing the eunuch to bring Li Yuxuan¡¯s wheelchair closer.


    Facing each other, Li Yuxuan felt a bit nervous.


    ¡°Aunt, what are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Could I eat you in front of your father? Just kidding. Give me your hand; let me check your pulse.¡±


    Understanding, he obediently extended his hand, and Qiao Mai pressed on his pulse point.


    Upon touching the pulse, Qiao Mai carefully observed him. Despite his thin frame, his overall health seemed good except for his legs.


    Her spiritual scan revealed he had profound internal strength from martial arts, a fact the emperor was likely unaware of.


    ¡°Roll up his pants.¡±


    Given the prince¡¯s consent, servants rolled up his pants, revealing his legs.


    ¡°What a beautiful color, ck with a hint of brightness. The poison has likely been umting for over ten years.¡±


    The emperor felt hopeful and smiled.


    Li Yuxuan was taken aback. Could the divine physician mentioned by the emperor be this gentle woman in front of him?


    ¡°I was poisoned at the age of two. It¡¯s been fifteen years now.¡±


    ¡°Enduring for fifteen years is not easy. It seems a divine physician helped you push all the toxins to your legs?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was the only way to save my life.¡±


    ¡°You are resilient. If you had met me a yearter, you might not have survived.¡±


    Li Yuxuan chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°The divine physician said I wouldn¡¯t live past twenty.¡±


    ¡°Lay him t on the round table, legs exposed to the calves.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m treating him. Don¡¯t you want that?¡±


    ¡°Ah, can this illness be treated?¡±


    ¡°Of course. He can live to a hundred. Why wouldn¡¯t it be treatable? It¡¯s just poisoning.¡±


    Qiao Mai instructed the servants to follow her orders. The emperor, Yuan Jiaqi, and Yuan Haichuan watched with curiosity.


    Li Yuxuan gritted his teeth and turned his head to nce at the pce servants. ¡°Do as Aunt instructed.¡±


    The pce servants brought over arge round table and expertly ced the eleventh prince on top.


    Approaching the table, Qiao Mai instructed a servant to bring arge basin filled with water.


    With a swift motion, she produced a jade bottle, uncorked it, and poured a pill into Li Yuxuan¡¯s mouth.


    She then took another bottle and dropped a pill into the basin.


    After tying his legs with ropes, Qiao Mai took a hollow bone needle used in her previous treatment for cerebral hemorrhage.


    She found two thick veins on his legs and swiftly inserted the needle, resulting in a foul smell filling the room.


    Qiao Mai fanned the air in disdain, then had someone bring a chair to keep watch over the eleventh prince.


    The old emperor stepped forward. ¡°My child, endure it. This is your only chance.¡±


    The old emperor had reservations about letting this woman, whom he felt was ying games, treat a condition that numerous renowned physicians couldn¡¯t cure.


    Nevertheless, with a glimmer of hope, he decided to proceed. He only had a year left. If the treatment worked, great; if not, he had long epted his fate.


    Qiao Mai nced at him disdainfully. ¡°What, you don¡¯t trust my medical skills?¡±


    ¡°No, but I¡¯ve been treated by many doctors. I¡¯ve be somewhat numb.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have you walking in no time. Believe it or not?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re being honest.¡±


    After releasing his blood, Qiao Mai gave him a pill. The color returned to his face, which had turned pale due to blood loss. The emperor watched eagerly, wondering about the origin of this seemingly miraculous medicine.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, what was the medicine you gave to Yuxuan just now?¡±


    ¡°The first one was to protect his heart, and the others were blood-replenishing pills. Otherwise, once the poisonous blood in his legs is drained, he would have been bled dry. Haichuan, pour him a cup of tea; we can¡¯t let him be dehydrated.¡±


    As everyone observed, the ck color on the eleventh prince¡¯s legs slowly lightened. Qiao Mai periodically loosened the ropes to ensure blood cirction.


    If left for too long, the blood vessels would be blocked, leading to paralysis of the lower body.


    An hour passed, and the ck color turned into purple. Another hourter, the purple hue transformed into a bluish shade. Lunchtime hade and gone, but no one felt hungry.


    At the hall¡¯s entrance, a delicate figure left while leaning against the door frame after discreetly observing for a while.


    After a while, Li Yuxuan¡¯s legs had recovered their original skin color, and the discharged water turned red.


    Qiao Mai removed the needle, untied the ropes, and gave him another pill.


    They opened all the windows, allowing fresh air to circte.


    Everyone observed as the basin of dark blood gradually transformed into clear water, presumably due to the effects of the medicinal pill. The emperor excitedly held his son¡¯s hand. ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. My legs don¡¯t hurt anymore?¡±


    Qiao Mai coldly snorted, ¡°With my intervention, of course, it¡¯s healed.


    However, after a decade of immobility, your legs need time to recover. Stay in my residence; it¡¯s beneficial for your health.¡±


    The prince¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°Thank you, Aunt!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t eat now, but you can eat fruits. I¡¯ll send you to Tingfeng Residence. If you feel energetic after waking up, try walking with assistance.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Aunt!¡±


    After he left, the old emperor set aside his dignity and bowed to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Thank you, inw. Now, someone can share the burden of my responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll ept this gesture. I hope I didn¡¯t save a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing.¡±


    ¡°No, I trust the character of Xuan¡¯er.¡¯


    ¡°Hmph, actions speak louder than words. We¡¯ll see when he¡¯s put to the test.¡± The emperor was speechless. How dare she talk about her son like that! ¡°Quickly arrange for the meal; I¡¯m about to starve.¡±


    Qiao Mai smirked, ¡°You¡¯reining about hunger after missing one meal. Soldiers in battle sometimes don¡¯t eat for a day, yet they don¡¯t act like you.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been in a battle for many years. I¡¯ve pampered my body.¡±


    He then grabbed a piece of fruit and ate it unceremoniously.


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m going to the kitchen to let them prepare the food,¡± Haichuan said as he stood up.


    The emperor, still eating fruit, proudly asked Qiao Mai, ¡°What do you think of my son?¡±


    ¡°Looks good.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s more than good! He¡¯s talented and skilled in martial arts.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s a bit reserved.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because his mother died early. He has been secluded in a remote ce in the pce. His temperament is due to circumstances.¡± ¡°Do you really want to deepen our family ties?¡± ¡°Yes, it depends on whether your daughter likes him.¡±


    ¡°Well, let fate decide.


    As the meal was served, everyone fell silent, engrossed in their food. The emperor noticed Linger¡¯s absence.


    ¡°Where is Princess Tianshui?¡±


    ¡°Eating in the shop. It¡¯s inconvenient for her to be around an unfamiliar man treating his illness.¡±


    ¡°You have a point. I¡¯ll leave my son with you for some time. Do you want me to send some guards?¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered. ¡°If my home can¡¯t protect your son, your pce won¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    ¡°All right. If you have the ability, go ahead. I won¡¯t argue.¡±


    ¡°How long will my son stay here?¡±


    ¡°Come to pick him up in ten days.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    ¡°Emperor, you better return to the pce. We¡¯ve kept youpany for almost a day and are tired too.¡±


    And so, Qiao Mai drove the emperor away..

 Chapter 343 - 343: Doesn ‘t This Family’s Sheep Have to Be Caged?

    Chapter 343 - 343: Doesn ¡®t This Family¡¯s Sheep Have to Be Caged?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    So, the Eleventh Prince stayed in Lucky Garden, lying on the spacious bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.


    In the southern region of October, there would already be charcoal braziers in the pce.


    He hadn¡¯t seen any here, yet the room remained dry and warm.


    Reaching under the bedding, he felt the warmth. Breathing in the air here wasfortable, and he understood why his father likeding here.


    This ce was indeed extraordinary. His father, who usuallymanded everyone with an authoritative tone, revealed a different side.


    Rarely seeing this aspect of his father, he felt it was worth spending time here.


    He observed the servantsing in and out, and the room soon filled with the fragrance of fruits. The person attending to him saw him gulp.


    ¡°Your Highness, shall this servant peel a banana for you? It looks delicious.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince nodded, ¡°Little Six, bring me a variety of fruits from the table I haven¡¯t tried.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±


    With the toxins removed from his legs, he no longer needed to restrict his diet. He decided to eat more fruits. He wanted to recover quickly, exercise his legs, and experience the feeling of running and jumping.


    At this moment, the lead sheep and its siblings arrived at Tingfeng Pavilion, even peering into his room.


    The Eleventh Prince widened his eyes. ¡°Little Six, aren¡¯t the sheep in this house supposed to be caged?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s said that there are many small animals here¡ªsome roam freely, and some are in the backyard. When your legs are better, this servant will assist you in taking a look. Lucky Garden is famous in the capital. Not everyone can live here.¡±


    ¡°Inquire more about it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡±


    As night fell, the couple finished dinner. Yuan Jiaqi massaged Qiao Mai¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°My wife, do you intend for Ling¡¯er to marry into the royal family?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not certain. It depends on whether Ling¡¯er and he get along. I never intended for Ling¡¯er to marry into the royal family, but the emperor mentioned it several times, so I went along.¡±


    ¡°But today, I saw Ling¡¯er peeking at the front hall door.¡±


    ¡°I saw it too. She¡¯s just curious. Let¡¯s wait and see. Fate is something even I can¡¯t control, no matter how capable I am. Perhaps this is fate. Let it be.¡±


    In Xianyue Pavilion, Yue Hong and Yue Xia spread the bed while Nanny Jin and Ling¡¯er sat face to face.


    ¡°Princess, now that the Eleventh Prince is living in our house, you must be careful whening and going.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? He is a prince, and I am a princess. Besides, this is my house. Can guests bully the host?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m just worried about the emperor¡¯s intention on you.¡±


    ¡°I went to the front hall to sneak a peek today. The Eleventh Prince is handsome; it¡¯s just that his legs are crippled. Mother is treating him.¡±


    Nanny Jin¡¯s eyes flickered. She silently hoped that they wouldn¡¯t marry. After all, she had barely managed to escape from the imperial pce and didn¡¯t want to return.


    ¡°Princess, what if the emperor wants you to marry the Eleventh Prince?¡±


    ¡°I believe in my mother¡¯s judgment. Look at the women she chose for my eldest and second brothers¡ªall good women. Third brother¡¯s wife is also good.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have your own opinion?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not that stubborn. I listen to advice when I¡¯m well-fed. I don¡¯t ask for much. As long as he treats me well, it¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°But if you marry into the royal family, it will be difficult to leave the pce.¡±


    ¡°With my mother around, what is there to fear?¡±


    ¡°Heh, your mother is like a God! Everything is your mother!¡±


    ¡°Of course. In my heart, my mother is the god. She won¡¯t just watch me get trapped.¡¯


    Nanny Jin shook her head and stood up. ¡°It¡¯s time to rest, Princess.¡±


    ¡°I know, Master.¡±


    Qiao Mai went to Tingfeng Pavilion the next day and found the Eleventh Prince eating fruits.


    Seeing Qiao Mai, he struggled to sit up. ¡°Aunt, good morning!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to move. Just lie down. I¡¯ll check your pulse and leave.¡± The Eleventh Princey down, and Qiao Mai held his pulse. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, you can have a steamed bun.¡±


    ¡°The fruits in your house are delicious.¡±


    ¡°If you like them, eat more. Your recovery is going well. In two days, you can eat regr meals. If you want something specific, you can send someone to the kitchen to order.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling Uncle and Aunt.¡±


    ¡°Your father is a wise emperor. Out of respect for him, I cured your legs and saved your life. Seize this opportunity to live well.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Aunt!¡±


    After a few instructions, Qiao Mai left. The Eleventh Prince asked his attendant for a bright red apple.


    ¡°Madam Qiao doesn¡¯t seem particrly special from her appearance.¡±


    Little Six smirked, ¡°I¡¯ve inquired with the servants at home. Madam Qiao has extraordinary skills. Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover.¡± ¡°I know. I only said it casually.¡±


    ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± Little Six whispered in his ear.


    After hearing his words, the Eleventh Prince was astonished. ¡°She has such great skills?¡±


    ¡°I speak the truth. You¡¯re secluded in the pce for years and know nothing about the outside world. I often run errands for you and have heard some things. ¡±


    ¡°This Lucky Garden doesn¡¯t even have any guards. The ones guarding this ce are a few sheep?¡±


    ¡°All those with ill intentionse here standing but leave lying down. The Qin


    Dynasty¡¯s Second Prince sent over a hundred assassins to abduct Princess


    Tianshui. Unfortunately, they all died here.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince sighed. ¡°Looks can be deceiving. It must be describing Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve never heard that she could heal. Unexpectedly, she hides her skills so well. Besides, things like wheat, rice, and steel recipese from her hands. Isn¡¯t she formidable?¡±


    ¡°After listening to you, I want to see Madam Qiao¡¯s skills. If possible, I would like to be her disciple.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the Fourth-Rank Generals, the brothers Jiang Yunpeng, were raised by Madam Qiao. Oh, and they were virtually invincible on the battlefield.


    The more Little Six talked, the brighter the Eleventh Prince¡¯s eyes shone. He liked to associate with people with skills.


    Only by doing so could he learn many things and feel full of vitality.


    He impatiently wanted to recover quickly, explore Lucky Garden, and seek guidance from Madam Qiao. ¡°Little Six?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, Your Highness.¡±


    ¡°Go to the pce and pick some of the most precious gifts from the warehouse.


    The Eleventh Prince nodded, ¡°Little Six, bring me a variety of fruits from the table I haven¡¯t tried.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness!¡±


    After Little Six left, the Eleventh Prince had someone help him sit up. Two eunuchs massaged his calves, and he looked out of the window.


    Tingfeng Pavilion was vast. Everywhere was spotlessly clean. His eyes caught the closest room to him.


    He was attended to by pce maids for his personal needs. However, the steward sent someone to teach them how to use the bathroom. After using it, he fell in love with it.


    That room looked beautiful outside, and the interior decoration was even better than the pce. Although he wasn¡¯t a germaphone, he especially loved cleanliness. Taking a bath there was toofortable.


    There was no need for servants to deliver hot water. That thing called a shower head instantly produced hot water when turned on. The temperature was just right, and the pool could be filled with hot water shortly. After bathing, it would even drain automatically.


    The emperor had onlye to Lucky Garden for a meal. If he stayed for a few days, he believed the emperor would fall in love with it.


    Lucky Garden was filled with peculiar and fascinating things. The Eleventh Prince¡¯s eyes lit up as he saw three snow-white little sheep who came to inspect the area in groups.


    He waved at the sheep through the window. The lead sheep rolled its eyes in a seemingly humanized manner, causing the Eleventh Prince to burst intoughter.


    Looking at each other, the attendants noted that their prince hadn¡¯tughed so happily in a long time..

 Chapter 344 - 344: Why Did He Leave?

    Chapter 344 - 344: Why Did He Leave?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er rode her beloved horse, passing by the courtyard gate. The Eleventh Prince¡¯s eyes lit up as he saw the lively and carefree girl yfully smiling at the maid leading the horse.


    The fleeting figure deeply captivated him.


    ¡°Who was the girl passing by the courtyard gate?¡±


    The servant hurriedly went and returned after a short while.


    ¡°Your Highness, that girl is Madam Qiao¡¯s only daughter and Princess


    Tianshui.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince looked again at the courtyard gate, but the charming silhouette was no longer there. His gaze dimmed.


    In just a moment, he had seen many lively scenes outside the window.


    On the roof, a red cat was frolicking around, and at some point, a few squirrels had joined, holding unidentified nuts in their hands.


    They looked adorable, a sight he had never witnessed before. If he had seen them demonstrate their lethal skills, he might not have used the word ¡°adorable.¡±


    Towards noon, Little Six came back.


    ¡°Your Highness, the items have been delivered to Yuexian Pavilion. Madam


    Qiao has epted them.¡±


    ¡°Well, did she say anything?¡±


    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t seem particrly pleased when she saw those items. Her expression was indifferent.¡±


    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t care much for these things, but it¡¯s my sincerity. As long as


    Madam Qiao epts it, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°I am in high spirits. Would you support me to stroll in the courtyard?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±


    With the help of his attendants, the Eleventh Prince slowly walked on the ground. Although challenging, the brainmanding his legs seemed to work fine.


    When he got tired, he had people push him around to enjoy the scenery in Lucky Garden.


    Little Six exined the different courtyards to him along the way.


    ¡°Your Highness, the ce you lived in once belonged to Madam Qiao¡¯s eldest son.¡±


    ¡°Why did he leave?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to visit his birth parents¡¯ graves, so Madam Qiao allowed him to return to his ancestral home.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t it natural to visit one¡¯s parents¡¯ graves?¡± ¡°Being physically present here while his heart was elsewhere wasn¡¯t ideal.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps Madam Qiao couldn¡¯t tolerate any disobedience. Often, such people are difficult to befriend.


    ¡°The servants at home say Madam Qiao is friendly and approachable. As long as you do your duties, she only rewards and never punishes.¡±


    ¡°Maybe those brothers crossed her bottom line.¡±


    ¡°It seems good. Madam Qiao allowed them to return to their family, fulfilling their wishes and preventing any lingering attachments.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    As Little Six pushed him, they explored several courtyards in Lucky Garden. At the gate of Peni Residence, they encountered Old Mistress Wang and Jiaru.


    Both sides exchanged polite nods, and Little Six grinned.


    ¡°The olddy holds a first-grade noble title. The younger woman is her granddaughter, Young Prince Shunqin¡¯s wife, who suffered memory loss due to illness. She was taken in by her grandmother.¡±


    ¡°Memory loss?¡±


    ¡°Due to her strong andpetitive personality, coupled with her dislike for others, she was confined by the Old Royal Consort.¡±


    ¡°It seems they just returned.¡±


    ¡°They probably went to the backyard. I heard Madam Qiao entrusted the care of small animals here to Old Mistress Wang. Those red cats you saw is her favorite pet.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, these cats are rare.¡±


    At the main courtyard, Little Six whispered, ¡°This is Madam Qiao and Master Yuan¡¯s courtyard.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s more elegant than the pce. There are no flowers, nts, or trees in the pce.¡±


    ¡°There is also the Imperial Garden in the pce, but flowers and nts are not cultivated to prevent hiding ces for thieves.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good when necessary, but Lucky Garden is especially lively.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. His Majesty always wants toe here for a meal and stroll around when he has nothing to do.¡±


    Three dayster, Li Yuxuan could finally eat. He tasted the Qiao family¡¯s food, and with his stomach gaining motivation, he ate decent portions for all three meals.


    After eating, he would stroll around. When tired, he would sit in the wheelchair.


    Qiao Mai epted his gratitude. Seeing his clumsy and heavy wheelchair, she bought him a lightweight and beautiful chair from the tform.


    When the chair was delivered to Tingfeng Pavilion, Little Six was overjoyed. After pushing a wheelchair for over ten years, this was the best he had ever met.


    ¡°Your Highness, Madam Qiao is amazing. This wheelchair is unique in the world, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes. After my recovery, I won¡¯t need it anymore, but we can give it to someone in need.¡±


    ¡°This is a priceless treasure.¡±


    The master and servant duo were overly enthusiastic. This wheelchair would only cost a few thousand if sold online. Converted into gold, it would be just a few dozen grams. This illustrated the rarity of high-tech items. In this case, it was valuable.


    Qiao Mai came to check his pulse daily. On the fifth day, Li Yuxuan no longer needed assistance. Although he walked slowly, he was now stable.


    The weather was getting colder. The old emperor, worried about his son, came in the evening. Delighted to see his son recovering, he happily took away a cartload of Qiao Mai¡¯s food.


    Since he couldn¡¯t stay for a meal, he tried to take stuff, making the Eleventh Prince embarrassed.


    Days flew by quickly. In the blink of an eye, ten days passed. The Eleventh Prince¡¯s legs were now agile, and Qiao Mai issued a farewell order.


    He left with his people and the daily items he had brought.


    With an outsider present, it always felt like something was off.


    As the day for her return to Tianshui Town approached, Qiao Mai decided to go out for consultations again before the New Year.


    When the Eleventh Prince returned to the pce, the emperor sought an opportunity to talk to him. Delighted to see his beloved son finally recovered, the old emperor nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Son, did you see Princess Tianshui in Lucky Garden?¡±


    Thinking of her figure, the Eleventh Prince blushed. ¡°Just a fleeting figure.¡±


    ¡°How was your impression?¡±


    ¡°Uh, it was¡­ good.¡±


    ¡°It seems you are pretty satisfied.¡±


    ¡°Father, although the impression is good, I still need to get to know her better.¡±


    ¡°Your legs were looked after by Madam Qiao, so I¡¯ll invite them to the pce.


    Our families can gather and express our gratitude.¡±


    ¡°Father¡¯s arrangement is fine.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s make it the day after tomorrow.¡±


    As soon as the season changed, the number of patients increased. Many people were waiting in line, especially as the weather got colder.


    The medical halls in the capital had given uppeting with this divine doctor. They couldn¡¯t track her and had no reason to cause trouble. They could only focus on themselves.


    Fortunately, Qiao Mai diagnosed without prescribing medicines. She also doesn¡¯t sell pills. Otherwise, they might have had a serious argument with her.


    Returning home, Yuan Jiaqi had already prepared her clothes. Qiao Mai bathed, changed into clean clothes, and took her son and daughter to the pce.


    In the pce, the old emperor, Consort Rui, Princess Jiamei, and the Eleventh Prince were already waiting in the hall.


    When the two families met, they greeted each other warmly. The princess greeted Ling¡¯er, and the Eleventh Prince greeted Chuan¡¯er. The parents were surprisingly carefree, behaving like young people, even holding hands as they took their seats.


    The Eleventh Prince unintentionally looked towards Ling¡¯er. With just one nce, he fell in love.


    It¡¯s said that love at first sight is an infatuation with appearance, but it can also be exined as aplete affinity upon first meeting.


    There aren¡¯t that many peerless beauties in the world, but most couples, regardless of their appearance, have some resemnce. Perhaps that¡¯s the meaning of affinity.


    Consort Rui held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand. She knew the emperor intended to wed the


    Eleventh Prince and Ling¡¯er.


    Today¡¯s meeting was for them to observe each other.


    ¡°Inw, I think they are a match made in heaven.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the emperor. ¡°Has His Majesty mentioned my three conditions to him?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. Let them meet each other first. If I can agree, let alone that young man.¡±


    ¡°You can control people but not their hearts.¡± ¡°If he dares to mess around, I, I¡¯ll kill him..

 Chapter 345 - 345: Follow The Emperor’ s Arrangements

    Chapter 345 - 345: Follow The Emperor¡¯ s Arrangements


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Jiamei also sensed something fishy and whispered in Ling¡¯er¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Today is a blind date banquet, you know?¡± Ling¡¯er was still in the dark. ¡°What blind date?¡±


    ¡°You and my Eleventh brother.¡±


    Ling¡¯er looked up, and the Eleventh Prince was looking at her. The two locked eyes, blushing and lowering their heads. ¡°How do you feel about my Eleventh brother?¡±


    ¡°Um, not bad.¡±


    ¡°Both of you are saying ¡®not bad.¡¯ What does that mean? Are you willing or not?¡± Ling¡¯er pursed her lips for a while. ¡°My mother will decide my marriage.¡±


    ¡°What a good daughter!¡±


    ¡°This is not just filial piety; it¡¯s trust. Those who treat me well, even if it¡¯s my husband, can¡¯tpare to my parents.¡±


    ¡°Well, you have a point.¡±


    While Qiao Mai chatted with her inw, she observed Ling¡¯er¡¯s expressions and could tell that this marriage was pretty much settled.


    She sighed. Everyone present was astute, especially the old emperor. They all had a clear understanding of the situation. The emperor confided in Yuan Jiaqi over a drink.


    ¡°Jiaqi¡­¡±


    ¡°Please speak, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°My empress has been deposed. I want to make Consort Rui the new empress, but she doesn¡¯t have a son. I n to appoint her as empress and make Eleventh the legitimate son under her name. What do you think?¡±


    If it were any other official, they would have been frightened by the emperor¡¯s words. However, Yuan Jiaqi had developed enough courage.


    ¡°Your Majesty, as long as it pleases you, we are here to assist. But Eleventh Prince¡¯s legs just recovered, and he still needs your guidance.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Next year, after Chuan¡¯er and Jiamei¡¯s wedding, I¡¯ll issue the edict for their marriage. When I officially crown Eleventh as the Crown Prince, won¡¯t it be a grand celebration? Your family will also gain face, right?¡±


    Tsk, who cares? It¡¯s only the emperor who constantly elevates the status of the royal family. Qiao Mai doesn¡¯t even want to bother with them.


    ¡°We will follow your arrangements.¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s settled then.¡±


    On the way back, Ling¡¯er learned about this matter and did not object. Since her marriage was settled, there was no need to consider other men.


    The next day, news spread in the pce that Princess Tianshui was engaged to the Eleventh Prince, and the wedding would take ce after Princess Jiamei¡¯s marriage.


    The news stirred up the capital once again. Was the Eleventh Prince¡¯s leg healed? When did this happen? Was the renowned physician involved?


    It seemed like the emperor was nning something. It was as if he had poured oil into a hot pan.


    The royal family, especially the other princes and their descendants, were rmed.


    They all knew that if the Eleventh Prince¡¯s legs were fine, the emperor would have appointed him the Crown Prince long ago.


    However, now that he was genuinely recovered, the emperor must intend to make him the heir.


    It was a hundred percent possible, but after their repeated analysis, all hopes withered away.


    Assassination at the pce? Poisoning again? It¡¯s not possible anymore. The emperor wouldn¡¯t give anyone a chance to harm his son.


    Once was enough; the pce now resembled an imprable fortress, impervious to swords and spears. Aware of Madam Qiao¡¯s medical prowess, they had no worries about poisons.


    The old emperor had long decentralized military power, with many soldiers and generals, each with responsibilities. The military tokens were all in his hands.


    His orders were unquestionable.


    Regardless of the arrangements made by the old emperor, Qiao Mai remained indifferent. When the weather was good, she went out for consultations; when it wasn¡¯t, she entered her space for meditation and cultivation.


    The young girl she had bought had adapted to life in Lucky Garden. Despite her petite stature, she had developed a bit of baby fat. She managed the Yuexian Pavilion with meticulous care.


    In the evenings, she practiced the mental techniques taught by Qiao Mai.


    When Qiao Mai announced she was going into seclusion, Yuan Jiaqi wouldn¡¯t disturb her. After a quiet dinner, he would start reading.


    As a month flew by, the outside temperature dropped significantly, yet Lucky Garden remained warm andfortable.


    Seeing that she was about to leave for Tianshui Town, the emperor issued a decree to appoint Consort Rui as the empress. He dered Li Yuxuan, the eleventh prince, the empress¡¯s son.


    Except for the other princes and grandsons, everyone was content. Consort Rui became the empress, had a son, and Jiamei gained an elder brother¡ªthe Great Ming Dynasty had a sessor to the throne.


    The emperor spent his days guiding the Eleventh Prince, teaching him to govern and be a good monarch.


    At the end of November, Qiao Mai prepared to return to Tianshui Town. Ling¡¯er insisted on apanying her, wanting to revisit the ce after so many years.


    Bringing Jiamei along, they nned to experience the northern ice and snow.


    The two girls disrupted Qiao Mai¡¯s ns. With their presence, the journey would now be extended. Qiao Mai sighed, knowing that her seclusion and meditation would be impossible during this trip.


    ¡°Alright, send someone to the pce to inform Jiamei. We will set off tomorrow. One attendant will be enough. Don¡¯t bring too much luggage; it¡¯s inconvenient.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    Ling¡¯er happily left. That night, Qiao Mai bought twofortable carriages.


    These carriages were spacious and well-insted. Although they looked heavy, they were surprisingly light and agile. Therge tires and sturdy design made them suitable for bumpy roads.


    Paired with their well-fed and robust horses, the horse-drawn carriages were simply magnificent.


    After reporting to the empress and informing the emperor, Jiamei, apanied by a pce maid and guards, arrived at the Qiao residence early in the morning.


    Seeing the carriages, she was astonished. ¡°This, this carriage is too beautiful.¡±


    Holding onto her arm, Ling¡¯er said, ¡°Sister-inw, if you weren¡¯ting along, my mother wouldn¡¯t have arranged this carriage. She feared you¡¯d suffer on the road.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    This time, Nanny Jin didn¡¯t apany Ling¡¯er. Instead, she went with Yue Hong. They had arranged their luggage in the carriages. Yuan Jiaqi held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Another month without you. My heart will be on edge when you¡¯re not home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged everything. Nothing will go wrong.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Jiamei and Ling¡¯er leaned against the carriage window, watching the scene with jealousy.


    Qiao Mai boarded the carriage, waved to her husband through the window, and said to the coachman, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Sitting proudly at the front, the two coachmen were full of spirit. Being able to drive the princess¡¯s carriage was a stroke of luck, especially with such a magnificent carriage and high-quality horses.


    Jiamei and Ling¡¯er sat together in one carriage, their luggage ced on the roof, while Qiao Mai sat alone in the other.


    ¡°It¡¯s toofortable.¡¯


    ¡°When you marry in, we can ride in such a carriage every day.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go out daily; I want to help Aunt manage household affairs.


    Who has the time?¡±


    ¡°Just call her ¡®Mom¡¯. Calling her Aunt is too troublesome.¡±


    Jiamei blushed slightly and lightly tapped her. Ling¡¯er rummaged through various smallpartments in the carriage.


    ¡°Wow, Mom thought of everything. Look, there are fruits, melon seeds, candy, and snacks inside.¡±


    ¡°Being Aunt¡¯s daughter is truly fortunate.¡±


    ¡°Soon, you¡¯ll be happy too. Just treat my mom well, and she will treat you well.


    Back then¡­ ¡±


    Ling¡¯er¡¯s chattering mouth narrated the family¡¯s affairs, and Jiamei, listening, wore a face of longing.


    Qiao Mai scanned the two with her mental power, smirked, and began meditation and cultivation.


    She had instructed the coachmen not to stop at noon. They were to manage as needed, find an inn when it got dark, and consult Jiamei and Ling¡¯er if there were any problems. The two were not young anymore and needed some training.


    With these two distinct carriages, the ten-day journey was shortened to six. They could cover several hundred miles daily, making the travel remarkably fast.


    As they headed north, the weather became colder, but one couldn¡¯t feel it inside the carriage. However, the cold from the north could be sensed if they opened the window.


    Looking at the sight of trees shedding their leaves outside, Jiamei felt a bit sentimental. ¡°So, this is what the north looks like.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t be fooled by the falling leaves; Mom said they are in hibernation.


    When springes, they¡¯ll shoot up again.¡± ¡°umte strength for a leap forward, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±

 Chapter 346 - 346: The Mistress Is Too Awesome

    Chapter 346 - 346: The Mistress Is Too Awesome


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°It didn¡¯t snow in time, so I could only watch the scenery.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see it. In Tianshui Town, it snows about every ten to fifteen days. Look at how heavy the clouds are; it should snow soon.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened her eyes, lifted the curtain, and smiled at the snowyndscape outside.


    She liked snow. Since arriving in the capital, she could only catch a glimpse when visiting the ski area. She was busy with one thing or another, and only when she returned to Tianshui Town could she truly experience it.


    While talking, light snowkes started falling from the sky. The two girls joyfully extended their hands out the window, catching the snowkes andughing happily.


    Unfortunately, a few fast carriages rushed from behind, narrowly avoiding hitting the two girls¡¯ arms.


    Fortunately, they reacted quickly. The two girls touched their arms inside the carriage, patting their chests in relief.


    As Qiao Mai¡¯s carriage was at the back, Jiamei and the others were in the front. Unexpectedly, the fast horses rushed ahead, blocking their way.


    The coachman sat on the carriage, looking at several men on horses.


    ¡°Your carriage is nice, and the two girls who just stuck their arms out of the window are also good. Leave the carriage and the girls. You can all leave.¡±


    Angered, Jiamei wanted to go out and argue with them, but Ling¡¯er held her back and shook her head.


    At that moment, Qiao Mai¡¯s voice echoed.


    ¡°I think your heads look good. Could I use them as balls to kick around?¡± ¡°F*ck, it¡¯s your good fortune to catch my eye.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s your good fortune that this Royal Consort can personally take your heads. It¡¯s a blessing you won¡¯t achieve in your lifetime.¡±


    Before the man could retort, a ssh sounded, and his head relocated, blood flowing profusely.


    Others were still ogling the carriage when their heads also fell off.


    Seeing this, the coachmen turned pale. It¡¯s not that he was too scared; he had seen beheadings in the market before. However, it was rare to see someone cleanly take heads.


    Admiration! The mistress was too powerful!


    Not wanting to scare Jiamei and Ling¡¯er, Qiao Mai used her mental power to take those people.


    ¡°Continue the journey. Reach Tianshui Town before dark.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    The carriage moved on. Jiamei whispered to Ling¡¯er, ¡°Did Aunt take care of them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, these people deserved to die.¡±


    ¡°Robbing whatever they fancy on the official road is a crime for wealth and life. Their deaths were justified.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my mom said a woman must learn to be firm and decisive. Of course, you need to have some skills.¡±


    Jiamei gained a new understanding of her mother-inw. No wonder the emperor was polite to her; Qiao Mai was genuinely skilled.


    As night fell, the snow grew heavier. Jiamei finally saw the northern snow as she wished.


    Ling¡¯er also saw the familiar town. ¡°Sister-inw, look, this is Tianshui Town.¡±


    The two girls, one on each side of the window, quickly arrived at an imposing courtyard.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s also called Lucky Garden?¡±


    ¡°Mom likes it. She finds the name auspicious.¡±


    The coachman got off the carriage and opened the gate. Steward Xi approached the carriage window, asking cautiously.


    ¡°Has the mistress returned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, quickly have someone warm up my room and Ling¡¯er¡¯s room and have the kitchen prepare meals.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    With Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s increasing rank, the rules for Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town also increased. Steward Xi was afraid of any oversight that might bring unnecessary trouble to the mistress.


    When Qiao Mai was away, the subordinates rarely went out. In their free time, they either took care of thend or helped the store make money by chopping meat and making sausages.


    All the servants in Lucky Garden became busy. Qiao Mai and Ling¡¯er¡¯s courtyards were warmed up.


    Qiao Mai left the two girls in the backyard to have their meals and then let them return.


    Without the elders, the two girls frolicked around, hand in hand, singing and dancing in the snow. Qiao Mai felt much younger listening to their voices.


    Returning to her room, she brewed a pot of hot tea for herself, thinking to take a break.


    Three sheep and squirrels leaped in. ¡°Mistress, you¡¯re finally back.¡± ¡°Have you finished eating the elixirs?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost finished.¡¯


    Qiao Mai smiled, replenished their elixirs, and touched their heads.


    ¡°You do nothing every day, yet you¡¯ve all gotten so fat?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    ¡°The two girls in the house don¡¯t know how to fight. You must protect them, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    Satisfied, the little creatures left. Greeny popped out of the space.


    ¡°Mistress, you¡¯re really something. The spiritual beasts from the capital and those here have all advanced. There are changes every year. Having a master like you is great.¡±


    ¡°In the past year, my cultivation has only advanced by two stages. However, my alchemy has advanced by a major stage. It¡¯s still considered an achievement.¡±


    ¡°If you were in the immortal realm and focused on cultivation, you might have met the conditions for ascension by now.¡±


    ¡°No hurry. Cultivation is endless, and meditating daily is not interesting. Living for thousands of years is just like that. The key to a good life is being happy.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the flying snow outside. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m content now. I have a husband loyal to me, a son, and a daughter, watching them grow and branch out. I protect them from the side, and that¡¯s a kind of happiness. Even though there are many unsatisfactory things in life, I treat them as seasoning when cooking. That¡¯s life.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the first woman I¡¯ve encountered who doesn¡¯t want to cultivate.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. Have you finished with the space?¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? The area is sorge, and there are animals and nts to care for. I¡¯m not in a hurry either, hehe.¡±


    The mistress and servant, one drinking tea and the other shaking a flower from space spent the night together.


    That night, Qiao Mai slept soundly, while Ling¡¯er and Jiamei only fell asleep in thetter half of the night.


    Qiao Mai replenished the goods in the store the next morning, had a meal, and went to the store to check and settle the ounts.


    The Qian family and the others were waiting for her letters upon learning that she had returned, waiting for her to invite them.


    Thinking of Ling¡¯er and Jiamei apanying her, Qiao Mai sent someone to pass on a message to them, asking them to bring gifts to visit various families.


    Ling¡¯er was familiar with their family friends. Visiting the elders as the younger generation was the right thing to do.


    This visit made every family shine brightly.


    These social matters were also a good practice for them.


    Qiao Mai was busy with her affairs. Ling¡¯er picked out many gifts from the family warehouse, wrote down the names of the families on paper, and then distributed the gifts.


    She knew that in Qiao Mai¡¯s heart, these were all her good friends. So, the gifts were almost the same for each family. If she missed out on anything, they could be addedter when her mother wasn¡¯t busy.


    Fortunately, they all lived in the town. After preparing the gifts, Ling¡¯er took Jiamei to visit each family.


    They didn¡¯t eat at people¡¯s homes. In one day, they visited all the families.


    Everyone knew Ling¡¯er had be a country princess, and Chuan¡¯er would marry a princess. When Ling¡¯er addressed her as her sister-inw, they understood Jiamei¡¯s identity.


    They never expected the two of them to visit personally. They were excited and wanted to kneel to give thanks.


    Seeing that Jiamei didn¡¯t show any princess demeanor, they were all happy Chuan¡¯er had found such a good wife.


    After visiting each family, the two sisters-inw woulde out to take a walk daily. Ling¡¯er took Jiamei to visit the greenhouse, revisited the yground from her childhood, and saw the same little sheep and various small animals they had in the capital.


    It was just that Lucky Garden in the capital was a bit morefortable than here. But being able to see the flying white snow was worth the trip..

 Chapter 347 - 347: Unresigned

    Chapter 347: Unresigned


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    With nothing to do, the two girls would ride horses and stroll around the small town, bing a beautiful scenery in Tianshui Town.


    The Yuan, Qiao, and Tian families would fall silent for a long time when they learned that Qiao Mai had returned to her hometown.


    Regret was no use. Fortunately, Qiao Mai did not report them to the authorities. Before leaving, Yuan Jiaqi arranged jobs for the men of both families, providing decent pay.


    In these years, they behaved well, fearing to lose their jobs. They watched their elderly family members and refrained from causing trouble in the town.


    They couldn¡¯t afford to stir trouble as Qiao Mai and her family had moved to the capital.


    Every year, news about Qiao Mai¡¯s family would reach them. When they heard it, they regretted it deeply. If only they had treated the couple better, would they now live in Lucky Garden, being addressed as Old Master and Old Mistress by the servants?


    There are consequences for one¡¯s actions; if they had been good in the past, they wouldn¡¯t be facing these issues now.


    After checking the ounts in Tianshui Town, Qiao Mai went to County She. The workshops were expanding every year, and the number of workers increased.


    Products like pine nuts, shampoo, andundry detergent found their market in the north, gaining poprity among wealthy households. The business thrived year by year.


    Simr products were avable in the capital but were rare and not poprized yet.


    During this visit, Qiao Mai instructed the managers in County She to send some goods to the capital after the New Year, delivering them directly to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    Pine nuts would be sold at the shop in the capital, while shampoo andundry detergent would be ced in the embroidery shop.


    After inspecting the shops, she returned to Lucky Garden and hosted a banquet, inviting old friends to gather at her home.


    Mayor Qian¡¯s son had grown up, and the Liu family had added a few more children. Qiao Mai prepared gifts for them, all precious items. She never let her friends feel disadvantaged when meeting her.


    Mayor Qian looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Sister-inw, you still look so young. Do you have some secret to staying youthful?¡±


    ¡°In a good mood, food tastes better. That¡¯s the secret to eternal youth.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m keeping an eye on them. Everything will be fine.¡±


    ¡°Sister, I¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to say it. After so many years of friendship, do you think I don¡¯t know you?¡±


    ¡°Do you know Ruxin is also in the capital?¡±


    ¡°No need to bring it up!¡±


    ¡°Sigh¡­¡±


    Everyone had questions, and Qiao Mai patiently answered all of them. ¡°Madam Qiao, are you still nning toe back?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is my true home with my husband. After I arrange things for the children, my husband and I will return to retire.¡±


    ¡°How many years will that take?¡±


    ¡°Time flies. Not long ago, Ling¡¯er was still a baby. Look now, she¡¯s about to get married.¡± ¡°Ah, who is she marrying?¡±


    ¡°A prince.¡±


    ¡°Gasp¡­ She¡¯s bing a royal consort?¡±


    Seeing her mother-inw silent, Jiamei smiled sweetly, ¡°It¡¯s my youngest brother, the eleventh prince, who is now the crown Prince.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, to be the crown prince¡¯s consort? Isn¡¯t that the empress in the future?¡±


    ¡°Yes, just as you imagine.¡±


    ¡°So, will we have some advantages in the future?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, if anyone dares to act wrongly, it won¡¯t be tolerated, no matter how close they are.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    The gathering was joyful. When they left, Qiao Mai also sent many gifts to each family. Afterward, she entered seclusion.


    Only Jiamei and Ling¡¯er remained in Lucky Garden. When they had nothing to do, they would enjoy delicious food in the house or go hand in hand to the front of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, watching the carriages and horsesing from the south to the north, experiencing the charm of the northern small town.


    At this moment, a carriage came from the south to the north. Ling¡¯er recognized the person driving the carriage as Tian Sanzhuang.


    Tian Sanzhuang also recognized Ling¡¯er. He hadn¡¯t seen her in several years, and now she had grown into such a beautiful youngdy.


    He had been keeping an eye on her affairs, so he involuntarily urged the carriage to stop in front of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.


    His wife and son were in the carriage. They had returned to visit their hometown, as Old Tian¡¯s health had not been good after the New Year.


    Entering the snack shop with his wife and son, he ordered warm milk tea and snacks. Seizing the opportunity, he stepped out.


    ¡°Miss Ling¡¯er?¡±


    Ling¡¯er took a deep breath as he resembled her biological father. Although they both felt a sense of familiarity due to their simr appearance, Ling¡¯er couldn¡¯t acknowledge him.


    Once she acknowledged him, she would be betraying her mother. Ling¡¯er had no emotional connection with him. She just nodded at him.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you still leaving after this family visit?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. Just then, his family called for him, so he had to go back inside the shop.


    Jiamei furrowed her brows and asked softly, ¡°Ling¡¯er, why do you look so much like him?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. Because of this, he even came to my house to do a blood test for paternity three times. I have no rtionship with him.¡±


    Although Ling¡¯er said this, her gaze went towards the shop.


    The plump woman was now his current wife. The seven or eight-year-old child was her half-brother.


    Suddenly, she wanted to return to Peach Blossom Vige and see. Would those vigers who were once indifferent to her mother act as if nothing happened while holding the relief grain her mother provided? Did their hearts ache or not?


    She also wanted to visit the Tian family. Why couldn¡¯t they treat the woman who raised their children better?


    She also wanted to go to the Qiao family. Why do some families cherish their daughters while others treat them like grass?


    Doesn¡¯t it hurt their hearts? After all, that¡¯s their flesh and blood. Sigh¡­


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. ¡±


    Ling¡¯er wanted toe back this time for a few reasons. First, she wanted to show Jiamei the northern scenery. Second, she wanted to see Tian Sanzhuang again. Lastly, she wanted to seek justice for her mother.


    Unfortunately, justice was something she couldn¡¯t seek, as her mother didn¡¯t want her identity to be exposed.


    When Tian Sanzhuang came out with his wife and child, Jiamei and Ling¡¯er had already left. He sighed lightly.


    He was still fantasizing that Ling¡¯er was his daughter. As an official, he knew everything that happened in the capital. He wanted nothing more than to be a county princess¡¯s father.


    Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t find an opportunity even now. That woman handled everything wlessly.


    He had a feeling Ling¡¯er was his daughter, but why? Why? He couldn¡¯t figure it out.


    ¡°Help us onto the carriage. What are you standing there for?¡±


    The plump woman chattered non-stop. Tian Sanzhuang returned to his senses, quickly helping them onto the carriage. Then, he urged the coachman to return to Peach Blossom Vige.


    At home, Old Tiany on the bed, apanied by a middle-aged woman who kept wiping away tears.


    When Tian Sanzhuang entered the room, he saw his father lying with closed eyes. If he hadn¡¯t noticed the slight movement in his chest, he would have thought he had passed away.


    ¡°How¡¯s my father?¡±


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t eaten for two days, asionally muttering in his sleep.¡±


    ¡°What about my brother and the others?¡±


    ¡°They just left a while ago.¡±


    The plump woman entered the room with her son, nced at the bed, and sat on the side.


    Tian Sanzhuang gently shook Old Tian. ¡°Father, Father, Sanzhuang is back. Can you open your eyes and look at your son?¡±


    When he was about to give up, Old Tian opened his cloudy eyes.


    ¡°Sanzhuang, you¡¯re back?¡±


    ¡°Father, your son took leave toe and see you.¡±


    ¡°Father is about to leave, but there¡¯s an unfulfilled wish. I can¡¯t bear to leave.


    ¡°What do you want to say?¡±


    ¡°Qiao Mai should have been our daughter-inw, bringing prosperity to our family. It¡¯s our fault that we treated her poorly, lost her, and let her bring prosperity to others. I can¡¯t bear it.¡±


    ¡°Father, if she stayed in our family, she would have faced a dead end.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that better than her bringing prosperity to others? Are you content with that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯vee to terms with it.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I want to be the Old Master of the Qiao family. The Qiao family should have been mine..¡±

 Chapter 348 - 348: She’s Not Her!

    Chapter 348: She¡¯s Not Her!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He used hisst bit of strength, staring with wide eves as he took his final breath.


    Tian Sanzhuang knelt on his body and wept bitterly. The chubby woman rolled her eyes, taking her son to inform everyone.


    People often say that when a person is about to die, their words are sincere. Unexpectedly, the dying words of this old man were like that. In the next life, he might still suffer!


    Qiao Mai came out of seclusion ten dayster. She couldn¡¯t stay closed off forever; the two children were still there.


    Upon hearing this news, she curled her lips and thought, ¡°Good riddance!¡±


    It was already the twentieth day of December, and the journey took six days. They will arrive just in time for the New Year without dying anything.


    Just as she prepared to return to the capital, the eldest son of the Qiao family arrived. He didn¡¯t enter Lucky Garden but had someone deliver a letter to Qiao Mai before leaving.


    It turned out that Qiao Shicheng, the body owner¡¯s father, was not feeling well. Sensing that his time was running out, he wanted to see her while she was home.


    After much consideration, she decided to meet the owner¡¯s father.


    Qiao Mai rode in a carriage, braving the wind and snow, and arrived at Lihua Vige. She hadn¡¯t been back since the owner was taken away by Tian Sanzhuang.


    For some reason, Qiao Mai¡¯s heart fluttered, perhaps due to the owner¡¯s reflexive emotions. Regardless of how terrible this family treated her, she couldn¡¯t forget them.


    But she wasn¡¯t the owner. She came to fulfill Qiao Shicheng¡¯sst wish. With the owner¡¯s personality, she would have forgiven them if her parents had said a few kind words.


    But Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t. From the first meeting, they insulted her. Moreover, they wanted to sell her again. She had never intended to acknowledge them. Love is love, and hate is hate. She didn¡¯t want anything that could waver between love and hate.


    After asking around, the carriage stopped at the gate of a house.


    Although it was still an adobe house, it was not in disrepair. It seemed that after Yuan Jiaqi gave them jobs, they lived a decent life.


    She got off the carriage, dressed in fine clothes, raising her head high with a straight posture.


    ¡°Mistress, shall I knock on the door?¡±


    ¡°No need. Just wait here.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked forward, knocking a few times. Soon, Madam Qiao Lu walked out trembling. The owner¡¯s mother, who was in her fifties, had aged.


    Upon seeing Qiao Mai, tears welled up in Madam Qiao Lu¡¯s eyes, and she tried to reach out to Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai avoided her outstretched hand and asked coldly, ¡°Does he want to see ¡°Daughter, do you recognize us now?¡±


    ¡°No. I heard that he was about to die, so I came. Don¡¯t daydream if there¡¯s nothing else to do.¡±


    ¡°Why did youe then?¡±


    ¡°I came for the deceased Qiao Mai.¡±


    Madam Qiao Lu looked at her. ¡°Deceased? Aren¡¯t you alive and well?¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t want to exin to this idiot. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me, I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    She was about to turn around when Madam Qiao Lu quickly stopped her. ¡°He¡¯s inside. He has been sick for several months.¡¯


    Qiao Mai ignored her and walked in. The Qiao family members were all in the house, sensing that Qiao Shicheng¡¯s health was deteriorating. They were afraid he might pass away. They even prepared the coffin.


    Upon entering the room, she saw the Qiao family members but didn¡¯t greet them. Seeing Qiao Shicheng lying on the bed, she walked straight toward him.


    Someone made room for her, but she didn¡¯t sit and stood by the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m here. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Daughter, it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯m d you came to see me. Can you forgive your father?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Because Qiao Mai was already killed by the Tian family. She died the night she gave birth prematurely.¡±


    Perhaps others thought she was speaking out of anger, but the dying man widened his eyes and turned to look at her.


    ¡°You¡­ You are not her?¡±


    ¡°A father who can¡¯t protect his daughter but still wants to eat her flesh and drink her blood. Are you worthy of being a father?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I am a wandering ghost, a vengeful spirit. I should have avenged her by killing everyone who harmed her. You should be grateful that you¡¯ve survived until now. You should thank the one who died! I will return to the capital tomorrow.


    Goodbye,¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the people in the room and turned to leave.


    She walked away, and although the Qiao family members wanted to see her off, they didn¡¯t dare. Madam Qiao Lu sat by the bed, keeping watch over Qiao Shicheng.


    ¡°You got your wish, right?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not her! She¡¯s not her! So that¡¯s how it is. Haha, I understand now. I understand.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Qiao Shicheng spat out a mouthful of blood, fainting. The Qiao family rushed over, shaking Qiao Shicheng incessantly.


    On the twenty-first day of December, Qiao Mai left Tianshui Town with the two girls.


    When they left, friends from the town got up early to see them off. Qiao Mai had inquired about the health of the Yuan couple. They were in good health with no apparent problems.


    Although her husband did not recognize them, he couldn¡¯t be as heartless as her.


    This time, she didn¡¯t forget to collect snow into her space. Greeny also created a snowy mountain for her master to use anytime.


    In the carriage with the two girls was a handle with sugar-coated fruits hanging on it. These were made in advance by Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery to be eaten on the way.


    This type of candied stick was only authentic in the north. Although southern sugar-coated fruits were avable, the sugar on top was sticky due to the humid air. Here, they were crisp.


    Jiamei ate a hawthorn, and Ling¡¯er ate a strawberry. Having spent so much time together, their rtionship was more like close friends than sisters-inw.


    Looking at the handle, they smiled foolishly. ¡°Ling¡¯er, I feel that the north is better.¡±


    ¡°I feel the same way. If it weren¡¯t for Mother having a way, I wouldn¡¯t adapt to life in the south, especially in the summer. It¡¯s too ufortable everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the north has four seasons, while the south only has summer and winter. If Aunt returns next year, let¡¯se back together and stay for a while.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow Mother¡¯s arrangements. If she wants us to follow, we¡¯ll follow. If she doesn¡¯t want us to, there¡¯s nothing we can do. You must remember that whatever Mother says, it usually won¡¯t change. We can only go along with it.¡±


    Qiao Mai retracted her spiritual energy and smiled. Was she domineering and arbitrary, as if she were a mother tiger, as this girl described?


    On the twenty-seventh day, they returned to the capital. Qiao Mai had Jiamei sent back to the pce. Unexpectedly, the emperor saw the carriage and confiscated it.


    The old emperor took a liking to the carriage at a nce, and when the coachman returned, he felt wronged.


    ¡°Mistress, the carriage was left in the pce.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Consider it a New Year¡¯s gift for him.¡±


    ¡°But without a carriage, I have no means of transportation.¡±


    ¡°After the New Year, I will buy several more carriages for you. You can leave for now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    At this moment, the old emperor sat in the carriage with the empress, having two horses pulling them around the pce, enjoying a stroll.


    ¡°This carriage is outstanding. I don¡¯t know where it came from. It doesn¡¯t jolt at all.


    ¡°They returned to Tianshui Town in this carriage.¡±


    ¡°Yes, if I didn¡¯t know she had another one, I wouldn¡¯t have the face to confiscate it. Hehe, it¡¯s sofortable. I¡¯ll take you out to see the scenery another day.¡±


    ¡°That would be nice. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been out.¡±


    ¡°When the timees, we¡¯ll disguise ourselves as an ordinary couple and eat at their snack shop. It will feel special there.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s great that they¡¯ve sent so many gifts over the years. I heard they gave everything they had in the shop to us.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Our families are close rtives.


    While the two enjoyed themselves in the carriage, Yuan Jiaqi served Qiao Mai to wash up and dressed her on the warm bed for a massage.


    ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. This year, we earned ten thousand taels more thanst year. I n to let the children collect debts next year. I won¡¯t go..¡±

 Chapter 349 - 349: It Has Nothing to Do With Money

    Chapter 349 - 349: It Has Nothing to Do With Money


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Chuan¡¯er is going?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have the time. It¡¯ll take him a month to go back and forth.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of sending Ling¡¯er and Jiamei, are you?¡±


    ¡°Why not? The carriage is new, the road is smooth, and they will have a sheep by their side. Arrange a few guards, and consider it a sightseeing trip. At their age, they should experience some adventures. How can women stay at home all the time?¡±


    ¡°They are just like you. Tomboys.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how they won¡¯t be bullied. I¡¯ll make amulets for themter, ensuring good luck.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve received and returned all the New Year gifts, but Princess Mu and County Princess Xiao sent New Year gifts through messengers. I wanted to wait for your decision.¡±


    ¡°ept them. In the future, if they need anything, I¡¯ll do what I can. Both of them are good girls.¡±


    ¡°Wife?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Should we kiss?¡±


    ¡°Haha. Do you miss me that much?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Sure, haha.¡±


    A serious man and a cold-blooded woman did something intimate in the room as the moon hid behind the clouds.


    On the twenty-eighth day, Qiao Mai went to Peni Pavilion and discussed the matters of Tianshui Town with Old Master and Mistress Wang. She nced at Jiaru, who was looking at her.


    ¡°Grandmother, how is she doing?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s well-behaved. She¡¯s educated in all aspects, courteous and knowledgeable, but she has lost some of her yfulness from before.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already thirty. She should stop being yful.¡±


    Qiao Mai thought of something and took a jade bottle from her sleeve.


    ¡°Grandmother, this is a Beauty Pill. Let her take it. I hope Young Prince Shunqin will still cherish her after bringing her back to the mansion, and the children will love her.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang excitedly grabbed the jade bottle. ¡°Is it expensive?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I refined it myself. Let her take it. At the very least, it will make her ten years younger.¡±


    Old Master Wang put down the book in his hand and stared at the jade bottle, saying earnestly, ¡°Thank you, girl.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me every time. It loses its value if you say it too often.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my wife, give it to her to eat now.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Old Mistress Wang. ¡°Eat it. It¡¯s my first time refining this. I don¡¯t know how effective it is. But don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no poison.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang beckoned to Jiaru. ¡°Girl,e here.¡± Jiaru obediently walked to her. ¡°Grandmother.¡± ¡°Eat it; this is your sister Qiao¡¯s goodwill.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sister Qiao.¡±


    Jiaru took the pill and swallowed it. It melted in her mouth, emitting a refreshing fragrance.


    In seconds, her face seemed to regain vitality. Her skin became fair and tender, even better than when she was eighteen or neen.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang rubbed their eyes, settling down after realizing it wasn¡¯t a dream.


    ¡°It¡¯s great. I was worried that Prince Shunqin might not like her when they took her back during the New Year. Now, it seems they will reconcile.¡±


    ¡°Reconciliation is impossible, but it might make Prince Shunqin treat her better. After all, his backyard already has several women.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, the more money a man has, the more women. It¡¯s the same in every family ¡±


    ¡°Having many women isn¡¯t just about having money. It¡¯s about character and human nature.¡±


    ¡°Take Jiaqi as an example; he¡¯s a good man.¡±


    ¡°He is, but without me, he would have been deceived countless times when he was young.¡±


    ¡°Haha, your grandfather is the same. He was tricked by women many times when he was young, but he managed to escape.¡±


    ¡°Have you prepared the New Year¡¯s gift when Jiaru returns to the mansion tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Her father has already arranged it. You don¡¯t need to worry about this.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not right. Anyone who leaves our mansion must be properly sent off. I¡¯ll arrange it now so that the Prince can also taste our delicacies.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with her. Qiao Mai left, and Jiaru watched her back.


    ¡°Grandmother, I think I know her.¡±


    ¡°Of course. She¡¯s your sister. Back then, you were close friends.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Why do you think you¡¯re living at her house?¡±


    ¡°I will treat her well too!¡±


    ¡°Yes. When you go back tomorrow, remember what your grandmother taught you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Jiaru felt a bit at a loss. ¡°Grandmother, Jiaru is afraid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I will send Nanny Chang with you. If you want to return, tell your mother-inw you didn¡¯t learn much. Grandmother has talked to her about it. She will let you go.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Grandmother. Can I take Xiao Hong back when I return?¡±


    ¡°No, Xiao Hong is a gift to me from your sister. She is rare and shouldn¡¯t be shown to others easily. When you return home, don¡¯t mention it to anyone.¡± ¡°Okay. Granddaughter wille back as soon as possible.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang looked at the yful little cats in the room, unable to stop smiling. These lovely animals always brought joy and happiness.


    On the twenty-eighth day, Wang Jiaru returned to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion with three carts of New Year gifts.


    Prince Shunqin came to pick her up. He had long wanted to visit Lucky Garden. How could he let go of such a good opportunity?


    He smoothly escorted her back and took away several carts of delicacies. When he saw Jiaru, it was as if they were back to their initial encounter. Jiaru¡¯s blushing face left the young prince in awe.


    Back at the mansion, surrounded by the children, Jiaru appeared like a noble youngdy.


    The Old Princess Consort was satisfied, even holding her hand to inquire about her well-being. This made Jiaru rx; it felt likeing back home.


    This New Year, Old Master and Mistress Wang had no ns to go anywhere. They were getting old and didn¡¯t want to be bothered.


    Moreover, with Jiaqi and Qiao Mai¡¯s status, it was not suitable for them to visit Bichun Garden again.


    Let Wang Zongsheng and Wang Zihan handle everything. Lucky Garden was well-prepared, awaiting the arrival of the New Year.


    On the thirtieth day, every family weed the New Year with joy and festivity.


    At this moment, an old Taoist and a young disciple arrived at Lucky Garden¡¯s gate. The old man held a dust brush and frowned at the house. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy followed him.


    ¡°Evil aura! The evil aura in this house is unexpectedly strong.¡±


    ¡°Master, the Ming Dynasty is thriving now, and there haven¡¯t been any incidents of demons or monsters eating people.¡±


    ¡°Not eating people doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not a demon!¡±


    ¡°But this disciple didn¡¯t notice anything. Instead, I saw an auspicious omen.¡±


    ¡°What do you understand? The evil aura is well hidden. With your shallow cultivation, you can¡¯t see it.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I didn¡¯t expect a demon to be in the capital. I should have descended from the mountain earlier.¡¯ ¡°What should we do?¡±


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to the pce first.¡¯


    The master and disciple arrived at the pce gate, and the old Taoist held a jade token. The guards of the Imperial Army led them into the pce.


    The emperor rested in his sleeping chamber when an eunuch came and whispered something in Yubao¡¯s ear.


    Yubao hurriedly came to him.


    ¡°Your Majesty, Daoist Qingfeng is here.¡±


    The old emperor stood up excitedly. ¡°Quick, prepare a pot of tea with the tea leaves I got from the Qiao family.¡±


    When Daoist Qingfeng entered the hall, the old emperor greeted him.


    ¡°Haha, Qingfeng, it¡¯s been a long time.¡±


    ¡°Qingfeng pays respects to Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯ve been friends for so many years. Don¡¯t be so polite and sit. ¡±


    The two took their seats as hosts and guests, with Yubao pouring tea for both. The young disciple stood behind the Taoist, lips sealed, not uttering a word.


    ¡°Today is New Year¡¯s Eve. Why did youe at this time?¡±


    ¡°I just left the mountain and wanted to take a stroll. I ended up here.¡±


    ¡°You went on a journey again?


    ¡°I came to see you. Come, give me your hand. Let me check your pulse and see your physical condition..¡±

 Chapter 350 - 350: All Trash

    Chapter 350 - 350: All Trash


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The old emperor obediently extended his hand, and Qingfeng checked his pulse.


    ¡°Your health is good. Have you been taking care of yourself recently?¡±


    ¡°Haha, try this tea. I¡¯ve been drinking ittely. It feels good.¡±


    The emperor didn¡¯t delve into the matters of the Qiao family. Qingfeng lifted the teacup, sniffed it, and then tasted it, revealing a surprised expression.


    ¡°This tea is excellent. It has a fragrant aroma, and drinking it imparts a warm feeling throughout the body. It has the effect of nourishing the spirit and dispelling fatigue. Regr consumption can promote longevity.¡±


    ¡°When you return to the mountain, I¡¯ll send you some.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±


    As the two enjoyed their conversation, the topic turned to the Qiao family.


    ¡°Your Majesty, when I entered the capital, I passed by a residence called Lucky


    Garden. Do you know about it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the home of one of my subjects. Is there anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°I sensed strong demonic energy in that residence.¡±


    The emperor furrowed his brows. ¡°Demonic energy? How is that possible? I¡¯ve investigated their background; the couple started from the countryside and hase a long way. They¡¯ve raised well-behaved children with good morals.¡± ¡°Then there must be demonic creatures hidden in their home.¡±


    ¡°I find it hard to believe. Madam Qiao is influential; she wouldn¡¯t tolerate demonic creatures in her household.¡±


    ¡°But if these creatures aren¡¯t dealt with, they might bring cmity to the mortal realm.¡±


    ¡°Old friend, you¡¯ve traveled a long way and must be tired. The Qingfeng Hall has been prepared for your stay. Would you like to take a rest?¡±


    Taoist Qingfeng noticed the emperor¡¯s strong preference for that family and decided not to press the matter.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll excuse myself.¡±


    After Qingfeng left, the emperor contemted sending a message to the Qiao family but decided to wait until the evening pce banquet.


    The Qiao family nned to skip the pce banquet, but they received a royal invitation,pelling them to attend.


    Unable to decline, Yuan Jiaqi could only bring his wife and children.


    They are different from the past. No one dared to look down upon Lucky


    Garden. Upon seeing Mr. Yuan¡¯s family, especially after catching sight of Qiao Mai, people¡¯s gazes were filled with fear, afraid of provoking this woman and inviting trouble.


    Now, even the royal family couldn¡¯t afford to offend Lucky Garden. Prince Shunqin¡¯s family wanted to establish a good rtionship with them.


    In the pce, their seating arrangement was significant. The Qiao family was ced closely beneath the emperor. The Eleventh Prince, Haichuan, Ling¡¯er, and Jiamei sat together.


    Observing this, the officials wondered why the emperor regarded the Qiao family with such favor.


    What made their family so exceptional? They didn¡¯t hold military power, and even if the Eleventh Prince were to be the heir, could he maintain his position for long without support?


    However, they were unaware that the emperor had no intention of ruling until his death. He held the military token and wasn¡¯t afraid of anyone.


    After the old emperor and his concubines arrived, the banquet began.


    The emperor contemted for a moment, then looked at Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai to his left, whispering.


    ¡°Inw.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not outsiders. What do you think of me?¡±


    ¡°A wise and rare monarch.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask you directly.¡±


    ¡°As long as I can answer.¡±


    ¡°I have a good friend, a Taoist, who is over a hundred years old but still healthy. He has insights into the path of cultivation. He happened to pass by your house today and sensed a strong demonic aura. I don¡¯t believe it. I want to ask you personally.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and nced in a certain direction. ¡°Your Majesty, do you understand what a demon is?¡±


    ¡°They eat and harm people. A beast that brings disaster.¡±


    ¡°So, have there been any harmful events heard of in the Great Ming Dynasty?¡± ¡°Not really, but I¡¯m worried.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, when the Eleventh Prince can assist you, take some time to read the cultivation scriptures. Humans harming others are sometimes worse than demons. Everything has its good and bad sides. Sometimes, humans are not as good as demons.¡±


    ¡°Hiss- You have seen demons?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen them too?¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°At my house, those three sheep and the six little squirrels on the tree.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s face turned green upon hearing this. ¡°How could they be demons when they are so cute?¡±


    ¡°In the world of cultivation, there are demonic beasts, spiritual beasts, immortal beasts, and divine beasts. Creatures with charm naturally have a demonic aura, but not all eat people.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen them eat grass and nuts.¡±


    ¡°So, why worry?¡±


    ¡°As long as they don¡¯t harm people, I can rest assured.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, you are a wise monarch. While friends are good, you should have your judgment. Determine what words are trustworthy and what are not.


    Don¡¯t blindly pursue immortality, as even Immortals can die.¡±


    The emperor looked at her excitedly, ¡°Are you the Immortal from that night?¡±


    Qiao Mai turned her head and ignored him. Let him guess. Their conversation was soft-spoken, and almost no one in the hall heard them over the music and dance.


    The emperor swallowed, seemingly watching the performance, but his heart felt like boiling water.


    The burning sensation made him want to go outside and cool off.


    Is she an Immortal? Oh, it¡¯s so ufortable to be teased like this.


    She¡¯s not an immortal, but she talks about the cultivation world. How does she know about demonic beasts?


    As an emperor, he rarely read such books. With so many affairs of state, who has time for these things?


    However, he still knew ancient myths.


    Just as he was lost in thought, the empress spoke up.


    ¡°Inw, with so many people here and it being New Year¡¯s Eve, I¡¯ve grown tired of the performances. I still find your magic fascinating.¡±


    ¡°What do you desire, Empress?¡±


    ¡°Flowers, perhaps? I love all types of flowers.¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up, and the dancers stepped back, anticipating her performance.


    She came to the center of the stage, scanning the expectant gazes.


    ¡°Today, the Empress is pleased. She likes my magic tricks. So, I will present a humble disy.¡±


    She instructed pce servants to bring a few bamboo poles and create a simple frame.


    Shemunicated with Greeny using her mind, then covered the frame with a piece of red cloth.


    ¡°Empress, which flower would you like?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s start with peonies.¡±


    This time, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t lift the red cloth. Instead, she magically produced a pot of vibrant red peonies from within.


    ¡°Wow, it is a peony!¡±


    The empress descended from her seat to touch them. ¡°Real flowers! This peony is so brilliantly bloomed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift for the Empress.¡±


    ¡°Someone, bring this back to my sleeping quarters.¡±


    Once the empress returned to her seat, Qiao Mai continued her magical disy.


    In rapid session, she produced pots of roses, dahlias, and chrysanthemums.


    Among the flowers, peonies were the most abundant¡ªred, pink, green, blue, and even ink-ck peonies. The disy left everyone awestruck.


    Compared to her magic tricks, the singing and dancing seemed like trash.


    The emperor and empress stood up in excitement, unable to believe their eyes as the stage was filled with flowers.


    In a corner, Taoist Qingfeng observed silently.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find a spatial treasure in this world during my travels. What a waste that it¡¯s in the possession of this woman.¡±


    He discreetly vanished after uttering those words.


    Qiao Mai, noticing his departure, sneered. ¡°This old guy has ill intentions. It seems he¡¯s eyeing my space.¡±


    However, he is capable enough to realize that she possesses a spatial treasure, but it isn¡¯t something he could covet.


    After finishing the magic tricks, the emperor didn¡¯t ask her to perform anything else, and the officials had no authority to request more. Therefore, Qiao Mai returned to her seat.


    The Eleventh Prince finally fulfilled his wish, witnessing the incredible magic tricks he had desired.


    Baskets of real flowers were beautifully arranged, and as long as one wasn¡¯t foolish, no one would im it to be a magic trick. It was indeed not an illusion; what else could it be?

 Chapter 351 - 351: Curiosity Killed the Cat

    Chapter 351: Curiosity Killed the Cat


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The New Year¡¯s Eve dinner concluded with Qiao Mai¡¯s magic tricks, and the emperor kept Qiao Mai¡¯s family behind, continuing the conversation in the grand hall.


    ¡°Are you visiting rtives on the second day of the New Year?¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°How about I bring the empress, Jiamei, and the Eleventh Prince to visit you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine.


    ¡°I also want to go. Is it allowed?¡±


    The old Taoist emerged from the corner, and the emperor felt awkward. ¡°Qing Feng, have you rested well?¡±


    ¡°I only need a short meditation to restore my vitality.¡±


    With a cold expression, Qiao Mai looked at Qingfeng. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t be swayed by momentary desires. Stay on the right path.¡±


    Qingfeng hesitated, observing her, and then bowed to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Madam, there¡¯s a demonic aura on you.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t bother to argue with him. ¡°Old man, just say that I am a demon.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not a demon; you¡¯re a soul that has entered someone else¡¯s body. It vites the natural order. It¡¯s better to leave this body soon.¡±


    ¡°Oh, screw you. I also want to leave. Viting the natural order? This is just Heaven ying tricks on me, bringing me here. What nonsense are you spouting? Let me leave?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I must take action myself.¡±


    ¡°Come on.¡±


    The old Taoist swung a Buddhist relic towards her and chanted an incantation while Qiao Mai stood motionless.


    After a while, the old Taoist opened his eyes, seeing Qiao Mai unharmed. He closed his eyes again, continued chanting, and finally pointed at Qiao Mai with two fingers.


    She was too angry today. Did this old man be too impatient? Now, he wants to seize the spatial treasure for himself.


    She focused her mental power and collided with the red light. The old Taoist screamed, flying backward and falling to the ground.


    Qiao Mai sneered, ¡°With such low cultivation, you want to seize my treasures?


    Watch me cripple you.¡±


    The emperor pleaded, ¡°Inw, please spare him. He¡¯s a good friend of mine. Spare his life for my sake.¡±


    Approaching the old Taoist, Qiao Mai pressed his forehead, retracting her hand after a moment.


    She red at him. ¡°Because of your merit in the mortal world, I spare your life. Greed leads to a lifetime of mistakes. Your cultivation ends here.¡¯


    The old Taoist looked at her. ¡°Are you¡­ a cultivator?¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t transcended the human form yet wants to snatch my possessions? Get lost.¡±


    The emperor quickly ordered pce servants to help the old Taoist back to Qingfeng Hall.


    ¡°Inw, is that true?¡±


    ¡°As long as you understand.¡±


    The family looked at her. Ling¡¯er and Haichuan were confused, thinking the old Taoist intended harm to their mother.


    However, Yuan Jiaqi seemed to understand but didn¡¯t say much.


    After a short while, they bid farewell.


    The emperor, empress, Jiamei, and the Eleventh Prince were baffled and couldn¡¯t figure it out. In the end, they attributed the whole matter to the Taoist.


    The emperor rushed to Qingfeng Hall and looked at the Taoist resting on the bed.


    ¡°Qingfeng, what happened to you today?¡±


    ¡°I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have given in to greed for a moment.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a cultivator?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and her cultivation is extremely high. She could kill me like an ant.¡±


    ¡°With your high level of cultivation, you still couldn¡¯t match her?¡±


    Qingfeng sighed, ¡°Do you know what she did in the end, pressing on my head?¡± ¡°What did she do?¡±


    ¡°She was probing my memories. This is far beyond what ordinary cultivators can do. I have read historical records of various sects. This is called the soul-searching technique. At the lowest level, it turns people into idiots after probing, but I¡¯m still fine. What she used was an advanced technique. I can¡¯tpare to her.¡±


    ¡°What about the demonic aura you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°It should be her pet. I have read records on this subject. Demonic petse in many forms. Hers might be a demonic beast.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, she¡¯s been so low-key, hiding in the capital for many years. She¡¯s a cultivator. This is incredible.¡±


    ¡°My heart is damaged. I¡¯ll recover here with my old friend. After that, I¡¯ll return to the mountain. Once I leave, it might be impossible for us to meet again.¡±


    ¡°When I have free time, I¡¯ll visit you.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, we¡¯ll have the chance to meet again.¡±


    Back in his chambers, the emperor couldn¡¯t sleep all night. At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi faced Qiao Mai. ¡°Wife, aren¡¯t you her?¡±


    ¡°No, when my soul entered her body, she had just died. There was no possession involved.¡±


    ¡°So, you saved her and her child?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What about him wanting to take your treasures?¡±


    ¡°I have a spatial ability. Do you understand what space is?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi shook his head, and Qiao Mai exined, ¡°Imagine having a movable house you can shrink and carry around with lots of space inside.¡±


    His eyes lit up. ¡°You mean the things that appear with a wave of your hande from there?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He got greedy, thinking it would be easy to seize them. Little did he know he kicked a ho¡¯s nest. Understand now?¡±


    ¡°I understand. Any more exnations needed?¡±


    ¡°Wife, feel like we¡¯re living in a fairy tale. It¡¯s so unbelievable.¡±


    ¡°Are you scared?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. It just feels dreamlike and magical. My life is worthwhile after experiencing such wonders.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Get some sleep. We¡¯ll be home tomorrow waiting for them to visit for the New Year.¡¯


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. I¡¯m too excited.¡±


    Qiao Mai pped his neck lightly, and Yuan Jiaqi fainted. She covered him with a nket and sighed.


    He seemed to have one more question about cultivation. She knew he only understood that she was practicing but not cultivating. If he pressed further, she would lose her privacy.


    Oh, there was also the spatial ability. She hadn¡¯t taken him inside yet.


    Lying next to him, she patted his cheek gently. ¡°Curiosity killed the cat. From now on, don¡¯t ask. It¡¯s better not to know everything. Some mysteries are for the best.¡±


    On the first day of the lunar new year, everyone gathered in the front hall. In previous years, no one came to offer New Year¡¯s greetings.


    This year, the Wang family, Lu Ruyi, the Eleventh Prince, and Jiamei wille to pay their respects.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang were present, creating a lively atmosphere not seen in a long time.


    Qiao Mai had prepared many gifts, presenting each person with a suitable gift.


    Even the Eleventh Prince and Jiamei received gifts, maintaining her generosity.


    Surprisingly, Prince Shunqin also came to wish them a Happy New Year with Jiaru.


    Old Mistress Wang found it unexpected, but since they considered themselves juniors and came with sincerity, she was pleased.


    Three tables were set for lunch, and everyone enjoyed a satisfying meal. Even Prince Shunqin ate much for the first time, probably benefiting from Jiaru¡¯s influence.


    The once-a-year festivity was chaotic, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say anything.


    After eating and drinking, they took many items as gifts, like a daughter returning home.


    After seeing off the guests, Old Master and Mistress Wang returned to the courtyard, discussing Prince Shunqin.


    Old Master Wang tolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re getting more confused as you get older.¡±


    ¡°Then exin? We¡¯ve lived here for several years. but he has never visited.¡¯ ¡°Jiamei marrying into this family is one reason. Ling¡¯er marrying the Eleventh Prince is another. The emperor was always with him. He is clearly cultivating the crown prince. Do you understand?¡±


    Old Mistress Wang was surprised. ¡°In the end, it¡¯s all for power.¡±


    ¡°What else? Ling¡¯er is the future empress. If they don¡¯t befriend the future heir, whom should they befriend?¡±


    ¡°Tsk. But it¡¯s also good now. With this backing, Jiaru doesn¡¯t have to worry about being mistreated there.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you have long hair but a short sight.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang red. ¡°Would you dare to say that in front of Qiao Mai?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, she¡¯s different. An exception.¡±


    ¡°Humph! You old man, always bullying me..¡±

 Chapter 352 - 352: Whose Heart Was Plucked Out?

    Chapter 352: Whose Heart Was Plucked Out?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    On the second day, the old emperor arrived with the empress. The Eleventh Prince and Jiamei came yesterday, so they didn¡¯t join today.


    Qiao Mai had prepared food early because they wereing around mealtime, hoping to get a free meal.


    In the past, when the emperor visited Lucky Garden, it might have been for the food. Now, he wanted to take a good look at this Immortal and verify his thoughts.


    What Qingfeng said was one thing, but he only believed it when he heard it with his ears.


    As soon as they entered Lucky Garden, the emperor followed the empress¡¯s example and held Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s hand, but he was shaken off.


    Holding hands between women might be usual, but when two men do it, people might mistake it for something else, even if it is a friendly gesture.


    Even if it were a romantic rtionship between men, it would be too embarrassing for it to be the emperor.


    Unbeknownst to the old emperor, he was rejected!


    As soon as they entered, they took their seats and started eating. The emperor, breaking his habits, drank quite a bit of alcohol. He believed that alcohol could give him the courage to ask what was on his mind.


    Qiao Mai looked at Yuan Jiaqi and the empress, signaling him not to ask. However, the old emperor had to ask; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t sleep. He already had dark circles under his eves.


    ¡°Inw?¡±


    ¡°I know what you want to ask, but I don¡¯t want to answer. Qingfeng must have told you, right?¡±


    ¡°He did say something, but I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°What he said is true.¡±


    ¡°I want to see those demons. Can I?¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. She used her thoughts to summon the squirrels and sheep. They all appeared in front of them.


    The old emperor couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He rubbed them hard. ¡°Are these the demons Qingfeng talked about?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I use them to guard my home.¡±


    ¡°Did they deal with those ck-clothed people?¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, dispersing them.


    ¡°Yes, I can¡¯t handle everything personally. With them around, even if your


    Golden Dragon Guardse to my house, they will be wiped out.¡± ¡°Amazing! If you wanted this country, wouldn¡¯t it be easy?¡±


    ¡°Forget it. With my cultivation, I could even take over the world. But I don¡¯t care for it. Just be a good emperor. With me here, you can enjoy yourself in secret.¡±


    ¡°Was it you who stopped the war at the Northern Pass?¡±


    ¡°Tianshui Town is not far from there. My rtives and friends are all there.


    Would I watch something happen?¡±


    ¡°I knew it. I knew it. What about the grain that night?¡±


    ¡°Enough already. Why do you keep bringing it up? Be grateful that you have me living in your Ming Dynasty!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°Teach the Crown Prince well. Otherwise, you know what will happen.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Haha, I¡¯m happy today. Let¡¯s drink. We won¡¯t go back until we¡¯re drunk.¡±


    The emperor was rarely this happy, and the empress was puzzled by what she heard. However, she wasn¡¯t foolish and could discern a few things. She merely didn¡¯t say much.


    She looked at Qiao Mai with a strange expression, understanding that with an inw like her, the Ming Dynasty would be peaceful for the people.


    She finally understood that her position as the empress was all thanks to Qiao Mai. Otherwise, it would have been impossible.


    When they left, they were carried onto Qiao Mai¡¯s carriage.


    These past few days were uneventful at home. Qiao Mai informed Yuan Jiaqi and went into seclusion.


    Yuan Jiaqi will handle Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s marriage. She needed to be in seclusion for at least two months and had no ns toe out early.


    The emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department to put the princess¡¯s wedding on the agenda. Chuan¡¯er¡¯s side waited for the news from the other side, doing whatever they were told.


    At this time, rumors began spreading in the capital that the Duke of Blessing¡¯s wife was a demon, and she even raised several demonic beasts.


    The rumors escted. Manymoners were afraid to pass by Lucky Garden. Even the embroidery shop and Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had no customers.


    Shopkeeper Niu was anxious. Since Qiao Mai was in seclusion, he went to Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Master, the capital is going crazy now. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°You guys have also been working hard. Take a few days off. Close the shops and wait for the mistress toe out. We have enough money; we can afford to keep you.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi instructed Shopkeeper Niu to close the shops, and everyone was to stay active in the courtyard. They shouldn¡¯t leave.


    Ling¡¯er saw no customers in the shop and closed the door, keeping her people in her yard.


    Lucky Garden was spacious, and they could move around as they pleased. They only couldn¡¯t leave for their safety.


    By March, the rumors had spread even more intensely. There were few pedestrians on the street during the day, and there wasn¡¯t even a watchman at night.


    Yuan Jiaqi and Chuan¡¯er continued their official duties as usual, doing whatever was needed. They were both eagerly awaiting the moment when Qiao Mai woulde out of seclusion.


    The emperor soon learned of this matter. He was furious and immediately sent out the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate.


    The cunning emperor thought that the whole rumor started from Taoist Qingfeng. By now, he had returned to the mountains.


    It was impossible to send the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate. Qingfeng had profound internal strength, and the Golden Dragon Guards were no match for him. Moreover, many martial artists were on the mountain, each with exceptional skills.


    To investigate this matter, they needed Qiao Mai. Only she could make Qingfeng feel wary or even frightened.


    Even the court officials began to include this matter in political discussions. They all suggested the emperor thoroughly investigate this matter, or it might cause panic among the people.


    The emperor snorted in his heart. He knew everyone was panicking as the Eleventh Prince¡¯s legs were healed. They wanted to use the rumors to suppress the Yuan family.


    The emperor readily agreed to investigate, but it would take time.


    After he knew Qiao Mai went into seclusion, he decided to drag the matter. The rumors also affected Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s marriage. It was dyed until the investigation was settled.


    From January to April, the emperor and empress visited Lucky Garden twice but didn¡¯t see Qiao Mai.


    Jiamei and the Eleventh Prince also came many times. Oneforted Chuan¡¯er, and the otherforted Ling¡¯er.


    Surprisingly, neither of them was worried. They believed that as long as Mother came out of seclusion, this matter would be resolved.


    At this time, Qiao Mai was sprinting towards the ninth stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. Two months of focused cultivation allowed her to advance by four stages. One more step, and she would finish her seclusion. Greeny fluttered its wings and flew near her. ¡°Master.¡±


    Qiao Mai slowly opened her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Rumors are spreading in the capital, saying that you are a demon.¡±


    ¡°It must be that Taoist spreading rumors. Hmph.¡±


    ¡°Our two shops have closed, and almost no one is walking on the street in front of our mansion. They are afraid of demons.¡±


    ¡°A bunch of idiots. Even if there were demons, who had their hearts scooped out? Whose organs were eaten? Or did anything abnormal happen? Ignorant fools, blindly following others.¡±


    ¡°Or, you could take a look outside for a while?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at herself and nodded. ¡°Not bad. After advancing through four stages, I¡¯ll challenge the major breakthrough next time. Do you want to join in the fun?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    The master and servant went out of the space. Opening the door, she didn¡¯t see Yuan Jiaqi. He should be on duty.


    She went straight to Old Master Wang. Ling¡¯er, Nanny Jin, and others were sitting and talking.


    ¡°I wonder when Mother wille out of seclusion.


    ¡°It¡¯s taking a bit long, but it¡¯s not urgent. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer. We have enough food and supplies; it canst a year or two. Put your minds at ease. If it doesn¡¯t work out, we¡¯ll all move to Bichun Garden.¡±


    ¡°No, we have to guard our home while Mother is away. They¡¯re just afraid of us.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t sell to us. Some even close their shops when they see our servants.¡±


    When Qiao Mai heard this, she raised an eyebrow and walked in.


    ¡°Let them. Could they close the doors to their shop forever?¡±


    Ling¡¯er ran to her in surprise and threw herself into Qiao Mai¡¯s arms. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re out of seclusion.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve all done a good job, knowing to stay put and wait for me toe out of seclusion.


    ¡°Hehe, only you can solve it. We don¡¯t have that ability..¡±

 Chapter 353 - 353: A Small Trick Can’t Withstood One Blow

    Chapter 353 - 353: A Small Trick Can¡¯t Withstood One Blow


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Ling¡¯er pulled Qiao Mai to sit in front of the table. ¡°Hehe, now that Mother is out of seclusion, we can do whatever we want.


    Old Mistress Wang poured a cup of tea for Qiao Mai. ¡°Girl, it¡¯s up to you again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, leave it to me. Ling¡¯er, tell Shopkeeper Niu to open the store tomorrow.


    You can also open yours.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    After Ling¡¯er and Nanny Jin sat for a while, they left. With no outsiders in the room, Old Master Wang sighed softly.


    ¡°Girl, why did this happen? You should know, right?¡±


    ¡°The demonic aura is fake. It¡¯s just an excuse to let the emperor deal with us, to remove the backing behind the Eleventh Prince. They know I have abilities, but they want to test how powerful I am. If they see me with the strength to rival the emperor, they will give up. Otherwise, the Eleventh Prince will be in danger.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I thought too.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, I will break the rumors. It¡¯s just a small trick not worth mentioning.¡±


    ¡°We are getting old and can¡¯t help you.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured. Stay in my house and enjoy your retirement. With me here, nothing will happen.¡±


    Qiao Mai left Peni Pavilion and stood at the entrance, observing the deserted street. ncing around, she noticed some people lingering on the street, sneakily peering at her.


    Upon seeing Qiao Mai, they quickly ducked their heads back, avoiding eye contact.


    She casually took a peach and began to eat it. The peach wasrge, weighing two catties, and looked vibrant.


    People who were spying from afar peeked again. Seeing this scene, they started whispering.


    ¡°Do you think Madam Qiao might be a peach spirit?¡±


    ¡°No way. She performs magic tricks in the pce, transforming mostly apples and watermelons. Maybe she¡¯s an apple or melon spirit.¡±


    ¡°Forget it. I haven¡¯t heard of those two spirits. Haha!¡±


    Greeny, nestled in Qiao Mai¡¯s hair, pouted. ¡°Master, they say rumors are dispelled by the wise. What should we do?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s as simple as it gets. Didn¡¯t that Taoist recognize the demonic aura around our house?¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the opposite of demonic aura? Auspicious energy, right?¡± ¡°Purple energy?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. Can you make our house emit purple and golden energy?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easy. Master, create a barrier around the house, and I¡¯ll generate a cluster of purple and golden energy at the top.¡±


    Qiao Mai smirked, waving her hand to cast a barrier over Lucky Garden. Greeny quietly flew away from her hair essory.


    In less than half an hour, the sky above Lucky Garden was enveloped in purple and golden energy, lingering for a long time. Those spying on Qiao Mai while also keeping an eye on the house were now in disbelief.


    They thought their eyes were ying tricks on them. Rubbing their eyes vigorously, they couldn¡¯t believe when Lucky Garden started exuding purple and golden energy.


    When did Lucky Garden gain such an aura? This is a significant development! They needed to report it.


    In broad daylight, this couldn¡¯t be a fabrication. Emboldened by this revtion, somemoners boldly rushed into the streets around Lucky Garden.


    They all looked up at the purple energy, gossiping in hushed tones.


    ¡°Damn, who spread the rumor that there is a demon in Lucky Garden? Demons are ck, and this is purple. Purple is an auspicious sign; look, there¡¯s even gold. Gold is a symbol of the royal family. I heard that the Eleventh Prince will marry Princess Tianshui. Isn¡¯t this fulfilling the prophecy?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Whoever spread the rumors, making me detour on my way home, always living in fear, scared me to death.¡±


    ¡°Motherf***er, I heard that every time there¡¯s a disaster in the south, Mr. Yuan leads people to disaster relief, not spending a coin from the national treasury.


    Madam Qiao makes money, which is used to help the disaster-stricken areas. How could she be a demon?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! They are such a good family. I think it¡¯s just jealousy to say they are demons.¡±


    In no time, themoners began to denounce the rumor-monger, and the tide turned. The street was crowded with people, alling to witness the purple and golden aura.


    This was not something anyone could see whenever they wanted; in the eyes of ordinary people, it was a miracle.


    On that day, the old emperor received the news. He also wanted to leave the pce to see it, but unfortunately, the street was full of people, and getting inside didn¡¯t look optimistic.


    Even Yuan Jiaqi and Yuan Haichuan had to squeeze through. If it weren¡¯t for the assistance of Dongzhao and Dracaena, they wouldn¡¯t be able to get home.


    Upon arriving home, they noticed that Qiao Mai hade out of seclusion.


    Both were overjoyed; the umted frustration of the past few months dissipated.


    ¡°Wife, you finally came out of seclusion. What about the purple and golden aura above our house?¡±


    ¡°I did it to dispel the rumors. Just a small trick.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already dark outside, yet there are still so many people.¡±


    ¡°The rumors will break. By then, the emperor won¡¯t have to be troubled.¡± ¡°Because of this, Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s marriage has been postponed.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just have it this year. There¡¯s no rush for our son.¡± Chuan¡¯er stood aside, his face red, feeling he was in the way.


    ¡°Mother, if nothing¡¯s wrong, I¡¯m going back.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    At this moment, Yuan Jiaqi grabbed Qiao Mai¡¯s hand and kept rubbing it.


    ¡°Is this rted to the Eleventh Prince?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I estimate that the emperor wille tonight. He and the empress have visited twice, but you were in closed-door cultivation. How did it go this time?¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Is your cultivation getting higher and higher, increasing your lifespan?¡± Qiao Mai smiled; he finally asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a few hundred years. If ordinary people pay attention to health, they can also reach that age. With me here, although we can¡¯t live together, we can be buried in the same tomb.¡±


    ¡°No, I hope my wife can live a long life.¡±


    ¡°Alright, stop fishing forpliments from me. Even Immortals can¡¯t live forever, let alone a cultivator like me.


    The sky was pitch ck in the evening, and people on the street gradually dispersed.


    The old emperor didn¡¯t bring the empress. He came alone with Yubao and arrived at Lucky Garden. Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were waiting for him.


    The carriage drove to the entrance of Yuexian Residence. The emperor got out of the carriage, walked quickly, and left Yubao behind.


    As soon as he entered the living room, he sat directly at the lower end of Qiao


    Mai.


    ¡°Inw, how did you create the purple and golden aura?¡±


    ¡°Immortal technique.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so angry. Those ministers keep saying you¡¯re a demon.¡±


    ¡°Where is Taoist Qingfeng healing?¡±


    ¡°Qingfeng Temple, on the Taihang Mountains in the south. It¡¯s like spring all year round, better than the climate in the capital. It¡¯s a good ce for health preservation.¡±


    ¡°Who are there specifically?¡±


    ¡°There are two senior figures on the mountain who are said to have lived on the back mountain all year round and have note down for three hundred years. Qingfeng is one hundred and sixty years old. He has six disciples, all of whom are not young anymore. They travel outside all year round, and each disciple takes turns to guard the temple. When one disciple returns, another one can go out for travels. Each journey cannot exceed ten years.¡±


    ¡°What abilities do they have?¡±


    ¡°Abilities? They can calcte divination, are exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and are unparalleled in geomancy.¡±


    ¡°Did they also evaluate the Feng Shui of your family tomb?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, by their seniors.¡±


    ¡°Humph, shouldn¡¯t it be thriving for your Li family? Howe it was almost destroyed?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t I have you now?¡±


    ¡°Give me a mapter. After Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er¡¯s wedding, I want to visit these old Taoists in person.¡±


    ¡°Inw, don¡¯t be angry. I think it¡¯s possible that he leaked the news, but it¡¯s definitely not intentional.¡±


    ¡°Someone set him up. He is straightforward and identally slipped.¡±


    ¡°Pah, as a Taoist, it is his duty to keep secrets for others. If he reveals the Feng Shui he saw for your family and spreads it around, won¡¯t it give those with ill intentions a chance?¡±


    ¡°Inw, although he had a moment of greed, I still understand his character.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll know after I searched his soul?¡±


    ¡°Inw, if it¡¯s really him, please show mercy.¡±


    ¡°Humph, it depends on whether he genuinely opposes me. If he wants me dead, why can¡¯t I let him perish? We are inws.. How can you turn your elbow outward?¡±

 Chapter 354 - 354: It’s Difficult For Me

    Chapter 354 - 354: It¡¯s Difficult For Me


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Alright, if not, I hope you can show mercy, dear inw?¡±


    Since the emperor found out she was a cultivator, he had been speaking with uncertainty, afraid of irritating Qiao Mai. Who knows, she might even kick him off the dragon throne.


    He still had many unfulfilled wishes and couldn¡¯t descend the throne now. ¡°Tomorrow, have someone block this street and bring those ministers. If they still think I¡¯m a demon, I suggest you kill one of them.¡±


    ¡°Kill anyone you don¡¯t like.¡±


    The emperor gritted his teeth. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll kill a few. I know they¡¯ve long formed factions, with their targets for the next heir, but I am the emperor. Those not loyal to me, I¡¯ll kill them all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. As an official, one should also be kind to the people besides being loyal to you. That¡¯s the mark of a good official.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m leaving. Can you bring a few baskets of your cherished fruits for


    ¡°You¡¯ve finished them?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your fruits are good. As soon as the concubines heard I had some, they all came to snatch them. It¡¯s tough for me.¡±


    Helplessly, Qiao Mai waved her hand, and six baskets of fruits appeared on the ground.


    Servants carried them to the carriage, and the old emperor hurriedly left. Before dawn, the streets were sealed off. Themoners couldn¡¯t get close but could still see from a distance, though not very clearly.


    Morning court and political affairs were all put aside.


    The emperor, apanied by civil and military officials, arrived at the entrance of Huangdao Street and walked with the officials to Lucky Garden. He pointed, ¡°Open your eyes and see. Is that demonic or auspicious?¡±


    The officials had heard rumors yesterday, and they had their spies. But seeing it for real, they still stubbornly denied it.


    ¡°Your Majesty, didn¡¯t Taoist Qingfeng say this residence has demonic energy?¡±


    ¡°Qingfeng is an old friend of mine. He told me he was mistaken. Don¡¯t you see it with your own eyes now?¡±


    ¡°If Madam Qiao is a demon, she could have transformed into anything. It¡¯s probably not difficult for her.¡±


    The emperor looked coldly at the Assistant Minister of War. Since this person was ackey of some prince, the emperor would fulfill his death wish.


    ¡°Guards, arrest the Assistant Minister of War for spreading false information. Hand him over to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.¡±


    The emperor was serious, and the courtiers knew to prioritize their own lives. ¡°Your Majesty, the sky above Lucky Garden is an auspicious sign.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. As your humble servant, I have seen it with my own eyes. I misunderstood Mr. Yuan¡¯s family.¡±


    One after another, officials expressed their views. The emperor snorted.


    ¡°I¡¯m still in power and alive. You should be loyal to me. The heir I choose is the one you should support. It¡¯s futile for you to support someone I didn¡¯t choose.¡±


    All the officials lowered their heads. After returning, the emperor arranged the marriage between Jiamei and Chuan¡¯er.


    Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery and the embroidery shop opened on this day.


    The storm was easily resolved by Qiao Mai.


    It seemed calm, but Qiao Mai knew there would be no peaceful days until the Eleventh Prince ascended the throne.


    That position was coveted by many, but the issue of demonic energy would be put aside.


    Half a monthter, the Internal Affairs Department sent a booklet to Yuan Jiaqi, exining everything clearly.


    The emperor decreed that the seventeenth day of October was a good day. Yuan Haichuan would go to the pce to wee Princess Jiamei to Lucky Garden.


    Yuan Jiaqi immediately followed the instructions. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t need to worry about these matters; she only needed to follow along when necessary.


    In September, all procedures werepleted, waiting only for the big day.


    At this time, another incident urred in the capital. Someone was killed and had his heart plucked out. The sight of the deceased was unbearable. The local authorities were investigating the matter.


    Two dayster, another person was killed, again with the heart extracted. All victims were strong and healthy men.


    Qiao Mai heard about this and raised her eyebrows, a faint smile on her lips.


    The issue of demonic energy had just been forgotten by the people, and now they were using it again to spread fear.


    Indeed, the internal panic made themoners recall the demonic energy, as only demons would extract hearts, supposedly for healing or cultivation.


    It was like a weed swaying with the wind, people echoing each other without their judgment.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t me them. After all, they were weak, and surviving was already challenging.


    After the third heart-plucking case, Qiao Mai entered her space and sat in front of theputer, taking a deep breath.


    She started searching on the tform. Finding the murderer would be simple with the help of the Howling Dog!


    The Howling Dog could smell the scent and track clues. Even if one tried to hide or escape, they couldn¡¯t escape its nose.


    The Howling Dog was a seventh-rank demonic beast with a chance to evolve into a divine beast. Given her current cultivation, forming a contract with it was pretty strained but still achievable.


    Spending a considerable sum, Qiao Mai reluctantly bought a pure ck Howling Dog.


    Infuriatingly, it almost bit her as soon as the dog appeared. If not for the constraints of the contract, it would have been challenging to tame it.


    Qiao Mai looked at it calmly, and it defiantly red at her.


    ¡°From now on, your name is ckie.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Resist all you want, but I am your master. If you have the guts, don¡¯t get


    caught and sold on the tform, okay?¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Behave, be a good beast, and I¡¯ll provide you with good pills!¡±


    ¡°Are you an alchemist?¡±


    ¡°Close to eighth-rank. When I reach the Incarnation Realm, it¡¯ll be just about right.¡¯


    ¡°Hmph, with your current cultivation, it¡¯s hard for me not to look down on you.


    Fortunately, you can refine pills.¡±


    ¡°Good. Follow me around as a ck dog and do whatever I ask. Don¡¯t cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°Let me taste a seventh-rank demonic beast pill first.¡±


    Qiao Mai flipped her hand, and a jade bottle appeared. She opened it for the dog to sniff, then put it away.


    ¡°You can have it after we finish our business.


    ¡°You¡¯re wicked.¡±


    ¡°Same goes for you.¡±


    Qiao Mai appeared in the room with ckie. Hands behind her back, she walked with a ck dog trailing behind.


    Leaving Yuexian Pavilion, they arrived at the entrance of Lucky Garden. The streets were deserted again. She rolled her eyes in exasperation.


    She headed towards the Investigation Bureau!


    When themoners saw her, they kept a distance and cleared the way wherever she went.


    They feared she would transform into a demon and devour them. Qiao Mai paid no mind, leading ckie to the Investigation Bureau. The officials recognized her. Upon seeing her, they saluted.


    ¡°Respectful greeting to Royal Consort Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Where is your leader?¡± ¡°He¡¯s, he¡¯s inside.¡±


    ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    Upon meeting the chief, she wasn¡¯t polite. ¡°Show me the bodies of those killed in the past few days.¡±


    ¡°Royal Consort, the sight of death is too gruesome. Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    With the chief personally guiding her, they arrived at the morgue. Inside were three corpses, surrounded by many buckets of ice.


    The officials gently lifted the covers for Qiao Mai to inspect, and she nced at ckie. ¡°ckie, go take a look.¡±


    ¡°Woof!¡±


    The officials were surprised. Why would Qiao Mai bring a dog? Could a dog solve a case?


    ckie went to each corpse, sniffing. ¡°Master, this wasn¡¯t done by a demon; it was a human.¡±


    ¡°I knew it already. Can you find the culprit behind the heart extraction?¡± ¡°Piece of cake. I want ten seventh-rank demonic beast pills.¡±


    ¡°If you solve the case, I¡¯ll reward you with a hundred, but if you can¡¯t, you¡¯ll only get dog food.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡¯


    Using telepathy, Qiao Mai and ckiemunicated. After spending some time in the morgue, they left. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t say or do much, leaving the officials at the Investigation Bureau bewildered.


    Qiao Mai returned home, and ckie was nowhere to be found.


    Yuan Jiaqi came home from work, still trembling. ¡°Wife, that person is too despicable. If you have to kill someone, make it quick. Extracting hearts is too cruel.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip of water and chuckled, ¡°If it¡¯s not cruel, how can people believe it¡¯s demonic?¡±


    ¡°What? Hasn¡¯t the demonic energy been resolved?¡±

 Chapter 355 - 355: Unable to Vent

    Chapter 355 - 355: Unable to Vent


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°How can it be? If Eleven doesn¡¯t be the emperor and break their dream, will they let it go?¡±


    ¡°How do we break out of this situation?¡± ¡°Just do your job normally. Leave it to me.¡±


    ¡°I always let you take action. I feel too useless.¡±


    At this moment, ckie dragged a person into the house. The servants in the house did not see how he entered.


    ckie threw him on the ground and squatted there. This frightened Yuan Jiaqi.


    He quickly jumped off the brick bed and went forward to check on the man¡¯s breathing.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive!¡±


    ¡°This man is rted to the heart-plucking case. Let me do it.¡±


    Qiao Mai went up and searched his soul. ¡°ckie, where did you catch this man?¡±


    ¡°In a manor in the suburbs, and it¡¯s in a secret chamber. Damn it, I¡¯ve exhausted myself.¡±


    ¡°This is your reward.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a storage bag and hung it around its neck. ¡°Go out and guard the house. In the future, wherever I go, follow me. Don¡¯t run around without orders.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ckie ran out. Yuan Jiaqi was shocked.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡± It¡¯s also a demonic beast. I recently subdued it to solve cases. This man is the murderer who dug out the heart, but he¡¯s not the only one. There¡¯s someone behind him.¡±


    ¡°Did you find out who it was?¡±


    ¡°The Seventh Prince!¡±


    ¡® Bastard! For the throne, he killed innocent people. How can this man be the emperor?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to the pce and let the emperor decide. If he doesn¡¯t give me an exnation, I¡¯ll kill him and the group of fugitives under him.¡±


    ¡°Can you bring me along?¡±


    Qiao Mai thought for a moment. ¡°Sure.¡±


    She put away the man on the ground and grabbed Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s arm. In a sh, she disappeared and reappeared in the pce.


    At this time, the emperor would have already started eating in his chambers.


    When he saw Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi, he was so shocked that he almost shouted for his guards.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, do you know about the Heart-Digging Case these two days?¡±


    ¡°I was just worrying about it.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, and the unconscious man appeared in the hall.


    ¡°This is?¡±


    ¡°One of the murderers who dug out his heart.¡±


    ¡°What? Quick, tie up the murderer and put him in jail.¡±


    The royal guards immediately rushed in and took the man away.


    ¡°Get everyone in the hall to leave and guard the main hall. Only the three of us will stay.¡±


    The emperor wasn¡¯t afraid Qiao Mai would harm him. If she really wanted his life, there was nothing he could do.


    Then, Qiao Mai waved her hand, and a portrait appeared.


    ¡°Take a look at what your good son has done.¡±


    The emperor looked at the scene with an ashen face. These ouws were all raised in the imperial manor in the suburbs. They were all trusted aides of the Seventh Prince. They did not go out during the day and only moved at night.


    Digging out people¡¯s hearts and spreading rumors were only one of their ns. The subsequent actions would target the Eleventh Prince. The more the emperor looked at it, the angrier he became. He clenched his fists tightly.


    At this moment, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to think about Qiao Mai¡¯s methods. He shouted angrily, ¡°Bastard! Bastard! How dare you do such a sinful thing!¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, he has more than three lives on his hands. He has killed many innocent people for his selfish desires.¡±


    ¡°I will investigate properly.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait. I hope Your Majesty will be fair. Don¡¯t ignore the lives of those who died just because he¡¯s your son.¡±


    The emperor was quick-witted. He recalled that a few years ago, a few princes were robbed or had their legs broken. It must have been Qiao Mai.


    If he didn¡¯t make a move, she would.


    It seemed that he couldn¡¯t save the Seventh Prince this time. The emperor could not help but sigh in his heart. It was impossible to spare his life even if he wanted to.


    Everyone said being an emperor was good, but what was so great about it? For the throne, one had to climb through a mountain of corpses. It was even crueler than digging out one¡¯s heart and lungs.


    When he returned to his senses, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi had already disappeared.


    The emperor immediately summoned themander of the Golden Dragon Guards. With his secret edict, he dispatched the garrison outside the city and arrested them overnight.


    Although the scenes were short, they involved many people.


    There was no need to interrogate the men in ck. They were ouws, so naturally, they could not pry open their mouths. They could only start with others.


    The soldiers were divided into two groups, one to the hidden manor and another to the Seventh Prince¡¯s residence. When everyone was still asleep, the Seventh Prince was escorted into the prison.


    The explosive news had spread like wildfire in the capital at dawn. For the sake of Lucky Garden¡¯s reputation, Qiao Mai yed the scene in the most prosperous area of the capital.


    Only then did themoners know they had wronged the Yuan family again.


    Every one of them felt guilty.


    At the same time, they were angry. They came to the pce together to denounce the Seventh Prince. They asked the emperor to be fair and strict. He could not show mercy just because he was a prince.


    This went on for several days. The emperor smiled bitterly in the royal study.


    Qiao Mai had forced him into a desperate situation, but it was not her fault. It was the Seventh Prince who had forced her into a desperate situation time and time again.


    He immediately issued an edict. After the investigation was done, he would return justice to the people.


    In the middle of September, the verdict was finally passed. The Seventh Prince would be executed after the New Year.


    This was the first time a prince had been officially beheaded since the Li family had conquered the empire. The emperor was angry but could not vent it.


    His son wanted to kill an immortal, so it was only right for Qiao Mai to return the favor. Moreover, the royal family could not afford to offend her. How heartbreaking!


    Humans. They felt great when they killed others but were unwilling when they killed their own family.


    In the Yuexian Pavilion, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi sat opposite each other.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the emperor will hate us.¡±


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare. I haven¡¯t even bothered him about his son scheming against us. If he dares to bear a grudge, I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°It is my fortune to meet you in this life.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t always say such things. It¡¯s all fate. Otherwise, how could we be together?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it was right for me to find you back then.¡±


    Qiao Mai coquettishly red at him. ¡°After the new year, I n to visit the


    Qingfeng Temple on Dahang Mountain. I¡¯ll leave the house to you.¡±


    ¡°You have done such a thorough job. If this husband still can¡¯t do it well, I will be a big idiot.¡±


    Soon, it was October. The Qiao family was almost done with their preparations. Marrying a princess was a big deal for other families, but for Lucky Garden, there was no difference in status. It was simr to what they had done for the Fengyun brothers.


    Princess Mu and Miss Xiao were emotional when they heard this. Qiao Mai treated every child equally.


    The two chatted together behind their husband¡¯s backs, afraid they would say something wrong and make them unhappy.


    The younger brother had a better attitude, but Feng¡¯er had be especially gloomy recently.


    When he heard about Lucky Garden, he threw a tantrum when he returned home. He did not dare to take it out on Princess Mu, so he vented in secret.


    He broke countless things. It wasn¡¯t that Princess Mu didn¡¯t know, but she was pretending not to know. She knew in her heart that her husband had long regretted it.


    No matter how glorious the Qiao family is now, it has nothing to do with him. Losing the necessities of life that he had since he was young made him feel ufortable.


    The good things in Lucky Garden had nothing to do with them anymore. If they wanted to eat, they had to pay for it themselves.


    If they didn¡¯t have their wives and the shops, they probably wouldn¡¯t be able to support their servants.


    After Princess Mu gave birth to a son, there was no news of another pregnancy. Miss Xiao was the same. Both did not n to have another child.


    Yun¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything, nor did he n to take a concubine, but Jiang Yunpeng couldn¡¯t help it.


    He kept urging Princess Mu to see the doctor. As the eldest son of the Jiang family, he should put the task of carrying on the family line as the top priority.


    Princess Mu agreed but did not do anything. Right now, she did not want to have children.


    In the end, Jiang Yunpeng had the thought of taking a concubine. But when he thought of Princess Mu¡¯s identity and her family background, the idea disappeared.


    He was a fourth-rank military officer without any backing or rtives. He could only dream of taking a concubine.


    The Duke of Zhenguo¡¯s family would never mistreat County Princess Mu. If she no longer had any feelings for him, his fate could be imagined..

 Chapter 356 - 356: Becoming the Owner of This Place

    Chapter 356 - 356: Bing the Owner of This ce


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It made him depressed with a restless mood. He frequently throws things around, almost bordering on being maniacal.


    Princess Mu and her close friend Miss Xiao have always wanted to visit Lucky Garden to see Qiao Mai butcked the courage to do so together.


    With Princess Jiamei and Haichuan¡¯s wedding around the corner, they finally decided to go.


    Thinking that her husband was on duty that day, the two secretly discussed and nned to go together.


    The joyous events at Lucky Garden made the court officials happy again. Shamelessly, they supported the princes against the Qiao family while eyeing their food.


    Unfortunately for them, their n went awry. While Lucky Garden indeed hosted the celebration, they no longer invited guests.


    Want to eat? Go to the emperor¡¯s ce.


    The emperor was delighted to have a connection with the Immortal¡¯s family. He had long forgotten about the Seventh Prince¡¯s matter. It was true that the royal family was heartless.


    As a result, Princess Mu and Miss Xiao¡¯s n fell through.


    On the day of the grand wedding, Princess Jiamei and Haichuan would have the ceremony in the pce, then be sent to the Qiao family, followed by another ceremony.


    After realizing this, the court officials felt it was a pity. Some of those who supported the Seventh Prince had been dealt with, and the others, trying to please Yuan Jiaqi, found themselves rejected.


    They were puzzled, wondering how the Seventh Prince fell so suddenly.


    They heard that Madam Qiao went to the Investigation Bureau with a dog and solved the case. They had nned for it for so long!


    Could it be that the heavens were blessing the Qiao family? Was the purple-golden aura real? It lingered around Lucky Garden for over ten days.


    All the men on the Seventh Prince¡¯s side who escaped this disaster secretly wiped their sweat. The court officials attending the banquet were noticeably fewer, thanks to the emperor not wiping them all out; otherwise, there would be even fewer.


    Even so, the other princes¡¯ factions remained unyielding. They continued to support a prince without assurance. Once the prince they supported ascended, Yuan Jiaqi would still be a mere official with no substantial influence.


    Look at Yuan Jiaqi, neutral and supporting the current emperor¡ªhow glorious is he?


    No matter who became the emperor in the future, he would still support the one sitting on the dragon throne. That was the vision of a farsighted person.


    The more involved in private affairs, the more tragic the oue because the first thing the one sitting on the throne does is to suppress the most influential powers.


    Princess Jiamei finally married into Lucky Garden. It was a dreame true for her.


    She used to be a guest here, but from this day forward, she became the mistress. Sitting in the bridal chamber, she chuckled happily.


    She had a good impression of Haichuan and vice versa. They liked each other, and her parents-inw were good. Before leaving, the empress even repeatedly reminded her.


    After married, she should serve her parents, treat her younger sister-inw well, and avoid putting on air. The empress told her that her mother-inw was not ordinary; even the emperor respected her greatly.


    Princess Jiamei wasn¡¯t foolish. With a good upbringing since childhood and a clever mind, she naturally understood that her mother-inw was formidable.


    As she had no social obligations, she served tea to her inws on the very day, receiving a generous red envelope from them. Since the Qiao family had few rtives, she didn¡¯t need to go through the hassle.


    At noon, Qiao Mai handed the household to her and gave her all the ount books and keys after having lunch.


    Every time Ling¡¯er saw her mother relieved, she couldn¡¯t help but want tough.


    ¡°Mom, you are throwing your responsibilities away happily.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯tugh. This year, you and your sister-inw will go to County She to settle the ounts.¡±


    ¡°Ah? Mom, you¡¯re even letting go of this?¡±


    ¡°As I¡¯m getting older, it¡¯s unsuitable to keep running around. You two are still young and like to travel, right?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s true. My sister-inw and I love to see the snow. We¡¯ll have a great time over there for over a month.¡±


    ¡°Remember, don¡¯t associate with the Tian family.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Mother.¡±


    Hearing that she was going north with Ling¡¯er, Jiamei was also overjoyed. But she didn¡¯t express it as joyously as Ling¡¯er did.


    Three dayster, Princess Jiamei and Haichuan set off for the imperial pce with carts of gifts.


    The old emperor was delighted and instructed the royal kitchen to prepare many dishes. He summoned the Eleventh Prince, and the three of them apanied the couple for a meal.


    During the meal, the old emperor and the empress inquired about Jiamei¡¯s situation in her inws¡¯ house.


    ¡°Father, Mother, rest assured. On the day I entered, Mother handed over everything to me. She even wants me and Ling¡¯er to settle the ounts in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°Just you two young girls?¡±


    ¡°Mother arranged three stable carriages for us. Three sheep from home wille along.¡±


    After thinking, the old emperor said, ¡°When a princess goes out, she can¡¯t bring only three sheep. Fetch a squad of Imperial Guards. No, when you leave, take them directly. They will be the guards for Lucky Garden in the future.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Father.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince took a deep breath. ¡°Father, this son has never been out before. How about giving my brother-inw a break, and we will apany them?¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s good. After all, they are newlyweds. When are you leaving?¡± ¡°It might be at the end of November.¡±


    ¡°Then I will give you a month¡¯s leave. You two can travel together. Eleven, you can cultivate your rtionship with Ling¡¯er on the way.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince blushed and nodded, ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    The sweet days flew by. In a blink, it was the end of November. Jiamei and Ling¡¯er packed their bags. This time, each of them brought two maids.


    As there were three carriages and ample space, they carried a lot of luggage.


    When they set off, three sheep climbed onto one of the three carriages.


    Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai stood at the main gate, waving their hands to them.


    ¡°Come back before the New Year, and enjoy your journey. Don¡¯t worry about saving money.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    From the moment they arrested the Seventh Prince after exposing the plot, the capital had been calm, but there were still hidden waves beneath the surface.


    Once Ling¡¯er and the others left the city, someone followed them.


    The Eleventh Prince was skilled in martial arts but not particrly formidable. The people following them were cautious, keeping a distance, looking like a caravan.


    But the sheep sensed the ill intentions behind them. They yelled a few times, prompting Haichuan and the Eleventh Prince to look back.


    There was a squad of Imperial Guards consisting of twenty people. Although it seemed like a considerable number, they were ineffective against martial artists.


    ¡°Are they targeting us, brother-inw?¡±


    ¡°Should we stay overnight if needed? We have the sheep; what are we afraid of? You haven¡¯t seen my family¡¯s sheep. Each one could fight ten at the same time.¡±


    ¡°So powerful?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince couldn¡¯t help but reach out and pat the sheep¡¯s head. What they didn¡¯t know was that a teacup-sized dog was sleeping on the roof.


    Qiao Mai was worried about these youngsters and secretly sent ckie to apany them.


    When it was getting dark, they arrived in a small town and stayed in the only inn.


    The merchant group also stayed there. Rather than looking like traveling merchants, they resembled guards transporting goods. Haichuan might not be skilled in martial arts, but his observations were meticulous. He and the Eleventh Prince looked down from the window. ¡°The goods have no weight; the wheels haven¡¯t sunk.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s empty.¡±


    ¡°Yes, just to track us. After thest incident didn¡¯t harm my mother, they probably want to capture us this time. Then, they can use us to threaten the emperor and my mother. These people are despicable.¡±


    The Eleventh Prince sighed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s rted to me again.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t escape. My mother said the root cause was you. Ling¡¯er is about to marry you. My family will be your inws. Who doesn¡¯t know that our family business is making a fortune? In the future, it will be your other treasury.¡±


    Haichuan¡¯s straightforwardness made the Eleventh Prince feel unusuallyfortable. He chuckled.


    ¡°Then, what¡¯s the annual ie for this brother-inw of mine?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any. It¡¯s my mother¡¯s. Even my father doesn¡¯t have it. These are all your mother-inw¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°Do you have one million taels?¡±

 Chapter 357 - 357: Really a Little Nervous

    Chapter 357 - 357: Really a Little Nervous


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Not only that, my mother has plenty of ideas to make money. She¡¯s justzy.


    The snack shop makes hundreds of thousands of taels annually, and County She earns close to a million. My sister¡¯s shop also generates two to three hundred thousand taels of ie annually. The valuable things my mother has, such as these three carriages we¡¯re using, can¡¯t be bought with money.¡± Eleven nodded, ¡°These carriages are nice.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Many people inquire about them, but my mother refuses to sell them. So what if they have money? Do they dare to snatch them? Haha!¡±


    Talking about Qiao Mai always brought a hint of pride to Haichuan. After all, she was his mother, one of a kind.


    ¡°You make an easy two million taels a year?¡±


    ¡°If you mistreat my sister, you won¡¯t pass my mother¡¯s test.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to the conditions Father mentioned. I won¡¯t let Ling¡¯er down in the future.¡¯


    ¡°I hope so. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have a hard time.¡±


    The maids had already prepared the meal. It was simple but cleaner and tastier than the food in town.


    After they left, Qiao Mai secluded herself. She was going to break through to the Incarnation Realm. Before closing herself off, she arranged everything at home. She instructed Yuan Jiaqi to celebrate the New Year without waiting for her if she didn¡¯te out by then.


    Seeing his wife looking grim before seclusion, Yuan Jiaqi felt worried.


    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Not dangerous. It¡¯s just challenging to break through a major realm. If there¡¯s an emergency, you can shout three times at my door.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Meanwhile, Ling¡¯er and the others, having left the capital for five days, were about to reach Tianshui Town.


    That evening, they stayed at an inn in a small town.


    The merchant group following them was still there, maintaining a constant distance. They entered establishments in the town right after Ling¡¯er.


    Eleven ordered the guards to rest at night without guarding the door. This ensured their safety because if anything happened at night, they would be the first to be targeted.


    Ling¡¯er and the others slept boldly, relying on the protection of the sheep.


    Moreover, they all had protective amulets given by Qiao Mai.


    With multipleyers of security, they felt more confident.


    That night, the group trailing them finally couldn¡¯t resist taking action. At that time, ckie was sleeping on top of the carriage behind the inn.


    Its eyes gleamed in the dark, staring intently at the second floor of the inn, especially at the room of his master¡¯s daughter.


    Several shadows carefully moved on the rooftop, trying to enter through the window without rming anyone.


    ckie transformed into a teacup-sized dog and leaped from the carriage to the roof.


    With a kick of its hind leg, a figure in ck soared into the air, creating a parab and disappearing into the distance.


    Moving stealthily to another person, ckie repeated the process, creating another airborne silhouette.


    ckie dealt with the five people on the rooftop instantly. Ity down, rolled its eyes, and left the rest to the sheep.


    Indeed, there was no more movement on the roof. These people thought about going in through the front door. However, the sheep stood at the entrance like a solid white wall.


    Anyone who tried to force through was met with powerful resistance. The angles and strength used by these ¡°wall-like¡± sheep resulted in them crashing into the wall and flying out.


    After dealing with these intruders, the sheep closed the door using their horns and turned back to check on the young masters, who were still asleep.


    They let out satisfied cries. ckie, on the roof, finallyy down and closed its eyes to sleep.


    Only Eleven saw the sheep¡¯s capabilities that night. The sheep instantly grewrge, a scene that kept him awake the entire night.


    How powerful was Madam Qiao if her sheep could do this?


    Eleven shook his head and blinked. The next day, they saw arge hole in the wall opposite their room when they woke up. Through the hole, they could see the shop across the street.


    The group remained silent, packed their belongings, and went outside for breakfast.


    ¡°It seems those people took actionst night.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were all sound asleep. The sheep protected us.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to Mother¡¯s foresight. Otherwise, we might have been in trouble.¡±


    Eleven looked deeply at Ling¡¯er. He thought that since Ling¡¯er had a mother like this, he wouldn¡¯t have the courage to betray her even if he wanted to.


    No wonder she insisted on him not taking concubines, only having Ling¡¯er as a wife for a lifetime. With such strength and ability, she was qualified to ask so.


    The Ming Dynasty was truly fortunate to have Qiao Mai. With a mother-inw like that, who would Eleven be afraid of?


    His future looks bright. Luckily, he came along this time, and Qiao Mai didn¡¯t hide anything from him. It was eye-opening.


    They only saw a hole, not dead bodies. Impressive!


    On the eighth day, they arrived at Tianshui Town, where Eleven saw three more sheep at Lucky Garden, making it six. Envious, he immediately wanted to return to the capital and ask his mother-inw for one.


    However, he and Ling¡¯er were only verbally engaged by their elders, not officially. He was still just a prince, not yet the crown prince.


    When the emperor appointed him the crown prince and issued a marriage decree, he could ask his mother-inw.


    Uncertain whether his mother-inw would agree, he felt a bit uneasy.


    Once in Tianshui Town, they prepared New Year¡¯s gifts and visited each household. Last time, it was a county princess, and this time a prince. It was surprising and delightful.


    The more prestigious the identities of the people they brought, the better the Qiao family was doing in the capital.


    After the visits, the four began to examine ounts and collect debts. For things they didn¡¯t understand, they consulted the shopkeeper and steward. For example, the welfare of workers in previous years. This time, they brought a form and handed it to the chief steward of County She.


    It was for high-end shampoo andundry detergent, targeting the wealthy. The goal was to make money from them.


    Other items, which became popr in the autumn in the capital, were sold well.


    Large pinecones were sold to the wealthy, and small ones were turned into pine nuts and sold to restaurants. Pine nut corn dishes were well-loved by the elderly, women, and children.


    During the New Year, pinecones appeared as treasures on the tables of wealthy households.


    The Qiao family naturally had them, and Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery became a major seller of pine nuts. Ordinary shampoo andundry detergent also brought substantial profits to the embroidery shop.


    As forcquer, it had spread to various woodworking shops and general stores throughout the Ming Dynasty. Some foreign merchants would asionally buy some to take back to their countries.


    In one year, the workshops in County She and the number of workers had doubled in size. Almost all the able-bodied men were working there.


    Originally a poor county, County She became prosperous because of Qiao Mai¡¯s workshops.


    Walking on the bustling streets, Ling¡¯er introduced them like a master.


    ¡°When we came with Mother before, there weren¡¯t many people. Look, everyone herees to purchase goods. Although this ce used to be poor, it was rich in fur. When theye to buy our goods, they also buy other things here.¡±


    Eleven looked at Ling¡¯er with admiration. Fortunately, they had a good number of guards with them; otherwise, Ling¡¯er and Jiamei would have caused trouble with their attractive appearances.


    Don¡¯t think the world is peaceful just because things seem fine in one ce. Troublemakers and rascals are everywhere.


    There are the diligent, and there are thezy. Many seek to gain withoutbor, and those who bully the weak are plentiful, to say the least.


    Now, trouble arrived.


    ¡°Oh, those two girls look beautiful.¡± A few men on the street pointed fingers and discussed as they approached.


    ¡°One is married, and the other isn¡¯t. Is the ones following them their men?¡± ¡°Looks like he¡¯s a wealthy one.¡±


    ¡°So what? Don¡¯t forget that County She is our turf. Even if a dragones, it has to coil for us.


    ¡°Exactly. Those two girls look tender. If we let them go, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to sleep for the rest of my life.¡±


    ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go and take a look.¡±


    A few ignorant rascals swaggered over to get a closer look. Ling¡¯er and Jiamei stopped while Haichuan and Eleven immediately shielded them.


    The two sheep didn¡¯t transform during broad daylight and stayed by their side while one sheep was at the back.


    ¡°Wow, they¡¯re already protected before anything happens..¡±

 Chapter 358 - 358: Hurry and Follow Us!

    Chapter 358: Hurry and Follow Us!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°What? How dare you tell me to get lost? No one dares to speak to me that way in this ce.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You can tell they¡¯re outsiders. Do they even know the rules of this county?¡±


    ¡°Thinking of bing a local tyrant? We¡¯ll see if you have the guts for it.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve set our eyes on those two women. You better send them to my bed obediently. If not, don¡¯t me me for what would happen next.¡±


    Haichuan and Eleven exchanged nces, revealing eyes full of anger. Even in the capital, the sons of the emperor¡¯s brothers wouldn¡¯t dare speak like this. These scoundrels were openly kidnapping women in broad daylight.


    Instead of resorting to violence, they calmly uttered a sentence.


    ¡°Sheep, handle them. Those who harass my wife and my fianc¨¦e shall perish!¡±


    In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace. It happened so quickly that they disappeared.


    Haichuan and Eleven squatted down to touch the sheep¡¯s horns, wondering how much force it took to send people flying like that.


    It wasn¡¯t that the people vanished, but they were sent flying. As for where theynded, the sheep had no idea, and frankly, they didn¡¯t care.


    With their status, Haichuan and Eleven paid no attention to these petty troublemakers. They continued to stroll through the prosperous streets.


    Coming across amb soup restaurant, Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°My mother loves themb soup from this ce. It¡¯s clean and delicious.¡±


    Being a Southern man, Eleven found the scent quite challenging, but he was willing to try it for Ling¡¯er.


    They entered the shop, found a vacant seat, and sat down.


    They orderedmb soup and deep-fried pancakes. They had to wait for a while as the ce was crowded.


    Suddenly, officials rushed in.


    They directly went to the four and asked, ¡°Did you guys just beat someone?¡±


    ¡°Assault? How is that possible? We didn¡¯t eveny a finger on them; they just disappeared.¡±


    ¡°Humph, those words are for you to say in front of the County Governor.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk after finishing themb soup. Wait outside for now, ¡± said one of them. The officials chuckled upon hearing this.


    ¡°Ha, you think you¡¯re someone special? This is our lord¡¯s territory. Follow us now! ¡±


    Hearing this, Haichuan couldn¡¯t help but think the sentence sounded familiar. Could it be the son of the County Governor among those troublemakers?


    The sheep tilted their heads, observing the officials. Haichuan sneered and shouted, ¡°Kick them out!¡±


    Three sheep vigorously kicked their hind hooves, and the officials were sent flying out the door. The sheep guarded the entrance, ready to kick anyone who dared to enter.


    The customers in the restaurant were stunned, but the owner quickly served themmb soup and pancakes.


    He wants them to leave quickly after eating, not wanting to disturb the other customers.


    Although Jiamei was also a Southern person, she added some seasonings to themb soup, making it somewhat bearable. But Eleven couldn¡¯t stand the taste. He took a few sips of the soup but decided not to drink more. However, he found the fried pancakes eptable.


    After eating two pancakes, they felt satisfied. They stood up, paid the bill, and left the shop.


    Just as they were leaving, they were intercepted. This time, the County Governor had arrived.


    This scum of a County Governor has been constantly extorting money since arriving here. Apart from not daring to provoke Qiao Mai¡¯s workshop, he seizes every opportunity to benefit from others.


    The County Governor is a man in his thirties, not particrly tall, and a bit on the stout side.


    Upon seeing them, he was instantly uneasy. His years of experience in politics told him that these people were not to be trifled with.


    ¡°Who are you people?¡±


    ¡°Outsiders. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Where is my son? What have you done to him?¡± ¡°He disappeared, and you me us? We don¡¯t even know him.¡±


    ¡°But ording to our investigation, he was with you.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. We don¡¯t know him.¡±


    ¡°No, you muste with me to the county office.¡±


    ¡°What if we refuse?¡±


    As they talked, Eleven also revealed his identity. ¡°This prince doesn¡¯t want to go either.¡±


    ¡°Neither does this princess.¡±


    ¡°Neither does this county princess.¡±


    At this moment, the County Governor¡¯s head was buzzing. Oh my, his son provoked such influential figures?


    Impossible! How could they appear here?


    The County Governor focused his mind. Could it be the Duke of Blessings and his wife? Their son was a third-ranked official, the daughter was a county princess, and the son-inw was the eleventh prince. The princess must be the newlywed wife of the third-ranked official.


    Oh my God, the County Governor thought. He stared nkly at them, and his gaze shifted to the jade pendant hanging on Eleven¡¯s waist.


    There, a dragon-shaped pendant symbolized his status. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    When the officials arrived at the shop to capture them, Eleven had already dispatched horses and guards to the town.


    Wang Zongsheng rushed to County She with his men, and Haichuan had arranged for them to stay at an inn, reserving the entire ce.


    They wanted to wait for the magistrate¡¯s arrival to handle the matter.


    After the County Governor woke up, he sat on the ground and cried bitterly. When his wife came over to inquire, he vented his anger and med her for spoiling their child, leading to such a disaster.


    Little did he realize that if not for his excessive indulgence, how could things have turned out this way?


    The guards brought by Eleven sealed off the office, and Wang Zongsheng arrived in the evening.


    Upon understanding the situation, they took over the county office and initiated an investigation.


    Meanwhile, Ling¡¯er and the others stayed behind, patrolling the pine forest around County She.


    Three dayster, the County Governor was dismissed, sentenced, and promptly dealt with. Each person who had bullied themoners faced the consequences.


    After settling the ounts, they dealt with a corrupt official, benefiting themoners.


    Hearing about the arrival of four influential figures, the vigers gathered at the city gate daily, eager to catch a glimpse.


    Eventually, the crowd became overwhelming, forcing them to sneak out early in the morning when they left.


    After they reached Tianshui Town, Ling¡¯er and Haichuan arranged their household matters and prepared to return to the capital.


    They set off on the first day of the new year, and on that snowy day, they enjoyed a beautiful snowfall.


    For Eleven, who had never been outside before, this journey provided him with insights into the life of the northernmoners. It was beneficial for his future.


    The three of them got along very well, consulting each other on various matters and promising toe back together next time.


    Despite being the future heir, Eleven had no airs, and Ling¡¯er felt well taken care of.


    Their rtionship deepened during this trip.


    Upon returning to the capital, Eleven learned that his mother-inw was still in seclusion and went back to the pce. Yuan Jiaqi arranged everything at home properly, sparing Jiamei from any trouble. However, Jiamei promptly inspected everything, determined to help her mother-inw manage the household efficiently.


    Yuan Jiaqi lingered around Qiao Mai¡¯s door daily. His wife¡¯s cultivation made him happy. At the same time, he worried about her, hoping she wouldn¡¯t encounter any trouble.


    Their family¡¯s sess owed much to the wife; she must not encounter any troubles.


    Time passed day by day. Thirty days, New Year, and then the fifteenth. Qiao Mai¡¯s room had remained silent throughout.


    Yuan Jiaqi no longer had the mood to attend to his official duties. He requested leave from the emperor, cing a cushion at Qiao Mai¡¯s door. There, he sat cross-legged, apanying his wife in their cultivation practice.


    In the meantime, after waiting until the fifteenth day, the emperor issued a decree to appoint Eleven as the Crown Prince.


    As for the ceremonial affairs, Yuan Jiaqi chose not to attend. He was now more concerned with his wife. The day of the appointment ceremony was attended by Haichuan, his wife, and his sister.


    It wasn¡¯t until the second month that Qiao Mai¡¯s room finally opened.


    Standing up, Yuan Jiaqi looked at his wife and was surprised to see a change.


    ¡°Wife, I feel like something about you is different?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just a significant promotion. I¡¯m no different from my usual self..

 Chapter 359 - 359: My Kingdom, My Rules

    Chapter 359 - 359: My Kingdom, My Rules


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    She came to his side, leaning gently into his embrace.


    ¡°Are you waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°I would do anything as long as I can wait for you.¡±


    Qiao Mai pointed to his heart with her finger, and Yuan Jiaqi immediately felt a warm sensation in his chest.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°Vitality, hidden in your heart, nourishing your organs. You¡¯ll live a long and healthy life without illness or pain.¡±


    ¡°Wife, you bring such a great gift as soon as youe out of seclusion, but I have nothing to offer you.¡±


    ¡°You do.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Waiting for me is your gift.¡±


    Just as the two were immersed in their affectionate moment, a group gathered in the courtyard.


    ¡°Mother, you¡¯re out of seclusion?¡±


    ¡°Mother-inw, you¡¯re out of seclusion?¡±


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯re out of seclusion?¡±


    The two turned around, smiling at them. ¡°Sorry to have worried you. I didn¡¯t expect it to take this long.¡±


    ¡°You haven¡¯t spent New Year¡¯s with us. You owe uspensation, got it?¡±


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s have a good meal together.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    The emperor and empress soon learned about Qiao Maiing out of seclusion. They visited that night and had be more frequent in their visits.


    Ever since Jiamei got married, they showed no restraint.


    Coming up with excuses to visit Qiao Mai, they frequently came every few days, causing Jiamei to roll her eyes.


    ¡°I think Father doesn¡¯t want to be the emperor anymore. He¡¯s cking off every day. Just after Eleven was appointed crown prince, he handed over the state affairs to him. It¡¯s outrageous.¡±


    ¡°He should take a break.¡±


    ¡°Father even mentioned to me that he wants toe and live here for a while.


    ¡°Sure, we have so many rooms at home.¡±


    After meeting Qiao Mai, the emperor and empress noticed something unusual.


    ¡°Mother-inw, you seem different?¡± ¡°Yes, my strength has greatly increased.¡± The emperor swallowed. ¡°Uh, can you fly?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Can you let me take a flight?¡±


    Qiao Mai gave him a disdainful look. ¡°At your age, flying might scare you.¡±


    ¡°Now that they¡¯ve all rested and there are no outsiders, can you show me?¡± Qiao Mai nced at her husband. ¡°Do you want to fly?¡±


    ¡°Sure, since we have such an opportunity. Can you carry so many people at once?¡±


    Qiao Mai led them to the courtyard, closed her eyes, and bought a small flying ship from her space.


    She waved her hand, and the ship appeared in the courtyard, equipped with adder.


    Qiao Mai took the lead onto the ship, standing at the bow, looking down at the dumbfounded three people below.


    ¡°Come on. It¡¯s not toote now. We can see the candlelights and the stars in the sky.¡±


    The three regained their senses and cautiously looked at the flying ship. Qiao Mai had already read the manual and took the driver¡¯s seat.


    The others stood on the side, feeling a bit scared.


    Qiao Mai pressed the button in the middle, and the ship started to ascend continuously.


    The empress grabbed the emperor¡¯s arm. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We have Qiao Mai.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°No need to be afraid; this ship is safe.¡±


    Finally, the ship reached a certain height and stopped. The three looked down carefully.


    ¡°Oh, the houses look so small.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t dare to make it higher; I was afraid you couldn¡¯t ept it.¡±


    Qiao Mai pressed another button, and the ship moved forward slowly, just for them to enjoy the view.


    There were no high-rise buildings here, so she didn¡¯t worry about crashing


    into anything. This height was safe. Except for birds, nothing could reach them.


    ¡°Wow, look, that¡¯s the imperial pce. I never thought the pce we live in is like this.¡±


    The empress was happy like a child, and the emperor, stroking his beard, was also excited. Yuan Jiaqi stood beside Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Wife, is it difficult to operate this?¡±


    As the couple enjoyed the night view of the capital, Qiao Mai taught her husband how to drive the ship. Yuan Jiaqi quickly got the hang of it.


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll take care of this.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    The two pairs of inws spent time in the night sky above the capital. No one knew about the events that unfolded in the air. After descending from the ship, the emperor¡¯s legs were weak.


    For the first time in history, he requested to stay at Lucky Garden as they didn¡¯t bring any guards. They were amodated in the side rooms of Yuexian Pavilion.


    Early the next morning, they hurried back to the pce before dawn.


    Recently, apart from bringing Eleven to the morning court, the emperor didn¡¯t care about other affairs.


    He spent his days in the empress¡¯s pce. ¡°I¡¯m scared the flying ship will malfunction and fall.¡±


    ¡°Me too. I still haven¡¯t be a grandmother.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send the imperial physician overter to check Jiamei¡¯s pulse for safety.¡±


    ¡°Our inw is amazing. Mr. Yuan is not bad either; he can already operate the flying ship.¡±


    ¡°I eagerly formed a marital alliance with their family, hoping that inw could take care of the royal family. The world established by the Li family is not easy to maintain.¡±


    ¡°If our inw¡¯s airship could be provided to the military, wouldn¡¯t that be excellent?¡±


    ¡°Forget about it. She¡¯s so low-key because she doesn¡¯t want us to rely too much on her. As long as she¡¯s here with us, it¡¯s enough. After all, she won¡¯t stand by and do nothing in an emergency.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s quickly issue the imperial edict for the marriage.¡±


    ¡°I also have this intention.¡±


    In mid -May, the imperial edict arrived at the Qiao family. Princess Tianshui was bestowed in marriage upon the Crown Prince, and the edict explicitly stated that he would only marry Princess Tianshui without any concubines.


    This imperial edict instantly left those ambitious officials bewildered. Throughout history, officials always hoped their daughters would climb to higher branches.


    Instead of focusing on their duties, they wished to take shortcuts through marriage.


    The emperor and Eleven almost faced an attack during the morning court.


    ¡°Why not take concubines? Isn¡¯t this letting the royal bloodline gradually disappear by only having one wife?¡±


    They have their opinions, but the emperor has his words.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of having so many children? To fight and kill each other? Or to let you form factions and scheme against each other?¡±


    The emperor wasn¡¯t afraid of them. With power in his hands and Qiao Mai as his inw, who could intimidate him?


    He just had one word for them: F*ck off!


    ¡°Your Majesty, what if the future empress cannot give birth to a son?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll choose from the grandsons. My kingdom, my rules. You only need to be good subjects.¡±


    After dismissing the courtiers, some experienced and cunning princes emerged in the imperial family, opposing Eleven¡¯s marriage to only one woman.


    But when they heard that if there were no sons, the selection woulde from their descendants, their hearts wavered.


    The emperor saw their calctions in their eyes and thought, is it possible?


    Qiao Mai won¡¯t let her daughter fail to produce a son. Speaking of which, it seems she hasn¡¯t given birth to a child herself.


    No, he must find an opportunity to let the empress chat with Qiao Mai more often.


    So, they went to Lucky Garden again.


    The weather was hot, and a beautiful tea table was set up in the courtyard of Yuexian Pavilion. The couple enjoyed tea when they had nothing else to do.


    The empress held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand andined, ¡°His Majesty and Eleven were almost devoured by those old courtiers.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it. Don¡¯t worry. Once they are married, my daughter will also give birth to several sons for Eleven.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s reassuring.¡±


    ¡°By the way, you and Mr. Yuan got married for so many years. Why don¡¯t you have any children of your own?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not meant to be. I don¡¯t mind; as long as I have Chuan¡¯er and Ling¡¯er, that¡¯s enough. Raising children guards against old age. If they can inherit the family business in the future, take care of us, and send us off well, it doesn¡¯t matter whether they¡¯re our own.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite open-minded. With such a huge family business¡­¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Do I have to bear a son?


    Then let him divide the property with your daughter in the future?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that natural?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. People should not be too greedy. Contentment brings happiness. Many people suffer from overwork, anger, and illness. They should have lived to be seventy or eighty, but they died in their fifties.


    Broad-mindedness is the way to health. If you and His Majesty want children and grandchildren around you, you must have an open mind.¡±


    ¡°You are right. His Majesty has been surrounded by children and grandchildren for a long time. But I haven¡¯t. I only have one daughter. It¡¯s been so long since her marriage, yet my daughter¡¯s belly hasn¡¯t shown any signs of life..¡±

 Chapter 360 - 360: Women Are Most Afraid Of The Cold

    Chapter 360 - 360: Women Are Most Afraid Of The Cold


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai poured her a cup of tea. ¡°I¡¯m not in a hurry at all as the mother-inw. You, as the mother, are the one getting anxious.¡±


    ¡°Of course! Your family only has this one son, and she should bear the responsibility of continuing your bloodline. Moreover, you treat her even better than me, her birth mother. I¡¯d be worried if she weren¡¯t in a hurry.¡±


    ¡°Enough with the praise. Let¡¯s have some tea!¡±


    As they chatted, a servant rushed in, followed by Princess Mu, cradling a child in her arms. Without waiting for the servant to report, she knelt in front of


    Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mother-inw, please save Lin¡¯er.¡±


    Qiao Mai immediately noticed the child¡¯s purplish face. This was the child she had delivered.


    She hurriedly took the child into her arms and checked his pulse. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. He was fine, but the next second, he became like this. The medical hall said there was no hope, but I thought of you. Please, save the child. ¡±


    Qiao Mai quickly used her spiritual power to examine the child. Typically, the child identally swallowed something in such cases.


    She began by checking the child¡¯s airway and lungs. As expected, something was lodged in the airway, fortunately notpletely blocking it. Otherwise, the child would not have survived for so long.


    She turned the child upside down, gave a firm pat on his back, and dislodged the obstructing object from his airway.


    Instantly, the child started crying and breathing heavily.


    Princess Mu hugged the child, tears streaming down her face. Qiao Mai waited until she calmed down before speaking.


    ¡°Youck ofmon sense. Avoid giving small things like beans to children. Be more careful.


    Amidst sobs andughter, Princess Mu replied, ¡°Yes, yes. It¡¯s my fault. I won¡¯t let it happen again.¡±


    Looking up, she noticed the Queen and quickly attempted to bow, but the Queen gestured for her to rise.


    ¡°No need for formalities here. Take good care of the child.¡±


    Several years had passed, and Qiao Mai was seeing the child she had delivered for the first time. He should have been the eldest grandson of the Qiao family. Unfortunately, his surname was now Jiang.


    Qiao Mai conjured a box of ice cream and handed it to the child.


    ¡°Eat up!¡±


    The little boy stopped crying, epted the ice cream, and politely bowed to


    Qiao Mai. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai gestured for Princess Mu to sit down. ¡°How have you and Miss Xiao beentely?¡±


    ¡°Things are fine with them, but on my side¡­¡±


    ¡°You and Miss Xiao are good girls. Don¡¯t hesitate toe to me if there¡¯s any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I regret it. I should have stopped him back then.¡±


    ¡°You can stop a person but can¡¯t stop their heart. If he was only going to pay respects at the grave, I wouldn¡¯t have let him go. His heart had long left this family. I believe he joined the military with the idea of shining brightly, not to glorify my family.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Good. Don¡¯t mention what happened today to your husband. Pretend as if nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°Why? He should be grateful to you!¡±


    Qiao Mai coldly snorted. ¡°Has he ever truly been grateful? I¡¯m sure there¡¯s been resentment in his heart for a long time.¡±


    Princess Mu sighed lightly without saying anything more. After a short while, the child finished the ice cream. She carried him, bid farewell with a bow, and left.


    The emperor and Yuan Jiaqi walked out of the room, finding themselves with some free time. The emperor decided to read some travelogues, so Yuan Jiaqi apanied him to choose some.


    ¡°This ¡®Journey to the West¡¯ is good, and so is ¡®The Legend of the White Snake.¡±¡®


    ¡°Are there really demons in this world?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but they won¡¯t appear in the mortal realm.¡±


    ¡°Then where are they?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. People say there¡¯s an underworld, but I¡¯ve never seen it. You¡¯ll only find out after death. Unfortunately, your memories will be erased after crossing the bridge.¡±


    ¡°Haha, Mother-inw, you speak in such an amusing way.¡±


    At that moment, Jiamei entered. ¡°Father, Mother, Mother-inw¡­¡±


    ¡°Sit down. What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I checked the ounts and the warehouse today.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tire yourself.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not tiring at all. I enjoy this kind of life.¡±


    At the entrance of Yuexian Pavilion, a carriage stopped, and two white-bearded men got off. The Chief and Deputy Chief Physicians had arrived.


    ¡°We greet the emperor and empress.¡±


    ¡°No need for formalities. Examine the princess for peace of mind.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    The two men sneakily nced at Qiao Mai. For some reason, they felt even more nervous facing her than when facing the emperor.


    Jiamei blushed. She understood the significance of having her pulse checked.


    Despite being married for a while, there had been no movement in her belly. While her mother-inw and husband were not anxious, she couldn¡¯t help but feel impatient.


    She obediently extended her hand and stared fixedly at the two imperial physicians.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°The princess¡¯s body is healthy. The pulse feels a bit slippery, but it¡¯s uncertain.¡±


    The emperor and empress suddenly stood up, startling the two old physicians.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a sign of pregnancy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it might be a bit early in the term. We cannot be certain right now.¡±


    Qiao Mai tapped the table, ¡°Jiamei, extend your hand. Let me check.¡±


    The emperor smacked his forehead. He nearly forgot that his inw was a skilled healer. She effortlessly resolved the issue of his son¡¯s poison, something many others couldn¡¯t handle.


    Hiding her excitement, Jiamei extended her hand, and Qiao Mai promptly examined it with her spiritual energy. After a while, she withdrew her fingers. ¡°She is one month pregnant. It is a bit early to determine the gender. Well done, both of you. Here¡¯s a reward.¡±


    The physicians hastily tried to decline. After all, the emperor was present, and epting such gifts could be equated to bribery.


    ¡°Take it. It¡¯s a reward for good news.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. We will take our leave.¡±


    Once they left, the emperor and empress grabbed one of Jiamei¡¯s hands,ughing heartily.


    ¡°This is wonderful! You¡¯re pregnant! Now you can have children for your husband.¡±


    Qiaomai rolled her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t said anything yet, and you two are happier than I am. It makes me seem indifferent.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Qiao Mai was in a good mood. ¡°For the first three months, try to minimize activities. If you want to eat something, ask the kitchen to prepare it. No need to change our lifestyle; even in the pce, the food isn¡¯t necessarily better than ours.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother. Haha.¡± ¡°Keep warm. Women should avoid cold food.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Now, is there anything specific you¡¯d like to eat? Let your mother-inw work her magic for you.¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing particr I¡¯m craving right now.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s any difort, inform me, and don¡¯t bother with physicians. It¡¯s easier to find me.¡¯


    Seeing Qiao Mai¡¯s concern for Jiamei, the emperor and empress were delighted. The empress suddenly recalled the day Princess Mu came when Qiao Mai produced that delicacy.


    ¡°Mother-inw, that day when Princess Mu came, what was in that little box you gave to her child?¡± Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. ¡°You can eat it, but Jiamei can¡¯t. It¡¯s too cold.¡±


    ¡°Can I try a few bites?¡±


    ¡°That you can.¡±


    With a wave of her hand, several boxes of ice creams appeared on the table.


    ¡°Here, one box for each of you. Ites with a small spoon. Jiamei, eat only half.¡¯


    The two men and three women sat in the cool shade of the courtyard, each holding a box.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring these out before?¡± ¡°Mother-inw, this is delicious!¡±


    ¡°When we leave, can I take a few boxes with me?¡±


    Qiao Mai was speechless. She knew no one could resist such delicacies.


    ¡°Jiamei, you can indulge yourself a bit every few days after giving birth. As for you, my dear inws, considering your age, don¡¯t overindulge either. When you leave, each of you can take two boxes. Not more.¡±


    ¡°Can we eat at your ce?¡±


    ¡°Sure, as long as you don¡¯t mind a potential upset stomach.¡±


    Princess Jiamei¡¯s pregnancy became the talk of the town, and the news about Qiao Mai¡¯s medical skills also surfaced.


    However, no one dared to hire her for treatment; they couldn¡¯t afford it..

 Chapter 361 - 361: Taste It First

    Chapter 361: Taste It First


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Despite a day¡¯s fatigue, Shopkeeper Niu found Qiao Mai in the evening after hearing about the ice cream.


    ¡°Boss, if you have something good, why not bring it out?¡±


    ¡°You made so much money in a day. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, making money is addictive. When your good stuff is released, the money from wealthy families will flow in. It¡¯s a good way to help themoners.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. Here¡¯s the deal: the shop will only offer twenty boxes a day. In addition, supply a barrel of beer. It¡¯s getting hot. I believe this thing will sell well. ¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu was puzzled, ¡°What is beer?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a type of alcohol. Ice cream is sold by the box, and beer is sold by the cup. Sell both, and don¡¯t sell them short.¡±


    With a wave of her hand, Qiao Mai summoned a box of ice cream and a barrel of beer. Yuan Jiaqi put down the book in his hand.


    ¡°Wife, this barrel looks nice.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s made of iron. Come, let¡¯s taste the beer.


    Qiao Mai opened the lid and thought using a bowl wouldn¡¯t do justice to it. With another wave of her hand, three transparent beer mugs appeared.


    Shopkeeper Niu stared wide-eyed at the magical disy. Qiao Mai could conjure anything, even crystal beer mugs. The beer must be good.


    After taking the first sip, he smacked his lips. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s refreshing and cool, good for quenching thirst. However, the taste and color might make people think it¡¯s something else.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi chuckled, ¡°The description is quite apt.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at them. ¡°Drink more and savor it a few more times.¡±


    They continued drinking, and the more they drank, the more they felt the beer had a sweet aftertaste. Most importantly, it was refreshing. They weren¡¯t heavy drinkers, so they didn¡¯t get addicted to the beer.


    Qiao Mai finished a cup in one go. ¡°Old Niu, try this ice cream and set a price.¡±


    After tasting the ice cream, Old Niu¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Boss, I like this. Look at the delicate box. I won¡¯t sell this box for ten taels less. ¡°And what about the beer?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll set the price at two taels of silver per cup.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit low. Let¡¯s try selling it first. You can¡¯t sell too much ¡ª one barrel of beer and twenty boxes of ice cream, firste, first served.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu happily walked away while holding the ice cream. Qiao Mai


    smiled, ¡°This man is more addicted to making money than I am.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s taken to his boss.¡±


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s finish this barrel of beer.¡¯


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll risk my life to apany my wife.¡±


    Although it was beer, it was still alcohol. After a few cups, Yuan Jiaqi was drunk.


    The next day, news of the new products from Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery spread throughout the capital. Upon hearing the news, many food enthusiasts rushed over.


    Ling¡¯er, upon learning of it, went directly to Qiao Mai to get two boxes. She had tasted ice cream in childhood but hadn¡¯t had much since then.


    She invited Jiamei, and the two sat at the door, eating and watching the shop. ¡°Sister-inw, since you¡¯re pregnant, only eat half a box. I¡¯ll finish the rest for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Look at those food enthusiasts. They¡¯re queuing up for a bite. They don¡¯t seem like the nobles they im to be in front of us.¡±


    ¡°In front of us, they don¡¯t need to pretend.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡±


    Indeed, with the current status and position of the Qiao household, they were unmatched other than the emperor.


    Some customers in the shop happily enjoyed the new products they purchased, sitting at the tables and cheering up those still waiting in line.


    ¡°Take your time in the queue. Today, we have two new items ¨C beer and ice cream. I bought both, but they were a bit expensive. Make sure you have your money ready; I¡¯m tasting them first for enjoyment.¡±


    The person held a small wooden spoon, eating with contentment and humming pleasurably.


    This made those around him envious. Before long, both of the new products were sold out.


    Those who managed to taste them were ecstatic, expressing their joy with lively gestures. Those who missed out could only stand aside, swallowing their saliva. Upon hearing that these items were only avable for a limited time each day, they secretly vowed to start queuing up before dawn.


    Haha!


    In the evening, the whole family sat around the table in the courtyard of Yuexian Pavilion.


    Chuan¡¯er asionally picked up dishes for Jiamei. Being soon-to-be parents, they were delighted. Everyone discussed the new products from the shop.


    At this moment, the sound of a carriage approaching the door caught Qiao Mai¡¯s attention.


    ¡°The emperor just left, but they¡¯reing again?¡±


    Everyone turned to look and saw Yubao entering on his own.


    ¡°The servant hase to give his respects. Greetings.¡±


    ¡°Why did the emperor send you?¡±


    Yubao awkwardly smiled.


    ¡°His Majesty heard that your family has a new product called beer. He sent me to get a barrel.¡¯


    ¡°How impolite.¡±


    Despite Qiao Mai¡¯s unwillingness, she still loaded a barrel onto the carriage for him.


    ¡°Open it and drink. It shouldn¡¯t be kept overnight.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    In the pce, the emperor eagerly awaited while the empress and Eleven smiled.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. We¡¯ll go to her house tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Visiting frequently annoys people. I won¡¯t be well-received. After I abdicate, I¡¯ll live at her ce.¡±


    Yubao hurriedly returned to the pce, had the barrel carried into the main hall, and enthusiastically announced his sess.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the beer has arrived. I heard that this beer doesn¡¯t get you drunk. It doesn¡¯t taste good at first, but if you drink a few more sips, you¡¯ll love it.¡±


    Several pce servants ced the barrel on the table, and Yubao promptly opened it, setting out the beer mugs.


    ¡°Madam Qiao sent this to you. She said this beer should be drunk in this kind of mug. Now, her shop is also using these.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s mouth twitched, and he realized she was the only one with ss cups for wine.


    The barrel was filled, and there were even bubbles on top ¡ª how peculiar!


    The three eagerly grabbed a mug each. After taking the first sip, they smacked their lips. ¡°The first sip is cool and tasteless. Come, let¡¯s have another sip.¡±


    After finishing the first cup, the emperor touched his belly.


    ¡°This beer is not bad, but I can¡¯t drink so much.¡±


    Yubao quickly exined, ¡°Your Majesty, the beer can¡¯t be kept overnight after opening.¡±


    ¡°Then give me another cup.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have one too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have one too.¡±


    ¡°Alright. The rest is for you, Yubao.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±


    A barrel of beer, about a dozen cups, was praised by those who tasted it. The key was that women could drink it.


    This beer was not filling even after two cups and didn¡¯t make them drunk.


    In three days, ice cream and beer dominated the capital. Many people would send their servants to queue up before dawn, eager to get a taste.


    To Qiao Mai, introducing new products to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery added a few hundred taels of silver daily. Over a year, that was tens of thousands.


    She didn¡¯t care much about these profits. During this time, she wanted to prepare a dowry for Ling¡¯er.


    With Ling¡¯er¡¯s current status as the future Crown Princess and empress, the dowry had to be generous.


    During the day, when Yuan Jiaqi was at work, Qiao Mai entered the space and searched with Greeny in front of theputer. Nothing below the best would do. Ordinary worldly items were nothing; a single eighth-grade pill was enough to have everything.


    Even the dowry boxes were made of sandalwood. It was evident that Qiao Mai attached great importance to her daughter¡¯s wedding.


    She prepared one hundred and sixty dowry carts. Diamond essories filled ten boxes, jade essories ten boxes, gold essories ten boxes, top-quality pearls ten boxes, and ginseng and reishi were over a hundred years old.


    Clothes, shoes, rare fabrics, top-quality tea, finished jadeite rough stones,plete sets of hair care, skin care, shower products, and various cute gold nuggets came in boxes.


    And that didn¡¯t include the beautiful carriages, top-quality horses, a spiritual beast, and so on.


    She, the mother, was well-prepared. Ling¡¯er also prepared eighty carts for herself. The betrothal gifts were sent to the Qiao family in June ¨C a hundred and twenty carts.


    Qiao Mai calcted ¨C three hundred and sixty carts. It was quite a number. She didn¡¯t expect that Old Mistress Wang would send twenty carts, Wang Zongsheng would send twenty carts, several families in Tianshui Town would jointly send twenty carts, Princess Mu would send five carts, Miss Xiao would send five carts, so that made a total of four hundred and thirty carts..

 Chapter 362 - 362: Do You Dare?

    Chapter 362: Do You Dare?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Jiamei selected twenty carts from her dowry, adding up to four hundred and fifty.


    The concubines and royal rtives contributed another twenty carts, making it four hundred and seventy.


    Since this number was considered inauspicious, Qiao Mai rounded it to five hundred carts when no more contributions were received. This didn¡¯t even include the living creatures.


    Her dowry upied two courtyards, creating an unprecedented scene.


    The list of dowry items alone required several people to carry, and it was so extensive that words like ¡°a bride¡¯s dowry for ten miles¡± couldn¡¯t capture its magnitude.


    The grand wedding was set for the first day of March next year. The emperor, currently overseeing the construction of the Crown Prince¡¯s residence, decided not to hold the ceremony in the pce but at the Crown Prince¡¯s residence. Both the emperor and the empress would attend.


    The emperor intended to invite Qiao Mai to oversee some modifications, making it the same as Lucky Garden.


    However, considering Eleven and Ling¡¯er¡¯s imminent life in the pce, he abandoned the idea. He could retire a few years early and invite Qiao Mai to renovate the pce, focusing on the areas where he, the empress, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess resided.


    He even considered adding a bathhouse. If Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care for them, at least she should consider her daughter.


    Qiao Mai not only cherished her daughter but also felt deeply for her daughter-inw, especially since her pregnancy. She secretly renovated the courtyard where they lived.


    The small courtyard was filled with abundant spiritual energy, making the airfortable. This was highly beneficial for the fetus¡¯s development.


    Qiao Mai made sure they had everything they needed, fearing any mishaps.


    Knowing Jiamei¡¯s fondness for small animals, Old Mistress Wang gifted one to Jiamei after confirming with Qiao Mai that the red cat posed no harm to her health.


    Qiao Mai sent a sheep and a squirrel to protect her.


    Jiamei was ecstatic. She adored cute and lovely creatures, quite the opposite of Ling¡¯er.


    Nanny Jin and the maids were busy making the Crown Princess¡¯s wedding dress. The embroidery shop temporarily stopped taking external orders. One night, Qiao Mai sent someone to summon Ling¡¯er from Xianyue Pavilion. ¡°Mother, do you need something from your daughter?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve always wanted a majestic beast as a pet, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    With a wave of Qiao Mai¡¯s hand, a majestic lion appeared beside Ling¡¯er, startling her.


    However, she quickly regained herposure. ¡°Is this a gift from Mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s called me Lion, a fierce beast.¡¯


    Ling¡¯er looked at the lion and gulped. ¡°It¡¯s so majestic, even taller than me. I love it.¡±


    ¡°Take it with you at the wedding. Consider it part of your dowry.¡±


    Ling¡¯er chuckled and approached, patting the lion¡¯s head. It responded by nuzzling against her and letting out a roar.


    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so cool.¡±


    ¡°It can protect you and serve as your mount. Treat it like apanion, understand?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, understood, Mother.¡±


    Ling¡¯er fondly touched its fur. ¡°I¡¯ll call it me. I love it.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at me, attached a storage bag to its neck, and said, ¡°Follow the young mistress properly.¡±


    me nodded, and Ling¡¯er excitedly climbed onto its back.


    ¡°me, can we go for a walk?¡±


    ¡°Only within this courtyard. Going outside might scare people.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi, who had seen me early on, initially mistook it for a tiger, thinking a tiger had entered the scene. Little did he expect a lion.


    This animal wasn¡¯t native to the Ming Dynasty, and he hadn¡¯t seen it before. He only felt at ease after Qiao Mai exined it to him.


    Watching his daughter treat it as a mount, he felt envious.


    On the roof, ckie disdainfully rolled its eyes. It thought, ¡°It might be big, but it hasn¡¯t reached my level yet. Acting all high and mighty. I could take on ten of you in a fight.¡±


    ckie acted like a big shot every day. If Qiao Mai didn¡¯t call, it wouldn¡¯t appear.


    He acted like a bird, perched on the roof for no reason, disying an arrogant demeanor. Qiao Mai nced up at ckie.


    She thought, ¡°One day, I¡¯ll rece you and let you scream in the space.¡±


    ckie, cleverly sensing Qiao Mai¡¯s disdain, quickly contacted her with its mind. ¡°Master, I¡¯m obedient.¡±


    ¡°Scram.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave obediently.¡±


    Ling¡¯er brought me back to the courtyard that night, startling a few maids. Nanny Jin was so frightened she couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°Girl, how could you bring a fierce beast here? Our courtyard is filled with women. Who can handle it if something happens?¡±


    Ling¡¯er patted me¡¯s head. ¡°This is the dowry Mother gave me. It doesn¡¯t eat people. Don¡¯t worry. Go to the kitchen and get some meat.¡±


    me bit Ling¡¯er¡¯s arm gently and shook it. Ling¡¯er asked in confusion.


    ¡°You don¡¯t eat meat?¡±


    me licked a pouch on its neck. Ling¡¯er suddenly realized, ¡°Alright. When you¡¯re hungry, let me know.¡±


    Ling¡¯er was delighted, leading me into the house. She even prepared a mat for it.


    ¡°You can sleep here for now. After my wedding, ¡®ll build a beautiful nest for you in the courtyard. Hehe.¡±


    Leaning against the door, Nanny Jin and the maids saw that although me was imposing, it appeared gentle in front of Ling¡¯er like amb.


    The sheep leader rushed in, rolled its eyes at the sight of me, and quickly ran out.


    Although it was beneath the lion in the food chain, being under the same owner made the sheep leader unafraid.


    It just came over for an inspection, and the flying squirrel on the tree looked down with disdain at therge creature inside the house.


    The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Ling¡¯er rode me and strolled around the house.


    Fortunately, the servants of Lucky Garden had undergone numerous tests of courage. Though scared, they believed this beast wouldn¡¯t harm anyone.


    Ling¡¯er also let me go wherever it pleased as long as it didn¡¯t leave Lucky Garden.


    Within three days, the news of a tiger-like creature in Lucky Garden spread.


    Now that Qiao Mai had nothing to hide, people could say whatever they pleased.


    The emperor, empress, and Eleven visited at night to see Ling¡¯er¡¯s pet.


    When they saw me, which was nearly two meters tall and five meters long, they were all dumbfounded.


    ¡°Darling, is this for Ling¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she always wanted a majestic pet, so I sent someone overseas to capture one in a hot area. It was raised from a young age, already trained, and won¡¯t bite or eat people. Just feed it some pork, beef, ormb asionally.¡± ¡°Are you worried that Eleven will bully Ling¡¯er after they¡¯re married?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Eleven. ¡°Do you dare?¡± ¡°If Eleven dares, let it eat him.¡¯


    ¡°Good, a well-spoken vow; I will remember it.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced meaningfully at Eleven, then casually said, ¡°In addition to this lion, there are two horses and two carriages.¡±


    Thinking of that ship, the emperor couldn¡¯t resist his excitement. ¡°Inw, what about the ship?¡±


    ¡°No. Without me, you better behave. If anything happens to the ship, no one will be there to save you.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The children exchanged nces, bewildered by the talk of ships. The old emperor, aware of his inw¡¯s reminder, dared not borate. Some things were better kept from the children.


    He refrained from saying more, fearing displeasing his inw.


    The more he witnessed at Lucky Garden, the more satisfied the old emperor became with this marriage. He grew more respectful toward Qiao Mai from the bottom of his heart.


    In the summer of the capital, the rain came unpredictably. The hustle and bustle of the city couldn¡¯t stop pedestrians and carriages, even those carrying umbres.


    At the city gate, arge procession of carriages and horses arrived.


    After inspection by the city guards, they entered the city and stopped in front of arge mansion.


    One after another, many people descended¡ªmen, women, young, old, dozens of them in total. It was a lively scene.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, we¡¯re finally back!¡±

 Chapter 363 - 363: Our Surname Is Song

    Chapter 363 - 363: Our Surname Is Song


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Yes, Xuan¡¯er¡¯s illness has been cured. After gaining the emperor¡¯s favor and being named the Crown Prince, he hasn¡¯t forgotten us. Finally, we have returned to the capital.¡±


    This family belonged to the maternal side of the eleventh prince¡¯s mother. Of course, he is now recorded under the empress, which meant he had two maternal families.


    Because it¡¯s only a nominal record, they don¡¯t have a strong mother-son rtionship. Therefore, the empress has never demanded he should treat her maternal family well.


    In the future, when she bes the empress dowager, she will take care of her own family. Therefore, she has never forced him.


    Eleven¡¯s affection for his birth mother is deep. Now, he brought her family over, and their residence has been returned to them.


    This family¡¯s surname is Song. Old Master Song is a veteran of three dynasties but never held high office. Due to the eleventh prince¡¯s mother, he was expelled from the capital in the emperor¡¯s anger.


    After Eleven got the emperor¡¯s consent, they were allowed to return to the capital.


    Both the elderly members of the Song family are still alive, nearing seventy.


    They have three sons, and Eleven¡¯s mother is the daughter of the eldest son.


    The three sons of the Song family have numerous children, including grandchildren. The dozens of people are not conspicuous at all in their spacious residences.


    Upon hearing that his maternal family had returned to the capital, Eleven immediately put down the memorials in his hands and went to the Song family with his entourage.


    Upon meeting, they all embraced and wept. It seems that the eleventh prince has a deep bond with them.


    After the tears, they introduced themselves, and everyone took their seats in the front hall.


    ¡°Grandfather, Grandmother, although Father promised to let me bring you back, your official positions have not been restored.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. It¡¯s good enough toe back. We are all pretty old. If there¡¯s an opportunity, elevate your cousins, and that will be sufficient.¡±


    ¡°Stay for now. After my wedding next year, you can try to enter the scene.


    Based on your talents, I will arrange tasks for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Crown Prince.¡±


    The Song family has several daughters of marriageable age. They all looked at the Crown Prince with admiration, and their eyes revealed different feelings.


    The girls secretly tugged at their mothers and whispered.


    ¡°Mother, I heard that the Crown Prince doesn¡¯t have a consort yet.¡±


    Which mother wouldn¡¯t understand? Fortunately, they could ask him as a way of showing concern. Presumably, the Crown Prince won¡¯t be angry.


    ¡°Xuan¡¯er, is the date set for the wedding?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Aunt. It¡¯s the first day of March next year.¡±


    ¡°Which family¡¯s girl?¡± ¡°The Duke of Blessing¡¯s.¡± ¡°Will you bring her to visit us?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s time.¡¯


    ¡°After marrying her, do you have to take concubines? How many are you nning to take?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t take any. I will have only one wife in this lifetime.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The Song family was shocked. ¡°There¡¯s no such rule throughout the dynasties. Which emperor or prince didn¡¯t have wives and concubines?¡±


    ¡°This is my voluntary choice.¡±


    ¡°What if she cannot bear a son in the future?¡± ¡°Then we will choose another heir from the branch family.¡±


    ¡°Good heavens, isn¡¯t this too unconventional?¡±


    The Crown Prince, seeing their shocked expressions, didn¡¯t say much. He left some silver notes and used the excuse of busy state affairs to leave.


    The Song family¡¯s girls stared eagerly at his departing figure, captivated.


    If they could marry this man in their lifetime, what regrets would they have?


    ¡°There must be something special about the Qiao family¡¯s girl to make the


    Crown Prince swear to have only one wife for a lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Exactly. We must find out more about her another day.¡±


    Hearing the whispers of the girls, the Song family members secretly made ns.


    Nobody believed that the future emperor would only marry one woman. They must find a way to fit their daughters into that position.


    Outsiders can neverpare to his blood family, but there¡¯s no rush for now. They need to settle down and establish a status in the court before anything else can be considered.


    Moreover, even though they were from his maternal family, the empress was still between them. Without a solid footing, how could theypete with others?


    In the pce, the old emperor and Eleven were in conversation. ¡°Have arrangements been made for your mother¡¯s family?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    ¡°While I understand your sentiment for yourte mother, it¡¯s better for the


    Song family to stay at a distance.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    At the mention of this, the emperor awkwardly coughed. To prevent his son from repeating his mistakes, he had to speak the truth.


    ¡°Back then, your mother was the woman I cherished the most. But why didn¡¯t I promote the Song family? Because¡­ you understand why I drove them out of the capital, right?¡±


    After the emperor finished speaking, Eleven broke into a cold sweat. He knew his father had no reason to lie.


    ¡°I will be more careful, Father.¡±


    ¡°Do not bring your fianc¨¦e to their house. Those with ill intentions won¡¯t miss any opportunity. You are now a piece of juicy meat; everyone wants a bite.


    Ling¡¯er is a simple and kind child,cking suspicion. Don¡¯t let her be tarnished.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    ¡°Just remember to protect Ling¡¯er well. Don¡¯t let her suffer any grievances. Love each other for a lifetime. Otherwise, your mother-inw can be formidable.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    The news of the Song family¡¯s arrival in the capital didn¡¯t cause much of a stir, but the empress¡¯s family visited her after hearing about it.


    It was the empress¡¯s mother who came. ¡°Rui¡¯er, the eleventh prince is listed under your name. He brought his birth mother¡¯s family here ostentatiously. What are we going to do?¡±


    ¡°No worries. We should handle things as usual. They are his mother¡¯s family, and although he is listed under my name, I cannot act narrow-minded.¡±


    ¡°After his grand wedding, when hees with the Crown Princess, will hee to our house or go to the Song family?¡±


    ¡°Both. He can go wherever he wants. When the timees, I am the Empress


    Dowager, and he should respect me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, but I still feel uneasy about it.¡±


    ¡°Remain calm. If hees, wee him; if he doesn¡¯t, don¡¯t say anything. It would make our family appear magnanimous.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    Time passed quickly. Over a month has flown by. Eleven had only visited the Song family twice and hadn¡¯t been there since.


    When he went to the Song family, they asked about the Crown Princess. He could tolerate it the first time, but the second time was annoying.


    He hadn¡¯t married yet, but they wanted Ling¡¯er to visit them. They probably intended to assert their seniority. Fortunately, they hadn¡¯t been given official positions. Otherwise, he wondered how they would try to handle Ling¡¯er.


    His fiancee was such a good girl; he couldn¡¯t allow her to be criticized.


    He used state affairs as an excuse not to visit again. The Song family was desperate. Trying to enter the pce was impossible without permission, but they knew no one in the capital.


    It wasn¡¯t until September that the Song family still hadn¡¯t seen the Crown Prince. Anxious, they found out about Lucky Garden and came with the whole family.


    The gatekeeper was troubled to see these people. She didn¡¯t even let them in, peering through a crack, and asked.


    ¡°Who are you? Whom do you want to see?¡±


    ¡°We are the Song family, the Crown Prince¡¯s maternal family. We want to see Princess Tianshui.¡±


    The gatekeeper rolled her eyes. When did this family appear in the capital? Isn¡¯t the Crown Prince¡¯s maternal family the Rong family? The gatekeeper figured it out. ¡°Wait here.¡±


    She went in to report hurriedly, not to Ling¡¯er but to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°Mistress, the Crown Prince¡¯s maternal family is at the main gate, saying they want to see Miss Ling¡¯er. This servant feels they don¡¯t seem like good people. I reported to you directly.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡¯


    Qiao Mai put down the book in her hand and followed the gatekeeper to the courtyard gate. When the gate opened, she opened her mouth in slight surprise. There were many people; she wondered if they were here to cause trouble.


    She scrutinized the Song family. ¡°What business do you have with my daughter?¡±


    ¡°Um, I am the Crown Prince¡¯s great-grandfather; I am the Crown Prince¡¯s grandfather, I am¡­¡± It took a round of introductions before they finished. ¡°No need for introductions. Just tell me why you¡¯re here to see my daughter.¡±


    ¡°We want to see the Crown Prince but can¡¯t enter the pce. It¡¯s been so long, and he hasn¡¯t visited us.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re here for the Crown Prince. Go back and wait. I¡¯ll send someone to the pce to inform him.¡± ¡°Inw, won¡¯t you invite us in?¡±


    ¡°I will when the Crown Prince brings you here himself..¡±

 Chapter 364 - 364: Better Behave

    Chapter 364 - 364: Better Behave


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The Song family¡¯s faces turned pale, realizing they weren¡¯t being acknowledged. They found an excuse and reluctantly left.


    After sending away the Song family, Qiao Mai personally went to the imperial pce.


    Their family had the freedom toe and go in the pce. No one dared to trouble them.


    Upon hearing that Qiao Mai had entered the pce, the emperor put down his work and went to the empress¡¯s chamber. Eleven also found it unusual; his mother-inw had never taken the initiative. There must be something important.


    Father and son thought alike. Though Qiao Mai¡¯s expression remained unchanged, a hint of displeasure could still be discerned.


    She was discussing this matter with the empress when she saw them entering. Ignoring their presence, she continued speaking. The emperor and the Crown Prince had no choice but to sit and listen.


    ¡°I came to discuss something with both of you.¡±


    ¡°Inw, please feel free to speak if there¡¯s anything.¡±


    ¡°Xuan¡¯er¡¯s maternal rtives came to my house today. They said it¡¯s been long since they¡¯ve seen him and asked me to pass a message or bring them into the pce.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the emperor became somewhat annoyed. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let him bring the Song family back. Now, look what¡¯s happened.¡±


    Eleven felt awkward. ¡°I thought the Song family might have changed somewhat after all these years. Who would have thought they¡¯d still be the same?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After the wedding, I¡¯ll send them back to their hometown.¡± ¡°Keep an eye on them. Don¡¯t let them cause trouble in the capital.¡±


    Qiao Mai snorted. ¡°I heard that during their time in the capital, they¡¯ve been running up debts everywhere in the name of the Crown Prince. Eleven, you better investigate. I don¡¯t know what they¡¯re up to.¡±


    ¡°Mother-inw, rest assured. I¡¯ll look into it immediately.¡±


    The emperor waved his hand at him. ¡°Hurry up. The Song family just returned to the capital and are already causing trouble. When you inherit the throne in the future, they won¡¯t know their ce.¡±


    The Crown Prince left, embarrassed, and Qiao Mai nced at the emperor. ¡°Eleven looks good, but his temperament iscking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach him. After all, he grew up in the pce and experienced a lonely childhood. He also yearns for family deep down.¡±


    ¡°The Song family¡¯s treacherous methods should not be used on my daughter.


    Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡±


    ¡°If they dare, I¡¯ll be the first to spare them no mercy.¡±


    At that moment, the Crown Prince and his men quickly arrived at the Song family residence. He wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as when he first met them. Seated in the living room, the Crown Prince wore a grim expression.


    ¡°Why did you go to Lucky Garden to find Ling¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen you for a long time. Firstly, we missed you, and secondly, staying home is boring.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve given you silver notes. Couldn¡¯t you establish a few shops in the capital and do some business?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, we couldn¡¯t think of a suitable business now. However, we went to your mother-inw¡¯s family. The shops on both sides of their door are making money. Can you talk to your mother-inw and see if she can let us join in?¡± ¡°Forget about it. I can¡¯t even join, let alone you.¡±


    ¡°Xuan¡¯er, we can¡¯t just sit idly, right? We can¡¯t always rely on you for support.¡±


    ¡°Rely on me? Weren¡¯t you well-fed in your hometown before you came to the capital?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the case. We were barely scraping by. Now that we¡¯re in the capital, everything is too expensive. We¡¯re your rtives. We can¡¯t embarrass you.¡±


    The greedy faces of the Song family emerged at this moment.


    The Crown Prince frowned. ¡°So, what do you suggest?¡±


    ¡°If your mother-inw¡¯s family can¡¯t help, there are many prosperous shops in the capital. There¡¯s no ce not under the king¡¯s rule. If you give the word, they will surely let us join in.¡±


    The Crown Prince sneered. ¡°Truly, a leopard can¡¯t change its spots. Why did


    Father expel you from the capital back then?¡±


    The Song family members, sitting in the living room, turned pale upon hearing his words.


    ¡°You¡¯re engaging in tant robbery, haven¡¯t contributed a bit, and yet want to reap rewards without effort. What¡¯s the difference between you and bandits? I brought you back out of consideration for my mother, but if you continue as before, you can get lost to wherever you came from.¡±


    ¡°Xuan¡¯er, don¡¯t be angry. We were wrong. We won¡¯t do it again.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡¯


    ¡°How about this? We¡¯ll buy two shops. You talk to your mother-inw and ask her to sell us the goods at a lower price. We¡¯ll open a simr shop. Having just one shop is not enough; many people are already lining up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you not to harbor any ideas about my mother-inw¡¯s family, let alone my wife. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡±


    ¡°This won¡¯t work; that won¡¯t work. Are we just supposed to sit idly in our house?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better behave, or else you won¡¯t even know what happened to your heads.¡±


    The Crown Prince was frustrated. He regretted pleading for them in front of his father. It only created trouble for him.


    He was infuriated. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered with such efforts.


    Outside the living room, several eligible youngdies from the Song family peeked through the window. From the moment theyid eyes on the Crown Prince, they felt an affectionate attraction.


    During their stay in the capital, they gathered information. The Qiao family was not to be trifled with. Despite aspiring to be the Crown Princess, being a concubine would also suffice. They envisioned a splendid future as a concubine of the harem once the Crown Prince ascended to the throne.


    This desire was not exclusive to these youngdies; it was a shared sentiment among the Song family. From the outset of their arrival, they harbored such ambitions.


    Upon arriving in the capital, the Song family showered their youngdies with new clothes and jewelry with the Crown Prince¡¯s silver notes. However, Eleven paid little attention to them each time he visited.


    Having grown up in the pce, he had witnessed enough pce intrigues. He remained vignt against the intentions of the Song family, especially the way their daughters looked at him.


    He didn¡¯t drink a single cup of tea in the Song family¡¯s residence and didn¡¯t even stay for a meal.


    He didn¡¯t want to do anything regrettable, and with his status, no one dared to force him.


    He had said what needed to be said. If the Song family didn¡¯t understand, he would no longer care.


    He would only acknowledge his birth mother, the empress, and the empress¡¯s family.


    The Crown Prince left, but the Song family didn¡¯t settle down.


    Several Song family girls of marriageable age went to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery together. They intended to enjoy a free meal from the Qiao family but had restrained themselves due to the Crown Prince¡¯s warning.


    The Song family had no power, no influence, and no money. They weren¡¯t yet in a position to be ostentatious, but it was only a matter of time.


    The girls watched the long queue of people. When would they get a chance to taste the snacks from this ce?


    So, they had an idea and squeezed into the line. Many people, seeing them trying to cut in, angrily scolded them.


    ¡°Shameless! Why don¡¯t you go to the back of the line?¡±


    The Song family girls acted as if they hadn¡¯t heard. Someone shouted, ¡°Is anyone going to enforce the rules? These people are cutting in line. Is anyone going to do something?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Niu came out with two assistants.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why the loud shouting?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not queuing up and cutting in line.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu looked at the girls dressed up in a shy manner, thinking they might be from a brothel.


    He approached them with a stern expression.


    ¡°Go to the back of the line, or we won¡¯t sell to you.¡±


    ¡°What? You won¡¯t sell to us? Do you know who we are?¡± ¡°Who cares? Even if a princees, he has to wait in line. This is the rule.¡±


    ¡°Oh, who are you? How dare you speak so arrogantly?¡±


    ¡°I am the shopkeeper of Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a mere shopkeeper. We are the Crown Prince¡¯s cousins. This shop is from the future family of the Crown Prince. Hurry up and serve the best food and drinks from your shop, or I¡¯ll have my cousin dismiss Princess Tianshui.¡±


    Shopkeeper Niu respectfully addressed the surrounding people, ¡°Have you all heard? These girls im to be the Crown Prince¡¯s rtives, trying to get free food from our shop. They even say they can speak for the Crown Prince.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve heard it. These Song family girlsck manners, boldly making arrogant statements just after arriving in the capital. They are only distant rtives; it¡¯s audacious to go this far..¡±

 Chapter 365 - 365: Doing a Good Deed

    Chapter 365: Doing a Good Deed


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Those who don¡¯t know better would think that the world belongs to the Songs.¡±


    Hearing the denouncement, the girls were a little afraid. They looked at each other and wanted to run away.


    Shopkeeper Niu waved his hand at the shop assistants behind him. ¡°Throw them out of this street. You¡¯re not allowed toe here again. I¡¯ll beat you up every time youe.¡±


    Without needing the waiter to do anything, the people in the queue acted. They couldn¡¯t stand those women. They were unmarried but was like a shrew, going to shops to beg for food. How shameless! They had to be thrown out. Within a day, news of the Song family¡¯s young girls being thrown out of Huangdao Street had spread to the pce.


    The emperor was so angry that he smashed everything on the table onto the ground. The Crown Prince lowered his head and pursed his lips without saying a word.


    ¡°Since they refuse to change their ways, I will teach your maternal family a lesson on your behalf. Yubao!¡±


    ¡°Your servant is here.¡±


    ¡°Bring a group of royal guards and a few nannies from the pce to the Song family. Pull the few women today to the Song family¡¯s door. Don¡¯t they want to eat for free? p their mouths ruthlessly for me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty!¡±


    Yubao stole a nce at the Crown Prince and quietly left.


    The emperor red at the Crown Prince. ¡°Look at what kind of people your maternal family is. They just came to the capital and wanted to take advantage of others. I feel like executing all of them.¡±


    ¡°Father, I didn¡¯t know they were like this. If I had known, why would I have brought them here?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let them stay here any longer. Otherwise, the capital will be the Song family¡¯s. We can¡¯t let them return either. Otherwise, who knows how the people there will be bullied by them?¡±


    ¡°There are still a few months before my wedding. Why don¡¯t we wait until the wedding is over? I will buy some property for them in the suburbs and let them farm.


    ¡°By decree, send them all to the bordends. Let them experience hardship and suffering. If they don¡¯t change, so be it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s their innate disposition.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, your mother does not have the bad roots in them. I did not touch them all these years because of your mother.¡±


    ¡°Your son will not let them make a fool of themselves again.¡±


    The Song family¡¯s youngdies were pped at the entrance that afternoon. Themoners watched while venting their anger.


    The head of the Song family wanted to argue with them, but after hearing that the girls were thick-skinned and wanted to eat for free, they all shrank back into the house.


    The faces of the six girls were swollen like pig heads. After beating them up, Yubao returned to the pce with the guards.


    They had embarrassed themselves in the capital. Not only that, the Song residence was surrounded by the royal guards, and they were not allowed to leave the house.


    Qiao Mai snorted coldly when she heard that. Was there no one capable in the Song family?


    There was also the emperor and the Crown Prince. What was the point of letting them stay in the capital? Wasn¡¯t it disgusting to let a family like that attend the wedding?


    The royal family was ruthless, but they were terrible in this aspect.


    At this moment, she was a little unhappy in her heart. She was worried about marrying Ling¡¯er off to the Crown Prince like this.


    After this incident, the Song family became much more obedient.


    Although the Crown Prince had them under house arrest, he did not reduce their food and drink expenses.


    He warned them again that if they caused any more trouble, they would all be sent to the borders forbor work.


    Seeing that the Crown Prince was serious, they were also afraid.


    The ones who made the most noise were often the ones who died the most miserably.


    Time flew by, and it was winter. Jiamei¡¯s belly had gotten bigger. She was already five months pregnant.


    Besides checking out the housework, she would lie on the heated brick bed in her room or walk back and forth on the floor.


    Thinking of their annual return to Tianshui Town, she sighed. It seemed that she couldn¡¯t go with them this time.


    However, Qiao Mai intended to train Ling¡¯er, so she was sent to collect the debt this year. She was apanied by Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia. me was too big and would scare people wherever it went. It could not follow.


    Qiao Mai sent a sheep and a squirrel with them. Of course, ckie was free, so she sent him as well.


    The Crown Prince did not follow. He had many things to deal with now and was busy.


    He felt a little regretful that he could not go with his fianc¨¦e. However, he woke early to send Ling¡¯er out of the city.


    After watching the carriage travel a long distance, he turned back and entered the city.


    At this time, the Song family had been imprisoned for three months. Seeing they had be more obedient, the Crown Prince withdrew the royal guards and returned their freedom.


    From then on, they no longer showed off and didn¡¯t fight with others when they went out. They kept a low profile but didn¡¯t dare to go to Huangdao Street anymore. If they wanted to eat anything, they would send servants to queue up.


    Since Qiao Mai came out of seclusion, she hadn¡¯t cultivated for a year.


    She changed her appearance and walked on the street with her hands behind her back. When the weather was cold, the lives of themoners were tough, especially the poor.


    Every year, Yuan Jiaqi would take hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from her to help the people. It was so cold outside that many would probably freeze to death again.


    In the capital, it was said that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, but there were still many beggars.


    Ling¡¯er is going to get married soon. She should do a good deed before the new


    year.


    When she got home, Qiao Mai had someone set up a porridge stall at the crossroad not far away. The fragrant rice porridge instantly attracted many beggars.


    They took broken bowls and rushed forward to ask for food. The steward and his men maintained order.


    ¡°Line up. From today onwards, our mistress will be giving out porridge until February. There will be no shortage of rice. Don¡¯t fight for it. Whoever ruins the discipline won¡¯t get a share.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great. Then we won¡¯t be hungry.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at these beggars. There were old and young, injured and disabled, but not many were intact.


    In this day and age, beggars were beggars. No one would give up a good life and beg on the streets.


    The fragrant porridge was steaming. The beggars lined up in an orderly manner to get rice. The servants of Lucky Garden served them rice and even gave them a small piece of salted vegetables to drink.


    Qiao Mai asked as she watched these people squat on the roadside after getting the porridge.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid a bowl of porridge isn¡¯t enough.¡¯


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m content with the porridge.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°It¡¯s such a cold day. Where are you staying?¡±


    ¡°Any leeward ce is fine. Many kind-hearted people will give us their unused nkets.¡±


    ¡°If you have difficulties, you cane to Lucky Garden to find me.¡±


    The beggar stopped and wiped his tears. ¡°Yes, Royal Consort.¡±


    From the end of November, Lucky Garden began to provide porridge. From morning until night, it was all thick porridge with small pickles.


    The smell of the porridge made even the rich drool.


    When they saw that none of the servants in Lucky Garden had left for lunch, instead drinking the same porridge, they knew that the porridge was genuine.


    Many people came over to ask for a bowl. ¡°Well, I think your porridge is delicious. Can I try a bowl?¡±


    ¡°This porridge is for the poor.¡±


    ¡°We know, but it is too fragrant, so we wanted to try it. Don¡¯t worry. A bowl of porridge costs ten coins. We will donate to the people. Is that okay?¡±


    Steward Zhang nodded. The servants scooped porridge for them and ced the money into the basket.


    Those people took the porridge and tasted it. They immediately blew on it and drank it while mumbling.


    ¡°It¡¯s a waste for you to give such good rice to the people. This porridge is delicious. What kind of rice do you use? Can we buy some?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t sell rice.¡±


    Of course, this wasn¡¯t ordinary rice. The rice in the porridge was produced in Qiao Mai¡¯s space. One crop after another had long be spiritual rice. A bowl of this porridge could satiate one¡¯s hunger, cure illness, and prolong life..

 Chapter 366 - 366: Selling Rice

    Chapter 366: Selling Rice


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The servants of Lucky Garden ate this daily, so they didn¡¯t feel anything. However, those who had never eaten this rice knew it was good.


    Steward Zhang rolled his eyes. ¡°If you want this, a bowl is ten copper coins. Eat as much as you want. Our mistress said that the porridge will be distributed until February. There¡¯s still over a month left.¡±


    ¡°Hehe. This porridge is not expensive at ten copper coins per bowl.¡±


    From that day on, the Qiao family distributed porridge for free and also sold it. Many people heard about its specialty and brought bowls to buy porridge regardless of status.


    Just like that, the news spread like wildfire. This scene appeared on the streets of the capital. There was a long line to buy porridge.


    A bowl of porridge cost ten copper coins, ten bowls cost a hundred copper coins, and a hundred bowls cost a tael of silver. There were no less than a few thousand people in the capital who ate porridge daily.


    After they got the porridge, they ran to a ce and squatted down like beggars to eat it.


    Steward Zhang told Qiao Mai about this. ¡°Mistress, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Sell it if there is demand. Our family doesn¡¯tck that bit of rice. Send more people and cook a few more pots.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress!¡±


    A thousand bowls were worth ten taels of silver. They became a porridge seller instead of a porridge distributor.


    The number of people who came to buy porridge was more than those beggars.


    They earned a few dozen taels of silver daily as they could earn money by giving out porridge.


    Qiao Mai had people buy cotton clothes and nkets for the beggars with the silver they had earned from the sale. This way, they could live through the winter with food and warmth.


    The Qiao family did good deeds, which made those wealthy families unable to sit idle.


    Although their financial resources could notpare to the Qiao family, they had to put on an act.


    Everyone said the porridge of the Qiao family was delicious, but they did not give out much porridge. They only gave out two pots a day. Each pot was made with meat broth and contained meat in it.


    They wanted to beat Qiao Mai¡¯s porridge stall. Unfortunately, Qiao Mai¡¯s porridge was still the best.


    Even some monks and nuns begging for alms were queuing up. They had never tasted such sweet and fragrant porridge in their many years of cultivation.


    Because of the porridge, the people from the temples in the capital¡¯s suburbs came looking for her.


    The abbot of Ganye Temple, Huanglong Temple, Jingxiu Nunnery, and Yuntai Temple brought their disciples to visit Lucky Garden one after another.


    Qiao Mai was speechless. She attracted a group of monks and nuns just by giving out porridge. They were all here for her rice.


    Was it begging or buying? She heard these temples had many incense offerings and should not be short of money. She was not a saint. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s giving it to them for free!


    In the living room, there were three abbots, a nun, a Daoist nun, and a group of disciples behind them.


    Qiao Mai sat at the head of the table. They had already greeted each other earlier.


    ¡°I know why you¡¯re here, but there are too many monks and little food. You can¡¯t beg for alms.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t take advantage of you.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no other ce to buy this rice other than from me. Can you buy it with silver?¡±


    ¡°Please name your price.¡±


    ¡°Fifty copper coins per catty. I can only supply a thousand catties a year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s too little. How about ten thousand catties?¡±


    ¡°Give me the silver before taking the rice.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Just as she sent the people away, Yubao came from the pce.


    ¡°This servant greets Royal Consort Qiao.¡±


    ¡°Why did youe personally?¡±


    ¡°The emperor tasted your porridge. He felt that the rice was good. You know what I mean.¡±


    ¡°Call the Internal Affairs Emissary to bring some silver to buy it!¡±


    ¡°How much is one catty?¡±


    ¡°A hundred coins!¡±


    ¡°As long as the emperor likes it, even one tael of silver per catty is fine.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll sell it for one tael of silver.¡¯


    Yubao¡¯s hands trembled in fear. ¡°Don¡¯t, this servant was just describing it like that. The emperor is thrifty. Let¡¯s take it as a hundred coins per catty.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll put the rice in Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. You guys can go there to buy it. Don¡¯t bother me with everything.¡±


    Since then, Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery had another business, which was selling rice.


    In fact, she was selling it cheaply. This was genuine spiritual rice, and you couldn¡¯t buy it even if you had money.


    Greeny had built manyrge warehouses in the space. It had saved up a few warehouses of spiritual rice, and it was time to sell them.


    Therefore, Qiao Mai did not reject anyone. It was just that the rice was pretty expensive. Although ordinary people could afford it, they felt a little heartache when they ate it.


    Ling¡¯er had been gone for half a month. Qiao Mai was not worried. Nothing would happen. She woulde back sooner orter.


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er had already finished her work and had visited her rtives and friends. At this moment, she and Nanny Jin were in a carriage.


    The car stopped at the entrance of Peach Blossom Vige. ¡°Princess, what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I want to see the ce where Mother used to live.¡±


    ¡°Did the Royal Consort live here before marrying Mr. Yuan?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mother has suffered a lot here. I want to kill that family.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better not to. Princess, you know her personality the best. If she wanted them dead, they would have died long ago. They wouldn¡¯t have lived until now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. My mother wanted them to live. She wanted them to know how good her life was and how regretful they would be. This was better than killing them. But when I thought of the pain my mother had suffered, I just¡­¡±


    ¡°Princess, you will be getting married in a few months. I heard the mistress is giving out porridge in the capital to umte blessings for you. You must not let down her good intentions.¡±


    At this moment, snow began to fall from the sky. Ling¡¯er wiped her tears and instructed the coachman. ¡°Return to Lucky Garden!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Princess.¡±


    Nanny Jin hugged Ling¡¯er and let her cry in her arms. Her mother had given her the best things. She was such a good woman. Why did she have to endure torture? Every time she came back, she wanted to destroy the Tian family.


    Thinking back, why were they thick-skinned enough toe and do a blood test?


    Damn it!


    The carriage had just entered the official road from the vige road. Tian Sanzhuang was driving his carriage home. When he saw the carriage opposite him, he knew it belonged to the Qiao family.


    In this world, only the Qiao family could afford such a luxurious carriage. What were they doing here?


    It had been so many years since the incident. If Qiao Mai wanted revenge, she would have done so long ago. He heard that she had not returned for the past two years but sent her daughter instead. Could it be Ling¡¯er?


    He stopped the carriage and shouted boldly.


    ¡°Is Princess Tianshui sitting in the carriage?¡±


    Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything, and the coachman didn¡¯t pay attention to him either. He drove the carriage past him.


    There was a voice in Tian Sanzhuang¡¯s heart that kept calling out to him, ¡°Go after her. She¡¯s your daughter. She¡¯s really your daughter.¡±


    He immediately turned his horse around and chased after her. ¡°Princess


    Tianshui, I¡¯m Tian Sanzhuang.¡±


    Nanny Jin looked at her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s unworthy!¡±


    Nanny Jin was silent for a moment before gently opening the curtains. ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, the coachman casually swung his whip at Tian Sanzhuang, who dodged it.


    Ling¡¯er stuck her head out and looked at Tian Sanzhuang sinisterly.


    ¡°Your entire family should die. Fortunately, that pair of old fools died early. Otherwise, if they had fallen into my hands, I would have made them wish they were dead.¡±


    Tian Sanzhuang jolted. It seemed that Princess Tianshui knew everything. However, was she his daughter? If not, why did shee to Peach Blossom Vige?


    Does she want to see her mother¡¯s enemy? Tian Sanzhuang sat in the front of the cart and sighed softly.


    If his parents treated Qiao Mai well, perhaps the Crown Princess¡¯s father would be him.


    Every time the news came from the capital about how prosperous the Qiao family was, the distance between them got further and further.


    Now, the Qiao family looked down on him.


    Tian Sanzhuang could only turn his horse around and leave unwillingly. Ling¡¯er pursed her lips and did not make a sound.


    Nanny Jin asked carefully, ¡°Is he Madam Qiao¡¯s ex-husband?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my grandmother¡¯s family was poor, so they traded my mother for a bag of wheat. After this man married my mother, he went to the army. My mother¡­¡± After Ling¡¯er told Nanny Jin everything, her mouth hung open in shock.


    ¡°Madam Qiao is your birth mother?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So that man just now was your father?¡±


    ¡°Yes.. ¡°

 Chapter 367 - 367: It’s Good That the Gift Arrives

    Chapter 367 - 367: It¡¯s Good That the Gift Arrives


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°My goodness, Madam Qiao has kept this matter well hidden.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk about it to others. My mother said that blood rtions don¡¯t make much difference. She treats us all as her own. With such a good mother, the distinction between blood and non-blood rtives doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°In all these years, you never thought about finding your biological parents?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is the right thing to do. Seeking them out would only hurt my mother¡¯s feelings.¡±


    ¡°No wonder that man keepsing to you. It turns out you are rted by blood, and he might feel a connection with you.¡±


    Ling¡¯er snorted, ¡°Dream on. There¡¯s not a single good person in the Tian family. My mother carried me for ten months, went through the gates of the afterlife for me, and nurtured me into an adult. Why should I let him benefit from it?¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    ¡°I will never acknowledge him in this lifetime. In the future, I¡¯ll leave a lesson for my children and grandchildren, strictly prohibiting any interaction with families surnamed Tian from Peach Blossom Vige. We are sworn enemies!¡± ¡°You are truly Madam Qiao¡¯s daughter, with a temperament that despises evil!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s snowing. Shall we go to the teahouse and have a cup of milk tea while watching the snow?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Along with her teacher and the two maids, Ling¡¯er went to Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery. The warm atmosphere inside was almost full of people.


    Shopkeeper Feng personally came forward when he saw the young mistress.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have private rooms here. Otherwise, I would have arranged one for you. It¡¯s a bit messy. Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s lively.¡±


    They sat in a spot near the window, watching the snowfall outside. The table was filled with snacks, and the servers brought four cups of milk tea.


    Ling¡¯er took a sip. ¡°Hmm, it tastes familiar. Not bad.¡±


    ¡°The recipe hasn¡¯t changed. The method is the same. Are Shopkeeper Niu in the capital doing well?¡±


    ¡°Not bad, he¡¯s just as busy as here.¡±


    ¡°Being busy is good. I heard that you will be getting married in March?¡±


    Ling¡¯er nodded, and Shopkeeper Feng gave a deep bow. ¡°Then let me congratte the youngdy on her uing marriage!¡±


    Blushing, Ling¡¯er said, ¡°Thank you. Give everyone a red envelope of five taels of silver, and yours is ten taels.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, youngdy.¡±


    ¡°You can go back to work.¡±


    Ling¡¯er nned to leave on the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. The people in the town knew about her impending marriage. After the New Year¡¯s gifts, many congrattory gifts followed.


    Since the wedding was far away, they couldn¡¯t attend. Gifts were enough.


    Ling¡¯er epted them without hesitation.


    In recent years, due to the emergence of an honorary prince in Tianshui Town, the town was talked about as having good Feng Shui.


    Many business people came to join in, making it several timesrger than when Qiao Mai first settled here. Even with heavy snowfall, pedestrians in the town kepting and going.


    No one dared to cause trouble in Tianshui Town, whether living here or doing business. It felt exceptionally peaceful.


    Meanwhile, Qiao Mai would visit the ski area and sit in the wooden cabin, enjoying tea and the snowy scenery outside.


    Greeny appeared. ¡°Master, you have the space. Why don¡¯t you go there to enjoy the view?¡±


    ¡°I built this ce with my hands, with effort and theughter of children.¡± ¡°Are you saying the spacecks human touch?¡±


    ¡°Stop twisting my words. By the way, every once in a while, replenish the rice in the shop. Didn¡¯t you say the warehouse is almost full?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. People follow the trend. Just because someone said our rice is delicious, they bought a lot in ten days. You¡¯re selling it too cheaply; this is spiritual rice.¡±


    ¡°Spiritual rice is worthless if no one eats it. Besides, who can afford it if we sell at the price of the immortal realm? It¡¯s more expensive than regr rice.¡±


    ¡°But this is the result of my hard work.¡±


    ¡°Should we stop selling it then?¡±


    The master and servant argued back and forth. Just as they were talking, the steward arrived.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°The Song family also sent New Year¡¯s gifts. Should we ept them?¡±


    ¡°No, reject it and send it back. We can¡¯t afford such rtives. Remember, no matter who from the Song familyes, don¡¯t let them in.¡±


    The steward left, and Qiao Mai went out of the ski area, locked the courtyard door, and visited Jiamei.


    Once the men in the family were upied with their duties, only the two mistresses remained home.


    Jiamei¡¯s belly was growingrger, prompting Qiao Mai to visit asionally.


    Upon reaching Jiamei¡¯s ce, she found her nibbling on arge apple. Seeing her mother-inw, Jiamei hurriedly tried to get off the bed.


    ¡°Enough, don¡¯t get up with that belly of yours.¡±


    ¡°Mother, please have a seat.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost seven months now. I calcted the dates, and it¡¯s right around


    March. I hope your delivery date doesn¡¯t coincide with Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t that be a double celebration?¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, we¡¯re marrying off a daughter. No need to entertain guests.¡±


    ¡°Father said all courtiers are to attend the prince¡¯s grand wedding. Are we going?¡±


    ¡°No, our family doesn¡¯t follow the custom of the bride¡¯s family going to the groom¡¯s family.¡±


    Qiao Mai reached out and touched her belly. ¡°Do you want a son or a daughter?¡±


    ¡°A son. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want a daughter, but we only have Chuan¡¯er. Having a few more sons will deter anyone from bullying them.¡± ¡°If a woman is strong, she won¡¯t be bullied either.¡±


    ¡°Women like Mother are rare in this world.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because they are raised from birth with the doctrine of being a good wife and mother. If you let them learn martial arts from a young age, they can also go to the battlefield.¡±


    ¡°Regardless of sons or daughters, I will bear more for the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll use the best medicine to keep you in good health.¡±


    With Ling¡¯er not at home, Qiao Mai wandered around the house. After checking on Jiamei, she headed to Old Mistress Wang¡¯s ce.


    ¡°Grandmother, didn¡¯t you bring Jiaru back?¡±


    ¡°She said she¡¯s doing well over there. Now that she¡¯s changed her appearance, the Old Princess Consort likes her. The prince is treating her well. She won¡¯t being back.¡±


    ¡°As long as she¡¯s doing well.¡±


    At this moment, a red cat jumped down from the roof and rushed into the house, meowing loudly at Old Mistress Wang.


    She carefully examined it. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the cat that went with Ru¡¯er?¡±


    Qiao Mai frowned. She put her hand on the cat¡¯s head and soon saw many images.


    It turned out the cat was asking for help!


    Qiao Mai stood up with a swish. ¡°Grandfather, Grandmother, get dressed and prepare the carriage to Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion. I¡¯ll head over first.¡±


    ¡°Girl, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Jiatu is in trouble.¡±


    After saying this, she disappeared in a sh. Old Master and Mistress Wang panicked, immediately ordering someone to prepare the carriage and horses.


    Qiao Mai had already arrived at Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion. With a swift kick, she pushed open the door. Inside, a maid was wiping away tears, startled to her feet.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°No need to be afraid. Where is the princess?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ She¡¯s asleep.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes. ¡°Speak up. What¡¯s going on? Why are you crying?¡± Seeing that it was Qiao Mai, the maid gathered some courage.


    ¡°About a month ago, Miss Jiaru started feeling fatigued, but it wasn¡¯t noticeable. Later on, she could sleep for almost twelve hours every day. But for the past few days, she¡¯s been sleeping longer. She hasn¡¯t woken up since yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Do they know about this?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They even sent for the imperial physician but couldn¡¯t determine anything. They suggested observing her for a while.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed. The wealthier the household, the dirtier the affairs behind the scenes. For favor, power, and status, people resorted to all kinds of means. It seemed that Jiaru had fallen victim to the schemes.


    Sitting at the bedside, Qiao Mai took Jiaru¡¯s pulse and examined her eyes.


    Honestly, she couldn¡¯t discern much if she were an ordinary person. Unfortunately, she was an alchemist, a physician, and a cultivator. The petty tricks at y were beneath her notice.


    Although she didn¡¯t know the specifics of the poison, she could tell that Jiaru had been poisoned. It was a slow-acting anesthetic, colorless and tasteless, something the imperial physicians wouldn¡¯t easily detect..

 Chapter 368 - 368: Do You Want To Rebel?

    Chapter 368 - 368: Do You Want To Rebel?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    However, she knew the mainponent of this poison: the Dream Fairy Herb. Doesn¡¯t the name sound pleasant?


    But just a whiff of it could make you sleep for three days and nights. A taste of its petals could put you to sleep for ten days, keeping you in a constant state of sweet dreams.


    If a person doesn¡¯t eat or drink for seven days, they will die of dehydration, but without any apparent suffering; their expression still portrays enjoyment.


    ¡°How many days has she been sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Th-three days.¡¯


    She must have owed the Wang family. Qiao Mai took a jade bottle from her bosom and shoved two pills into Jiaru¡¯s mouth.


    Even though she was in a dream, she knew to swallow the things in her mouth.


    Qiao Mai continued to hold her pulse, quietly sitting. Before long, the Old Prince and Consort arrived with the others.


    Seeing Qiao Mai, they were shocked. How did she enter the mansion? ¡°Madam Qiao, you¡¯re here. Why didn¡¯t you announce yourself?¡±


    ¡°Jiaru is in this condition. Why didn¡¯t you send someone to inform Lucky Garden?¡±


    ¡°We¡­ we didn¡¯t expect it. She loves sleeping. We called the imperial physician. He said her health is fine.¡¯


    ¡°Is it normal for a person to sleep three days?¡±


    While Old Master and Mistress Wang might not dare to offend Prince Shunqin, Qiao Mai did. She red at the Old Prince and Consort.


    The young prince quickly stepped forward and saluted, ¡°We apologize. This is my negligence. It has nothing to do with my parents.¡±


    ¡°Humph, if I hadn¡¯t arrived in time, my younger sister would have lost her life.


    You must give me an exnation today, or none of you will have an easy time.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, we understand your concern for your sister, but such matters should not be handled like this. Please don¡¯t force people.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her sleeve, and the main gate of the prince¡¯s mansion closed immediately, enveloping the area in a barrier.


    ¡°So what if I do?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Gather all the servants, consorts, and everyone in your mansion here. I will question each one of them.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao, aren¡¯t you going too far?¡±


    ¡°My sister is not just sleeping; she is poisoned. The imperial physicians couldn¡¯t detect it. Others might not see it either.¡±


    ¡°What? She¡¯s poisoned?¡±


    ¡°Humph, there are countless poisons in this world. Quickly, send someone to fetch help.¡±


    Old Master and Mistress Wang quietly came behind Qiao Mai. Prince Shunqin¡¯s family was angry, but at the same time, they felt that Qiao Mai was not entirely unreasonable. However, given their status, no one dared to treat their family this way except for the emperor.


    Even if the Qiao family is favored, they shouldn¡¯t act like they can overthrow the authority. They endured it since their family was the apple in the emperor¡¯s eyes.


    With a firm resolve, they ordered all the people to gather.


    There were hundreds of people ¨C Qiao Mai arranged tables in the courtyard and asked everyone to sit and wait.


    ¡°Guards outside, keep watch. Bring the concubines, servants, kitchen staff, and those in the courtyard here. Let the rest wait outside.¡±


    ¡°Who is managing your mansion¡¯s affairs now?¡±


    ¡°In recent years, it has mainly been Consort Yu helping to manage the mansion.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s start with Consort Yu.¡±


    Qiao Mai remained stern-faced as the steward of Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, following the registry, began counting.


    She asked each person toe forward. cing her hand on their heads, she spent a moment.


    Others didn¡¯t know, but Old Master and Mistress Wang knew ¨C this method was extraordinary. If the court had such methods, no criminals would escape.


    This world would have no wrongful convictions, false cases, or fake cases. It was impressive!


    Qiao Mai patiently examined each person¡¯s soul. As she suspected, some people nned to harm Jiaru to rece her.


    Every action needs a motive. Consort Yu¡¯s desire to be the princess consort was the reason. All the maids and servants around her were implicated.


    With the memories of these few people, the others became easier to handle.


    Without probing their souls, Qiao Mai spoke a series of names, ¡°Kitchen Maid Zhao, Maid Zhou, the courtyard¡¯s Du Juan, Xi Que, stay. Consort Yu and those around her, stay. The rest can leave.¡±


    The servants were terrified. Their masters¡¯ faces became even more unpleasant than before. They fled faster than rabbits.


    The courtyard suddenly became quiet. Consort Yu twisted her handkerchief.


    ¡°In this cold weather, what are you doing? Madam Qiao, although you are the princess consort¡¯s elder sister, your authority should not extend too far. Should you manage the affairs of Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion?¡±


    Qiao Mai pped her across the face from a distance of five or six meters.


    ¡°Not only can I manage the affairs of Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion, but I can also manage the pce.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to rebel? You want to manage the pce?¡±


    Old Prince Shunqin frowned, ¡°Madam Qiao, what are you treating us as?¡±


    With Qiao Mai backing her up, Old Master Wang sneered. ¡°What? My granddaughter is almost killed in your house, yet you don¡¯t want to find out the truth?¡±


    ¡°This house is ours. If you want to investigate, we¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°My granddaughter is poisoned, but none of you knew. How could you investigate?¡±


    Old Prince Shunqin was speechless. The Old Consort sighed, ¡°Madam Qiao, investigate if you must, but don¡¯t wrong the innocent. Consort Yu¡¯s family is from the Ministry of Revenue.¡±


    After a gentle reminder of their identity, she fell silent. They didn¡¯t say anything, indicating their tacit approval of Qiao Mai¡¯s leadership.


    Qiao Mai looked at Consort Yu and the others, saying indifferently, ¡°Kneel.¡±


    These two words seemed to have a magical effect, forcing Consort Yu and the others to kneel. They couldn¡¯t believe it.


    ¡°I have already sent a message to Zihan and the emperor. They should being to witness this. Otherwise, with one and another excuse from you, I can¡¯t exin it to you individually.¡±


    At this moment, there was movement inside the room. Two maids supported Jiaru as she walked out.


    Old Mistress Wang¡¯s eyes turned red when she saw her. She went up and hugged her, crying.


    ¡°Ru¡¯er, how are you?¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°If I didn¡¯te, you would have died. You fool, do you know you¡¯ve been poisoned?¡± ¡°So¡­ That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been sleeping so much?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What are you guys doing?¡±


    ¡°Girl, your body is weak. Go back to the room first. You don¡¯t need to worry about what¡¯s happening here. I¡¯ll talk to youter.¡±


    Old Mistress Wang helped her back to the room, and everyone patiently waited. An hourter, the emperor, empress, the Crown Prince, and Zihan arrived.


    Qiao Mai sat at the top, and they sat below as spectators, watching Consort Yu on the ground, still angry.


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, and an image appeared in mid-air.


    Prince Shunqin¡¯s family was shocked. At this moment, they understood why Qiao Mai was so arrogant and why the emperor had a close rtionship with her family.


    They understood why the Qiao family had reached today¡¯s position from a farmer¡¯s family. Just this one skill made them acknowledge her.


    The ones who had witnessed this scene were focused, while those who hadn¡¯t realized it yet hurriedly looked at the images.


    Consort Yu and the others were dumbfounded. What was happening? Their actions and words had all turned into images.


    Qiao Mai leisurely started eating a fruit.


    While waiting for everyone to arrive, Qiao Mai patiently linked all the scenes together. How Consort Yu had bribed the kitchen, then the maids around Jiaru, and how they nned to poison her ¡ª everything was exposed.


    After watching, the emperor looked at Prince Shunqin¡¯s family, who still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock.


    ¡°That poison is hidden in her room¡¯s secretpartment. Send someone to fetch it and make her swallow it. An eye for an eye.¡±


    ¡°Brother, it¡¯s my fault for not disciplining her.¡±


    ¡°Everyone has ambitions. We all came from that time. When there are too


    many women in the backyard, things get chaotic. It¡¯s better to have fewer women.¡±


    The emperor looked at Qiao Mai, who had a cold face, ¡°Inw, what do you think of how I¡¯m handling this?¡±


    ¡°Handle Consort Yu as you said.. As for the others, kill them!¡±

 Chapter 369 - 369: Virtue and Talent

    Chapter 369 - 369: Virtue and Talent


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Even the emperor listens to Qiao Mai. Initially, they thought she was boasting, but now they believe her.


    What kind of person possesses such skills?


    A deity? A Taoist priest? Or maybe¡­ they simultaneously had a thought ¨C could she be a demon?


    But looking at her, it doesn¡¯t seem like it. The Crown Prince sneaked a nce at his mother-inw and met eyes with Qiao Mai. He shuddered.


    Quickly chanting in his mind, he pledged that when Ling¡¯er married him, he would treat her well. He would have no concubines, not with a mother-inw like that.


    Consort Yu was immediately taken away after being forced to drink the poison. The other people were killed on the spot by the guards. The maids and servants trembled with fear and swore never to participate in the struggles of the harem again.


    The concubines of Prince Shunqin all huddled together, behaving obediently.


    Although Wang Jiaru was nothing to be afraid of, she had a formidable sister. At a critical moment, she saved Wang Jiaru¡¯s life and also vented her grievances.


    Look at how domineering and impressive she is. She even dared to take charge of the Prince¡¯s mansion.


    Even the emperor tried to please and tter her. They were in awe. From now on, they would behave meekly for a peaceful life. They were all scared.


    However, those who went through this incident finally understood the mystery.


    There¡¯s no need to guess randomly anymore; they learned that Qiao Mai relied on skills.


    After dealing with Jiaru¡¯s matter, the rest was left for them to negotiate. Qiao Mai rubbed her temples and vanished from the Prince¡¯s mansion.


    The emperor and empress returned to the pce with Eleven. Old Master and Mistress Wang insisted on taking their granddaughter back for recuperation.


    Prince Shunqin could only agree, promising that when Jiaru recovered, they would all go together to wee her back.


    Old Master and Mistress Wang did not respond but took Jiaru back to Lucky Garden. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Mai supporting them, things wouldn¡¯t have been resolved so smoothly.


    Ling¡¯er arrived home on the twenty-eighth, and upon hearing the incident, she was also furious.


    No wonder her mother didn¡¯t allow the Crown Prince to take concubines; having too many women in the house could be life-threatening, not to mention disgusting.


    On the thirtieth night, the pce held a banquet to reward civil and military officials for a year of hard work. Yuan Jiaqi took his family to participate.


    This time, the officials looked at their family with envy, awe, and reverence. Perhaps the incident in Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion had spread.


    What kind of person was Madam Qiao to be able to handle Prince Shunqin¡¯s mansion¡¯s affairs?


    Although they covered up this matter, Consort Yu¡¯s family was ufortable. They lost a legitimate daughter. How could they not resent it?


    So, in court, the family of the Minister of Revenue started making trouble for Yuan Jiaqi.


    Appearingplimentary, they were actually looking for trouble.


    ¡°The emperor has decided to marry Princess Tianshui to the Crown Prince.


    Presumably, Princess Tianshui must be virtuous and talented, right?¡±


    Before Qiao Mai could respond, the empress smiled. ¡°Being virtuous and talented is not enough. My son must also like her. Their hearts are connected, which is why the marriage was bestowed.¡±


    ¡°I wonder if Princess Tianshui can show us her talents. After all, we need to be convinced when she bes the empress.¡±


    Ling¡¯er pursed her lips and looked at her mother. The empress looked at her, and Qiao Mai smirked.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, since everyone wants to see your talents, why not perform for them?¡±


    ¡°Mother, where should I start?¡±


    ¡°Your figure paintings are excellent. Draw a portrait for your future mother-inw.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t bring colored pens.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a rectangr wooden box from her sleeve and another easel with mped paper.


    Ling¡¯er happily walked over, set them up near the empress, and began drawing while sizing up the empress.


    It was silent inside the hall. The emperor, unable to wait, came down to watch behind Ling¡¯er. He nodded continuously while stroking his beard.


    The Crown Prince felt eager. He also wanted to walk over and take a look.


    Half an hourter, Ling¡¯er took down the drawing and handed it to the


    emperor.


    ¡°Please have a look.¡±


    The emperor burst intoughter. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a vivid figure painting. It¡¯s simply lifelike, unlike others that look fake. This one is alive.¡±


    The emperor returned to his throne and handed the painting to the empress, who excitedly looked at it.


    ¡°Oh, what painting style is this? It looks so real.¡±


    After examining it, she passed it to the Crown Prince. Holding it in his hands, Eleven gulped while looking at Ling¡¯er, his affection for her increasing.


    The portrait circted among the courtiers, leaving everyone astonished at the unique painting technique that had never been seen before.


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er took the scroll of paper handed by Qiao Mai, holding a medium-sized brush, and wrote some characters.


    Her writing fully showcased her skill, resembling a person with a lively spirit, creating ripples in the hearts of those who looked at it.


    A young girl who could write such excellent characters must have dedicated considerable effort to practice.


    Having showcased two talents in literature and painting, Ling¡¯er joyfully approached her mother as Qiao Mai held a qin in her hands.


    This qin was renowned from a certain era, bought by Qiao Mai at a high price for her daughter. It had been kept in Ling¡¯er¡¯s bedroom and was now brought out.


    The Crown Prince gazed eagerly at his fianc¨¦e, longing for an immediate wedding so that he could embrace his dazzling wife and savor her fragrance.


    The moment the qin strings resonated, the officials, who had been passing literary and artistic works, fell into silence.


    First, a serene mountain melody purified their minds, followed by the soul-stirring ¡°Ambush from Ten Sides.¡± The officials¡¯ hearts were lifted from thefort of their daily lives to the intensity of a bloody battle, breaking through encirclements.


    While immersed in this excitement, Qiao Mai tossed a pipa to Ling¡¯er.


    Ling¡¯er caught it and swiftly moved to the center of the stage, dancing to a lively rhythm.


    The audience couldn¡¯t help but feel the joy, and some even had the urge to join the dance.


    The emperor and empress had never witnessed such a dance and musicalposition before, making other women in the court envy.


    Whoposed this music? Who choreographed the dance? How is it so magnificent?


    Qiao Mai looked at the foolish onlookers with a disdainful snort. These country bumpkins had wanted to see her daughter make a fool of herself. Now, let them experience and appreciate what real music and dance are!


    Eleven took the portrait and the calligraphy, carefully rolled them up, and immediately sent them to the pce for framing. He wanted to hang them in his room to admire them.


    He broadened his horizons today. With a mother-inw like that, his future wife is undoubtedly exceptional.


    After watching for a while, he suddenly felt inferior. To be honest, he was the Crown Prince thanks to his mother-inw¡¯s influence.


    Without her, his leg wouldn¡¯t have recovered. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t have be the Crown Prince, let alone marry such a good girl. Now, he felt dependent on the support of his mother-inw¡¯s family.


    The stronger the Qiao family, the more he felt insignificant.


    Qiao Mai looked at the Crown Prince, thinking, ¡°What is this kid daydreaming about?¡±


    Withdrawing her gaze, she thought, ¡°I gave you my outstanding daughter. If you dare to treat her slightly badly, I will skin you alive.¡±


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er¡¯s dance concluded, and she was slightly breathless.


    With a protruding belly, Jiamei poured her a ss of fruit juice.


    ¡°Quick, have a drink and take a rest.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sister-inw.¡±


    Ling¡¯er handed the qin to her mother for safekeeping and obediently sat, prompting apuse to echo through the pce.


    ¡°The title of Crown Princess is well-deserved. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Amazing!¡±


    The emperor chuckled. ¡°Yes, the Crown Princess indeed possesses exceptional skills. She not only manages household affairs but also runs the prosperous embroidery shop. She excels in female arts as well. We won¡¯t reward her with anything specific now. After all, the future rests in her and the Crown Prince¡¯s hands. Haha!¡±


    The emperor¡¯s words clearly stated his position: no one should entertain crooked thoughts, as the next heir to the throne is indisputably the Crown


    Prince..

 Chapter 370 - 370: The Crown Prince’s Wedding

    Chapter 370 - 370: The Crown Prince¡¯s Wedding


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    This evening banquet left the courtiers feeling disheartened. Out of the eleven imperial sons, the emperor had eliminated several, leaving only those of questionable character or those suppressed by the emperor.


    Despite the Crown Princess¡¯s exceptional qualities, the emperor explicitly stated that the Crown Prince was allowed only this one woman. How would their days unfold?


    In previous years, Qiao Mai would perform some tricks, but the emperor didn¡¯t mention it this year.


    They were curious in the past, but now, knowing the identity of their inw, would the emperor dare to do anything? The empress also refrained from suggesting. With the impressive performance by Princess Tianshui, the evening banquet concluded.


    Many were unwilling, but there was nothing they could do. The assassins sent were all dead, and although the Qiao family didn¡¯t have military power, they felt mysteriously powerful. Until their background was known, no one dared to act recklessly.


    The emperor¡¯s words kept the officials awake all night.


    How did Eleven gain power? A limping imperial son miraculously recovered and suddenly became the Crown Prince, an unquestionable heir. Could there be no possibility of change?


    As the New Year approached, they all had dark circles under their eyes the next morning.


    Some were so angered that they fell ill. However, Lucky Garden was lively and cheerful, celebrating the New Year happily.


    Since the previous year, they hadn¡¯t visited other families for the New Year; everyone came to their house.


    With their current status and position, no one else had the privilege to receive their New Year¡¯s greetings except for the emperor.


    Qiao Mai had been observing the Crown Prince. Before Ling¡¯er showcased her talents, they had a rtionship characterized by affection and propriety, giving the impression of mutual respect and courtesy.


    However, since witnessing Ling¡¯er¡¯s talents, the Crown Prince had be even more enthusiastic, which made Qiao Mai worry.


    Loving someone meant loving them regardless of their abilities.


    If Ling¡¯er excelled in the arts, would he love her more? What if shecked those talents?


    Well, as long as Ling¡¯er was happy, that was enough. Looking at the Crown Prince¡¯s gaze towards her, Qiao Mai hoped it wouldst a lifetime, not just a moment.


    The porridge distribution continued, and Qiao Mai often went to inspect. From December to February, they hadn¡¯t rested a day. The beggars and poor people in the capital enjoyed great fortune.


    Not only were they full, but their hidden illnesses were also cured due to daily consumption of this porridge.


    At the same time, Qiao Mai also took in three servant girls selected from the beggars.


    These three young girls, aged around eight or nine, had suffered as beggars, always at risk of being bullied by men.


    Seeing their agility, Qiao Mai brought them home and entrusted them to Xi Yu.


    Now, Yuexian Pavilion had four servant girls. They learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting daily and practiced martial arts.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t make heavy demands on unless there were visitors. Otherwise, they were not needed.


    Xi Yu named them Chun Feng, Hua Jiao, and Liu Shui.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t ask much of them, but each had to master at least one skill to stay by her side.


    They knew who Qiao Mai was. To stay by her side, these four individuals were determined to make an effort.


    As long as they were willing to learn, Qiao Mai would provide them with whatever they needed. With such favorable treatment, it would be foolish if they still failed to study diligently.


    As March approached, the Crown Prince¡¯s residence was ready. The emperor sent half of the Golden Dragon Guards to protect the Crown Prince, ensuring nothing went wrong at this critical moment.


    Invitations had been sent to various households, and the Song family received one. One invitation allowed two add-ons. This caused a stir in the Song family.


    With dozens of family members, deciding who to bring became a problem.


    The two masters of the Song family were too old. After much contemtion, they had no choice but to give up this opportunity. The couple from the main house had to go since they were the Crown Prince¡¯s maternal grandparents. That left only one slot.


    The person closest to the Crown Prince was the eldest son of the main house, the Crown Prince¡¯s uncle. The others had no qualifications to attend.


    Thus, only these three could go. If they refused, others wouldn¡¯t be allowed.


    With one invitation for three people, the number was still considerable. The emperor sent the pce chefs to assist. As for the consorts, they had to prepare their own food.


    The emperor adjourned court for a day, leading the empress to the Crown Prince¡¯s residence early to oversee the situation.


    The Chief of the Imperial Household and officials from the Ministry of Rites performed their duties, meticulously arranging all the details. All the ingredients were of the highest quality, with strict inspections ensuring only the best entered the kitchen.


    In Lucky Garden, Ling¡¯er was dressed in the most beautiful wedding gown.


    The bridal gown, from the fabric to the embroidery thread to the various gemstones adorning it, was meticulously selected by Qiao Mai from the finest offerings on the tform.


    Apanied by several skilled embroiderers, Nanny Jin spent nearly a year crafting this masterpiece. When worn by Ling¡¯er, the dress was dazzling.


    In the whole room, the radiance from this wedding gown was so bright. Those who came to send her off were only a few close families.


    Old Mistress Wang, Madam Wang, Princess Mu, Miss Xiao, Jiamei, and Ruyi were all in her room, smiling happily.


    When Ling¡¯er got married, Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia would apany her. With them taking care of her, Qiao Mai was reassured.


    In the living room, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi were seated at the main table while Old Master Wang sat at the lower end.


    From the courtyard gate to the living room, it was filled with flowers, primarily red peonies. Qiao Mai thought about using roses, symbolizing love, but considering the local customs, she went for peonies.


    Red flowers, red carpet, red auspicious words, rednterns, red candles, and red auspicious bands¡ªeverywhere were exceptionally festive.


    Ordinary mothers might wipe away a tear or two. However, Qiao Mai¡¯s face was as radiant as a flower.


    Her daughter found her home, and blessing and joy for them were more important. This was a joyful event; why cry?


    She should smile. Her son married a princess, and her daughter married the Crown Prince. People think they had the best marriages. What was there to be dissatisfied with?


    The auspicious time was approaching. The Crown Prince, dressed in festive attire, arrived with a considerable entourage at Lucky Garden.


    Qiao Mai instructed her servants to set up three quizzes for him. Only those who could break through all three could enter and escort Ling¡¯er.


    The talented Crown Prince broke through all three barriers and entered the residence. After weing Ling¡¯er, they came to the front hall to bow to their parents.


    Yuan Jiaqi wished Ling¡¯er to educate her future children well and bear many children for the Crown Prince.


    Qiao Mai said confidently, ¡°Go and be a good Crown Princess. If you¡¯re ever mistreated,e back home. This will always be your home, and I will always be your support!¡±


    These words almost brought tears to Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes. The Crown Prince carried her on his back and sent her to the bridal sedan.


    Qiao Mai watched them leave Lucky Garden and walked to the courtyard with her hands behind her back. ¡°Sheep, Squirrel, ckie, escort the young mistress.


    The three animals shot up to the roof and quietly apanied them along the way.


    Following the bridal sedan, the dowry items were brought out one after another from Lucky Garden. It left themoners in awe and astonishment.


    The wedding, presided over by the emperor and empress, was a grand affair. The military alone involved thousands of personnel, making the ceremony luxurious and understated.


    It took until the afternoon to transport everything to the Crown Prince¡¯s residence.


    Especially noteworthy were the two steeds at the rear, apanied by two luxurious carriages and a majestic me lion. This spectacle left themoners astonished and awestruck.


    The dowry was deemed invaluable with a single lion.


    With such a guardian, even petty criminals would think twice, let alone foreign


    invaders.


    This dowry surpassed the wealth of the national treasury. In front of all the court officials, the emperor officially designated me as the guardian beast of the nation.


    After witnessing the me lion, the restless hearts of the court officials all quieted down..

 Chapter 371 - 371: Retiring In The Palace

    Chapter 371 - 371: Retiring In The Pce


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    As the Crown Prince¡¯s residence buzzed with excitement, a lively celebration was also underway in Lucky Garden.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Jiamei suddenly felt pain in her abdomen.


    Concerned, Chuan¡¯er carried Jiamei back to the Haichuan Pavilion, followed closely by Qiao Mai and others.


    The steward quickly arranged for a midwife while Qiao Mai directed the maids to prepare the birthing chamber.


    After examining Jiamei¡¯s pulse and belly, Qiao Mai reassured everyone that the baby was positioned well and not too chubby. A normal delivery was expected.


    Half an hourter, the midwife arrived. Qiao Mai stayed inside, sitting by Jiamei¡¯s side. She held her hand, exining what to pay attention to during childbirth.


    Jiamei, who had been pampered since childhood, found the pain unbearable. She cried and shouted but nodded along as she listened to the midwife¡¯s instructions.


    It¡¯s needless to say how much sympathy andpassion it evoked from everyone.


    Qiao Mai sighed. Even if an Immortal gave birth, such challenges were inevitable. No one could rece her in these moments.


    After two hours, the cries of a newborn echoed through the room. Jiamei had given birth to a son for the Qiao family. A quarter of an hourter, she gave birth to a second son.


    Qiao Mai cradled both infants and gently ced them in the prepared cribs.


    ¡°Jiamei, you¡¯ve given birth to two sons for the Qiao family. Thank you for your hard work.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡±


    Approaching the bed, Qiao Mai gently touched Jiamei¡¯s forehead and gave her a pill.


    ¡°Rest well and take a nap. I¡¯ve had some nourishing soup prepared. Have someter.¡±


    Jiamei smiled obediently, ¡°Yes, Mother.¡±


    After the midwife finished her work, Qiao Mai handed her a silver note. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. Join the celebration upfrontter and have a cup of congrattory wine. ¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao.¡±


    With the midwife gone, only Jiamei¡¯s maid remained in the room. Qiao Mai got up and went outside.


    Seeing the people looking at her, she said, ¡°She had twin boys. Let¡¯s all go for the celebration. It¡¯s a bit chilly. I won¡¯t bring the babies out.¡±


    ¡°Congrattions on the double joy! You¡¯ve secured the future of the Qiao family.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate together. No one is allowed to leave until we¡¯re all drunk.¡±


    The emperor and empress heard the news and immediately rushed to Lucky Garden after the banquet. They didn¡¯t mind the bloodiness of the birthing chamber; their focus was on Jiamei and the newborns.


    The more they looked at the two boys, the happier they became. The emperor conferred titles on the newborns, making them county princes.


    The titles would be decidedter when they were named, but for now, it was a verbal promise, a gift to the children upon their first meeting.


    On the first day of March, Lucky Garden weed double happiness¡ª marriage and grandchildren.


    The royal family was no exception, celebrating their daughter¡¯s marriage and weing grandchildren simultaneously.


    That night, Yuan Jiaqi performed his task as the children¡¯s grandfather, naming them Yuan Beichen and Qiao Tianxue. These names were inspired by the North.


    Yuan Jiaqi breathed a sigh of relief when Qiao Mai didn¡¯t object to one of the children retaining his surname.


    In theory, Chuan¡¯er should have adopted the Qiao surname, but Qiao Mai didn¡¯t object and insisted that he keep the Yuan surname. Now, with the arrival of two sons, it was right for them to bear the Qiao surname.


    For Qiao Mai, it didn¡¯t matter. The children were not of her bloodline, and she wasn¡¯t particrly attached to a surname.


    The only one who shared her bloodline had married someone else, a fact unknown to anyone unless she revealed it.


    After choosing suitable names, the emperor issued a promation, conferring the title of County Prince Chen to one son and County Prince Xue to the other, following the hereditary system.


    It has to be said that the emperor¡¯s decree is special only for the Qiao family.


    The return-home celebration for Ling¡¯er and the Crown Prince was grand, with several carriages filled with gifts, part of which were presented to Jiamei and her children. The other part served as a tribute to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi.


    The celebration at Qiao Mai¡¯s residence was lively. The Crown Prince informed his inws that he and Ling¡¯er would soon reside in the Eastern Pce within the pce grounds.


    As the Crown Prince would be handling state affairs, the Crown Princess would apany him, and they could freely move between the Eastern Pce and the Crown Prince¡¯s residence.


    Meanwhile, the old emperor was paving the way for the Crown Prince. He relocated the pce¡¯s consorts with sons to their son¡¯s estate.


    These arrangements, which were supposed to be carried out after his retirement and the Crown Prince¡¯s ascension, were expedited due to his impatience.


    Feeling that there were too many women in his harem, he decided to send them away while he was still around.


    Consorts from the cold pce were dispatched to a convent, while those without children could leave the pce if they wished, receiving a sum of silver to support their retirement.


    Those who preferred to stay in the pce for their retirement would experience a reduction in their daily provisions.


    Additionally, a batch of older pce maids were also given their freedom. As a result, the pce became less crowded, and many buildings were left vacant.


    On the other hand, the empress took azy approach and handed over the management of the rear pce to Ling¡¯er.


    With the pce now consisting only of Ling¡¯er and her, there was no longer anypetition among women for favor. Following the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, the emperor distanced himself from intimate rtions with the consorts.


    During her free moments, the empress would often sigh, expressing her sentiments. Although she only had a daughter, she seemed more aplished than the other consort¡¯s sons.


    While the sons had to contend andpete, her daughter married into a good family, securing her position and gaining exclusive favor.


    She obtained a son who ascended to the position of Crown Prince and married a capable daughter-inw from a prominent family. The empress found herself in a worry-free state. She enjoyed the luxury of learning about health and longevity alongside the emperor. Life couldn¡¯t be more beautiful for her.


    As the days passed, the weather warmed up, and Jiamei soon recovered from her postpartum period. Whenever she had free time, she would bring the children to Yuexian Pavilion to chat with her mother-inw.


    With the emperor arranging the pce affairs, he handed over all state matters to the Crown Prince. He spent most of his time leisurely, often visiting Lucky Garden to enjoy family time, asionally staying for a few days.


    During these visits, he even learned about proper health practices from Qiao Mai.


    Qiao Mai taught the emperor and empress a set of martial arts. Every morning, they would practice the routine before engaging in other activities.


    They led disciplined lives. The emperor realized that aside from the food, his health improved significantly during the days spent in Lucky Gardenpared to the pce.


    As their stay in Lucky Garden became longer, the emperor and empress grew reluctant to leave. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t chase them away.


    Anyway, there were plenty of rooms, so they could stay as long as they liked.


    During their free time, they would gather to discuss tea culture. Not having delved much into this realm, Qiao Mai sought guidance from tea masters.


    Seeing that the rainy season was approaching, the emperor grew concerned about the canals dug in previous years.


    ¡°Inw, the rainy season is approaching. I¡¯m worried about the people in the south. How about we let Jiaqi take a long vacation, and we travel south


    together for an inspection tour?¡±


    ¡°Do you trust him to handle state affairs alone?¡±


    ¡°The pce has the guardian beast, and you have sheep and squirrel here.


    There shouldn¡¯t be any problems in the capital, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    ¡°In that case, what are we waiting for? Although I am the sovereign of this country, I haven¡¯t traveled around my territory. Let¡¯s take this opportunity to explore. Besides, Rui¡¯er hasn¡¯t been outside much. Shall we?¡±


    The emperor looked at Qiao Mai with hopeful eyes. ¡°Are you afraid to travel alone?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, with you around, I feel at ease even without guards.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then we won¡¯t bring guards?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t do. We need someone to attend to us. I¡¯m used to it. You can¡¯t let me cook and make a fire in the wilderness. I¡¯m not as young as you.¡± ¡°Without exercising, you¡¯ll have bad health.¡±


    ¡°The empress can bring two, and I¡¯ll bring two. What about you and Jiaqi? ¡°We won¡¯t bring any. We can do anything ourselves.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s settled then. We¡¯ll head south in three days. Afterward, we can explore the North by water. I¡¯ve never seen snow.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    Qiao Mai relented to the emperor, who insisted on including her in his ns. However, she also wanted to go out and rx, and it was a good opportunity to travel with her husband, touring the vast Ming Dynasty. Afterward, she would go into seclusion.


    She had no intention of staying in the capital and preferred to return to


    Tianshui Town..

 Chapter 372 - 372: I Want To Resign!

    Chapter 372 - 372: I Want To Resign!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi finished his official duties and returned home. Upon hearing about it, he was pretty happy.


    However, when he learns that Qiao Mai is going to Tianshui Town for seclusion, his mood sours, and he goes to meet the emperor.


    ¡°Your Majesty, I want to resign!¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re so young. Why resign?¡¯


    ¡°I want to apany my wife to Tianshui Town for seclusion.¡±


    ¡°What about the Ministry of Personnel?¡±


    ¡°Leave it to my son, Your Majesty. All my official duties will be handed over to my son. I can¡¯t be separated from my wife. Wherever she goes, I go.¡± ¡°You are a ve to your wife. If she goes into seclusion, what will you do?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty can say whatever you want. In any case, I want to be with my wife. If she is in seclusion, I¡¯ll be outside guarding her. This way, I can be at ease.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not even forty yet. It¡¯s a pity!¡±


    ¡°My son can serve the court. Besides, I¡¯ve been away from my hometown for many years. I miss it. Let the children stay here. Without us old folks, the children will have an easier time.¡±


    ¡°Fine. In the next three days, make the handover with your son as soon as possible.¡±


    Qiao Mai had advised them to travel light, but the emperor and empress surprisingly brought a lot of luggage when they set out. In addition to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi, they ended up loading an entire carriage with belongings.


    She had nned for just three carriages, but in the end, they needed five. In a spontaneous decision, Qiao Mai also decided to take four little maids on the journey.


    She could take the time to guide and train her maids. She nned to return to Tianshui Town and settle them there.


    Back at home, she had everything arranged. Chuan¡¯er officially took over Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s position. Early in the morning, the youngsters bid them farewell.


    There were five carriages ¨C two for the servants, two for the masters, one for luggage, and twenty inclothes guards. Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but feel a headache looking at thisrge group.


    She wished it could have been just her and her husband, each riding a horse, making the journey simple and enjoyable.


    However, since the emperor suggested an entourage, she epted it.


    The emperor and empress insisted on joining them in one carriage, iming it would be more interesting and less boring.


    The journey would take about a year. Ling¡¯er leaned against the Crown Prince while Chuan¡¯er hugged Jiamei¡¯s shoulders. The four stood at the entrance of Lucky Garden.


    Ling¡¯er pointed with excitement. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that mother¡¯s pet on the roof? How did it get up there?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. I heard it was involved in the heart-robbing case.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡±


    ¡°ckie! ¡± ¡°Wow. Mother¡¯s pet must be impressive, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    The convoy left the south gate of the capital and proceeded on the official road.


    This matter was not kept secret; the court officials andmoners knew


    about it.


    Some even followed the convoy to the city gates to bid them farewell.


    In the past, when the emperor traveled, his whereabouts were concealed. Now, he was boldly traveling with his inw and wanted the whole world to know.


    Who would dare to rob him? Unless they wanted to die, not to mention a few petty assassins¡ª Even a formidable army wouldn¡¯t make the emperor bat an eye.


    Traveling on the official road, the emperor and empress were in high spirits. ¡°Inw, having you apany me on this journey is my good fortune. I rely on you all the way.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you will provide the silver in return.¡±


    ¡°Of course.


    Yubao rode outside the carriage on a horse, feeling awkward. He was the emperor¡¯s financial minister, and all the money passed through him.


    This time, he carried no less than a hundred thousand taels of silver. He thought it should be enough for the journey.


    He couldn¡¯t help but touch the silver notes in his chest. A hundred thousand taels? It seemed enough, but not even a million taels might be sufficient if they encountered something valuable.


    Well, with Qiao Mai around, she was a wealthy woman. If they ran out of money, they could use hers.


    Inside the carriage, the four people satfortably. There was a movable table, and they faced each other in pairs.


    The empress pursed her lips and looked at Qiao Mai, saying, ¡°This carriage is stable. Is there something missing on this table?¡±


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    ¡°Give them a cup of beer? And ice cream for each of us?¡±


    At the mention of ice cream, the emperor became spirited, eagerly awaiting. Qiao Mai reached under the chair and pulled out a bucket of beer.


    She poured four sses, tossed in four ice sticks, and conjured four boxes of ice cream and arge bowl of sliced sausage.


    ¡°Come on. Eat and drink. I have everything you might want.¡±


    The emperor eagerly took a sip from his cup. Outside, Yubao listened, swallowing his saliva. He also wanted to drink!


    Yuan Jiaqi and the emperor clinked their sses. ¡°Don¡¯t drink too much, or you won¡¯t find a restroom on the road.


    This nearly made the emperor spray out his drink. He red at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°You¡¯re stirring up trouble. We men stand to handle that. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re women, unable to solve the issue anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    The guards outside almost burst intoughter. Qiao Mai and the empress clinked sses.


    ¡°Women can drink this wine. It¡¯s quite hot today. Let¡¯s have some. The dizzy feeling is quite nice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with my inw¡¯s suggestion.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip and looked out the window, saying loudly, ¡°When we find a ce to rest tonight, I¡¯ll arrange for a few barrels for all of you to try.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Madam Qiao.¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t let them drink alcohol, Qiao Mai handed a basket of fruits out of the window for them to share.


    Her gifts were all of high quality, and every guard received a share. The remaining items were given to the servants in the rear carriage.


    Just as they left the capital, the emperor started boasting and talking loudly in the carriage.


    Before reaching a hundred miles, the sky began to drizzle. They found a ce in a nearby town to settle for the night.


    It was also lunchtime, so Qiao Mai had the guards and servants eat. The four of them were full from drinking and didn¡¯t feel hungry.


    The empress got a bit tipsy and fell asleep as soon as shey down. The emperor had no choice but to rest beside her.


    Qiao Mai had ckie guard them while she and her husband went outside after leaving the inn.


    Yuan Jiaqi hugged her shoulder, and the two walked with an umbre in the small town, where there were few pedestrians. ¡°Wife, this town is close to the capital, not much of a feature.¡±


    ¡°Who said there¡¯s nothing? Look over there!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi raised his eyes and looked ahead, then furrowed his brows. ¡°Sending a child out to set up a stall in the rain? Can these things be sold?¡± ¡°Who said they can¡¯t? Come on, let¡¯s go and buy some.¡±


    The two approached the stall. A little girl, around seven or eight years old, was selling shiny purple-ck fruits.


    They resembled grapes but were single fruits instead of clusters.


    Seeing customers, the little girl smiled sweetly at them.


    ¡°Do you want to buy some fruits?¡±


    Qiao Mai pointed at the fruits. ¡°What are these?¡±


    The little girl shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I picked them up from a tree in the mountains. They¡¯re not poisonous; I¡¯ve tasted them. They¡¯re sweet with a bit of sourness.¡±


    Saying so, the little girl picked up a fruit and offered it to them for a taste. Qiao Mai looked at her hand but didn¡¯t ept the fruit.


    The little girl felt embarrassed and said, ¡°I did wash my hands, but because of the work, they couldn¡¯t get clean. It¡¯s just how it is. Please don¡¯t mind.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded, took the fruit from her, and put it in her mouth, nodding in approval.


    ¡°How much for a kilogram?¡±


    ¡°Five copper coins per kilogram.¡±


    ¡°How much do you usually sell?¡±


    ¡°This is my first time selling. I picked them early to ensure freshness, fearing they might not stay fresh for long. That¡¯s why I came out to sell in the rain.¡±


    ¡°Well, how many kilograms are in this basket?¡±


    ¡°About twenty.¡±


    ¡°Can I buy the whole basket?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re buying it all?¡± The little girl looked at them happily, her lips curving up.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re traveling merchants with many mouths to feed.¡±


    ¡°In that case, you can have the basket for free. That¡¯ll be one hundred copper coins.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and handed over a silver coin. The little girl took it and stuffed it into her bosom.


    ¡°Do you have anyone else at home? Why are you setting up the stall by yourself?¡± ¡°I have a grandma at home. She¡¯s old and inconvenient to move around.¡±


    ¡°No one else?¡±

 Chapter 373 - 373: This Dog Is Agile

    Chapter 373: This Dog Is Agile


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi carried the basket. Qiao Mai gently patted the little girl¡¯s head, smiled, and then turned around and went back to the inn with her husband. Using arge basin, Qiao Mai picked out the good fruits, cleaned them, and the two sat face to face eating.


    ¡°Poor children be mature early. These fruits are quite good.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to adopt her?¡±


    ¡°No. What about her grandmother at home if we do that?¡±


    ¡°I thought my wife had softened her heart.¡¯


    ¡°I like hardworking, kind, and simple kids. I¡¯m willing to give them some luck.¡± Yuan Jiaqi was taken aback, recalling her pat on the little girl¡¯s head just now. ¡°I see.¡±


    As evening fell, the rain continued, but the emperor and empress took a nap and were in good spirits. Qiao Mai shared the fruits with them, and the rest went to the guards and servants.


    It rained all night and cleared by dawn.


    As they traveled south, the climate became hotter and more humid.


    Fortunately, the carriages were dry, and Qiao Mai used symbols to keep themfortable.


    Only the horse-riding guards experienced the damp heat, but they didn¡¯t utter a word ofint.


    To understand the local situation, the group didn¡¯t travel directly south. Instead, they took a southwestern route, nning to travel by water to the north and then circle back to the capital by May or June.


    The entourage moved slowly, stopping in each city to enjoy local delicacies and chat with the people.


    Arriving at a town, they would explore nearby scenic spots indicated on the map.


    Whenever they encountered beautiful ces, they would set up camp there. With Qiao Mai¡¯s guidance, theycked nothing.


    Sometimes, they would fish. The emperor, now enjoying his life, got hooked on fishing. Yuan Jiaqi joined him.


    Qiao Mai and the empress, along with their people, cooked and rested, turning the caught fish into delicious meals.


    On the carriage roof, ckie was ignored. It didn¡¯t fancy the uninspiring food without spiritual energy.


    Observing humans enjoy their meals, it couldn¡¯t help but salivate, attracting everyone¡¯s attention.


    At this moment, everyone just noticed that Qiao Mai came out with her pet.


    Not only that, Dong Zhao and Dracaena also approached. Qiao Mai conjured spirit grass from her space for the two horses. She felt a bit of a headache with ckie.


    What does this arrogant creature want to eat? Everyone was watching ckie.


    ¡°Want some grilled fish?¡±


    ¡°Master, let me catch one myself. Can you grill it for me?¡±


    ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡±


    ckie swiftly plunged into the river and vanished. Watching from above, everyone was eagerly waiting.


    In just two minutes, a ck figure emerged from the water, holding a fish almost its size. Qiao Mai¡¯s face turned dark.


    Damn, this big? Does it want to get stuffed full?


    Two guards hurried over. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of the fish.¡±


    A fish weighing around ten kilograms was dealt with by the guards. Qiao Mai reluctantly got up and grilled the fish on a charcoal basin while seasoning it.


    Given ckie¡¯s level, Qiao Mai sprinkled seasonings with spiritual energy.


    The aroma filled the air, making ckie salivate. Other people couldn¡¯t help but drool.


    Protective of its meal, ckie red at the humans, showing its teeth to warn them not to covet its food.


    Holding a te, Yuan Jiaqi fed his wife, ncing at ckie with a hint of reproach. How could they serve the pet while it neglected its master?


    After half an hour, ckie picked up its food, leaped onto the carriage roof, and started eating. Everyone was amazed at its agility.


    This dog is agile and adaptable, even more so than a cat.


    Should they try to get closer to this dog? Rely on it for hunting rabbits?


    Ten days after leaving the capital, they needed to take to the water. The roads were unsuitable, requiring them to navigate a series of formidable mountains.


    After consulting with the emperor, Yubao began arranging boats. Five carriages disappeared into Qiao Mai¡¯s space one night. She didn¡¯t say anything, and no one dared to ask.


    Leaving only necessary luggage outside, everyone rested for the night. The next day, they went to the pier, rented two boats, and set off for Liangzhou City.


    The journey by boat would take more than ten days, but no one on the team suffered from seasickness. The rented boats wererge and stable.


    The four sat at the bow, looking at the mountains and rivers. The mood was rxing, and they had encountered no unpleasant incidents.


    It is peaceful and prosperous, with fewer thugs and hooligans around. The local officials seem to be working for the well-being of the people. They operate under the guise of a merchant caravan and do not disturb the local authorities.


    The emperor bragged, ¡°How is it? How does my empire look?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid people have heard about your incognito visits, and they are keeping a low profile.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible? I dispatched the Golden Dragon Guards, sweeping from the south to the north, dealing with many people.¡±


    ¡°How many cities have you visited? We are just starting to enjoy ourselves.¡± ¡°Inw, I¡¯m not boasting, but there are not many wise rulers like me.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see indeed.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved to the boat captain, and a tall, sturdy man approached.


    ¡°Zhuang Tie greets everyone.¡±


    ¡°Captain Zhuang, the long journey can be boring. Can you tell us some interesting stories about Liangzhou?¡±


    Zhuang Tie sat down without hesitation. Yuan Jiaqi poured him a cup of tea, and he took a sip.


    ¡°Good tea! I wonder what you all want to hear?¡±


    ¡°We are in the business and would like to know if there are any local bullies in Liangzhou. It¡¯s good to be prepared.¡±


    ¡°Bullies? Every industry has its power on the docks; we, ship-runners, have to pay protection fees regrly. There are bullies on the streets. Doing business with them requires paying protection fees. As long as you don¡¯t provoke them, it¡¯s fine. They won¡¯t push you to the limit.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the same in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Throughout history, officials protect each other, and the fees collected by bullies are handed over to the government. The emperor sent people to clean up once, but it didn¡¯t work. The old ones disappeared, but new ones emerged.


    Bullies can never be eliminated.¡±


    Qiao Mai grinned and nced at the awkward emperor.


    ¡°If we go to Liangzhou, what should we be cautious about?¡±


    ¡°After arriving, inquire about the situation before making any decisions. Don¡¯t act recklessly. Be careful not to offend the wrong people or enter the wrong territory. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to pack up and leave.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded and continued, ¡°Do you know the preferences of the magistrate of Liangzhou?¡±


    ¡°That guy¡­¡± Zhuang Tie looked at them thoughtfully.


    Yuan Jiaqi took out a silver ingot from his sleeve. ¡°Just tell us. We don¡¯t want to take the wrong path.¡±


    Zhuang Tie pocketed the silver with a smile. ¡°That guy appears noble, but in reality, he has one wife and eight concubines, all beautiful. I heard he has connections in the capital, and his wife is rted to the royal family. He likes money and women but never goes to the brothels. All his concubines are daughters of wealthy merchants.¡±


    ¡°All local merchants?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Liangzhou City is his domain. He is the local emperor there, and even officials from the capital have to be cautious.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi handed over another ten taels of silver. ¡°Thanks for the information,


    Captain. ¡±


    Zhuang Tie took the silver, finished his tea in one gulp, stood up, and looked deeply at the four before walking away.


    The emperor pursed his lips, frowned, and coldly snorted.


    ¡°If what he said is true, I will uproot that guy even if he has influential connections. ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get worked up. Let¡¯s see how things unfold. Come, have some tea to calm your nerves.¡±


    The emperor sighed. ¡°Sometimes, people are two-faced. I¡¯m not a deity..


    Inw, once we¡¯re in Liangzhou, don¡¯t just stand by and watch, okay?¡±

 Chapter 374 - 374: These Shoes Are Good

    Chapter 374: These Shoes Are Good


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai remained silent, looking at the distant mountains and rivers. The empress rarely came out. She had her maid bring her qin from the ship¡¯s hold.


    In such beautiful scenery, how could there be no music?


    Qiao Mai closed her eyes, listening intently. The empress¡¯s qin skills were excellent; she must have practiced a lot.


    No one spoke; they all listened quietly.


    After a while, the empress finished ying. Qiao Mai was the first to apud.


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    ¡°Inw, can you y as well?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m a rough person. Knowing martial arts is good enough for me. Other than that, I¡¯m good at farming and business, not much else.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯splement each other. What I don¡¯t know, you do, and vice versa.¡±


    Qiao Mai had a good impression of her inws. She was gentle and not imposing, and her words always touched people¡¯s hearts, making them feelfortable and friendly.


    Seeing a fine line at the corner of the empress¡¯s eyes, Qiao Mai took out an exquisitely crafted jade box.


    ¡°After washing up in the morning, apply a little on your face. Look, you already have some wrinkles.¡±


    The empress immediately put down the qin and took the jade box. A pleasant fragrance filled the air.


    ¡®¡±I¡¯ms scent IS lovely. IS It a moisturizer C¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Can I try it now?¡±


    Women naturally couldn¡¯t resist beauty. Upon hearing that it could reduce wrinkles, she couldn¡¯t wait to try it.


    After a short time in the cabin, she came out. ¡°Inw, this moisturizer works. I¡¯ve noticed my wrinkles have lightened.¡±


    ¡°It works better with regr use.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, inw. You¡¯re kind.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi red at the empress as if saying, ¡°Of course, my wife is good. There¡¯s no need for you to say it.¡±


    During the journey, the empress behaved like a child. Qiao Mai often fed them in various ways. In over ten days, they gained some weight.


    When they reached the Liangzhou border and disembarked, their steps felt light, as if walking on cotton.


    Qiao Mai found a secluded ce and released the carriages. The group rode the carriage from the dock to Liangzhou.


    ¡°Looking at the locals, it seems they haven¡¯t been persecuted,¡± Yuan Jiaqi remarked.


    The emperor snorted. ¡°Smart corrupt officials quietly embezzle silver without attracting attention.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean the magistrate of Liangzhou is smart?¡±


    ¡°Probably. If the people here wereining, his career would be over. My


    Golden Dragon Guards wouldn¡¯t let him off.¡±


    ¡°Officials rarely refrain from corruption. After all, how can the official sry from the court make arge family prosperous?¡±


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t stopped them from doing business. Their women all own numerous shops and properties. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    ¡°Increase taxes, send gifts; nonees without cost.¡±


    The emperor sighed, ¡°It¡¯s hard to eliminate situations like this. As long as they don¡¯t openly oppose me and my Golden Dragon Guards don¡¯t find out, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    As they spoke, the carriage entered Liangzhou City.


    ¡°Liangzhou is still prosperous.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re approaching the West Gate. With visits from four countries and no wars, I¡¯ve opened up border trade. All foreign goods must pass through Liangzhou. Sometimes, goods from other countries are sold out once they arrive here, grabbed by local merchants to resell to the inner regions.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded. ¡°I assume there are many teahouses, brothels, and gambling dens here?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Brothels are the origin of spreading diseases, and gambling dens are a malicious source of harm to the people. If both are banned, I believe the lives of themoners would be better.¡±


    ¡°Openly or covertly, even members of the royal family operate brothels. How can they be banned?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, both are lucrative businesses.¡± ¡°How long will we stay here?¡±


    ¡°Is half a month okay?¡±


    All three looked at Qiao Mai, and she chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll follow your arrangements. At most, I¡¯m here to keep youpany.¡±


    The carriage stopped at thergest inn in Liangzhou. Yubao had booked all the top-tier rooms, a whole floor, showing grand generosity.


    Thismotion soon caught the attention of someone with a vested interest¡ª the magistrate of Liangzhou, Magistrate Wu.


    This inn belonged to his family. As soon as a wealthy or high-ranking guest arrived, he would be the first to know.


    ¡°Sir, they¡¯ve booked the entire top floor of the inn. It¡¯s fifty taels per room a day, and there are twenty rooms. They n to stay for half a month.¡±


    ¡°Who are they?¡± The magistrate asked, stroking his beard, looking at the chessboard in thought.


    ¡°There are two couples, one younger and one older. Twenty guards and a few maids are with them.¡±


    The magistrate¡¯s eyes rolled. ¡°Keep an eye on them. If they¡¯re just here for sightseeing, let it be. If they¡¯re here for business, report it immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s group was unaware they had been targeted as soon as they entered Liangzhou.


    After drifting on the ship for over ten days, they were too exhausted upon reaching the inn and didn¡¯t even bother with dinner, opting for a good night¡¯s sleep.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t bothered, but the three others were tired. Although they could sleep on the ship, the space was small, and the beds were ufortable.


    The guards they brought took turns on duty. The entrance to the third floor was guarded so well that not even a mosquito could get in.


    By nightfall, a thunderstorm broke out with strong winds and heavy rain. The window shutters were almost blown off.


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, casting a barrier over the third floor, and everyone finally settled down.


    Before dawn, they couldn¡¯t sleep. They sat by the window, watching the rain.


    Although ancient cities weren¡¯t as advanced as modern ones, they still had drainage channels. The umted water below almost flooded the shops, but they could see the flow direction.


    Some naughty children, unable to sleep in the hot weather, came out to y in the water. The carriage passed by them, sshing them with water.


    Laughter and curses echoed, creating a lively atmosphere.


    The servants went out to fetch food and set up a table for the masters, then


    lei L.


    The emperor and empress rarely ate alone; they liked to be with Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi, avoiding the need for Yubao to taste the food first and eating with peace of mind.


    ¡°It seems we won¡¯t be able to go out today. The rain hasn¡¯t stopped yet.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait until it stops.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯ll be stuffy.¡±


    ¡°Then return and deal with the paperwork.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, only you would dare say that to me.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi ignored him and focused on their meal. ¡°Inw, what do you think if I deal with this magistrate?¡± ¡°Taking action with these guards isn¡¯t advisable; we might lose.¡±


    ¡°What if our inw takes action?¡±


    ¡°No need to rush. Let¡¯s observe first. Once I have enough evidence, dealing with him will be easy. We¡¯re here for half a month; we can gather enough evidence of his wrongdoings.¡±


    ¡°This guy is too cunning. We might be under surveince if we act like this.¡± ¡°Did he see you, the emperor?¡±


    ¡°As a fourth-ranked official, he naturally has the chance to enter the pce and meet me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t keep saying that. People will know who you are. Change the way you address yourself.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m used to it.¡±


    Qiao Mai finished eating, and Yuan Jiaqi was almost done. He brewed a pot of tea for her, and the emperor watched with envy. Women always served him; he had never served a woman.


    But if his woman is as powerful as Qiao Mai, he would dly serve her as an emperor.


    The four of them drank tea, waiting for the rain to stop. At noon, it finally ceased, and the umted water outside also subsided.


    However, there was still water on the ground. The emperor couldn¡¯t sit still and insisted on going out. Qiao Mai had to buy several pairs of rain boots for them.


    After putting on the boots, the emperor happily sshed around in the water, then took off the boots to inspect his feet.


    ¡°Haha, not a drop of water. These boots are excellent.¡±


    Qiao Mai paid him no attention. If he hadn¡¯t insisted on going out, would she have to deal with this annoying behavior?


    Yubao was also thrilled. He usually stayed by the emperor¡¯s side when going out and didn¡¯t bring any maids. With Qiao Mai present, it was extremely safe.


    The five of them, wearing rain boots, left the inn. With the boots on, they walked confidently.


    The empress was also excited. Qiao Mai picked a pair of blue rain boots for her, which she loved very much. She walked while looking down.


    The two of them walked hand in hand, followed by three men.


    ¡°Shall we have lunch first?¡±


    ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s not eat anything time-consuming. We can try some local specialties and then stroll around after eating..¡±

 Chapter 375 - 375: What Are We Afraid Of?

    Chapter 375: What Are We Afraid Of?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai pointed out, ¡°There¡¯s a noodle shop over there, and it looks like quite a few people. Let¡¯s go there to eat.¡±


    ¡°Wow, seafood noodles?¡±


    ¡°It should be delicious.¡¯


    The group entered the noodle shop. It was almost fully upied inside. Despite being called a noodle shop, they also sold cold dishes.


    The group quickly grabbed a table, and the waiter came over immediately.


    ¡°Dear customers, our shop only sells seafood noodles. The small bowl costs fifty coins, and therge bowl costs one hundred. The braised sauce is made from crab meat and crab roe. For cold dishes, we have shredded jellyfish, spicy marinated raw ms, fresh pickled prawns, and cold shredded kelp. Shredded kelp is twenty coins per te while the others are fifty coins.¡±


    ¡°The prices aren¡¯t cheap.¡±


    ¡°You get what you pay for; otherwise, why would we have so many repeat customers?¡±


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s have two small noodles, threerge bowls, and one te of each cold dish. We¡¯ll try a bit of everything.¡±


    ¡°Altogether, it¡¯s five silver and seventy coins.¡±


    Yubao threw a couple of silver coins to the waiter. ¡°The rest is your tip.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, customers.¡±


    The waiter took the silver and went to the counter. The cold dishes were quickly served.


    The emperor gestured towards Qiao Mai, ¡°Wine, where¡¯s the wine?¡±


    Qiao Mai reached under the table and conjured up a jug. The waiter, understanding the situation, brought out wine cups.


    Yubao filled the cups for them and also poured one for himself.


    The emperor took a bite of the dish. ¡°Not bad. The taste is good. Everyone, give ita try.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi quickly picked up a bite for Qiao Mai, but she stopped him.


    ¡°You also eat.¡±


    The empress looked jealous. When the emperor noticed, he picked up a bite for her.


    ¡°Eat. Just try the cold dishes from the sea. Don¡¯t stuff yourself, or you might have stomach troubles if you¡¯re not used to it.¡±


    As they chatted, the noodles were served on the table.


    They mixed the noodles and took a bite. ¡°Mmm, it¡¯s good. This taste is so delicious; let¡¯s have this for lunch tomorrow!¡±


    Looking from the counter, the innkeeper smiled proudly at the emperor¡¯s table.


    It was evident that they were outsiders. Opening a restaurant was not only about making money but also about enjoying thepliments from customers about their food.


    The more they did this, the more passionate they became.


    However, the innkeeper felt eager, smelling the wine. He yearned so much that he couldn¡¯t help but gulp, looking at their table.


    Qiao Mai nudged Yubao, ¡°Pour a cup for the innkeeper at the counter; his mouth is watering.¡±


    Yubao grinned.


    ¡°Madam Qiao, who in this hall is not salivating?


    Qiao Mai then realized that all the customers, while eating noodles, were ncing over at their table, eyes fixed on the jug.


    ¡°There is too little supply; let¡¯s give the innkeeper a bowl and forget the others.¡±


    Yubao poured the wine, ced it on the counter, and asked, ¡°Drink?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yubao rolled his eyes. He served the emperor; in this world, only these four people couldmand him.


    This innkeeper was lucky. He could drink the wine poured by Yubao himself.


    The innkeeper picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and almost choked. In the south, rice wine and watered-down wine weremon at banquets.


    The alcohol content of Qiao Mai¡¯s wine was probably around forty degrees, a strong aroma of grains that most southern people were not ustomed to.


    However, after taking the first sip, the second sip went smoothly.


    The innkeeper smacked his lips, satisfied. Immediately, he brought out a small jug from under the counter and delivered it to Qiao Mai¡¯s table.


    ¡°Guests, in exchange for letting me taste this excellent wine, I¡¯ll treat you to my homemade rice wine.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The group finished the wine in their cups and tasted the rice wine.


    ¡°This wine is good with a fruity fragrance.¡±


    ¡°My wife added a few pears when brewing the wine. This is a special wine she made for me; we don¡¯t sell wine here.¡¯


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, let¡¯s exchange this half jug.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    The innkeeper, also experienced in socializing, immediately put down the jug in his hand, picked up the jug from Qiao Mai¡¯s table, and left while afraid that they might change their minds.


    The emperor chuckled. ¡°Madam Qiao, your wine is probably worth a thousand gold, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. This rice wine is not bad either; let¡¯s go out for a stroll. Drinking too much is not good.¡±


    Satisfied with the meal and wine, the group left the noodle shop. The innkeeper even sent them off.


    ¡°After a meal, take a stroll. Not bad. Such days are amazing.¡±


    As they walked, they looked around.


    After the rain stopped, the streets were filled with small vendors, constantly shouting their wares.


    Being wealthy individuals, they naturally had high standards. They looked at this and that but didn¡¯t show any intention of buying.


    However, Qiao Mai bought a pack of sour triangle snacks and ate them while walking. asionally, she turned back to hand some to the others.


    She nced back and saw a few troublemakers following them not far away.


    They thought Qiao Mai didn¡¯t know and pointed at the group, making fun of them as country bumpkins and rich bastards.


    Seeing his wife looking back, Yuan Jiaqi also turned around. Were they being followed?


    He quietly informed the emperor, who didn¡¯t even turn around. ¡°Guard your wife. What are we afraid of?¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not the governor¡¯s people, it¡¯s probably local ruffians and rogues. Bullies!¡±


    ¡°Ignore them. Let¡¯s do our thing. Hook out the mastermind!¡±


    Tired from walking, the group coincidentally found a teahouse and went in.


    Without private rooms, they sat directly in the hall.


    After ordering tea and snacks, the emperor asked Qiao Mai, ¡°Are they watching


    ¡°Yeah, they probably want to check our background. When the timees to settle the score, I¡¯ll take action.¡±


    Although in his thirties, the empress was well-maintained. Coupled with the moisturizer Qiao Mai had been providing, she appeared exceptionally youthful. Her appearance must be outstanding to be the emperor¡¯s concubine.


    Although Qiao Mai¡¯s appearance was ordinary, she had fair skin and an outstanding temperament, making her stand out. When the five of them sat down, they attracted the attention of some lustful onlookers.


    However, considering how they dressed, they either had great wealth or high status. Many eyes gazed their way.


    None of this went unnoticed by the group. Could everyone in this city be as lustful as the magistrate?


    Why didn¡¯t the people at the noodle shop act this way? Or perhaps the richer you were, the more perverted you became?


    The empress, feeling embarrassed, grinned at the others. ¡°Don¡¯t me me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me here, you won¡¯t be in trouble.¡±


    As they sipped teaa and listened to the music on the stage, a distinguished guest arrived at the teahouse.


    It was the son of Magistrate Wu, Wu Tianlei. His name sounded upright, but unfortunately, he was as perverted as his father.


    His father maintained a decent appearance in public, while he was shamelesslyscivious publicly and privately.


    As soon as he entered, he saw Rong Rui, the empress, and his eyes became enchanted. His legs moved toward them incessantly.


    Disgusted by him, Qiao Mai immediately sent a burst of mental power. The man hadn¡¯t even approached when he fainted on the spot.


    Soon, those who hade with him picked him up. He fainted randomly. It had nothing to do with anyone else.


    The emperor frowned. ¡°He iswless. Who is this scoundrel?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi called the waiter, giving him some silver.


    ¡°Who was the one who fell just now?¡±


    ¡°That was the eldest son of Magistrate Wu.¡± The waiter nced at the empress and said, ¡°You should rest and leave as soon as possible. If he wakes upter, he mighte with more people. Once he sets his sights on someone, it¡¯s rare for them to escape.¡±


    The waiter received the silver, felt uneasy, and spoke quietly.


    ¡°Thank you; you can go about your business.¡±


    The empress was furious. ¡°This scumbag. I could even be his mother!¡±


    ¡°You still look like a young woman. Lecherous people don¡¯t care about these things. ¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m dressed as a married woman.¡±


    ¡°You can never imagine how bad people can be. When perverts lose their temper, they could even vite their rtives.¡± ¡°God, are there such people in this world?¡±


    ¡°There are plenty!¡±

 Chapter 376 - 376: It Will Be Filled Into The National Treasury

    Chapter 376: It Will Be Filled Into The National Treasury


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Ruining a woman¡¯s innocence is equivalent to taking her life. After a woman is vited, her only fate is death.¡±


    ¡°If he dares toe, I¡¯ll let him die right here in this teahouse.¡±


    ¡°If this teahouse weren¡¯t owned by the magistrate¡¯s family, we would let him die outside to avoid implicating them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been in the pce for so many years, yet your heart is still soft.¡±


    ¡°Well, fortunately, I haven¡¯t given birth to a son. I don¡¯t have topete with them. It¡¯s better to be a bit soft.


    ¡°But you are the one who benefits the most.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    The empress raised her teacup and handed it to Qiao Mai, saying, ¡°Thanks to you for that.¡±


    ¡°If we don¡¯t have dinner tonight, shall we go to the fireworks street?¡±


    ¡°What is that ce?¡±


    The three men looked at each other, feeling a bit awkward. Qiao Mai exined,


    ¡°It¡¯s the red-light district, a street full of brothels.¡±


    ¡°What are we going there for? Are we going to order courtesans?¡±


    ¡°Experience local customs. This can¡¯t be missed. The customer over there said the street behind the fireworks street is the gambling street.¡±


    ¡°Is this Liangzhou so corrupt?¡±


    Qiao Mai cracked melon seeds and coldly snorted, ¡°The capital is far away. Besides, the court has not prohibited it. Whether it¡¯s one or ten, they are all open.¡±


    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t rain tomorrow, let¡¯s take a carriage. My feet are sore.¡±


    The empress lightly pounded her legs. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s remove the canopy from the carriage. It looks more authentic that way.¡±


    ¡°Can you still do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Abroad, such carriages are called sightseeing carriages.¡±


    ¡°I feel eager.¡±


    While chatting, drinking tea, and listening to music, time passed quickly. It was almost dark outside. They settled the bill and left.


    Fortunately, what the waiter said didn¡¯t happen. They went straight to the fireworks street.


    The girls weing customers were all dressed up, standing outside waving at the men. At this time, the wealthy and influential people had not arrived yet. Those around were mostly pretending to be rich.


    Qiao Mai and her group ignored those girls and chose thergest and most luxurious brothel to enter.


    Seeing women, the girls in the building stared with wide eyes.


    This was the first time they had seen womene here, and even the emperor and Yuan Jiaqi felt a bit embarrassed. Both of them were here for the first time.


    Qiao Mai brought them in with a bold attitude.


    The women in the building led them inside and found a bright ce, ordering a table of the best food and wine.


    ¡°Bring the two best girls from your building.¡±


    ¡°Hey, the best girls in our building are the courtesans of Liangzhou. Even with money, it¡¯s not easy to invite them. They are the darlings of the magistrate.¡± The group exchanged nces, and Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Then bring two girls who sell art but not their bodies.¡±


    She patted a gold coin on the table. The brothel keeper, upon seeing the gold, immediately broke into a smile. She picked up the gold and stuffed it into her bosom.


    ¡°Guests, please wait. I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    While the brothel keeper was away, the group pouted. ¡°The smell of cosmetics is too strong and choking!¡±


    ¡°Can we eat the food here?¡±


    ¡°Of course. These are all dishes for the rich and powerful.¡±


    None of them touched their chopsticks. They looked down on the food from this brothel; besides, they had drunk enough at the teahouse in the afternoon. Coming here was merely to broaden their horizons.


    Qiao Mai signaled towards the entrance with a tilt of her head. ¡°Look over there. Isn¡¯t that Magistrate Wu?¡±


    All four turned around simultaneously. ¡°Is that him? The girls are weing him, calling him Mr. Wu.¡±


    ¡°He came to a ce like this without any scruples. He¡¯s going upstairs to find that courtesan.¡±


    ¡°He must be wealthy to afford this.¡±


    ¡°I heard that a year of governorship in Liangzhou makes you a hundred thousand silver coins. Liangzhou is indeed a good ce for making money.¡±


    The emperor snorted, ¡°Let him save. Sooner orter, he¡¯ll replenish the national treasury. I have ordered the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate. Soon, his secrets will be revealed.¡±


    ¡°Right, your journey has been pleasant. Investigating corrupt officials and filling the national treasury, killing two birds with one stone.¡±


    ¡°We have to rely on our inws.¡±


    Qiao Mai lowered her eyes, responding with a faint ¡°Hmm.¡±


    In no time, two girls carrying musical instruments arrived. The empress chose a few tunes and had them y.


    While listening, they observed the surroundings. The wealthy and influential were upstairs, and the lower level was filled with ordinary customers.


    However, the more ordinary they looked, the more they could see and hear what they wanted.


    Undoubtedly, there were many debauched people in Liangzhou city. This brothel was a miniature version of their revelry.


    Except for Qiao Mai, the other four stared wide-eyed. Even the emperor was astonished.


    Public disys of affection, kissing, and lewd actions were rampant. The people who usually appeared decent now revealed their true selves.


    The disy of debauchery and grotesque postures made them want to vomit. The empress turned red. ¡°Uh, let¡¯s go back. It¡¯s better to rest early.¡±


    Yubao quickly rewarded the two girls, cing a silver ingot on the table. The group left the brothel, taking a deep breath outside.


    ¡°The air outside is much better.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the inn.¡±


    Magistrate Wu watched them from the second floor, his eyes flickering. He had seen the emperor before but didn¡¯t recognize him now.


    Before they left, Qiao Mai had someone dye his hair ck, making the emperor look at least ten years younger. Yubao had also made some disguises.


    Those who rarely apanied the emperor found it challenging to recognize him outside. Moreover, Magistrate Wu had been in Liangzhou for a long time. However, when he saw the empress, his eyes lit up.


    Her appearance and demeanor surpassed many courtesans he had hired, not to mention the woman beside her.


    Although Qiao Mai looked ordinary, her skin and flesh were exquisite, a top-notch beauty. Stripping her naked and holding her in his arms would surely befortable.


    He stood by the street window, daydreaming about the empress and Qiao Mai. He thought no one would notice, but as they walked away, Qiao Mai used a mental force to knock him unconscious, almost causing him to fall from the second floor.


    She had long noticed him peeping, and his gaze made her want to grind him into minced meat.


    They roamed around the city for three days, eating, drinking, and sometimes buying things. Magistrate Wu, the old fox, woke up but couldn¡¯t get the beautiful woman off his mind.


    However, he didn¡¯t dare to act rashly and had been observing from a distance.


    His eldest son woke up and wanted to send someone to capture the empress, but Magistrate Wu stopped him.


    He didn¡¯t allow his son to act recklessly. The father and son fainted one after another. It was not a trivial matter.


    Yet, his eldest son, with unbridled lust, ignored his father¡¯s advice and rushed to the inn at night. Silently, he went upstairs without any notice.


    But when he reached the third floor, the guards protecting the emperor were alerted, leading to a sh.


    This inn belonged to the Wu family, and no one dared to step forward to help. The Wu family¡¯s eldest son, leading people to abduct someone, was tantly viting thew.


    Qiao Mai leaned against the door window in her nightgown, watching the fight.


    How could these bad applespare to the guards protecting the emperor? In a few moments, they were knocked down. The eldest son was still moring on the side.


    ¡°Quick, don¡¯t just fight. That woman is in that room. I only want her.¡±


    The emperor and empress had already awakened. When they heard the man¡¯s words, the emperor became furious.


    Daring to covet his woman? How presumptuous!


    ¡°Bind them all and take them to the governor¡¯s court. Ask Magistrate Wu to exin why, in his inn, his eldest son dared to act recklessly and abduct someone.¡±


    The emperor suppressed his anger and decided.


    After the guards bound them, they were taken to the court overnight. Upon hearing what his son had done, Magistrate Wu was so angry that he knocked over the incense table.


    Without investigating their background, his son had caused such a disaster for him.


    Upstairs in the courtroom, they did what they needed to do¡ªthose who needed to be beaten were beaten, and those who needed to be thrown into prison were jailed. These were all just for appearance¡¯s sake..

 Chapter 377 - 377: Do You Want To Try It?

    Chapter 377 - 377: Do You Want To Try It?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The guards returned to the inn and approached the emperor.


    ¡°Your Majesty, he did great on the surface, but when he wielded the paddle, the force was insufficient, and it didn¡¯t hurt. The screams were all feigned. Sending them to the prison was for show.¡±


    The emperor¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Okay. Go rest.¡±


    After this incident, neither Qiao Mai nor Yuan Jiaqi could sleep peacefully. The emperor, apanied by the empress, sought them out.


    ¡°Inw, you must help me vent this anger, or I might be infuriated to death.¡± ¡°Speak. How can I help?¡±


    ¡°After we brought those people to the court, they are still alive. They were whipped and sent to prison, and it has nothing to do with us after that. I want those people to die without anyone knowing!¡±


    ¡°Great minds think alike. Rest assured, they will all be dead within three days.¡±


    ¡°What? Three days?¡±


    ¡°During the fight just now, I secretly administered a drug.¡±


    ¡°A poison?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the emperor. ¡°Do you think I would administer a healing medicine to them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better if they die miserably.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rotting poison. It rots the human body from the inside out, leaving only the skeleton in the end.¡± The emperor and empress turned pale. ¡°Is there such poison in the world?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to try it?¡±


    The two quickly shook their heads, and Yuan Jiaqi burst intoughter. His wife was too adorable!


    On the fifth day in Liangzhou City, the emperor¡¯s Golden Dragon Guards arrived quietly. Qiao Mai didn¡¯t care about their arrangements. She left them alone, roaming freely with Yuan Jiaqi.


    asionally, they took the four maids with them to broaden their horizons.


    ¡°I nned to visit Taihang Mountain¡¯s Qingfeng Temple after handling Ling¡¯er¡¯s wedding.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. If we head southeast, shall we go take a look?¡± ¡°Sure, but it might be troublesome with the emperor tagging along.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, he¡¯s practically your tail now. Whatever you do, he insists on following. When we return to Tianshui Town, you can focus on seclusion, and I¡¯ll handle the external affairs. By then, we can enjoy peace.¡±


    The two held hands, followed by four sensible maids.


    They had all started practicing internal Qi. Despite their young age, a few months of training had made them agile.


    Suddenly, someone shouted about catching a thief. The thief passed behind them. Without making a sound, Xi Yu swiftly extended her leg, tripping the thief and providing an opportunity for the people behind to catch him. The thief was seized, and the stolen money was recovered, but not without receiving a good beating.


    The petty thief struggled to get up, ring menacingly at Qiao Mai¡¯s group moving ahead.


    ¡°Wait for it. Damn it!¡±


    Qiao Mai turned around, looking at Xi Yu. She stuck out her tongue, ¡°Mistress, I tripped him.¡±


    ¡°Well done. However, you¡¯re still young. You don¡¯t have the strength to protect yourself. If I¡¯m not with you, don¡¯t get involved in unnecessary matters.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mistress.¡±


    On the way, Qiao Mai also bought snacks for the girls. Those who didn¡¯t know might have thought they were her daughters.


    The four maids were dressed delicately and didn¡¯t look like servants.


    On the other hand, Qiao Mai and her husband, dressed in ordinary clothes,cked any distinctive features. However, appearances could be deceiving.


    Just the ink jade on Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s waist was a priceless treasure. The cotton robe he wore was a low-grade defensive spiritual tool, making ordinary swords useless against him.


    While strolling in the street, they were stopped by a group of people.


    They were from the criminal underworld,rge and rough, with muscles bulging when they spoke.


    ¡°Outsiders?¡±


    Seeing the young thief behind the bulky man, Yuan Jiaqi instinctively protected


    Qiao Mai behind him. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand the rules. You blocked our way earlier, causing us financial losses. You have to bear the consequences. Understand?¡±


    ¡°Thieves are punished wherever they are found.¡±


    ¡°But here, if you interfere, you must take responsibility. Bring one thousand taels immediately. Otherwise, get out of Liangzhou City right away. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s hands trembled with anger. This was even worse than dealing with bandits. To extort people so confidently!


    This Liangzhou City might as well be called Bandit City!


    Qiao Mai pulled Yuan Jiaqi behind her and took a silver note from her sleeve.


    ¡°One thousand taels.¡±


    ¡°Wow, what a rich woman.¡±


    The strong man appraised the two and the four maids behind them.


    He intended to extort money. If they don¡¯t have it, their maids look good and could fetch a good price if sold. Unexpectedly, Qiao Mai was straightforward, giving one thousand taels.


    Now, he had no reason to make trouble. ¡°Humph, be careful next time. Interfere again, and it won¡¯t be just one thousand taels.¡±


    They walked away, and Xi Yu pouted.


    ¡°Mistress, why did you give them money?¡±


    ¡°Peoplee and go. If trouble arises, it affects our mood. Also, using my silver is not that easy. Just wait and see.¡±


    The next day, Magistrate Wu¡¯s son died at home, and all his subordinates perished.


    This news caused a stir in Liangzhou City.


    People spread the word. ¡°Did you hear? That troublemaker from the Wu family is dead. Haha, heaven did justice!¡±


    ¡°Yes, it would be best if the whole family died. There¡¯s not a single good person among them.¡±


    The emperor was having breakfast at a small eatery. After hearing this news, he finally smiled.


    ¡°Inw, it worked like a charm. Thank you.¡± ¡°Look at you, acting politely with me.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°Look at how happy the people are. The Wu family has caused quite a bit of trouble here.¡±


    ¡°I know. Results wille soon.¡±


    Two dayster, another group collecting protection money on the streets suffered the same fate as Magistrate Wu¡¯s son. Dead bodies, poisoned just like him.


    Magistrate Wu was terrified. He wasn¡¯t a fool. One after another, these incidents were not difficult to link together when investigated.


    Had he and his son offended someone they shouldn¡¯t have?


    Was the newly arrived group a force he couldn¡¯t afford to provoke?


    He had many sons, and losing one wasn¡¯t a big deal. As long as he had money and women, he could live the life of an emperor with numerous children.


    His eldest son had offended this group, and the extortionists also had problems, though the incidents were separated by several days. However, all the victims appeared to be poisoned.


    They were silently poisoned. Magistrate Wu feared that he would be next.


    The person who had administered the poison must have harbored intense hatred towards them. How cruel were they?


    At home, he was like an ant on a hot pan. Finally, he gritted his teeth and decided to use force first, then resort to diplomacy if needed.


    He gathered all the loyal guards he had cultivated and decided to strike a decisive blow.


    If even this n fails to eliminate those people, he would have to resort to


    using money.


    The night was dark ¨C the best time for murder and robbery.


    On the rooftop of the inn, ckie crouched at the highest point, raised its eyes to survey the surroundings. With no moon in sight, it seemed disinterested in howling.


    It raised its head,municating with Qiao Mai through mental waves.


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s action.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, casting a barrier on the three-story inn. ¡°I¡¯ve left a few little thieves for you. Don¡¯t disturb our sleep.¡±


    ckie grinned, showing its teeth. ¡°Master, you¡¯re unkind. These people are all loyal guards.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a seventh-rank demon beast. Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t handle a few mortal guards? When you go to the cultivation world, you¡¯ll be embarrassed to mention being beaten by them.¡±


    ckie¡¯s head drooped in acknowledgment. Qiao Mai¡¯s words hit a nerve. It had been idle for too long. It stood up, stretchingzily. Facing the sky, it howled.


    Before the ck-clothed men could approach, it dashed towards them.


    The night was too dark to see clearly. However, the shadow moved swiftly, and amid human cries and dog howls, those asleep were awakened, trembling and afraid toe out.


    Magistrate Wu couldn¡¯t sleep. He paced back and forth in the study.


    The night was almost over, yet none of his men had returned. He knew that things were going downhill..

 Chapter 378 - 378: How Dare He?

    Chapter 378 - 378: How Dare He?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    He immediately called for the steward and sent him with a group to investigate near the inn.


    When the steward returned, he brought two carriages. When Magistrate Wu saw the bodies, he almost fainted.


    They were all dead. He had invested so much in cultivating these elite soldiers, but they were all gone overnight. This was his reliance, and now it was all lost.


    Distressed, he quickly instructed the steward to take the men out of the city and bury them secretly.


    Sitting in the study with swollen eyes, he lost all mood. He sat down, stood up, stood up, and sat down again. Finally, he ran to the bookshelf, twisted a bottle, and a secretpartment appeared on the wall.


    He pulled out arge box from inside, filled with silver notes, each worth ten thousand taels.


    You could see how much wealth he had umted during these years in Liangzhou.


    Grinding his teeth, he took half of the silver notes, put the box back in ce, and tucked the silver notes into his arms.


    When the steward returned, he went to his private vault again, picked out many precious treasures, and hurried to the inn without breakfast.


    In the inn, the emperor and others were already awake. Naturally, Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t keep this matter a secret.


    She truthfully recounted what happened. The old emperor was furious.


    He pounded the table and scolded, ¡°How dare he? It infuriates me!¡±


    ¡°Many elite soldiers camest night, but my pet dealt with all of them. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯ll do next.¡±


    ¡°Others usually make diplomatic gestures before resorting to force. He started with force. Perhaps he will try to butter us up soon. After all, he knows we are not to trifle with.¡¯


    They stayed in the inn, drinking tea without going out.


    In no time, the innkeeper came to the third floor. When he saw Qiao Mai and others, his tightly clenched hands betrayed his nervousness and panic. ¡°Esteemed guests, my master wants to meet you. Would you be willing?¡±


    The old emperor was still angry. ¡°Your master? Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s Magistrate Wu.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know him. I don¡¯t want to see him.¡±


    The innkeeper felt awkward, but he didn¡¯t leave.


    He stood there and continued, ¡°My master is the magistrate of Liangzhou. He sincerely wants to make friends with you.¡±


    ¡°If we didn¡¯t know any better, we¡¯d think your master is the emperor.¡±


    The innkeeper broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this. These guests were bold. The emperor? A local emperor might work, but it wasn¡¯t something he could im.


    ¡°This inn belongs to my master.¡±


    ¡°Are you suggesting that we can¡¯t stay in the inn if we don¡¯t meet him?¡± ¡°No, no.¡±


    ¡°Tell him to scram far away. Don¡¯t think we don¡¯t know what he¡¯s been up to.


    Someday, he might bite off more than he can chew.¡±


    And so, the innkeeper was dismissed. Magistrate Wu left, stomping his feet in frustration.


    With one n foiled, he came up with another. Since they were staying in his inn, why not?


    The emperor and others were upstairs, watching Magistrate Wu leave. When it got dark, the Golden Dragon Guards secretly returned to the inn. The emperor assigned them a mission to prepare tor action tonight.


    On Magistrate Wu¡¯s side, he instructed the innkeeper. Tonight, they would set fire to the inn.


    He was malicious. In the inn, except for Qiao Mai and her group, people stayed on the second and first floors. The innkeeper sent an attendant to pour oil in the dead of night, evacuated their staff, and prepared to set the ce on fire.


    If not for Qiao Mai instructing ckie to watch over them, the fire would have been started.


    Just as one of the attendants was about to ignite the tinder quietly, ckie bit off the man¡¯s neck.


    The torch fell to the ground, extinguished by its hoof. Outside, people waiting anxiously decided toe in and check. Unexpectedly, a dark figure rushed out from the inn, biting and killing everyone.


    Under the moonlight, the street was covered with numerous bodies.


    The emperor and others were still awake, waiting in the room with lights off. After hearing the screams outside, they sent guards downstairs to check.


    The returning guards reported to the emperor, ¡°Your Majesty, the first floor is filled with firewood and oil.¡±


    The emperor clenched his teeth, ¡°This scoundrel wants to burn us alive. There are many guests downstairs; they are so ruthless. In their eyes, human lives aren¡¯t worth a penny. Bastards!¡±


    The emperor used coarsenguage, scolding vehemently. Qiao Mai chuckled.


    ¡°Enough already. How many of these corrupt officials are good? If they had sympathy for themon people, they wouldn¡¯t act like this. Why rush it?¡±


    At the same time, at Magistrate Wu¡¯s residence, the Golden Dragon Guards surrounded the entire mansion apanied by the troops from Liangzhou. In the dead of night, the Wu Mansion echoed with wails and howls until daybreak. They found over sixty thousand taels of silver, countless jewels and jewelry, and hundreds of silver notes hidden in a secretpartment.


    The emperor immediately decreed the execution of the main perpetrators in the Wu family, while others were banished to harshnds. Fortunately, it didn¡¯t result in aplete massacre.


    The emperor had prepared for the recement of Liangzhou¡¯s magistrate. Qin Yide, Lu Ruyi¡¯s husband, was sent to take over.


    Before he arrived, the military temporarily took control of the city. All the property was escorted to the capital and handed over to the national treasury.


    Meanwhile, those who conspired with Magistrate Wu were all arrested and had their properties confiscated.


    He who takes bribes shall be punished, and heavier penalties for those who receive them!


    On the execution tform, Magistrate Wu finally saw the few faces. At this moment, what else did he not understand?


    No wonder he failed. What did he have topete with the emperor?


    Those were the Golden Dragon Guards, even superior to his secret guards.


    Coupled with the mysterious and unpredictable Madam Qiao by the emperor¡¯s side, Magistrate Wu could only admit defeat.


    He had heard about the emperor¡¯s southern journey and had been cautious all along, but in the end, he still lost.


    On the day of the execution, the people of Liangzhou City were on the verge of erupting. This detestable Magistrate Wu was finally going to die. How could they not be excited? They all carried baskets, waiting at the market entrance.


    As soon as Magistrate Wu was ced on the execution tform, the people below began to throw rotten vegetable leaves, stinking eggs, and even stones.


    After all, it was a death penalty. Whether it was the executioner or the headman, they wouldn¡¯t care. Even if the thrown items killed Magistrate Wu, they would still ensure the execution waspleted with an extra blow, ensuring their death.¡±


    With the corrupt magistrate eliminated, Liangzhou felt a breath of fresh air.


    Magistrate Wu had many industries, which were investigated and confiscated. Two brothels and five gambling dens were gone, and many connections were severed.


    The emperor¡¯s group didn¡¯t n to stick around. They packed their bags, sat in a carriage, and left after staying there for half a month.


    They had dealt with a corrupt official, and the enthusiasm wasn¡¯t as high as when they arrived.


    The old emperor, being of advanced age, rxed after the matter concluded. He slept throughout the journey, and the empress had to apany him in their carriage.


    For once, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi could sit together alone, looking at the scenery outside the window.


    ¡°Wife, we would have been in trouble if it weren¡¯t for you.¡±


    ¡°Saying that too often makes it as tasteless as water. The emperor brought us here for safety, right? Besides, it¡¯s not my merit; it¡¯s ckie who worked the hardest.¡¯


    ckie rolled its eyes, finally hearing something appreciative from its master.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re fortunate to have them. That¡¯s why we can be at ease.¡±


    ¡°I just wonder if we¡¯ve been away for so long. Is there any good news from Ling¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been almost half a year. If there¡¯s good news, the emperor¡¯s people will send a letter. Don¡¯t worry; this matter can¡¯t be rushed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be at home to take care of her.


    ¡°There are so many imperial physicians in the pce; nothing will happen.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully.¡±


    The carriage continued its journey due south, with its destination being Luzhou City ahead. Qiao Mai looked at the vegetation along the road, and her brows furrowed in contemtion. ¡°Wife, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Look at the flowers over there.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi looked up. ¡°Why are flowers nted everywhere on this side? Those flowers don¡¯t look like decorative flowers.¡¯


    ¡°Those are poppies.¡±


    ¡°What are poppies?¡±

 Chapter 379 - 379: How Much Less Suffering Have We Suffered?

    Chapter 379: How Much Less Suffering Have We Suffered?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°How should I put it? If this thing is made into tobo, people will get poisoned. They¡¯ll be disoriented all day, and with frequent use, they might experience hallucinations and addiction. After getting addicted, they might sell their children, squander their family wealth, and evenmit murder for the sake of a smoke. Over time, they be incurable, and excessive smoking can lead to convulsions and death.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face turned pale. He immediately got out of the carriage, shouted for the convoy to stop, and inspected the fields by the roadside.


    The emperor and empress also got off the carriage and joined him.


    Yuan Jiaqi pulled out a poppy nt and said, ¡°Your Majesty, this is a harmful substance.¡±


    He repeated what Qiao Mai had said. The emperor looked at the vast fields andmented, ¡°It seems Luzhou City is unstable.¡±


    ¡°We should prepare early, Your Majesty. If this flower spreads throughout the Ming Dynasty, our national strength will decline, and people will do anything for a puff.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve brought ten Golden Dragon Guards. Once we arrive in Luzhou, I¡¯ll send them to investigate.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi came to Qiao Mai holding a poppy. ¡°Wife, people who cultivate this will surely produce tobo and sell it discreetly, right?¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily. They dared to grow them so conspicuously along the official road. There must be surprises waiting for us in Luzhou City.¡±


    It was September, and the weather was still hot.


    They observed several poppy fields along the way but remained silent until they entered Luzhou City.


    They stayed at the best inn in the city, settled their belongings, took afortable bath, and rested for the night.


    In the early and bright morning of the south, Qiao Mai got up early, opened the window, and felt the warm breeze mixed with humidity.


    She looked back at Yuan Jiaqi, who was still sleeping. She leaned against the window and gazed downward.


    Street food stalls were starting to set up, and some shops were opening. Aftering out, many people stretched their bodies and yawned.


    Qiao Mai felt the scene was beautiful. However, after a short while, it was disrupted by several staggering figures.


    They were yawning continuously, stumbling with every step, some falling and getting up again. This lethargic state indicated they had smoked something potent.


    In Luzhou City, it seems that smoking marijuana is openly epted, and no one pays any attention.


    Just when she frowned, a woman ran from a distance and threw herself onto a man, crying.


    ¡°Husband, you smoked that thing again. Do you still want this family?¡±


    ¡°Get lost! I like it. What¡¯s it got to do with you? I didn¡¯t spend any of your money.¡±


    ¡°But you need to think about our child!¡±


    The man looked around and then kicked the woman, but he had no strength. He identally fell to the ground instead.


    However, the woman seemed resigned. She went forward to help him up. Qiao Mai shook her head at this sight.


    Poor people have their shorings. This man will eventually deplete his family. Rather than this, it¡¯s better to n. If it were her, she¡¯d possibly kick him to death.


    Before long, the cries of vendors woke up the people in slumber.


    Servants attended to the masters, helping them freshen up before going outside to buy breakfast. Four maids followed behind.


    She had no appetite¡ªthe weather was too hot, and even breathing felt suffocating.


    They only bought food for the two masters. When they returned, they arranged the food on the table.


    Qiao Mai asked, ¡°Xi Yu, haven¡¯t you eaten?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too hot. Didn¡¯t feel like it.¡¯


    ¡°Go buy a few bowls of cold noodles.¡± ¡°They¡¯re called cold noodles, but they¡¯re not cool at all.¡±


    ¡°I have a way to make them cold.¡±


    The four maids¡¯ eyes lit up. How could they forget their mistress¡¯s great ability? Eating anything was not a problem.


    They happily went outside and bought a few bowls of noodles. Qiao Mai had prepared arge basin of ice. She poured the noodles into the ice for a while before serving them.


    ¡°Eat. When you¡¯re away from home, you must eat even if you don¡¯t like it. Drink more water, or you¡¯ll get sick easily.¡±


    Following their mistress¡¯s example, the maids ate a bowl of ice-cold noodles, feeling refreshed.


    ¡°It¡¯s too hot in the south. We followed them to buy food, and we¡¯ve never seen anyone selling ice blocks. The north is better. Even if it doesn¡¯t freeze in the capital in winter, it¡¯s close to the north, and you can still see ice. But here, you can¡¯t see it.¡±


    ¡°Who says you can¡¯t? Just hum if you want something cold.¡±


    ¡°Haha, we also want something cold.¡±


    The emperor held the empress¡¯s hand and walked in. They had already eaten, but the weather was so hot that they couldn¡¯t stand it.


    With a wave of Qiao Mai¡¯s hand, many bottles of drinks appeared on the table, taken from the freezer.


    Each maid took a bottle and went outside. The emperor and empress sat down, opened the bottles, and started drinking.


    ¡°With you around, we¡¯ve suffered a lot less. It¡¯s so hot outside; I don¡¯t want to go out.¡±


    Qiao Mai red at the emperor. ¡°We came out because of you. If you find it ufortable, should we return?¡±


    ¡°Forget about it. We¡¯re already out. Let¡¯s finish the tour.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go?¡±


    ¡°Yes. By the way, didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d get a sightseeing carriage? It¡¯s so hot.


    How about taking a carriage, huh?¡±


    Seeing the emperor¡¯s pitiful appearance, Qiao Mai took them to a secluded ce. She waved, and a sightseeing cart with a sunshade appeared.


    The car was one meter high with several seats on top. Qiao Mai asked Yuan Jiaqi to return to the inn to bring Dong Zhao and Dracaena.


    They didn¡¯t need a coachman. Dong Zhao and Dracaena could understand humannguage and knew when to walk or run fast, just like having a coachman guiding them.


    When the old emperor and the empress entered the carriage, they immediately eximed.


    ¡°Wow, is there ice on this carriage? It¡¯s so cool?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Just sit.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi carried Qiao Mai into the car. He said to Dong Zhao and Dracaena, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Slow down a bit.¡±


    The horses started moving at a speed slightly faster than walking. The emperor was satisfied with the cool carriage as they didn¡¯t have to walk. They could tour


    Luzhou City in three days.


    Overjoyed, he forgot himself and kept giving suggestions to Qiao Mai. ¡°It would be great if there were a table. We could eat and drink on it.¡±


    Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at him, flipped her hand, and a makeshift table appeared. The emperor widened his eyes.


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s great! We¡¯ll see what¡¯s avable to eatter. After buying, we can put it on the table.¡±


    The empress used her arm to poke the emperor, ¡°Inw is ring at you; stop talking.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    The carriage was novel, drawn by horses and moving slowly. It attracted many onlookers.


    The emperor was in high spirits, buying rare fruits, snacks, and more. Yubao didn¡¯t follow. All expenses were covered by Yuan Jiaqi.


    Luzhou City was not inferior to Liangzhou. After all, it was the nearest city to the bustling trade fortress.


    In broad daylight, the streets were lively with many tropical fruits for sale. The seafood was abundant, especially the pearls, which were remarkably inexpensive.


    Many jewelers bought pearls here and then resold them at higher prices in the interior.


    The empress and Qiao Mai each took a pce fan, fanning themselves while leisurely watching both sides of the street.


    They observed themoners, and themoners observed them.


    Rumbling thunder echoed, and people on the street began to run for cover from the rain.


    At this moment, Dong Zhao and Dracaena had already put on transparent raincoats. A rain curtain hung over the top of the carriage. They could still see the scenery while isting the warmth from outside, making it even cooler.


    The carriage continued to move slowly, and raindrops drummed on the top. The number of pedestrians on the road decreased.


    All the scenery seemed to be highlighting Qiao Mai¡¯s carriage as it moved slowly forward.


    Many people in the buildings above were watching with great interest..

 Chapter 380 - 380: She Has It

    Chapter 380: She Has It


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    A few young people pointed at the carriage.


    ¡°They are outsiders. Judging by their attire, they are either rich or noble. Ordinary families couldn¡¯t own this. And those two horses look like thoroughbreds. They must have a significant background to pull a carriage like that.¡±


    ¡°How about inviting them for a cup of tea?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not. They are all older; let¡¯s not bother them. Better be honest.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the harm? Friendse from all corners of the world.


    The carriage was stopped. They thought it was troublemakers, but it was an invitation. The emperor was happier now.


    They dly epted the invitation, and the carriage stopped in front of a tea house called Qiong Pavilion. They didn¡¯t bother tying the horses to the hitching post; Dong Zhao and Dracaena automatically rested there.


    They didn¡¯t need to worry about someone stealing the carriage; no one could take it away.


    Following the invitees to a private room on the second floor, several young men greeted them with a bow.


    ¡°Wee to Luzhou!¡±


    The emperor nced at these young men. ¡°Are you all locals?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are the Five Young Masters of Luzhou and the top five schrs in the imperial examination.¡±


    ¡°Not bad. Looking at the five of you, I believe you will soon have a ce in the capital.¡±


    They introduced themselves, and when it came to their turn, the emperor introduced himself as Mr. Huang, the empress as Madam Rong, Qiao Mai as Madam Qiao, and Yuan Jiaqi as Mr. Yuan.


    After the introductions, they took their seats. A man poured tea for them.


    ¡°Come, try this. It¡¯s our famous tribute tea in Luzhou and was sent to the pce every year.¡±


    The emperor picked up the tea, but he found it rather mundane. How could he say he didn¡¯t like this tribute tea? He drank the tea given by his inw; other teas couldn¡¯tpare.


    What¡¯s the point of drinking tea on a hot day?


    After a sip, they ced the teacups on the table. The five schrs looked puzzled. ¡°Is this tea not good? This is the most expensive tea in the teahouse.¡±


    The emperor casually said, ¡°We usually drink one type of tea. We¡¯re used to it, so others don¡¯t appeal to us.¡±


    ¡°Oh, brother, what tea is it? Can we have a taste?¡±


    The emperor looked at Qiao Mai apologetically. ¡°She has it.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at him and took a tea bag from her sleeve. ¡°Take it to brew a pot. Everyone can have a taste.¡±


    Since she was the elder, her words weren¡¯t impolite.


    One of the Five Young Masters took the tea bag and immediately had a servant bring a teapot and a pot of boiling water.


    When they opened the tea bag, they deeply inhaled the aroma. The fragrance of the tea was exquisite.


    Pouring the tea leaves into the teapot and adding boiling water, they all stared at it without saying a word. It seemed they were all tea connoisseurs.


    When the tea was poured, the room was filled with its fragrance.


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Try it. We¡¯re used to it, so it doesn¡¯t seem special.¡±


    The Five Young Masters were eager. After tasting a sip, they expressed their satisfaction. ¡°Excellent tea. I never thought such good tea existed in the world.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, but it would be even better if the weather were cooler. This tea would be more enjoyable.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have ice here. Ice from the north would turn into water by the time it arrived. ¡±


    ¡°I have it.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a small wooden box from below, filled with small square ice cubes. She took the teapot and poured the ice into it.


    ¡°Try this tea. This is a genuine chilled tea.¡±


    The Five Young Masters were astonished at her skill. Who was this person who could bring out ice?


    They couldn¡¯t help but size them up again.


    ¡°This¡­ this¡­ You brought ice?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Your ice?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much. Just taste the cold tea.¡±


    Being able to drink a pot of ice-cold tea in the South is something even the wealthy can¡¯t achieve. Unexpectedly, they enjoyed good tea and also savored the refreshing taste of ice.


    The young men became even more curious about their identities, and one of them extended an invitation to the group.


    ¡°Brothers and sisters, my family is hosting a Golden Autumn banquet tomorrow. If you don¡¯t mind, pleasee and join the festivities.¡±


    As he spoke, he took an invitation card from his pocket and respectfully ced it before the emperor.


    The emperor looked at the luxurious invitation card, which had ¡°Rong Mansion¡± written on it. His brows furrowed slightly, and he discreetly nced at the empress.


    Then he put the invitation away. ¡°Alright, we¡¯lle by tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°If you have nothing to do after breakfast, you cane over early.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Rong, what¡¯s the rtionship between your family and the Rong family in the capital?¡± ¡°That¡¯s our main family. We are a branch of the Rong family.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    The empress also scrutinized the young man. There was no resemnce since they were from a branch.


    After sitting for a while, they excused themselves and left the teahouse as the rain subsided.


    The Five Young Masters watched them from upstairs, feeling that these people were beyond noble and worthy of friendship.


    In the carriage, the emperor looked at the empress. ¡°Rui¡¯er, is this your Rong family?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, I rarely visit even my main family, let alone these branches. If they behave themselves, it¡¯s fine. If they misuse my name for mischief, you can take action.¡±


    ¡°I am assured with your words.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi exchanged a nce without making a sound. The rain had stopped by noon, but they didn¡¯t leave the carriage. Instead, they ordered some snacks, had them delivered to the carriage, and continued strolling.


    ¡°Should we prepare some gifts for the banquet tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°No one goes empty-handed when visiting someone¡¯s house.¡±


    The emperor looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°How about you prepare, dear inw?¡± ¡°Why? You looted Magistrate Wu¡¯s house. What good things they wouldn¡¯t have?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient to bring them on the road. Everything has been sent back. You¡¯re good at magic tricks, right? Just a little flick of your fingers and good things wille out.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, they seem to like ice. How about sending a cart of ice tomorrow?¡± The group couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. After all, even the sight of ice is rare in such a hot ce, let alone tasting it.¡±


    ¡°All right, it¡¯s settled then. A cart of ice is not worth much, but it looks good.


    When giving gifts, it¡¯s important to touch people¡¯s hearts.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    The next day, the weather was excellent. The Rong Mansion was bustling early in the morning, with the main gate wide open and servants going in and out.


    The emperor and his party did not arrive early. After breakfast, they wandered around Luzhou City.


    The sun was high, and they hired a carriage with wooden boxes on top, constantly dripping water on one side.


    Anyone passing by the carriage felt a refreshing coolness.


    They got off the carriage at the Rong Mansion¡¯s entrance, looking at the grand gate. The group exchanged knowing nces.


    The emperor held the invitation and entered. There was a table on one side of the gate, and the emperor ced the invitation on it. Yuan Jiaqi told the ountant.


    ¡°A cart of ice blocks, twenty boxes.¡±


    ¡°What? A cart of ice blocks? Where? Where?¡±


    ¡°On the carriage outside. You can get someone to unload them.¡±


    Some guests who came to offer gifts heard about someone sending a cart of ice blocks for the first time. They all ran outside. The steward brought servants to the carriage and opened the box. A rush of cool air came out.


    ¡°How do we arrange this? We don¡¯t have an ice cer. Let¡¯s temporarily put them in a cool room. I¡¯ll go inform the master.¡± A cart full of ice blocks left the Rong family in chaos.


    Some people were jealous.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a cart of ice. What¡¯s the big deal?¡±


    Qiao Mai gave the person a cold look. ¡°Can you bring a cart yourself?¡±


    This was something no amount of money could buy. Just now, that guy was only showing off his mouth.


    When the Rong family heard about someone sending a cart of ice blocks, they all happily ran out. Old Master Rong couldn¡¯t care less about the people sending the ice; he immediately arranged.


    ¡°Send three boxes to the Old Madam, three boxes to the Madam, and one box to each of the young misses and masters¡¯ rooms. The rest goes to the kitchen..¡±

 Chapter 381 - 381: One Hundred Percent Certain

    Chapter 381 - 381: One Hundred Percent Certain


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Soon, the ice blocks in the cart were distributed, and Master Rong breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Steward, where are the people who delivered the ice?¡±


    The steward hurriedly searched while Qiao Mai and the others were wandering around inside Rong Mansion.


    ¡°This Rong family branch is remarkable. A residence like this can rival the imperial pce.


    The empress smiled bitterly, ¡°When I was a concubine, they weren¡¯t like this. I suppose these families have taken advantage of my influence.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. It has always been like this. One person achieves sess, and their rtives benefit. It¡¯s normal. As long as we umte virtue, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    ¡°The Rong Mansion is unique. No wonder they are hosting a Golden Autumn banquet. They have many fruit trees nted here.¡±


    Qiao Mai reached for the lychees and handed them to the others.


    ¡°Try these. They¡¯re sweet. It¡¯s the season for lychees.¡±


    ¡°There are also longans. These fruit trees are well taken care of. They are regrly pruned, resulting inrge fruits with exceptional vor. It seems they¡¯ve put a lot of effort into it.¡±


    ¡°Compared to the fruits my wife cultivates, these are far behind.¡±


    ¡°For earthly things to be cultivated to this extent is alreadymendable.


    Look at the leaves; there¡¯s not a single w.¡±


    ¡°Rare for my wife to praise something.¡±


    After walking for a while, they found a pavilion to rest. No one was around, but various fruits were ced on top, seemingly prepared for guests.


    As they rested, a group of people approached.


    There were men and women, seemingly unmarried.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that unmarried men and women should not share the same table?


    I didn¡¯t expect the customs here to be so rxed.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gathering for the unmarried men and women. There¡¯s nothing wrong with them walking together.¡±


    While they talked, the group stopped outside the pavilion and looked at the four individuals.


    ¡°Excuse me. Who are you?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi arched his hand and replied, ¡°We were invited by Young Master


    Rong.¡±


    ¡°Which Young Master Rong? There are several Young Masters in the Rong Mansion.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Young Master Rong from Lucheng, the fifth son.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Where are you all from?¡±


    ¡°From the capital!¡±


    At the mention of the capital, the group¡¯s demeanor, who had been looking down on them, immediately changed.


    ¡°So you¡¯re from the capital. No wonder your attire, demeanor, and speech differ from ours.¡¯


    The emperor chose not to engage with these young individuals, considering them mere youngsters not worth wasting words on.


    Presumably, these young people understood the situation and left reluctantly.


    It turns out they just wanted to rest here.


    However, they couldn¡¯t figure out the identities of Qiao Mai¡¯s group and didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble for the Rong Mansion.


    In the living room, the most distinguished people of Luzhou City were seated.


    The men and women present were of advanced age.


    They engaged in lively conversations, apanied by asional bursts ofughter.


    At that moment, Young Master Rong was outside the living room, attentively listening to his father¡¯s inquiries.


    ¡°The people who delivered the ice are your friends?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father. Yesterday, I met them by chance during a gathering at the teahouse and found them interesting. So, I invited them.¡±


    ¡°Do you know their background?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had the chance to check yet. They said they n to stay here for half a month. It seems they are on a sightseeing trip.¡±


    ¡°Stop whatever you are doing now and find them. Apany them and find out their background.¡±


    ¡°Father, they are on a sightseeing trip. They haven¡¯t considereding to our house at all.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so naive. Guard against malicious intentions. Don¡¯t be without vignce. ¡±


    Young Master Rong found his way to them, saw them resting in the pavilion, and thought his father was overly cautious. ¡°Hey, brothers, wee.¡±


    ¡°Young Master Rong, why not greet the guests?¡±


    ¡°We are all acquainted. They will take care of themselves. But I¡¯m grateful for your presence, esteemed guests. It adds to the glory of our Rong family.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡±


    ¡°My family was fond of your gifts. I will apany you around the mansion.¡± ¡°We are tired from walking. We¡¯ll sit here and wait until the banquet begins, then we¡¯lle over.¡±


    Young Master Rong called a servant to serve tea, and they sat without moving.


    They chatted a bit.


    ¡°Brothers, what business are you in?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re no longer in business. We handed over the family affairs to our children.


    We only want to travel through the territory of the Great Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°I see. Judging by your appearance and attire, you seem wealthy. The ice you brought was a raremodity in this region, yet you even brought a whole cart. ¡±


    ¡°Heroes don¡¯t ask about the origins. We are fated to meet not because of our social status. What do you think, young friend?¡±


    Young Master Rong awkwardly smiled. He had wanted to take the conversation in another direction, but Yuan Jiaqi cut him off.


    Many people passed by the pavilion, almost all of them acquaintances of the Young Master. They greeted and left, but one person stayed.


    It was the younger sister of Young Master Rong, who is blood-rted.


    She first saw her brother. ¡°Brother, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I am apanying honored guests on my father¡¯s orders.¡±


    Miss Rong noticed several unfamiliar people in the pavilion. The elderly emperor was a bit chubby with a beard,cking in charm. The empress, though possessing heavenly grace and beauty, was unfortunately showing signs of aging. Although Qiao Mai possesses an elegant demeanor, she is not particrly good-looking. On the other hand, Yuan Jiaqi was tall, imposing, and exuded the charm of a mature man.


    ¡°Brother, who are these people?¡± ¡°This is Mr. Huang, and this is his wife. That is Mr. Yuan and his wife.¡±


    ¡°Wee to the Rong family.¡±


    Miss Rong disyed the demeanor of a prominent youngdy, seemingly poised and gracious on the surface. However, her eyes remained fixed on Yuan Jiaqi throughout.


    This amused Qiao Mai. Could it be that this youngdy is interested in her man?


    Judging by her gaze, she¡¯s a hundred percent interested in Yuan Jiaqi.


    Qiao Mai lightly cleared her throat, and Miss Rong finally returned to her senses. She retracted her gaze and smiled apologetically.


    ¡°You¡¯re not locals?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are merchants passing through. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Miss Rong¡¯s gaze revealed a tinge of disappointment, ¡°So, you are foreign merchants.¡± As she spoke, she nced again at Yuan Jiaqi.


    She coldly snorted in her heart; what if the man she set her eyes on was from another ce? If he was willing, it would be fine; if not, she could keep him here forcefully.


    Such a refined and mature man with an attractive appearance was her preferred type.


    Seeing his sister like this, Young Master Rong hastily urged her, ¡°Your sisters still need yourpany. Go and attend to them quickly.¡±


    Miss Rong looked at Yuan Jiaqi again. ¡°Excuse me, everyone!¡±


    The group watched her leave and suggested, ¡°You should also attend to your friends. We¡¯ll stay here. When the banquet begins, have someone call us.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡±


    After Young Master Rong was ushered away, the empress pursed her lips and sighed.


    ¡°On the surface, Mr. Rong seems decent, but Miss Rong is a different story. The way she looked at Mr. Yuan was a tant possession. Inw, aren¡¯t you upset?¡±


    ¡°My husband wouldn¡¯t spare that kind of woman a second nce.¡± ¡°How can a branch of the Rong family produce such a person?¡±


    ¡°You should still be mentally prepared. There may be some dirt in secret.¡±


    The emperor took a sip of tea. ¡°Tell me more.¡±


    ¡°Many people who have passed through here have a strong smell of tobo. The men look listless and thin as if they were bones. Usually, they don¡¯t smokerge hemp.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t they look sucked dry by monsters?¡±


    ¡°Yes, your image is appropriate. People who smoke marijuana seem to be sucked dry of their vitality. They have eyebags, their skin is thin, and it seems like they crawled out of a grave.¡±


    ¡°Ah, this tobo is too harmful.¡¯


    ¡°More than that. The victim¡¯s offspring carry the addiction and various diseases. The probability of premature death is high.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already sent the Golden Dragon Guards to investigate.¡±


    ¡°The Rong family probably relies on marijuana to get rich.¡±


    The empress¡¯s face turned pale, and she clenched her hands tightly.. ¡°How sinful!¡±

 Chapter 382 - 382: Are We Being Watched Again?

    Chapter 382 - 382: Are We Being Watched Again?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The four people remained motionless, sitting in the pavilion all along. Observing from a distance, Young Master Rong left quietly when there were no unusual circumstances.


    An hourter, the banquet began, and the emperor and his threepanions were invited to the front.


    The main hall of the Rong family, also the square of the imperial pce, was filled with stalls, emitting the fragrance of fine wines and delicious dishes.


    Regardless of the aspect, everything was exquisite!


    The head of the Rong family, Young Master Rong¡¯s father, finally saw the person who brought the ice.


    He didn¡¯t recognize him; perhaps he was merely a traveler passing by, a capable businessman at most.


    If they could avoid offending them, they would. Making friends was fine, but everything would cool down once they left.


    Therefore, he did note over to entertain them. The emperor¡¯s group was arranged at a table with strangers, nodding to each other.


    Looking at the dishes on the table, the emperor thought the food was even better than what he ate in the pce. In the eyes of the Rong family, is this not their splendid day in the golden autumn, the season of harvest?


    It was extravagant. This table alone would cost no less than a thousand taels of silver.


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t think much about it; they ate when served. The husband and wife were not reserved, enjoying the meal.


    Surprisingly, the taste was excellent. It had been a while since they had enjoyed seafood like this.


    Soon, arge te of raw salmon was brought up with some crushed ice on top. It seemed they had gone all out with their gifts.


    The guests screamed when they saw the ice and salmon.


    ¡°Wow, ice! The Rong family is generous. With the fish frozen like this, it must be delicious. Come, let¡¯s try it.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a bottle and poured a pill into the hands of each of the four.


    ¡°These are raw. To avoid any stomach issues, take one of these before eating.


    Despite being raw, the taste of this fish is excellent. Just don¡¯t overeat.¡±


    ¡°Inw knows a lot.¡±


    They all picked up a chopstick and tasted it. Before they could reach for a second bite, the te was empty. The empress blinked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Inw, shall we prepare a te to taste when we return?¡±


    ¡°No problem, my dear. I¡¯ll fulfill your request!¡±


    The onlookers at the same table sneered at them. This fish is from the deep sea, and could they get the ice?


    If they knew that someone among them had brought out the ice, they might not be so dismissive.


    After the meal, as some people left, they quietly departed as well.


    Instead of staying at the inn, they rode in a sightseeing carriage, continuing their tour. Sitting in the carriage and drinking iced beverages was much more enjoyable than being at the Rong family.


    ¡°A mere branch is so grand. They should be wealthier than Magistrate Wu.¡±


    ¡°He is not the magistrate of Luzhou. Otherwise, the banquet would be even grander. They might even turn gold into dishes.¡±


    The empress¡¯splexion didn¡¯t look good. Qiao Mai spotted a shop on the roadside. ¡°Dong Zhao, Dracaena, stop!¡±


    The carriage stopped, and they turned their heads. ¡°Tobo shop?¡±


    ¡°Want to go in and taste the vor of strong tobo?¡±


    The others shook their heads like drummers. ¡°A tobo shop right on both sides of the street publicly?¡±


    ¡°From yesterday until now, I¡¯ve counted. There are no fewer than ten shops.


    You can imagine how many people are using this drug.¡±


    The emperor clenched his fists tightly. ¡°The capital doesn¡¯t have this, right?¡±


    ¡°It must be underground. Officials protect each other, and businessmen coborate. With intertwined interests, when one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. If the businessmen and officials in Luzhou form awork, it will be a problem.¡±


    ¡°Then it must be eradicated. Otherwise, the entire Ming Dynasty will be harmed by this drug. Losing a city is not a problem for me, but losing all the cities is.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you decide. If there¡¯s anything my husband and I can do, let us know.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured. I will not be polite with you.¡±


    That night, the Golden Dragon Guards investigated the situation in Luzhou, and the emperor stayed upte arranging and organizing.


    The empress was deeply worried. Despite her seemingly rxed demeanor, the Rong family was a branch of her maternal family¡ªa connection by blood.


    If the Rong family had done something harmful to the people, it would bring shame to her as the empress.


    The emperor still trusted her. ¡°I won¡¯t implicate the whole Rong family. Whoever is responsible will be punished. If it involves the main family in the capital, I won¡¯t spare a single one, but I won¡¯t involve the innocent.¡± ¡°Your leniency towards the Rong family is appreciated, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully, the Rong family in the capital is not involved. Theplexity of Luzhou is more sinister than Liangzhou. If we mishandle this, it will be a scene of carnage.¡±


    ¡°So many people?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it confirms what my inw said: officials protect each other, and businessmen coborate. For the sake of making more money, they are willing to engage in such activities.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, are you going to take action?¡±


    ¡°Not yet. The garrison outside the city is likely bribed by them. I need to mobilize the soldiers first, take down the garrison outside the city, and then investigate all the officials and businessmen.¡±


    The emperor sighed andy down next to the empress.


    The next day, several stalls appeared outside the guest inn. Watching from upstairs, Qiao Mai found it amusing. ¡°Husband, we are being watched again.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Look below. Those vendors selling things seem to be yelling and hawking, but their eyes asionally nce towards the inn.¡±


    ¡°They want to probe our background?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have brought those ice blocks. We¡¯ve attracted a group of flies.


    ¡°Concerning the dismissal of Magistrate Wu, our trip with the emperor has always been kept secret. They know the emperor is heading south, but they don¡¯t know the route.¡±


    ¡°Anyone with a brain is always vignt. It seems I need to take action.¡± ¡°Ignore them. Let¡¯s wait until the emperor pleads with you.¡±


    The couple chatted, and the emperor and empress came in with a tired look.


    ¡°You two are enjoying leisure so early.¡±


    ¡°Did you just wake up?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I arranged for the Golden Dragon Guards toest night.¡¯


    The emperor tapped the table with his fingers, and Qiao Mai ced a cold drink before him.


    ¡°The most important thing is to get the ounts of the tobo shop. People like them usually keep two ounts¡ªone public and one hidden.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the Golden Dragon Guards have gone, and I also asked them to investigate the Five Young Masters of Luzhou and their family business. Anyone with a reputation here won¡¯t be spared.¡±


    ¡°Are we going out again?¡±


    ¡°Not anymore. I¡¯m not in the mood. It¡¯s so hot; even taking a breath is ufortable. I don¡¯t know how they live here.¡±


    ¡°They get used to it.¡±


    The emperor looked at Qiao Mai with aplex gaze. ¡°Inw, when this case is resolved, I hope you¡¯ll take action and destroy all the poppy nts here.¡±


    ¡°No problem. Leave it to me.¡±


    At that moment, a guard entered with a letter, holding it with both hands. He knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    The guard respectfully handed the letter to the emperor, who opened it and burst intoughter. He quickly passed the letter to Qiao Mai, bypassing the empress.


    ¡°Inw, take a look. You¡¯re about to be a grandmother.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the letter with a smiling face. ¡°Finally, something good has happened. Congrattions to both of you; you¡¯re about to be grandparents.¡±


    ¡°Haha, thank you!¡±


    The empress took the letter and read it, momentarily forgetting the unpleasantness with the Rong family. ¡°It¡¯s only a month. We need to be more careful.¡¯


    ¡°As long as the Crown Prince doesn¡¯t take concubines and there¡¯s nopetition for favor, Ling¡¯er won¡¯t have any idents.¡±


    ¡°Haha, with a mother-inw like you, he can only have Ling¡¯er as his only wife for the rest of his life.


    ¡°Problems wille with many women in the harem. Dirty tricks emerge endlessly. I¡¯m sure that behind the scenes, the emperor¡¯s offspring have been plotted against many times. The Crown Prince is just one example.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t help it. Women will be arranged to enter the pce to continue the royal bloodline.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what this is called?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°A yboy! ¡°

 Chapter 383 - 383: Killing Intent

    Chapter 383 - 383: Killing Intent


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Inw, have mercy on us with your words.¡±


    ¡°The words may not be pleasant, but that¡¯s the idea. Can you understand it?¡±


    ¡°Pfft, haha.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi and the empress couldn¡¯t help butugh. The old emperor¡¯s face turned red, and he quickly sipped his cold drink.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er is pregnant. Inw, would you like to showcase your skills?¡±


    ¡°What would you like to eat?¡±


    ¡°Something light. The sashimi we had at the Rong family the other day was pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Do you like raw and marinated dishes?¡±


    ¡°No. Sashimi was good, but the other raw and marinated dishes are too fishy for our taste.¡¯


    ¡°Alright, wait a moment.¡±


    Qiao Mai went into the inner room, leaving them outside. Yuan Jiaqi and the emperor tidied the table and waited for the dishes.


    Soon, Qiao Mai brought arge te full of various fish slices, showcasing exquisite knife skills and presentation that amazed them.


    ¡°Beer, beer. Inw, chilled beer!¡±


    The emperor had turned into a bonafide foodie and would call for beer whenever he saw something delicious.


    The four sat by the window, drinking beer, eating fish slices, and chatting leisurely. Just then, there was amotion outside.


    A group of soldiers appeared, surrounding the entire inn.


    Shortly after, some soldiers rushed upstairs and entered Qiao Mai¡¯s room despite the guards¡¯ attempt to stop them.


    Seeing such a scenario, they, seasoned individuals, stayed put and confronted the soldiers.


    ¡°Are you guys from out of town?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We received a report that foreign spies have infiltrated Luzhou.¡±


    ¡°From the South Gate?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re from the North. We have all the customs documents from our journey.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took the documents from his pocket and handed them to the leading soldier. ¡°You are from the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, our families are from the capital. We¡¯re just traveling together. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°No, sorry to disturb you.¡±


    After the soldiers apologized, they quickly left. Yuan Jiaqi closed the door and smirked.


    ¡°They were here to investigate openly. Luckily, we were well-prepared.¡± ¡°Just a bunch of clownish acts. Let¡¯s not bother about them.¡±


    As they spoke, an attendant knocked on the door. ¡°Master, the Magistrate of Luzhou is here to pay his respects.¡±


    The four exchanged nces. The emperor suppressed his anger. ¡°Please, let him in.¡±


    With an attendant, Magistrate Liang entered the room with a nervous heart, seeking to confirm something.


    But what he saw was two middle-aged couples, slightly plump, and one of them looked vaguely familiar.


    He didn¡¯t recognize the other three, so his anxious heart calmed down.


    ¡°Wee to Luzhou, everyone. I am the Magistrate of Luzhou, named Liang


    Zhiqiu. ¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Liang. Nice to meet you.¡±


    After some polite exchanges, Yuan Jiaqi invited the magistrate to take a seat.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re currently investigating spies?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s information that several foreign spies infiltrated through the South Gate.¡±


    ¡°Do you need to check our customs documents?¡±


    ¡°No need. You all seem to be from the Great Ming Dynasty, and your ent is quite authentic. I believe you¡¯re not spies. Are you here for business or leisure?¡± ¡°Leisure. We¡¯re passing through Luzhou, nothing more.¡±


    ¡°Well, there are many interesting ces in Luzhou. Would you like me to arrange a guide for you?¡±


    ¡°No need. We prefer exploring on our own.¡±


    Magistrate Liang scrutinized the four individuals again and concluded they were wealthy and influential. He could not offend them.


    So, he kept his words brief, exchanged some pleasantries, and left.


    The four enjoyed their meal. However, as they settled down, another group arrived.


    Naturally, it was the Five Young Masters of Luzhou, with the eldest son of the Rong family and the magistrate¡¯s son. There were three more young men with influential connections even in the capital city.


    Qiao Mai wasn¡¯t in the mood to entertain them and went to rest, while Yuan Jiaqi followed his wife¡¯s lead.


    It she was not present, he did not show himself either. He returned to his room to hug his wife to sleep.


    The emperor instructed the guards to leave them alone and dered they were all to rest.


    The Five Young Masters were left waiting outside the inn, encountering an unexpected obstacle in their otherwise smooth life.


    With each of them having ulterior purposes foring, they were unwilling to give up easily. Consequently, they waited patiently inside the inn.


    Their patience paid off when lunchtime arrived. Humans need three meals daily, especially after consuming a bellyful of beer at noon. The emperor grew hungry.


    Observing the activities upstairs, the Five Young Masters all stood up. The maids and servants moved efficiently, well-trained, and disciplined. Each one focused on their duties, especially the guards, whose alertness and demeanor set them apart from the ordinary guards ofmon households.


    After observing for a while, Young Master Rong took the initiative to approach.


    ¡°Excuse me, Brother Guard, please inform Mr. Huang and Mr. Yuan that the


    Five Young Masters of Luzhou are here to visit.¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    With a stern expression, the guard went inside and soon returned.


    ¡°My master invites you all inside.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    When the Five Young Masters entered the room, Qiao Mai and the others were gathered around a round table, preparing to eat.


    Seeing this, the five visitors felt a bit awkward. ¡°Sorry for the disturbance.¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite. Please have a seat.¡±


    The five of them sat, and the emperor put down his chopsticks.


    ¡°I heard you arrived at noon?¡±


    ¡°Yes, my father wishes to make friends. You are wee to visit our house.¡±


    They took invitation cards from their pockets and ced them on the table. The emperor nced at them and said, ¡°We are just passing through and will leave in a few days. We won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    ¡°Esteemed guests are rare in Luzhou. We would like to extend our hospitality.¡± ¡°No need. We prefer a quiet environment.¡±


    ¡°Well then, we have arranged a banquet at Tianxing Restaurant tomorrow at noon. We hope you can grace us with your presence.¡±


    With such enthusiasm, it was challenging to decline. Qiao Mai nodded on their behalf.


    It seemed thisdy made the decisions. It was she who brought out the tea bags and ice cubes. It appeared that this woman was not simple.


    Finally getting rid of the guests, the old emperor sighed. ¡°What a scheming meal!¡±


    ¡°And we don¡¯t even know who¡¯s plotting it.¡±


    ¡°At first nce, these people seemed fine, but the more I see them, the more repulsive they be.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, people are not as simple as they seem. Surface appearances are always unreliable.¡±


    For every sentence the emperor uttered, Qiao Mai would strike him lightly.


    The moonlight was beautiful tonight, with the stars seemingly cradling the moon. The enchanting scene sparked everyone¡¯s interest. They sat in a sightseeing carriage, leisurely strolling through the streets.


    ¡°If only we didn¡¯t have these troubling matters.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We came here for leisure, so let¡¯s focus on that. The rest is secondary.¡±


    The emperor nced at the empress. ¡°Even if the Rong family has fallen, there are still people apanying you. Empress, you don¡¯t have to be too sad.¡±


    Just as they spoke, a gust of wind blew through, but strangely, it couldn¡¯t reach the inside of the carriage. However, Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    ¡°ckie.¡±


    It barked twice from the roof. ¡°Master, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    ¡°I cast a barrier around the carriage. I¡¯ll leave them to you.¡±


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re so mean, only caring about yourselves and not about me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re capable enough, so stop talking nonsense.¡±


    At this moment, Dong Zhao and Dracaena had halted their steps, and the carriage came to a stop in the middle of the street, bathed in moonlight. The emperor sensed that something was amiss. ¡°Inw, are there assassins?¡± ¡°There¡¯s killing intent, but it seems nonexistent. The scent is off, though.¡±


    Qiao Mai sniffed lightly, and the ck-d figures appeared on the rooftop.


    They leaped down, wielding knives, directly attacking the people inside the car ¡ª the emperor, the empress, and Yuan Jiaqi.


    Surprisingly, none showed any fear; they all widened their eyes, attentively observing their surroundings.


    Qiao Mai sipped juice and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; none can get in. Let ckie handle them. Watch closely to see how it deals with them.¡±


    The emperor swallowed hard, pointing outside.


    ¡°Is it that little dog lying on our roof?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Damn, this little guy is vicious!¡±

 Chapter 384 - 384: Smart!

    Chapter 384 - 384: Smart!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Except for Qiao Mai, they were all seeing ckie in action for the first time.


    Heaven, it was shocking. Otherwise, the emperor wouldn¡¯t have used vulgarnguage.


    ckie opened its bloodthirsty mouth and bit off the necks one by one. It was clean and efficient.


    The ck-d men had no idea what was happening; they were annihted.


    Qiao Mai reached out, and the ck-d man who tried to escape from a distance was sucked under her magic grasp.


    Without saying a word, she extracted his memories and then tossed the guy, letting ckie bite him to death.


    Then, Qiao Mai looked weirdly at Yuan Jiaqi, causing his hair to stand on end.


    ¡°Wife, did theye for me?¡±


    ¡°Smart! ¡±


    ¡°Really? What¡¯s my connection with them?¡±


    ¡°Do you remember the youngdy from the Rong family?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember. I only have you in my eyes, no one else. Not even a celestial being.¡±


    The emperor was stunned and burst intoughter, ¡°He doesn¡¯t remember, but I do. She¡¯s Young Master Rong¡¯s legitimate sister.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she set her eyes on my husband and sent people to snatch him.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    The empress was angry and amused. ¡°Who does she think she is, a princess? She tried to steal someone else¡¯s husband.¡±


    ¡°Somedies from wealthy families are spoiled. There are plenty who can¡¯t marry well and end up having boy toys. Stealing a husband is not something the emperor¡¯s daughter hasn¡¯t done.¡±


    The emperor chuckled, ¡°Those are old stories. At that time, I consulted your husband¡¯s opinion. Since he disagreed, I didn¡¯t force it.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, you didn¡¯t force him. Otherwise, the Ming Dynasty wouldn¡¯t be surnamed Li.¡±


    ¡°Inw, you are wise. I¡¯m afraid of you.¡±


    ¡°Since Miss Rong is so courteous, it¡¯s only right to reciprocate. You guys stroll around. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    Qiao Mai disappeared from their sight instantly. The empress patted her chest, ¡°Where did she go?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gone to find Miss Rong. She¡¯s in for a tough night.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she brought this upon herself. Whose man isn¡¯t worth stealing? Trying to snatch our inw¡¯s man? Seeking death.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably worse than death.¡±


    Following its master¡¯s orders, ckie threw all the bodies into the Rong mansion.


    The carriage continued to stroll around. Half an hourter, Qiao Mai returned.


    ¡°Let¡¯s return to the inn. It¡¯s not early anymore. We should rest.¡± ¡°I feel morefortable in this carriage than in the inn.¡±


    ¡°For your good rest, I ced several talismans in the inn¡¯s room. You¡¯re enjoying thefort of prosperity without realizing it.¡±


    The empress opened her mouth, ¡°Inw, what happened to her?¡±


    Speaking of this, Qiao Mai¡¯s face darkened. After taking a sip of fruit juice, she snorted.


    ¡°I took her out, stripped her, and threw her on the busiest street in the brothel district. Since she likes men so much, let her enjoy it.¡±


    The three others shuddered simultaneously. ¡°She probably doesn¡¯t care, right?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. If she doesn¡¯t change, I¡¯ll hang her on the city gate tower for the entire city to see. If she still doesn¡¯t feel ashamed, I¡¯ll throw her on her father¡¯s bed. If a child is not taught well, it¡¯s their father¡¯s fault. I¡¯ll let her father pamper her properly.¡±


    The emperor wiped a cold sweat. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t offend this ruthless woman. Otherwise, he didn¡¯t know how she would torment him if he fell into her hands.


    Amitabha!


    The night passed without much conversation. The next day, the news of Miss Rong being stripped and thrown on the street spread throughout the city.


    Upon seeing such a readily avable beauty, those customers didn¡¯t bother to spend money on anything else.


    They lined up all night, and Miss Rong had not been free of men until dawn. Only then did someone realize she was the youngdy of the Rong family.


    They were scared, clutching their pants, and ran away. It was the patrolling soldiers who discovered it.


    The Rong family members rushed to the scene immediately. At this time, Miss Rong was on the verge of death, with saliva flowing from the corners of her mouth.


    The Rong family head called someone to dress her and carried her back home. Then, they invited a famous doctor from Luzhou to treat her. Fortunately, they managed to save her life.


    The group of four sat in the teahouse, listening to the waiter talking about the outside world. Yuan Jiaqi happily rewarded him, letting him leave.


    ¡°After this incident, I wonder if the Rong family head wille during lunch?¡±


    ¡°He should. After all, interests are more important than anything else, let alone a useless daughter.¡±


    ¡°Are theying to make connections because they covet what we have?¡± ¡°Not us, but the tea and ice in Qiao Mai¡¯s hands.¡±


    ¡°If I wanted to do this business, I would have done it long ago. It will not be their turn. They¡¯re overestimating themselves. We haven¡¯t even settled the score for the drug matter.¡±


    ¡°Soon, there will be some clues. Let¡¯s drag it for now.¡±


    At the Rong mansion, the Rong family head anddy stood by the bedside of Miss Rong. In a short while, she woke up.


    As soon as she saw them, she wailed, ¡°Father, Mother, what¡¯s happening to me? My whole body hurts, especially my stomach and legs. And, and¡­¡±


    ¡°What happenedst night?¡±


    At this mention, Miss Rong widened her eyes. ¡°I fell in love with a man and ordered someone to catch him. I fainted after a while. What happened exactly?¡±


    ¡°You were stripped by someone and taken advantage of by the brothel customers.¡±


    ¡°What? How is that possible? I was at home.¡± ¡°That means there¡¯s a skilled person who snatched you away.¡±


    ¡°Who could be so bold? I will avenge myself now.¡±


    The Rong family head scolded, ¡°Enough! Look at yourself; you¡¯ve already disgraced our family.¡±


    ¡°Father, that¡¯s why I want to regain it. I suspect that the group of four did this.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they¡¯re fools? Since they dared to target you, they aren¡¯t afraid of us. You¡¯d better behave and stop causing trouble.¡±


    ¡°Are we afraid of them?¡±


    ¡°Humph! Ignorant.¡±


    The Rong family head was angry and left, leaving Madam Rong wiping her tears, ¡°Jiaojiao, don¡¯t cause trouble anymore. Your father can¡¯t figure out their background. We invited them for lunch today at Tianxing Restaurant. We will befriend them and then investigate them. To win every battle, you must first know the enemy.¡±


    ¡°They took advantage of me. Mother, I¡¯m in pain.¡±


    ¡°Mother has applied medicine to that ce. It¡¯ll get better soon. If it were cold, you might have lost your life.¡±


    ¡°I will never let them go. I must have that man.¡±


    ¡°Give up. You¡¯re not without handsome young men. Why bother?¡±


    ¡°No, I fell in love with him. If he agrees, I¡¯ll marry him. He¡¯s the only man in my life.¡¯


    Madam Rong couldn¡¯t persuade her daughter, so she had to make an excuse and leave.


    At noon, the emperor¡¯s group arrived on time on the top floor of Tianxing Restaurant. The heads of the five families and their sons got up to greet them.


    ¡°Wee.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. We are merely tourists and unworthy of such hospitality.¡±


    ¡°Haha, it¡¯s our fate to meet. Please take a seat.


    The emperor turned from a guest to a host instantly. There was no way; he was used to speaking like this.


    Everyone took their seats and introduced themselves.


    ¡°I heard from my son that thisdy brought excellent tea when you met. I wonder if you can get some for us?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring any today, nor did I bring ice.¡±


    ¡°What a pity. We loved the gifts you sentst time. They were priceless.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite. We brought them for our use on the road. Since you all liked them, we gave the cart of ice away. Otherwise, it would have melted.¡±


    ¡°I wonder where the next stop will be for you?¡±


    ¡°From Luzhou to the southeast, then Dongguan, and further north to Beiguan.


    A circle to see the beautiful rivers and mountains of our Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Not bad.¡±


    ¡°Are you gentlemen from the capital?¡±


    ¡°Our children are doing business there. We n to settle in the Northter. The


    South is too hot, and we are all getting older; we can¡¯t stand such a climate.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty humid, not as distinct as the four seasons in the north..¡±

 Chapter 385 - 385: You ‘re Smart

    Chapter 385 - 385: You ¡®re Smart


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Despite their lively conversations, they assessed each other secretly and cautiously.


    They didn¡¯t even consider who the emperor was¡ªa master of group battles and a cunning hunter. How could they take advantage of him?


    He single-handedly managed everyone present, saving the effort of the three others.


    They sat and listened, not bothering to touch even a sip of tea.


    Qiao Mai had checked today¡¯s food and drinks, and there was no problem. They could eat and drink without worry. However, they barely touched their chopsticks.


    After the meal, unable to extract any information, they finally resorted to asking Qiao Mai aboutmercializing tea and ice.


    ¡°The tea was obtained asionally, and I only brought a small amount on the journey. As for the ice, we used special means to transport it along the way. It was only for our use during the journey. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. Doing business doesn¡¯t always result in profit; righteousness is paramount.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your hospitality. We bid farewell.¡±


    The emperor and his group boarded their carriage and departed. Upstairs, the onlookers remained seated, exchanging nces with each other.


    ¡°These four are not ordinary. That old man has such a strong aura. As soon as he arrived, he took charge and suppressed us. His wife seems toe from a humble background, and the other couple, though seemingly ordinary, showed no fear of the old man¡¯s presence. It seems their status is not low. I heard they have twenty guards apanying them, and the maids around them are also extraordinary.¡±


    ¡°We should be cautious. Let¡¯s abandon this piece of cake.¡±


    ¡°Yes, our thoughts align.¡±


    From that day on, Qiao Mai and the others were no longer disturbed, but the spies at the inn¡¯s entrance remained.


    The emperor and his group continued their daily strolls, sightseeing, dining, and listening to music without unusual activities. The people of Luzhou City gradually let their guard down.


    In the calm days that followed, a new group of unexpected guests arrived at the inn one night.


    The main battlefield was the rooftop, and the main actors were the ck-d figures and ckie.


    The ck-d figures were wiped out, and their bodies were thrown into the Rong mansion. Qiao Mai lets Miss Rong witness how she keeps to her promises.


    The next day, she was hung upside down outside the city walls, naked.


    When the day broke, the citizens entering and leaving the city could see the spectacle.


    This time, it was not so easy for her toe down. When the Rong family discovered she was missing, they sent people to search the city. They found her at the city gate when the sun rose.


    It took considerable effort to bring her down.


    The citizens enjoyed an eye-catching sight¡ªevery detail of her body, including birthmarks, was visible.


    The Rong family faced a severe loss of pride.


    ¡°Did you provoke those people again?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father. Yesterday, I sent someone over. I won¡¯t stop until I get what I want.¡±


    ¡°If he could insult you like that, he has the ability to kill you. No one will stop you from trying to kill yourself. You can¡¯t drag the family down.¡±


    ¡°Father, why are you so stingy? Don¡¯t forget that the empress is from our family.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. She came from the main family. The empress is not the emperor. The previous empress was also removed from her position. She strictly demands from her family, let alone our branch.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, the emperor is far away. They can¡¯t control us here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better behave yourself.¡±


    Furious, the Rong family head revoked all her privileges and assigned someone to watch over her. Without his orders, Miss Rong was not allowed to act recklessly.


    A dayter, ten thousand elite soldiers from the border arrived. Following the emperor¡¯s orders, they investigated the five thousand soldiers outside Luzhou City.


    The emperor received evidence of their crimes and immediately suspended themander. He chose a recement from the generals at the border.


    The forces outside the city remained passive while the Golden Dragon Guards infiltrated the city, investigating each household.


    Even the most profitable shops in the city couldn¡¯t escape scrutiny. For three consecutive days, the city remained quiet. On the third night, the sky opened up, pouring down heavy rain.


    The emperor examined the thick ount books with a headache in the inn.


    ¡°Golden Dragon Guards.¡±


    ¡°Present. ¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow night, carry out operations. These five families must not be released. First, take them to the prison, then thoroughly search their residences, from properties to shops. Ensure everything aligns with the ount books.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    In the night rain, the Golden Dragon Guards left the inn while bearing the emperor¡¯s orders.


    The rain continued throughout the day and night, finally stopping. On this night, the five families of Luzhou City found themselves surrounded by imperial troops. Any resistance was met with immediate execution by the Golden Dragon Guards.


    All of them were detained in the magistrate¡¯s prison, which had been taken over by themander from outside the city.


    The night saw 15,000 soldiers searching. When dawn broke, they began tallying the confiscated wealth. By noon, the old emperor received the news.


    The five families¡¯ confiscated records amounted to sixteen million taels, with countless precious jewels, antiques, calligraphy, and paintings. The valuable medicinal herbs were as numerous as hairs on an ox.


    Rather than getting angry, the old emperor chuckled.


    ¡°Excellent! They¡¯ve been saving money to send gifts to us. With this batch collected, how can the national treasury not be abundant? If more such peoplee, we will be even more prosperous. No need to worry about money anymore.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, do you want the main culprits to be publicly tried?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you and themander to handle. We don¡¯t want to see these parasites. Have the opium dens been searched?¡±


    ¡°Not a single one was spared.¡±


    ¡°After the trial, those deserving death shall be executed ording to thews of the Great Ming; those deserving banishment shall be banished. Remember to pull out all the poppy nts outside the city and post notices. Any household caught growing this stuff again will be sentenced to death!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    The Golden Dragon Guards left. The emperor sought out Qiao Mai. ¡°Inw, everything has been settled.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s witness the spectacle?¡±


    ¡°I had the same idea.¡±


    The four arrived at the magistrate¡¯s office. The crowd gathered outside, eager to know the fate of the five families.


    Qiao Mai gestured for people to make way, and a path naturally formed. The emperor entered the office with his threepanions.


    The heads of the five families knelt in the courtroom. The leader of the Golden Dragon Guards sat above them, apanied by themander.


    The Rong family head and Magistrate Wu resisted and argued, especially the Rong family head.


    ¡°How daring you are to move against the empress¡¯s maternal family.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, isn¡¯t thew applicable everywhere? His Majesty revised thew. His Majesty even said he would be treated the same asmoners if he breaks thew. You are not the empress; you are merely rted to Her Majesty. Can youpare to His Majesty?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, we refuse to ept this.¡±


    ¡°We have witnesses and material evidence. You have no choice but to ept it.¡± ¡°I want to submit aint. You abused your power to arrest us.¡±


    The leader of the Golden Dragon Guards disyed a token. ¡°Open your eyes and see what this is.¡¯


    Upon seeing the token, the Rong family head and Magistrate Wu copsed.


    How could they not know the Golden Dragon Guards? They were the emperor¡¯s personal guards, dedicated to protecting the emperor and following his orders. In other words, the current situation they faced was all due to the emperor¡¯s favor.


    Suddenly, Magistrate Wu widened his eyes, looking at the Golden Dragon Guards. ¡°Is the emperor currently in Luzhou City?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re pretty clever.¡±


    Magistrate Wu bowed his head resignedly. As he thought, that person seemed familiar that day. It turned out to be the emperor.


    They operated opium dens and harmed themoners¡ªthe emperor knew it all. s!


    Simultaneously, the Rong family head also realized this problem. He looked at Magistrate Wu. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say it earlier?¡±


    ¡°I just thought of it.¡±


    The Rong family head suddenly turned around, looking at themoners outside the magistrate¡¯s office. At a nce, he saw the emperor and the others.


    The emperor calmly gazed at him, and the empress stared at him with a stoic expression.


    The words he was about to say never left his mouth.


    What could he say? The emperor intended to punish him, and there was no escape. Just two days ago, he still regarded them as guests, but now, he had be a prisoner under their control..

 Chapter 386 - 386: Seduced By Beauty

    Chapter 386 - 386: Seduced By Beauty


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The empress is from the Rong family. How could she stand by and watch the emperor take action against them without intervening?


    Thinking about the crimesmitted by the five families, he sighed.


    With such serious charges, the empress could only prioritize the greater good and wouldn¡¯t support them. He was having wishful thinking.


    Three dayster, the heads of the five families were beheaded in the market square of Luzhou. Their families were exiled, and their properties were confiscated.


    The five families disappeared from Luzhou, and many opium dens and gambling houses in the city vanished overnight. The air cleared considerably.


    Families that had been harmed by drugs all smiled, weeping at their doorsteps.


    They thanked heaven, righteous officials, and the emperor for finally bringing justice.


    Two dayster, the poppy fields outside the city were burned down, and the localmander issued a promation: anyone found cultivating this nt would be executed!


    Some rejoiced while others worried. Growing this lucrative crop brought quick money, butrge-scale opium production was finally banned. People would no longer be harmed by this substance.


    For a while, smokers struggled at home without their beloved opium. Those addicted to opium experienced unbearable withdrawal symptoms, with some even dying from the severity of their addiction. Over time, those with milder addictions managed to break free.


    On the day the five aristocratic families of Luzhou were exiled, the emperor and his party stood on the city wall.


    Miss Rong, handcuffed and with ankle shackles, asionally looked back. When she saw the four people on the city wall, she instantly understood what had happened.


    The defeat of their family was rted to these people.


    Qiao Mai looked at the woman. Up to this point, she was still coveting her man.


    Irritated, Ciao Mai used a burst of psychic energy to p her.


    Miss Rong screamed in misery, a deep palm print on her face.


    The nearby soldiers kicked her directly.


    ¡°Hurry up and walk. Don¡¯t act crazy. It won¡¯t work. If you waste time, you won¡¯t reach the designated location. I¡¯ll let you all starve.¡±


    Twenty or thirty soldiers, holding whips, drove the members of the five families.


    The sounds of screams and crying mixed!


    They still didn¡¯t know the identity of these four people. They were inexplicably targeted and had their homes plundered and subsequently exiled.


    From beginning to end, the emperor and the others never showed themselves. However, a few among the deceased family heads seemed to have understood, but it was toote.


    Combining Liangzhou and Luzhou, it took a little over a month to clean up the local officials and wealthy individuals.


    This incident could be described as shocking to the imperial court. Many people panicked and tried to keep a low profile.


    When Qiao Mai and the others left Luzhou, the city had turned over a new leaf.


    The old emperor sat in the carriage, looking at a map.


    ¡°Inw, our next stop is here, Suzhou. It¡¯s closer to the West Gate, and the weather will get colder. There will be a climate difference every ten miles.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s October, and the weather should be getting colder. The carriage has its heating, so there¡¯s no need for those charcoal braziers.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that it¡¯s not humid. I can¡¯t endure the weather in the South. Sweating and getting itchy is very ufortable.¡±


    Qiao Mai pointed to the map. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break here, have some food, and stroll around.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Since her extended family was plundered and exiled, the empress had been in a bad mood. She had been forcing a smile all the way.


    Qiao Mai naturally noticed. She patted her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink about this matter. Fortunately, the Luzhou branch has no contact with the main family in the capital. Otherwise, your maternal family would be in trouble. Thinking too much is tiring.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already sent a letter to my family, asking them to restrain themselves. Otherwise, I won¡¯t lend a hand if something happens.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You are separate entities. It has always been like this throughout history. The emperor won¡¯t hold a grudge against you for such matters.


    Besides, there¡¯s still me. Who dares to harm you? They must bypass me first.¡±


    The empress¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Inw, thank you.¡±


    The emperor rolled his eyes. ¡°Stop making me seem like a senile king. The crown prince has been established. If anything happens, it¡¯s up to him. If he dares to harm the Rong family, I¡¯ll make the Song family disappear.¡±


    Qiao Mai chuckled. ¡°The crown prince doesn¡¯t get close to the Rong family.


    Instead, he¡¯s tolerant of the useless Song family. There must be some hidden story there, right?¡±


    ¡°When he was young, he stayed with the Song family for several years and had some feelings for them. Maybe he was brainwashed by them.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, if my daughter gives birth to a son, he will be the future heir. If your son doesn¡¯t settle down, I¡¯ll depose him.¡±


    ¡°Inw, rest assured. He wouldn¡¯t dare for now. If he does, I¡¯ll depose him first.


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re just nning to let him be the emperor with real power still in your hands?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I need a means of self-preservation. It¡¯s unwise to keep all my cards on the table, right?¡±


    ¡°Old habits die hard, haha.¡±


    Holding a book, Yuan Jiaqi nced at the emperor proudly, thinking that with his wife around, what was the point of those useless tokens? With his wife by his side, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid even if the sky fell.


    Yuan Jiaqi had elevated his wife to the status of a goddess.


    At this moment, a horse-drawn carriage stopped beside them. Yubao rode up to the carriage window.


    ¡°Master, a girl is lying by the roadside.¡±


    ¡°Send someone to take a look. If she¡¯s still alive, bring her to the town ahead and find a doctor for treatment.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the curtain and watched as several people carried a girl into the back of the carriage.


    Although the girl was dressed inly and had a dirty face, one could see the uniqueness of this girl at first nce.


    Once cleaned, that face seemed to belong to a truly stunning beauty who could captivate an entire nation.


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the old emperor could withstand her charm. She also nced at Yuan Jiaqi, thinking this might test his determination.


    An hourter, they arrived at Yanyu Town. The carriage stopped at a medical hall, and the girl was carried inside. Yubao followed. After a short while, he came out.


    ¡°Master, the girl is fine. She just fainted from heatstroke.¡±


    ¡°Fainted? How coincidental. Give her some money and find an inn for her to rest. We will have a meal and continue the journey.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Yu Bao left, and the carriage started moving again. At this moment, a girl rushed out of the medical hall, blocking the carriage.


    ¡°Please, kind sirs and madams, this youngdy has lost her family and has nowhere to go. Could you please take me in? I am willing to do anything.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t respond, and Yuan Jiaqi pretended to be deaf, holding up a book to read. The empress seemed moved, gazing at the pitiful girl. The old emperor stared at the girl¡¯s face.


    He slowly said, ¡°Do you mind being a servant?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t mind. As long as I have a meal and a ce to stay, it¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°Bring her into the back carriage.¡±


    The girl was taken away. Qiao Mai snorted. ¡°Are you seduced by beauty?¡±


    The emperor smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m already old. I haven¡¯t thought about those things. I feel that this girl¡¯s background is unclear, and her fainting is too coincidental. I¡¯ll keep her to find out more.¡±


    ¡°This official road has many carriages and horses, but we happened to encounter her. Is it fate or someone¡¯s calction?¡±


    Speaking of this, the carriage stopped at an inn. Since it was a temporary break, they nned to have a meal, nap, and then continue the journey. As the night fell, the map indicated that there were only small towns along the road, and they would stop wherever they reached.


    Next to the inn was a restaurant. They booked a private room while the others dined in the hall downstairs.


    The girl followed the servants into the inn and freshened up. Fortunately, someone kindly gave her a set of clothes to change into.


    Afterbing her hair, this simple attire made her look even more dazzling.


    Even in ordinary clothes, her stunning beauty overshadowed everything. People couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard as they looked at her face.


    Everyone in the hall couldn¡¯t help but look at her face while eating.


    If it weren¡¯t for everyone being from the capital and having seen countless beauties, someone like her could bewitch all living beings..

 Chapter 387 - 387: It Doesn’t Fancy You

    Chapter 387 - 387: It Doesn¡¯t Fancy You


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After dinner, everyone rested in the inn, and everything seemed as usual.


    After a nap, everyone got up to pack their things and prepare to set off to the next destination.


    The masters got on the carriage first, and the servants followed suit.


    The girl might be weak as she tripped noticeably. The servants quickly helped her up.


    Trained as they were, they did not tter or fawn over her despite having a favorable impression of her beauty.<div>


    They assisted her into the carriage and continued their duties.


    As the carriage started, Yubao reported quietly to the emperor by the window.


    ¡°Master, this servant feels that the girl is not simple. Just now, it seemed like she intentionally tripped to attract the master¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°Hmm, her face is beautiful, but I don¡¯t like it.


    The empressughed, ¡°My dear, what kind of faces do you like?¡±


    ¡°Something like your dignified and elegant appearance. Besides her beauty, I can¡¯t see any substance within. She might be good at serving with her looks, but over time, it will be tiresome.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. My dear, your eyes are discerning.¡±


    ¡°Back in the day, there was a concubine who was even more beautiful than her. One nce could make people infatuated. However, the Li family¡¯s fortune almost copsed because of her. I am not a foolish emperor who acts impulsively; I won¡¯t be swayed by appearances. I let her stay to see what she intends to do.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took a sip and gently put down his book.


    ¡°It seems like the girl came for us. I noticed her eyes were constantly ncing at our carriage.¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered. ¡°You observe quite attentively.¡±


    ¡°She wanted to bore a hole through our carriage with her eyes. I can¡¯t avoid it.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the roof. ¡°ckie, keep an eye on that woman.¡±


    ¡°Woof, woof.¡¯


    The emperor pointed to the roof, ¡°I like this pet of yours.¡±


    ¡°It has high standards and doesn¡¯t fancy you. You can forget about it.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just joking.¡±


    In the carriage behind, the girl sat next to the servants.


    On his horse, Yubao approached the carriage window. ¡°Miss, may I inquire if you have proof of residence as you travel?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I had to escape in the middle of the night because someone wanted to harm me.¡±


    ¡°Where is your home?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in Du Vige outside of Luzhou.¡±


    ¡°Why were you targeted?¡±


    ¡°Because of my face. The brothels in the city took notice of me, and my parents were forced to sell me. I refused, so they killed my parents. To protect me, my parents risked their lives and dyed them, allowing me to escape.¡±


    ¡°Oh? So now you¡¯ve exposed yourself. Won¡¯t someone try to harm you in the future?¡±


    ¡°No, I can tell you are all good people. Moreover, you seem wealthy and influential. I believe that I will have no worries about my life following you.¡±


    Yubao chuckled. ¡°Alright, you can follow us. Nanny Liu, educate her on the rules. ¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Nanny Liu looked at the girl. ¡°Since you¡¯ve joined our master, you need to change your appearance and name. For now, you¡¯ll be called Qing Xing. We haven¡¯t arranged anything for you yet, so follow me and learn the rules.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll arrange a contract for you. You can¡¯t follow us without clear terms.¡± The girl blinked, but she obediently nodded.


    Late at night, they rested in a guesthouse in Yanyu Town. Qing Xing behaved obediently, showing no signs of her intentions.


    After having dinner, everyone went to sleep. The night was quiet, and the surroundings were pitch ck, with only the moon shining in the sky.


    On the roof, ckie¡¯s eyes glowed ominously.


    It lifted its head, and its ears perked up, indicating some movement below. A shadow leaped out of the window and disappeared into the night.


    ckie vanished instantly, following her.


    Unaware of these events, the girl moved far away from the town before stopping. She took a whistle from her pocket and blew it a few times.


    Soon, another shadow appeared beside her. ¡°This subordinate pays respects to the Sect Lord.¡±


    ¡°How did things go?¡±


    ¡°I have joined their group, but¡­¡±


    ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°Their leader doesn¡¯t seem to care about my appearance.¡±


    ¡°Humph, no cat can resist the temptation to steal fish, let alone an emperor. When faced with a beautiful woman, how can he resist it? Stay undercover for now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord.¡±


    ckie recognized a man and a woman, with the man being the lord and the woman being his subordinate.


    The two of them were unaware of ckie.


    As the day dawned, the group had breakfast and continued riding on the official road. ckie used telepathy to convey the events of the previous night to Qiao Mai.


    She grinned. ¡°A sect lord? It seems like there¡¯s a force trying to stir up trouble in the dark. They¡¯re overestimating themselves.¡±


    ¡°Inw, send the Golden Dragon Guards back to the capital immediately to keep an eye on your crown prince.¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but someone has nned this. They sent such a beautiful woman to seduce you. Presumably, they will make a move simultaneously.¡±


    The emperor couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send someone immediately.¡±


    That night, Qiao Mai appeared by the girl¡¯s bed and touched her sleeping acupoint. Then, she probed her memories.


    Unexpectedly, there was a pleasant surprise. A restriction was ced on her mind, making it challenging to retrieve information.


    However, it was far from sophisticated, too low-level to be considered refined.


    With her spiritual power, Qiao Mai broke the restrictions. Meanwhile, a man hundreds of miles away spat out a mouthful of blood, holding his chest. ¡°I¡¯m being counterattacked? How is that possible? Who broke my restrictions?¡±


    Qiao Mai withdrew her hand and returned to her room. Yuan Jiaqi looked at her.


    ¡°Wife, how is it?¡±


    ¡°Is there a force in the martial world called the Holy Dark Temple?¡±


    ¡°The Holy Dark Temple?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I extracted this information from the girl¡¯s mind. She¡¯s a small fry and knows very little. Last night, she met the sect lord of the Holy Dark Temple. Four sect lords obey the orders of the Dark Temple¡¯s Grand Master.¡± ¡°Is it a threat to us?¡±


    ¡°No, the lord¡¯s skills seem low-level. I presume their master is not much stronger. Let¡¯s see.¡±


    ¡°Wife, be careful.¡¯


    Qiao Mai nced at him, nodding lightly. ¡°Okay.¡±


    For five days straight, they continued their journey and were about to reach Suzhou. Once they entered the city, they could rx for a while.


    At nightfall, the group entered Suzhou City.


    Yubao had been working hard, arranging the inn and ordering meals.


    He had booked the second floor of the inn. Everyone sat around a table in the room, eating.


    The emperor¡¯s group wrinkled their brows, looking at the dishes. If not for Qiao Mai, they would have already started devouring the food. ¡°Our food has been tampered with. There is a sleeping drug inside.¡±


    ¡°What about them?¡±


    ¡°They have been affected too.¡±


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sealed the second floor; no one can escape. Three of you can pretend to faintter.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll pretend to faint as well.¡±


    Qiao Mai threw some food, and the four pretended to pass out.


    On the roof, ckie continuously flickered its red eyes, finding it amusing that even Qiao Mai was pretending to faint!


    Late at night, the drug proved to be potent. Guards and servantsy on tables and the floor, sleeping deeply.


    However, among those supposed to be sleeping, Qing Xing quietly raised her head, nced around, and stood up to inspect them.


    After ensuring everything went smoothly, she approached the emperor¡¯s table. Everyone was fast asleep.


    Seeing that everything was in order, she approached the window, whistling.

 Chapter 388 - 388: Sorry For The Disturbance

    Chapter 388 - 388: Sorry For The Disturbance


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    It was different from that night. The man in ck approached slowly, hesitating for a long time outside the window before finally jumping in.


    ¡°Did you seed?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sect Lord.¡±


    The man in ck looked at the four people at the table. He cautiously approached, and just as he reached for Yuan Jiaqi, he found himself immobilized.


    He struggled to move but was paralyzed. When Qing Xing noticed something was wrong and tried to help, she also found herself unable to move.<div>


    It was only then that they realized they had fallen into a trap.


    The room was suddenly illuminated. The four people supposedly asleep got up, yawning.


    ¡°Which friend dared to plot against us?¡±


    The emperor approached the lord, reached out, and removed his face mask.


    Seeing the man¡¯s appearance, the emperor understood.


    ¡°A foreigner?¡±


    ¡°I advise you to let me go. Otherwise, if our Grand Master finds out, the Ming Dynasty will be doomed.¡±


    Qiao Mai raised her hand and pped him. ¡°Shameless! You dare to threaten us. If you have the ability, why y these tricks with us?¡±


    ¡°Humph, our Grand Master prefers to keep a low profile.¡±


    Qiao Mai couldn¡¯t be bothered with him and probed his soul. As expected, theyers of prohibitions in their minds were meticulously crafted.


    The restrictions on him are probably set by his superior, the Grand Master.


    Unfortunately, these people were like child¡¯s ypared to her methods.


    She broke the restrictions with ease and thoroughly investigated the Holy Dark Temple.


    The man looked at her in horror. ¡°You broke my restriction!¡±


    ¡°Childish tricks. Only you people would use them. Your Dark Temple has overstepped its bounds. The inds at the intersection of the five countries are not enough for you. Who gave you the courage?¡±


    ¡°Since we¡¯ve fallen into your hands, do what you want.¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered. ¡°After I finish dealing with things here, I will visit your Grand Master and inform him¡­


    ¡°You won¡¯t kill us?¡±


    ¡°Killing you is as easy as ughtering a chicken. Leave the Ming Dynasty within three days or die!¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, throwing the two out of the window.


    The emperor became anxious. ¡°Why not kill them to eliminate future troubles?¡±


    ¡°Kill them? How would I find theirir then? The world is so big. Even with ckie¡¯s abilities, it would take a long time. I ced restrictions on them as well. No matter where they go, I will know. Besides, others will keeping. It will only get more troublesome. Letting the tiger return to the mountain is the only way to find their nest.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    In a grand hall on the inds far away, a middle-aged man was coughing up blood. It was more than the sect lord had vomited.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible. Who broke my restriction?¡±


    ¡°Grand Master, there are always people beyond our expectations.¡± ¡°What about the four sect lords?¡±


    ¡°Qing Feng, Hao Yue, and Jiang Hai are present, but Shan Chuan hasn¡¯t returned for a month. Didn¡¯t you send him out?¡± ¡°Quickly send someone to bring him back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grand Master.¡±


    After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he went into spasms. Holding his chest, he coughed continuously and crossed his legs as he tried to recover.


    After the restriction was broken, he thought he was going to die. Unexpectedly, there was such a skilled person in the world. Not only did they casually break his restriction, but they also didn¡¯t harm the person. It seemed that the Holy Dark Temple had kicked an iron te.


    In the October of Suzhou, the weather gradually became colder. While they could eat in the courtyard during the day, they had to move indoors by night.


    Fortunately, the air was drier than in the South, and the temperature was rtivelyfortable.


    Walking in the city, they could feel the atmosphere of the North and the vor of the South.


    There were stalls selling snacks and fruits on both sides of the street. Qiao Mai picked two golden sugar canes, divided them into several sections, and handed them to the other three.


    ¡°Eat. Don¡¯t worry about your image. No one knows you here.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you¡¯re right.¡¯


    The group nibbled on the sugar cane as they strolled through the streets. ¡°Why is Suzhou so quiet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s prosperous.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what I mean?¡±


    ¡°I guess the news of what happened in Luzhou has spread. No one dares tomit crimes openly unless they don¡¯t want to live.¡±


    ¡°Suzhou is a good ce at the border of the North and South. You can find all kinds of businesses here.¡¯


    Just as they talked, a seven or eight-year-old child ran towards them. He rushed past the emperor before being caught by Qiao Mai with one hand.


    She looked at the boy sternly. ¡°Return what you stole.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the emperor realized that something was missing. It turned out to be the jade ornament he often carried.


    ¡°What? I didn¡¯t see anything.¡±


    Qiao Mai reached into his embrace and took out the jade pendant, handing it to the emperor. At the same time, she grabbed the boy¡¯s neck with one hand.


    Then, she tightened her wrist, almost suffocating the child. She threw him on the ground with a swing of her hand. The child desperately gasped for breath, looking at Qiao Mai with fear.


    ¡°Scram!¡±


    The child got up, sprinted away, and disappeared.


    Yuan Jiaqi raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wife, this child maye from a poor family, forced to do such things.¡±


    ¡°Not really. When I punished him, I noticed several pairs of eyes watching us.


    He¡¯s part of a gang.¡±


    ¡°A gang of thieves?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The more prosperous the city, the more thieves there are. Some children are good kids, but they be members of a thieving gang after being abducted and forced onto this path by coercion and temptation. We may have offended this gang.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? With ckie¡¯s abilities, we can eliminate as many ase.¡±


    The emperor spoke highly of ckie, even stroking its ego, making ckie pleased.


    asionally, he would enter the carriage, letting the old emperor stroke him a few times, which delighted the man.


    As they strolled through the street, eating and drinking, the atmosphere was pleasant. Except for Qiao Mai, the other three remained vignt, looking around.


    At noon, they learned about a nice restaurant in Suzhou. Upon entering, they requested a street-view private room.


    Before they could even order, someone kicked open the door.


    Qiao Mai sent the intruder flying, crashing down from the second floor to the lobby. The man spat out a mouthful of blood and took a while to get up.


    He was beaten out without a word. Holding his chest, the man looked fearfully upstairs before stumbling out of the restaurant.


    The innkeeper rushed to deal with the chaotic scene and came to the private room.


    Seeing the four well-dressed and distinguished guests, he first respectfully bowed.


    ¡°Sorry for the disturbance. That man is a notorious thug in the area. I assume you must have offended him.¡±


    ¡°A child stole from us, and we caught him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to be careful outside. Suzhou is a mixed bag, and since the opening of the West Gate for foreign trade, things have be a bit chaotic.¡±


    ¡°What is the magistrate doing?¡±


    Upon hearing the emperor¡¯s tone, the shopkeeper knew these guests had significant backgrounds and sighed softly.


    ¡°The magistrate is just a fourth-rank official and doesn¡¯t have military power. To govern Suzhou well, he needed to establish good rtions with the troops outside the city. But I heard that the two parties are at odds.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense. How can they mix family affairs with national affairs?¡±


    ¡°Mainly because themander is suppressing our magistrate everywhere. It seems that they are colluding with the forces in the city, and our magistrate is very passive. The memorials sent to the capital have all been suppressed.¡± ¡°How do you know about this?¡±


    ¡°This is not a secret. If you inquire at a teahouse, anyone with a bit of information knows. It¡¯s just that only His Majesty in the capital¡¯s pce is isted from such news.


    Yuan Jiaqiughed. ¡°Bring us your specialties.¡±


    As he spoke, he ced a gold ingot on the table. The innkeeper smiled and took the gold into his hand.


    ¡°Please, rest assured when dining with us. The incident won¡¯t happen again.


    But I can¡¯t guarantee it once you leave this door. I wish you a pleasant meal..¡±

 Chapter 389 - 389: Aren’t We Close Enough?

    Chapter 389 - 389: Aren¡¯t We Close Enough?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The shopkeeper stepped back, and soon, the servers brought all the dishes.


    Looking at the delicious dishes on the table, the group licked their lips. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first and ignore them. We can only think about things after having a full stomach.¡±


    Giving a signal to the others, Qiao Mai picked up her chopsticks and started eating, taking out a jar of good wine.


    The waiter posted outside the door left after realizing there was nothing to hear.


    ¡°A teahouse? How about listening to music for a while?¡±<div>


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Upon entering the teahouse, it was quiet. A melodious tune wafted through the air, captivating the patrons who made no sound.


    The waiter led the four to a quiet table in the hall. Yuan Jiaqi quietly ordered some tea.


    They sat down, drank tea, nibbled on melon seeds, and listened to the music.


    ¡°The tune is decent, but not as pleasing as the one yed by my Rui¡¯er at home.¡±


    The empress blushed, teasing him. ¡°The tune is still good. It¡¯s not worse than the one I y.¡±


    ¡°Inw?


    Qiao Mai closed her eyes, appearing enchanted, but Yuan Jiaqi knew something was on his wife¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Don¡¯t disturb her. Maybe she has many people watching us in this teahouse, or perhaps she is thinking about something.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    After a while, Qiao Mai opened her eyes and sighed softly.


    ¡°Inw, it seems we may have trouble.¡±


    ¡°What trouble?¡±


    ¡°The officials knew when we left the capital. Those who had designs on your throne mighte after you.¡±


    ¡°Even if they kill me, Xuan¡¯er is the Crown Prince. He is the natural sessor.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say.¡±


    ¡°How many people came this time?¡±


    ¡°They are determined. They want to kill you and the empress in Suzhou. They must deal with you first and get the military token to have a chance in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not afraid. I am with you two and ckie.¡±


    ¡°I like hearing that. There¡¯s no need to fear in the capital. me can handle it. Besides, we have a few little ones at home, and Tianshui Town is protected. I¡¯ve arranged everything. Let theme; whoeveres will die.¡±


    ¡°Why are you trying to scare me?¡±


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t know how many times you¡¯ve died.¡±


    ¡°We are rtives. Aren¡¯t we close enough?¡±


    Yuan Tiaai also red at the emperor. ¡°This is my wife. What are you saving?¡±


    ¡°Haha, you are a ve to your wife.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I eat well, live well, hold an official position, and am protected by my wife. Some people are jealous but still say sarcastic things.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not us.¡±


    After listening to the music for an hour, they retraced their steps to the inn and prepared to rest. They had eaten too much at noon, so they didn¡¯t n to eat dinner. They gave some instructions and went to rest.


    Qiao Mai woke up and found that nothing had happened overnight. It seemed that the other party was still patient.


    Do they not n to do anything in the city? She took out the map.


    Yuan Jiaqi stood beside her, looking at Qiao Mai, who pointed to a ce. ¡°When we leave Suzhou, we will pass through here. There are woods on both sides of this road and mountains behind. It¡¯s the easiest ce to take action.¡±


    ¡°It seems they don¡¯t have much confidence in Suzhou.¡±


    ¡°After all, there are too many people here.¡±


    ¡°The emperor and empress n to take a sightseeing carriage out. Are we going with them?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m tired. How about you take ckie and follow them?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll apany you. I won¡¯t disturb them.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at Yuan Jiaqi seriously. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel bored?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. My wife is like a book. Even if I stay by your side, I find endless joy.¡±


    ¡°When we return to Tianshui Town, you¡¯ll manage the business, and I might go into seclusion for several years.¡±


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s until the end of time, I¡¯m willing to wait.¡±


    Qiao Mai lightly pinched his face. ¡°You¡¯ve never let me down. You¡¯re a good man.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re also a good woman. I¡¯ve umted countless lifetimes of luck to marry you.¡±


    ¡°Cheeky! ¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Several days flew by peacefully, and the weather was good. The sunlight was not too intense, making it an excellent time for sightseeing.


    Outside the city, there was a famouske not far away. After discussing, they decided to take everyone to theke for a visit and let the servants and guards enjoy it.


    They bought many ingredients and nned to cook on the spot.


    ckie was in high spirits, sitting opposite the emperor. The emperor was feeding him jerky and dried fish, and he was enjoying it.


    The empress and Qiao Mai each bit into a fruit, looking out the window. Yuan Jiaqi was reading a book.


    Yubao rode a horse on the side, following along. Guards were on both sides of the carriage, guarding it. Therge group was eye-catching.


    This incident rmed the magistrate of Suzhou, and he quickly led people to follow.


    Because the sightseeing carriage had no windows, people outside could see everything. When the magistrate saw the emperor, beads of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.


    He recognized the emperor and Yubao beside him.


    However, he didn¡¯t dare to approach recklessly. He had been following from a distance all along. Yubao looked back.


    ¡°Your Majesty, someone is following us. It seems to be the eldest son of the Gao family.¡± ¡°The eldest son of the Gao family?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Let hime over. He must have recognized us by now.¡±


    Yubao turned his horse and went to the eldest son of the Gao family. ¡°Mr. Huang is calling you over for a talk. Remember, he is now Mr. Huang.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    Magistrate Gao came to the sightseeing carriage. ¡°Greetings, Mr. Huang.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been following us all the way. Is there something on your mind?¡±


    ¡°I want to apany Mr. Huang to tour theke and discuss the matters of


    Suzhou.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    When he saw the other three, Magistrate Gao respectfully saluted, ¡°Greetings to the empress, Mr. Yuan, and Madam Qiao.¡±


    ¡°No need to be polite. You can walk while talking.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m helpless. I¡¯ve thought of many ways to help Suzhou. Mr. Huang, can you transfer the general guarding outside Suzhou City? Give me someone who has no grudges with my Gao family?¡±


    ¡°I have dispatched the Golden Dragon Guard to investigate. If it is true, we will raid his home and exile his family no matter who the general is. Whoever dares to put family matters before state affairs will not be spared.¡±


    Hearing this, Magistrate Gao finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. There are two forces in the city. One group seems to collect protection money, but someone is behind them. I tried to arrest them, but they disappeared as soon as they were caught. The other group hid in a corner of the city. I heard they work as enforcers for restaurants, brothels, and gambling houses. Each of them is highly skilled and oftenmits crimes in the middle of the night. They even threatened my family before.¡±


    ¡°Have you submitted a report?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s like a stone sinking into the sea.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since I¡¯m here, this matter will be resolved.¡±


    Magistrate Gao finally breathed a sigh of relief when he heard these words. The worry on his face was reduced.


    He followed the group to thekeside and became their guide.


    ¡°Mr. Huang, thiske is called Lovesick Tears Lake. Legend has it that a fairy fell in love with a man in the mortal realm. The two secretly lived here. Later, when the Heavenly Emperor found out, he killed the man, and the fairy was imprisoned in the heavenly realm. She washed her face with tears daily, forming thiske.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still a myth?¡±


    ¡°I have tasted the water here. It¡¯s salty like human tears.¡±


    ¡°Are the fish and shrimp in there also salty?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but there are no fish or shrimp in it. People don¡¯t use this water to irrigate the fields either. Once they use it, the crops wither.¡±


    Qiao Mai snorted, ¡°It¡¯s because of the salinity of the water. There¡¯s no need to doubt it.¡±


    The guards found a spacious ce and stopped. Qiao Mai and the others also walked over from the carriage.


    Turning around, they saw an endlesske. The sky and theke were incredibly blue, and a few boats were drifting on theke..

 Chapter 390 - 390: What If I Don’t?

    Chapter 390 - 390: What If I Don¡¯t?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The scenery was so beautiful that everyone gazed at theke, praising it.


    ¡°It¡¯s too beautiful. It¡¯s like a painting.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked to theke, scooped up a bit with her hand, and licked it with her tongue. As she guessed, theke should have a mine underneath it.


    The salinity and alkalinity were high. What could be underneath?


    She squinted her eyes, using her spiritual power to explore beneath theke. Theke was deep, about tens of meters, and her spiritual power covered the entire area.<div>


    In the center of theke was a volcanic crater underneath. The crater was about ten meters below theke surface.


    Fortunately, Qiao Mai found the volcano stable after careful observation and wouldn¡¯t undergo any changes in the next hundred years.


    Withdrawing her spiritual power, she sighed in relief. As long as there were no changes, it was good.


    In the face of natural forces, she felt how insignificant she was. She couldn¡¯t match the forces of nature even with her powerful cultivation.


    The others also walked over, curious. ¡°Did you find anything unusual?¡± ¡°Nothing. We could only row a boat here. There¡¯s not even a fish in there, not much to see.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s rent a few boats, take a trip, and return to barbecue here. After all, we brought ingredients with us.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. Let¡¯s arrange it.¡±


    After a while, severalrge boats approached, each with boatmen. They stopped by the shore, lowered longdders, and everyone was assigned to a boat.


    Leaving a few people to guard the carriage, Magistrate Gao followed them onto thergest boat, which was luxurious with tables and chairs.


    The five of them sat down. The boat started and floated on the water, feeling like lying on a horizontal ne.


    The blueke water and the gentle breeze were enjoyable.


    The empress leaned over and looked down. ¡°Theke is so beautiful. It¡¯s a pity there are no fish or shrimp; otherwise, theke woulde alive.¡±


    ¡°Then there would be more fishermen. With more people, it gets messy. This is good.¡±


    Qiao Maizily leaned back in her chair. It was especially quiet around, and the warm sunlight on her face made her want to nap.


    Magistrate Gao couldn¡¯t help but size up Qiao Mai. He had heard of her reputation, but this was the first time he saw her. Seeing her now, he realized how obedient the emperor was to her.


    There weren¡¯t many boats on theke, but their arrival attracted attention. Several other boats approached them.


    Qiao Mai raised her eyes and didn¡¯t feel any hostility. She let them be.


    Eager for excitement, many tourists greeted them actively. They didn¡¯t recognize the others but Magistrate Gao. ¡°Mr. Gao, do you have time to tour theke?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m apanying a few friends.¡±


    ¡°Are they from the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal togetherter?¡±


    ¡°No. You guys enjoy.¡±


    Magistrate Gao felt ufortable with the enthusiasm of the passengers on the boat. The emperor nced at him.


    ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t interact much with themoners?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but I dare not. The situation in Suzhou isplicated, and a little carelessness can lead to irreparable consequences.¡± ¡°Your Gao family seems to have quite a few secret guards. Why not transfer some of them over?¡±


    ¡°The Gao family indeed has trained secret guards, but they are only used to protect family members. We dare not use them for such matters.¡±


    Magistrate Gao replied somewhat nervously. The old emperor snorted, ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. We¡¯ll talk after the Golden Dragon Guardpletes the investigation.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Huang.¡±


    The boat circled theke and returned to the shore. Everyone began to set up tables, build fire pits, and assemble grills, creating a lively atmosphere.


    Servants broughtmb, fish, and some seafood that had been cleaned in advance, skillfully marinating them.


    They began roasting the meat once the fire was ready and the iron grills heated up.


    Soon, the aroma wafted far away. Magistrate Gao sat on the side, asionally wiping his mouth.


    Qiao Mai brought out various beverages. Yuan Jiaqi gave Magistrate Gao a bottle, startling him. He quickly stood up and took it with both hands.


    ¡°The weather is perfect for this. Try it.¡±


    Magistrate Gao watched as everyone took turns sipping from the bottle. He also took a cautious sip. Oh, it was refreshing andfortable.


    At this time, several groups of people walked toward their campsite.


    The guards immediately became wary. Qiao Mai flicked her finger, and a barrier enveloped them.


    Some young people tried to approach, but they were repelled by an invisible force and fell to the ground with a thud.


    Those people stood up, staring strangely at the group inside. They tried to touch the barrier but fell to the ground again when they exerted force.


    Magistrate Gao saw this and grinned. ¡°Mr. Huang, look at those young men anddies. They are the children of the militarymanders. They often bully others in the city. My family members were also victims, so I sent them back to the capital quietly.¡±


    ¡°I figured that out. They don¡¯t seem to be easy to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Madam Qiao is teaching them a lesson. I¡¯ll watch.¡±


    The people outside the barrier were tossed around, dirty and embarrassed. The guards and servants burst intoughter when they saw this.


    Magistrate Gao was also pleased. Much of the long-suppressed frustration in his heart dissipated.


    After ying with them, Qiao Mai dispelled the barrier. She picked up a skewer of roastedmb and started eating. Those people were scared off, and none dared to provoke them.


    However, some people set up their camp near theirs but didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble.


    While everyone was eating, drinking, and enjoying the scenery, a group of people arrived.


    They approached from the direction of Suzhou. It was a team of over a thousand soldiers.


    As soon as they arrived, they surrounded the campsite.


    The guards and servants watched in ce, but no one was nervous. After all, with Qiao Mai protecting them, what could a thousand people do?


    A general dismounted and came to the emperor, carefully examining him.


    ¡°I am the garrisonmander of Suzhou City. May I ask what kind of magic you used to y around with my children?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°The main culprit is here. Do you think I was ying around?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Is this a capture order for us?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°But we are here to enjoy ourselves. What if we don¡¯t want anyone to spoil the fun?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but you muste with us.¡±


    ¡°What if we refuse?¡±


    Themander gestured to his soldiers, but there was no reaction from anyone. He gestured again to no avail.


    Qiao Mai coldly faced him, and a wave of pressure descended. Themander immediately knelt in front of the emperor.


    The old emperor reached out and patted his face.


    ¡°Xiao Yicheng, you¡¯re quite audacious. You¡¯ve used the authority I gave you to mess around here. You¡¯ve be daring.¡±


    Themander widened his eyes and lifted his head. ¡°Your, Your Majesty?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to defend the country, yet you colluded with local forces, making things difficult for the magistrate. Now, you still want to arrest people. Who gave you the authority?¡±


    ¡°I, I just heard them say¡­¡±


    As the pressure from Qiao Mai intensified, his knees sank deep into the ground, and he let out a miserable cry.


    ¡°You are arrogant just because you have a bit of military power, taking advantage of the distance from the capital.¡±


    ¡°You, are you Royal Consort Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Not bad. You have a keen eye.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the emperor. ¡°Since he rushed over, let¡¯s deal with him quickly. These thousand people are suffocating in anticipation.¡±


    The emperor pped his hands lightly, and two Golden Dragon Guards stepped forward.


    ¡°Take him away and bring the other guards to take over the garrison. Send one more Golden Dragon Guard to the West Fate to find Fan Sizhe. Let him send a capablemander to rece the one here.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    Xiao Yicheng¡¯s face turned pale. He had always been cautious.


    But as soon as he heard about his children suffering, he rushed over and hit a wall..

 Chapter 391 - 391: I Don ‘t Want My Face Anymore

    Chapter 391 - 391: I Don ¡®t Want My Face Anymore


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    After the incident, they returned to Suzhou in the afternoon. The group was received by Magistrate Gao at his residence instead of the inn.


    Fortunately, his family members were not present. Otherwise, Qiao Mai wouldn¡¯t have stayed there.


    Over the next few days, they eradicated all the evil forces in the city with the cooperation of the newly appointedmander. Merchants colluding with them were also exposed and dealt with ordingly.


    Yuan Jiaqi held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand as they strolled around the Gao family¡¯s residence.


    ¡°Wife, there¡¯s trouble wherever we go. If thatmander seeds, it will endanger the emperor and the crown prince in the capital.¡±<div>


    ¡°With me here, there¡¯s no danger.¡±


    Qiao Mai caught a maple leaf in her hand. ¡°The weather is getting cooler; the leaves are falling. Did you broaden your horizonsing out with me this time?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The scenery is simr to what¡¯s described in books.¡± ¡°I want to return to Tianshui Town now and rest for a few days. I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s return to the room. I¡¯ll give you a full-body massage.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not; I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll devour mepletely.¡±


    While the couple walked and exchanged affectionate words, a woman nearby watched them with deep emotions, wiped away her tears, and walked away. Qiao Mai sensed this and nced back, then looked at Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve incurred some love debts again. Why does this keep happening wherever we go?¡±


    Once all the matters were settled, Magistrate Gao hosted a banquet, inviting the emperor and others.


    As he didn¡¯t have family members with him, Magistrate Gao brought his only concubine to the feast.


    When the concubine appeared in borate attire, Qiao Mai recognized her as the woman behind them that day.


    After introductions, the emperor and empress were not courteous to such a woman.


    Qiao Mai ignored her, but the concubine seemed excited when she saw Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°Mr. Yuan, do you remember me?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi nced at her and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m from Apricot Blossom


    Vige too. My name is Yuan Limei. We¡¯re from the same family tree.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi only made a faint acknowledgment, and the conversation went no further.


    Magistrate Gao was surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect my concubine and Mr. Yuan to be from the same vige.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re distant rtives, but considering our seniority, I should address Mr. Yuan as Fifth Brother.¡¯


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯m no longer part of the Yuan family. I¡¯ve severed family ties and married into the Qiao family. Since you¡¯re from there, you should know about it. Don¡¯t bring it up again.¡±


    Yuan Limei turned pale. ¡°Yes, Mr. Yuan.¡±


    After being scolded by Yuan Jiaqi, she behaved herself. Qiao Mai looked at Magistrate Gao.


    ¡°How did you two meet?¡±


    ¡°I saved her on my way to the office, and¡­¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    She nced at Yuan Limei, sensing that she had some connection with Yuan Jiaqi in the past.


    After the meal, Qiao Mai grabbed Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s ear in their room.


    ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the deal with Yuan Limei?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked puzzled. ¡°Wife, she¡¯s just a viger. I don¡¯t know her, and we have no connection.¡±


    ¡°But I could see the way she looked at you.¡±


    ¡°Wife, I was a young man, and many youngdies admired me. Their liking me is their business; I never paid much attention to them.¡±


    Qiao Mai burst intoughter, releasing his ear. ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you.¡± ¡°Wife, you scared me.¡±


    ¡°I believe you have another secret admirer. Being good-looking has its advantages in this regard.¡±


    ¡°Wife, you can scratch my face. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡±


    ¡°Go away.¡±


    Just as the couple was about to rest, Yuan Limei appeared, apanied by a servant holding a bundle.


    She entered and immediately paid her respects to the couple. ¡°Limei greets the Duke of Blessings and the Royal Consort.¡±


    ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    ¡°Limei hasn¡¯t been home for a long time. Now that my parents are still alive, could you help me bring some things home to Tianshui Town?¡±


    ¡°That can be arranged.¡±


    Her maid ced a package on the table. Yuan Jiaqi opened it without hesitation, examined its contents, and made a note, ensuring no misunderstandingster.


    ¡°All set. You can leave now.¡±


    ¡°Fifth Brother?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t me me for being harsh.¡± Yuan Limei¡¯s eyes turned red, and she quickly left.


    ¡°Tsk, you do not pity beauty.¡±


    ¡°I only pity you, who I see as worthy of cherishing. No one else canpare.¡±


    Qiao Mai waved her hand, storing the bundle in her space. Just as she did, Greeny suddenly appeared, startling Yuan Jiaqi.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    Qiao Mai rubbed her forehead. ¡°This is my spiritual pet, Greeny.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Master¡¯s husband.¡±


    After a brief greeting, Greeny stared at Qiao Mai. ¡°There are poisonous medicines and tracking powder in that bundle. Master, you didn¡¯t even check before storing it. Do you think you¡¯re invincible in this world?¡±


    ¡°Oh? What of it?¡±


    ¡°That substance is vtile. Over time, it could poison and kill.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi suddenly grabbed Qiao Mai¡¯s hand. ¡°If we send it back to the vige, and the entire vige dies, won¡¯t we be held responsible?¡±


    Qiao Mai touched her chin, vanished from sight, and returned half an hourter.


    ¡°I checked her soul. She joined a mysterious organization.¡± ¡°Is she dead?¡±


    ¡°Of course. If she intended to harm, would I keep her alive?¡± ¡°Master, what about the poison?¡±


    ¡°You handle it,¡± Qiao Mai said, and Greeny disappeared.


    ¡°It seems those people are determined to eliminate us. They are using all avable means, including manpower, resources, and methods.¡±


    ¡°Is everything alright with the emperor?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s fine. That woman is the only usable chess piece in the Gao family. The others don¡¯t fit into their ns.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    The next day, upon learning of Yuan Limei¡¯s death, Magistrate Gao didn¡¯t make it public and quietly had her buried.


    Three dayster, Qiao Mai and her group set out on the official road heading east with the affairs in Suzhou settled.


    Their destination was in the east, but there was a slight northern direction. It was already November, and the weather felt gloomy as if it was about to snow.


    The horse carriage moved forward, covering dozens of miles from Suzhou. Snowkes started falling from the sky.


    The empress extended her arm, catching snowkes with her hand. ¡°Finally, we can see the snow.¡±


    ¡°Wait until we reach the north; that¡¯s when you¡¯ll see real snow.¡±


    ¡°This is nice too.¡±


    Before long, the surroundings turned into a curtain of snow, making the distant scenery blurry.


    Qiao Mai had been scanning with her spiritual power because they were about to pass through a critical area.


    Forests appeared on both sides of the official road, and high mountains loomed in the distance.


    Qiao Mai informed her guards mentally to be on high alert and focus on self-preservation, leaving the rest to her.


    The carriage moved slowly, and Qiao Mai¡¯s ears twitched. Her hand lifted slightly, and all the carriages came to a stop.


    Qiao Mai stepped out of the carriage and turned back to look at them. ¡°No one is allowed to move.¡±


    Jumping down from the carriage, she removed the coverings from Dongzhao and Dracaena. ckie also sat beside her.


    ¡°Master, don¡¯t worry. They are just ordinary mortals with physical bodies.¡±


    ¡°There are many of them.¡±


    Qiao Mai squinted her eyes, looking around. In the woods, many people dressed in snow-colored clothes were crawling forward, gradually approaching the carriages.


    Greeny popped out from her space. ¡°Hehe, I am free. Let¡¯s do this together.¡± With both hands gripping a meteor hammer, Greeny swung it back and forth.


    ¡°Good, you four will guard one side each. Leave the rest to me.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Master is going to make a move?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll only deal with the escapees.¡±


    ¡°Master is bad!¡±


    Dong Zhao and Dracaena charged in different directions, and Greeny and ckie went in opposite directions as well.


    The guards raised their swords, staying vignt..

 Chapter 392 - 392: I Want It Too

    Chapter 392 - 392: I Want It Too


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    A series of screams dyed the white snow red. ckie was crazy and Greeny was mysterious, swinging the hammer directly at their heads.


    Don¡¯t underestimate her hammer ¡ª It weighs a ton.


    Dongzhao and Dracaena rushed forward, trampling and kicking indiscriminately. Anyone kicked was considered defeated. Qiao Mai smirked, watching the white-clothed figures charging.


    Upon a rough estimate, there were over a thousand people, all of them skilled. It seemed like a desperate battle.


    Having undergone rigorous training, the guards were no less skilled. Since their master had given the order, their priority was self-defense.<div>


    They began the onught, fighting for their lives.


    Qiao Mai stood on the carriage roof, and the servants shivered in fear. Some white-d individuals approached the carriage but were blown away by a gust of wind. The emperor, empress, and Yuan Jiaqi boldly opened the curtains to watch.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that wielding the hammer?¡±


    ¡°My wife¡¯s pet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s so small.¡± ¡°You¡¯re big. Why don¡¯t you go?¡± ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°Then stop yapping. Just watch.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you dare to talk back to me now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve dared since long ago. We¡¯ve been giving you face.¡±


    The emperor nervously watched outside. Seeing Dongzhao and Dracaena, he pointed at them.


    ¡°Are these two also mythical beasts?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re mine, created by my wife to protect me.¡± ¡°I want them too! We¡¯re such good friends. How can we not have them?¡±


    ¡°If inw gives it, I¡¯ll ept. Otherwise, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re obedient.¡±


    As the couple bantered, they watched the snow turn into a field of blood. The agonizing screams echoed continuously. The attackers rushed forward like madmen, but they met their demise before touching the carriages.


    This was an overwhelmingly brutal ughter.


    The ground was littered with limbs and heads. Unable to bear it, the empress wiped away a tear.


    ¡°All of these are our subjects.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s their fault for trying to kill us. Their deaths are not regrettable.¡± ¡°They were also raised by parents from childhood; it¡¯s not easy.¡±


    ¡°They want to kill your child. If you don¡¯t kill them, your child will die. Will you kill them?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    The emperor smiled. ¡°It¡¯s satisfying to watch. I even want to go down and join.¡±


    Suddenly, countless arrows flew toward the emperor¡¯s carriage. Qiao Mai squinted, waved her hand, and redirected all the arrows in the opposite direction.


    A miserable cry emanated from the forest. ckie¡¯s eyes glowed red as it dashed inside.


    ¡°No one is allowed to retreat. If we fail today, we¡¯ll die!¡±


    Without even reaching the edge of the forest, they were wiped out by ckie. The caravan was surrounded by a circle of corpses, and blood stained the ground.


    Dongzhao and Dracaena returned to the carriage, automatically strapping themselves in. ckie returned to the roof, and Greeny disappeared.


    Everything returned to calm. The guards checked and found only a few lightly injured. There was nothing serious.


    After a quarter of an hour, the carriages continued northeast. The snowfall intensified, gradually covering the blood and corpses.


    Qiao Mai got inside the carriage. Yuan Jiaqi grabbed her hand, asking her to sit beside him.


    Then, he sniffed. ¡°No smell of blood.¡¯


    ¡°Even with tens of thousands more, it wouldn¡¯t matter.¡¯


    The emperor sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that cultivators should avoid killing.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand this too?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve read some books on the subject.¡±


    ¡°Killing those who want to kill me is not viting the principle of non-killing.


    Is the person trying to kill me a good person if I spare their life?¡±


    ¡°Logical. ¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about cause and effect. Cultivators have bright minds. Perhaps there are kind-hearted ones among these people. But once they pick up a butcher¡¯s knife to kill, they are evil, and they must not be spared!¡±


    No one else saw this battle, but the servants would remember it as an unforgettable event for their whole life.


    Especially the four little girls who weren¡¯t yet ten years old¡ªthey were scared yet excited. It wouldn¡¯t be traumatic but encouragement for them to grow continuously.


    Little flowers in a greenhouse can never withstand wind and rain.


    As they journeyed northeast, the weather grew colder. Qiao Mai calcted the days on her fingers.


    ¡°At the end of the year, we should be able to reach Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°Even if we don¡¯t, it¡¯s fine. Celebrating the New Year anywhere is the same.¡±


    ¡°The weather is getting colder. I never thought the people on the eastern side would have such a tough time.¡±


    They were currently in the East Gate of the Ming Dynasty. Soldiers guarded the city walls, and inspections were carried out at the gates.


    Once inside the city, they arranged amodations, and the servants quickly bought a pot ofmb soup, setting it on a charcoal stove.


    Qiao Mai enjoyed this feeling. She didn¡¯t pay much attention to the others and poured herself a bowl, sipping away.


    ¡°Themb vor is strong. The soup is well-stewed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± The others also served themselves and drank.


    ¡°How many days should we stay here?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s good here. The soldiers guarding the gate treat the people kindly.


    There shouldn¡¯t be any issues. Rest for two or three days, and we will head to Tianshui Town.¡±


    Qiao Mai¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Wait a moment. I still have a batch of grain in hand. Let¡¯s distribute it to the needy before leaving.¡±


    ¡°How much is there?¡±


    ¡°As much as needed.¡± Qiao Mai rolled her eyes at the emperor.


    After a day of rest, they wandered around the East Gate. Others set up a porridge stall at the inn¡¯s entrance.


    The cotton clothes in the stores were all taken, and people from inside and outside the city could receive fifty kilograms of rice and a set of cotton clothes if they couldn¡¯t make ends meet.


    The news spread like wildfire, and East Gate suddenly became lively. Who was this benefactor with such a generous handout of food and clothes?


    So, people from inside and outside the city and those who received the news rushed to the inn.


    This matter caught the attention of the garrisonmander, who immediately led soldiers to the inn. When he saw the emperor, he was startled.


    Immediately taking over this arduous task, he ordered every household toe with their registration documents to im their share and warned of punishment for those who dared to cheat.


    Without doing so, the greedy would take more than their fair share.


    This act was a timely rain for the people. Each person could receive fifty kilograms of grain and a set of clothes. Families no longer had to worry about how to survive the harsh winter.


    To distribute the clothes quickly, the garrisonmander divided the supplies into ten distribution points.


    Since the city couldn¡¯t supply enough cotton clothes, Qiao Mai took the cotton from her space, allowing the people to make their clothes at home.


    For poor families, making their clothes was no issue.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s group was warmly dressed, watching the joyous scenes of the people outside. Their mood lifted.


    The old emperor sighed. ¡°The Ming Dynasty is fortunate to have someone like you, bringing good fortune to the people.¡±


    ¡°Rescuing the poor is not enough. We need to find ways for them to acquire


    ¡°It¡¯s good enough. The rice and wheat you provided are being cultivated by the people. However, ces like East Gate only have one season of crops per year. That¡¯s why it¡¯s like this.¡±


    ¡°Use your brains. In ces like Tianshui Town, where winters are colder than here, people have already started following the greenhouse nting technique. It can be implemented here. Let¡¯s tell the people about it and wee them to learn.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Qiao Mai distributed these items to make space in her storage. Greeny always insisted on hoarding goods, and Qiao Mai decided to store them in the warehouse.


    Before leaving, they purchased a considerable amount of fur, nning to make clothes when they returned to Tianshui Town.


    Themander also received many benefits. Qiao Mai left a lot of white rice for them.


    As they headed further north, the weather became harsher. Despite the howling winds along the way, the guards and servants were in high spirits.


    The guards treated Dongzhao and Dracaena as gods. Whenever ckie¡¯s eyes gleamed at something delicious, they wanted to save it for them..

 Chapter 393 - 393: Don ‘t Forget You ‘re The Mother-in-Law

    Chapter 393 - 393: Don ¡®t Forget You ¡®re The Mother-in-Law


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Since they witnessed their extraordinary martial skills, these people have been energetic on the journey.


    Moreover, Qiao Mai did not let them suffer. Each guard and servant received a set of special cotton clothes.


    Once worn, they felt warm all over. No matter how cold the weather was, they didn¡¯t feel cold at all.


    The temperature inside the carriage remained around twenty degrees, and the servants even sweated a bit. The food was even more satisfying.


    They were all secretly grateful for the opportunity to travel with them.<div>


    The empress looked at Qiao Mai and smiled, ¡°Mother-inw, I see you are dedicated to nurturing these little girls. Do you have any specific ns?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just bored. Besides, I can¡¯t handle everything personally. When I want to take a break, I¡¯ll have them handle some matters.¡± ¡°Can they cultivate?¡±


    ¡°No, but I can train them into top-notch experts.¡±


    ¡°Top-notch?¡±


    ¡°Yes, top-notch. No one can match them.¡±


    ¡°Wow, inw is amazing.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need them to be proficient in everything, but they must excel in martial arts and intelligence. The rest depends on how much they can learn.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±


    Outside the carriage, the world was covered in ice and snow, but inside, it was warm and cozy. The four of them sat facing each other, drinking hot tea.


    ¡°There¡¯s still over a thousand miles to go. It will take five or six days to reach Tianshui Town at a pace of two hundred miles a day. Inw, is Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town simr to the one in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. I n to renovate the house when the weather warms up. After all, I will retire here, so I want to livefortably.¡±


    ¡°In that case, the emperor and I will alsoe to live here.¡±


    ¡°Up to you. You can live in the capital or here. There are plenty of rooms either way.¡±


    Since the emperor came out, he didn¡¯t lose weight but gained a bit.


    He said with a rosy face, ¡°Wait until I retire. We will spend this year in Tianshui Town. After the New Year, we¡¯ll return to the capital. I¡¯ll bring you when we settle matters.¡±


    ¡°Take care of my daughter. Don¡¯t forget you are her mother-inw.¡±


    ¡°I know. You can rest assured.¡±


    Despite their different statuses, the four of them got along quite well. Throughout the journey, there was no quarreling or disagreements between them.


    Of course, the old emperor and the empress dared not argue with Qiao Mai. Yuan Jiaqi seldom spoke.


    Seeing them sitting in the carriage with nothing to do, Qiao Mai took a can of canned meat, chicken ws, and a bottle of wine from her space.


    ¡°Come. Have something to warm yourselves up. Drink enough, and you can lie down and sleep.¡±


    The old emperor saw the wine and couldn¡¯t help but gulp. ¡°Inw, you are so considerate. I want to take a sip.¡±


    He opened the wine bottle, and the fragrance immediately wafted out of the window. The guards outside all swallowed at the same time.


    Qiao Mai looked at Yubao outside, ¡°Eunuch Yu, everyone is cold on the road. Each of you cane over and get a bottle of wine.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave the guards some wine and even handed out two sausages. Despite the cold outside, the guards feltfortable after eating the sausages and drinking the wine. They even thought it was pleasant.


    ¡°Madam Qiao is like a fairy. She has everything we need. Following her is a great blessing.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Those little scoundrels who wanted to take advantage of us regret it now.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to cry.¡±


    These twenty guards were now loyal fans of Qiao Mai. Even the servants who came with them have fallen.


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t intentionally cultivate their faith. It was voluntary. She didn¡¯t need to deliberately umte faith. Things should be cherished, not hoarded.


    She still preferred quality over quantity! She did things ording to her preferences, never forcing anything.


    Sometimes, they didn¡¯t rest in small towns. When they saw viges, they would stop by, stay for a night, and inquire about the locals¡¯ lives.


    If they encountered any injustice, they would intervene. They would also help families in need.


    They did good things without leaving a name behind. The journey that should have taken five or six days took ten days instead. They finally arrived in Tianshui Town in December.


    As soon as they arrived at Lucky Garden, the old emperor fell in love.


    ¡°This brick bed is sofortable.¡¯


    ¡°Yeah, the whole house smells of wood fragrance. It¡¯s sofortable. I never thought you guys lived in such houses at that time. I envy you.¡±


    ¡°Your pce is better.¡±


    ¡°No, your ce is better.¡±


    Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi arranged a courtyard for them and let the housekeeper arrange for others. They returned to the main courtyard.


    The twoy on the bed. ¡°It¡¯s better to be in our home.¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s getting cold now. I won¡¯t be busy anymore. When it gets warmer, I¡¯ll heat the bathing room and everything. It¡¯ll be morefortable than the capital.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll go to County She to check the ounts tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, leave it to me here.¡±


    As soon as they returned, the small town became lively. Early the next morning, rtives and friends came.


    The emperor and empress naturally didn¡¯t meet anyone. They loungedfortably in the house.


    Qiao Mai met with everyone and talked for quite a while.


    The people thought no one would return this year but didn¡¯t expect Qiao Mai to return with her husband at this critical time.


    They were about to prepare New Year¡¯s gifts, but Qiao Mai stopped them.


    ¡°We don¡¯tck anything at home. Don¡¯t bother. I just reached and need to tidy up at home. Let¡¯s do it properly during the New Year, okay?¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    Atter sending them Ott, Qiao Mai checked the ounts at home and the store.


    She replenished the warehouse with goods. As for the New Year¡¯s things, she could get everything done on the tform with silver.


    What couldn¡¯t she get? She could even get all the rare items.


    Lucky Garden became lively because the master returned. All the servants were busy cleaning every nook and cranny of the house.


    Qiao Mai went to the backyard and looked at the several acres of greenhouses she had nted before. They were still in good condition.


    She walked in, touched each vegetable with her hand, and felt a warm familiarity.


    At this moment, Steward Xi walked in.


    ¡°Master.¡±


    ¡°Are there more greenhouses in Tianshui Town now?¡±


    ¡°There are many. We sell some vege in our store, and some people have sold them to other ces. The lives of themoners have improved a lot now. Some have be rich just by selling vegetables.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, teach whoever wants to learn.¡±


    ¡°Master, there¡¯s something I don¡¯t know if I should say.¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°Madam Qiao Lu doesn¡¯t have much time left. They sent someone to inquire about you some time ago. Just now, someone came to inquire again. Madam


    Qiao Lu wants to meet you.¡±


    ¡°I heard about this from Madam Liu.


    ¡°Also, the Yuan family elders¡¯s health is deteriorating. They want to see Mr.


    Yuan.¡±


    ¡°I know. You can go busy.¡±


    Steward Xi looked at Qiao Mai. After many years, she still looked so young, without any signs of aging.


    Speaking of the Qiao family in Lihua Vige, Qiao Mai felt ufortable. If it weren¡¯t for her current status, Madam Qiao Lu would probably never have thought of her until she died.


    The two old geezers from the Yuan family wanted to leech off their sons to death. What face did they have to see Yuan Jiaqi?


    On December 28th, Yuan Jiaqipleted the ounts of County She, arranged everything, and rested the next day.


    Qiao Mai talked to him about this, and Yuan Jiaqi fell silent.


    ¡°They gave me life. If they want to see me before they die, I can still go.¡±


    ¡°It seems they are just in bad health, but Madam Qiao Lu in Lihua Vige is about to croak.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to visit her?¡±


    ¡°Now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    The husband and wife didn¡¯t take the carriage. They each rode a horse and went to Lihua Vige.


    ¡°I camest time because Old Qiao is about to pass away. This time, it was Madam Qiao Lu. People will leave when it¡¯s time.¡±


    The two got off their horses when they arrived at the Qiao family¡¯s gate. There was no one seen in the vige due to the cold weather.


    Yuan Jiaqi stepped forward and knocked on the door. The eldest daughter-inw opened the door. When she saw Qiao Mai, she was so excited that she could hardly speak..

 Chapter 394 - 394: Do You Want To Know?

    Chapter 394 - 394: Do You Want To Know?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Sister, are you here to visit our mother?¡± ¡°No, I came to see Madam Qiao Lu.¡±


    ¡°After all these years, you still can¡¯t forgive us?¡±


    ¡°After all these years, can you have a bit of kindness? Can you get rid of your selfishness and self-interest?¡±


    At this point, the daughter-inw lowered her head, and Yuan Jiaqi sighed in his heart.


    Qiao Mai pushed the door and walked in. ¡°I don¡¯t have extra time to stay here. Where is Madam Qiao Lu?¡±<div>


    ¡°Mother is lying in the room, sleeping most of the time.¡±


    Qiao Mai walked into the master bedroom. The room was rtively bright with no peculiar smell. It seemed that Madam Qiao Lu hadn¡¯t suffered much after falling ill.


    The daughter-inw came to the edge of the bed and called softly.


    ¡°Mother, Mai is here to see you.¡±


    Not knowing if she heard Qiao Mai¡¯s name, Madam Qiao Lu slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Qiao Mai, she shed tears of remorse.


    ¡°Daughter-inw, you go out first.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at her calmly. ¡°Say what you want to say.¡±


    ¡°Mai, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°Mother knows.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°That year, what did you tell your father? He cried bitterly and regretted it all the time.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Mother is dying. Let me understand before I die, okay?¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at Yuan Jiaqi and said slowly, ¡°Your Qiao Mai had already passed away that night at the Tian family.¡±


    Madam Qiao Lu¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°She? Then you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just recing the soul of this body after she died.¡±


    ¡°No wonder you don¡¯t ept us.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t ept you, but you failed as parents. When your child faces difficulties and setbacks, instead of helping, you add insult to injury. She reached such a state, yet you still want to suck her blood. Do you have any reason for me to be kind to you? Are you worthy?¡±


    Madam Qiao Lu¡¯s lips trembled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not worthy. I¡¯m not worthy.¡±


    When Yuan Jiaqi heard these words, he was also shocked. It turns out that his wife is not the original Qiao Mai.


    Although he was shocked, he didn¡¯t say much.


    Watching Qiao Mai leave the room, he followed her. The daughter-inw expected Qiao Mai to leave some money but was disappointed when she returned to the room and saw the empty bed.


    Madam Qiao Lu kept muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not worthy. I¡¯m not worthy.¡±


    The couple rode on horses slowly on the official road.


    ¡°Wife?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°No. You treat this family, us, and the children so well. What is there to be afraid of?¡±


    ¡°This is the reason why I don¡¯t treat them well. They were wrong, made mistakes, and never regretted it. Why should I be kind to them?¡± ¡°Sigh. Maybe those two people from the Yuan family are the same. They want me to soften my heart and give them money to live a better life.¡±


    ¡°Shall we still go to Apricot Blossom Vige?¡± ¡°We have nothing to do now. Why not?¡±


    ¡°Good, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    The couple went to Apricot Blossom Vige again. The Yuan family didn¡¯t expect them toe together.


    As soon as they entered the house, the Yuan family members came over.


    They wanted to bow to the couple, but Yuan Jiaqi refused. When Qiao Mai saw Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents on the bed, she fell silent, reached out, and took their pulse.


    ¡°They¡¯re okay. It¡¯s just a cold. Have the doctor prescribed medicine for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, he did.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s parents saw him and excitedly pulled his sleeves. ¡°Son, you finally came to see us.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s face remained cold. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. I just came to take a look.¡±


    ¡°That is enough.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave if there¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Son, please don¡¯t go. We were wrong. Forgive us, okay?¡±


    ¡°Wrong?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were wrong.¡±


    ¡°Have you ever burned incense for Chuan¡¯er¡¯s mother? Have you apologized to her?¡±


    The old couple fell silent, and Yuan Jiaqi snorted.


    ¡°Is this your idea of admitting a mistake? You caused harm to a life and not even offer an apology. Why should I forgive you?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stood up and left, with Qiao Mai following him and the Yuan family members trailing behind.


    ¡°Jiaqi! You!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m doing well. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi helped Qiao Mai onto a horse first and then mounted his own. He had no attachment to this ce.


    The head of the Yuan family pounded his chest with regret.


    ¡°So many years have passed, yet he still hasn¡¯t forgiven us.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Our family produced a duke, but it ended like this. When our Yuan family should have been prosperous, s¡­¡±


    ¡°In the future, we must unite and avoid such incidents.¡¯


    ¡°Yes. They say sess cannot be achieved without the support of the family.


    We can¡¯t do without him.¡±


    The Yuan family head looked at the distant figures of Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai, wiping away bitter tears. They had overestimated their importance after he became an official. There was nothing to rely on. Others had wealth and power; they could only rely on themselves.


    Back in town, looking at the once-familiar ces, Qiao Mai sighed.


    ¡°The feeling ofing home is amazing!¡±


    The emperor and empress rested for a few days, finally recovering, and they strolled around Lucky Garden.


    They checked the warm sheds in the backyard, finally understanding why Qiao Mai liked this ce.


    Inside, warmth enveloped them like spring; outside, it was a world of ice and snow, a freshness wherever they went.


    Hearing that the two had returned, they even went to the door to wee them.


    ¡°Dear inw. where did vou go?¡±


    ¡°We went out. Are you two used to being here?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Your snack shop is simr to the one in the capital. We like it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity we returnedte. Otherwise, we could have seen the market in the north. ¡±


    ¡°I see your ce is lively. There are still stalls set up outside.¡±


    ¡°Yes, the town has grown several timesrger than before. With more people, there¡¯s a need for more supplies. The town¡¯s mayor is from the Qian family under the court.¡±


    ¡°This ce is well-managed.¡±


    ¡°Of course. There aren¡¯t many good mayors like him, contributing effort and money.¡±


    ¡°Should I promote him?¡±


    ¡°Humph, who would be interested?¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Tianshui Town prospered over the years. Families started setting off fireworks before the New Year. The festive atmosphere was strong.


    At nighttime, Qiao Mai bought many fireworks from the tform.


    Adults could still enjoy them without children. From that day on, the fireworks and firecrackers never stopped.


    In the imperial pce, the Crown Prince and Ling¡¯er sat in the courtyard after dinner.


    ¡°It¡¯s New Year. Father and the others must have arrived in Tianshui Town by now.¡±


    ¡°Probably. Mother has been counting the days. I also want to spend the New


    Year there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel bored. On the fifteenth day of the New Year, I¡¯ll organize a Lantern Festival for you. I¡¯ll take you to see it?¡±


    Ling¡¯er shook her head. ¡°Just a distant look is enough. It¡¯s a special period now. Let¡¯s protect our children.¡±


    The Crown Prince¡¯s eyes flickered. He nodded. ¡°The Crown Princess is right.¡± In Lucky Garden, Jiamei held the child in her arms while Chuan¡¯er stood by.


    ¡°Without our parents, the house feels empty.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Mother is so heartless, saying she won¡¯t return after going back.¡± Chuan¡¯er pinched her nose. ¡°Mother is doing it to be stronger to protect us.¡±


    ¡°I know, but it feels more reassuring when Mother is here.¡±


    ¡°Even if she¡¯s not here, we must still protect this ce.¡±


    On the thirtieth night, the emperor and empress got drunk. It was Qiao Mai¡¯s territory, and there was nothing to worry about.


    Yuan Jiaqi also drank quite a bit. They all liked this rxing feeling.


    On the first day of the new year, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi entertained friends and rtives from the town. Many years passed, and their children were married and had children of their own. If they didn¡¯t introduce each other, they might not even recognize everyone..

 Chapter 395 - 395: Be Careful Of Getting Him Into Trouble

    Chapter 395 - 395: Be Careful Of Getting Him Into Trouble


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    In recent years, the Liu family has developed quite well. They have managed their shop without expanding but have umted a considerable family fortune.


    They have acquired real estate in the town, leading a stable life.


    Last year, the Qian couple became grandparents. With their wealth, they are preparing to be great-grandparents this year, as their daughter-inw is expecting.


    Shopkeeper Tong of Jingtai Restaurant also invested in real estate and handed over the restaurant to his son as he aged.


    The emperor and empress, considering themselves guests, actively host guests.<div>


    Except for Mayor Qian, no one else knew their true identities.


    In a few years, this couple managed to lure the emperor and empress back home for the New Year, a feat unimaginable to others.


    On the second day of the New Year, Qiao Mai entertained the Liu family. On the third day, Madam Qiao Lu from Lihua Vige passed away.


    The news was reported to Qiao Mai by the head of the Qiao family. Instead of going there herself, she sent someone to handle the arrangements. She settled the ounts and paid respects to Madam Qiao Lu at the memorial table.


    Given her current status, no one dared to gossip.


    Speaking of which, it¡¯s also a case of reaping what they sowed.


    Perhaps it was the awakening of the old Yuan couple¡¯s conscience or their past rtions.


    Surprisingly, they heard about it and hired a carriage to Lihua Vige to pay their respects to Madam Qiao Lu.


    Although Qiao Mai did not acknowledge them, they still treated the Qiao and


    Yuan families as inws. The couple didn¡¯t say anything upon hearing about it.


    On the sixth day, Qiao Mai went into seclusion, leaving the affairs at home to Yuan Jiaqi.


    The old emperor and the empress had a great time. When Qiao Mai was about to enter seclusion, she prepared a set of sleds for them.


    Pulled by majestic reindeer. the sleds were remarkably stable. She also


    arranged plenty of food and drinks. The couple immersed themselves in their own world.


    Soon, the fifteenth day of the New Year arrived, and it was time for them to return to the capital.


    They nned to travel by water, intending to wait for Qiao Mai to finish her seclusion. However, with no news from her, they heard she had arranged for ckie to escort them back. Feeling assured, they set off by boat from the west side of Tianshui Town.


    Though this journey was not as perilous as departing, it would not be entirely peaceful either.


    The emperor and empress safely returned to the capital in March. They stayed in the pce for a few days before moving to Lucky Garden and bringing Ling¡¯er along.


    She has over a month left before giving birth, and the entire pce only has the crown prince managing the court affairs. It does seem a bit lonesome to watch.


    The emperor was pleased to see that the court was efficiently managed by the crown prince.


    The only downside was that once Ling¡¯er returned to Lucky Garden, there were no female attendants around the crown prince. There were only eunuchs.


    Although he feels sorry for his son, the fact remains that the Qiao family is too strong, and one cannot have the best of both worlds.


    All the women in the harem have been dismissed by the emperor, leaving it silent.


    Fearing that the crown prince might feel lonely, Ling¡¯er dragged her heavy body back to the pce. The empress also had to bring the emperor along to take care of her.


    On April 16th, Ling¡¯er experienced something. Qiao Mai, who was in seclusion, suddenly opened her eyes.


    She walked out and found Yuan Jiaqi in the backyard.


    ¡°Ling¡¯er is giving birth soon. Are youing?¡±


    ¡°Our daughter is giving birth. Of course, I am.¡±


    The couple left without taking anything. Qiao Mai took Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s arm, quickly arriving at the pce.


    Yuan Jiaqi was amazed. ¡°Wife, this is too fast. Did you fly?¡±


    As soon as the people in the pce saw the two, they bowed in respect. The emperor and empress came forward to wee them.


    ¡°We thought you might note.¡±


    ¡°How could that be?¡±


    Qiao Mai entered without hesitation, leaving the four of them waiting outside.


    Inside, she saw several people surrounding Ling¡¯er, some wiping tears, others feeding her medicine, and some urging her to push.


    Seeing someone entering, the midwife wanted to scold them but shut her mouth upon seeing Qiao Mai.


    She looked at the two midwives. ¡°How long has she been inbor?¡±


    ¡°Half- half an hour.¡¯


    Crying, Ling¡¯er looked at Qiao Mai. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re here. I feel relieved now.¡±


    ¡°With me here, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Qiao Mai checked her pulse, then felt her abdomen and coldly stared at the two midwives.


    ¡°She¡¯s not ready to give birth yet, but you¡¯re already doing this. What are your intentions?¡±


    ¡°Royal Consort, the crown princess is having contractions.¡±


    ¡°Contractions shoulde in waves. Are you trying to fool me? If she expends all her energy now, what will happen when it¡¯s time to give birth?¡±


    The two midwives, feeling guilty, cowered by the bedside. Qiao Mai waved her sleeve, sweeping them aside and rendering them unable to move.


    After rechecking the herbal soup Ling¡¯er had consumed, Qiao Mai assured her, ¡°You¡¯re fine for now. Don¡¯t exert yourself; save your strength. Listen to your motherter.¡±


    ¡°It hurts. I didn¡¯t realize giving birth could be so painful.¡±


    Qiao Mai gently stroked her hair. ¡°That¡¯s why people say mothers are the greatest in the world. We must respect and filial piety to our mothers.¡± ¡°But they always look down on women. The world is unfair to women.¡±


    ¡°You will be the mother of the kingdom, a model for all women. The status of women in the world depends on you.¡±


    ¡°What does Mother mean?¡±


    ¡°Amend thews, provide more protection for women, and grant them some rights.¡±


    ¡°Mother, are you asking me to participate in politics?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re just elevating the status of women. We don¡¯t need to rush now; this matter requires careful consideration. Since we¡¯vee this far, we must leave something behind.¡±


    As Qiao Mai spoke to her, it diverted some of Ling¡¯er¡¯s attention, and she didn¡¯t feel too ufortable.


    When it seemed right, Qiao Mai put a pill into Ling¡¯er¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Daughter, it¡¯s time to give birth. Come.¡±


    Qiao Mai personally assisted in delivering Ling¡¯er¡¯s child. The process was quick, sparing her from much suffering.


    She had someone clean up the delivery room and walked out. ¡°She gave birth to a boy.¡±


    ¡°Oh, let me see.¡±


    The old emperor took the baby. At first nce, he liked him. ¡°This is the natural look of an emperor!¡±


    ¡°You can like him however you want, but don¡¯t talk nonsense. Be careful not to bring trouble to him.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi and the crown prince smiled. ¡°He¡¯s exquisite and delicate with a pair of lively eyes. This child must be clever.¡±


    Thinking of the two midwives in the delivery room, Qiao Mai said, ¡°Let the Golden Dragon Guard arrest those two midwives and interrogate them thoroughly!¡± ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not normal.¡±


    These three words summarized everything. The emperor immediately sent pce maids to take the two midwives away and handed them to the Golden Dragon Guards.


    Watching them being taken away, Qiao Mai gave the crown prince a meaningful look.


    ¡°Have you had any unusual people around you recently?¡±


    ¡°During our journey, we encountered people from the Holy Dark Temple. There was an extremely beautiful woman, but that wasn¡¯t her real face. Don¡¯t be deceived by her beauty.¡±


    ¡°Understood, mother-inw.¡±


    Just at that moment, ckie rushed in from outside. As soon as it entered, it vigorously sniffed around the crown prince. ¡°Master, there¡¯s a familiar smell on him.¡¯


    ¡°A man or a woman¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°A woman¡¯s. Not only that, it seems to have the smell of venomous worms.¡±


    Qiao Mai frowned and stepped forward. With a touch, she immobilized the crown prince. The emperor and empress, holding the baby, were frightened and huddled to the side.


    ¡°Inw, what¡¯s happening to him?¡±


    ¡°The Holy Dark Temple didn¡¯t take my words seriously. ckie smelled venomous worms on the crown prince.¡±


    ¡°What? Venomous worms? Those are things only found in the southern regions of the Great Qin Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Even dogs have to deal with this thing. It¡¯s annoying.¡±


    Qiao Mai pped the crown prince on the back, and his clothes exploded, leaving only a pair of inner pants.


    Then she waved her hand, and a red light entered the crown prince¡¯s body. The emperor swallowed, trusting Qiao Mai not to harm the crown prince.


    The red light moved around the crown prince¡¯s body, eerie and mysterious. Finally, it stopped at his heart.


    The crown prince¡¯s face turned purple. Then, he spat out a pool of ck blood.


    The red light chased out, burning away the ck blood, then returned to Qiao Mai¡¯s body.


    She looked at the crown prince with a cold expression. ¡°Speak. Have you had contact with anyone unusual recently?¡±


    ¡°No. All of them are people I usually associate with..¡±

 Chapter 396 - 396: This Is The Child’s Choice

    Chapter 396 - 396: This Is The Child¡¯s Choice


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Must I search your soul?¡±


    The crown prince pursed his lips, not making a sound. Qiao Mai pressed against his forehead and released her hand after a while.


    A pnded on the crown prince¡¯s face, sending him flying.


    ¡°In such a short time, you betrayed Ling¡¯er?¡±


    She raised her hand, ready to kill the crown prince. The empress rushed forward and held onto Qiao Mai¡¯s arm. ¡°Inw, don¡¯t be hasty. Calm down first, and let¡¯s talk about what happened.¡±<div>


    Seeing Qiao Mai so angry, the crown prince immediately knelt on the ground. ¡°Mother-inw, I really don¡¯t know what happened.¡±


    The emperor also stepped forward to stop Qiao Mai¡¯s anger. ¡°Inw, please tell us what happened?¡±


    At this moment, Ling¡¯er was assisted out of the room. ¡°Mother, let¡¯s talk calmly. Don¡¯t be angry. This daughter believes the crown prince is innocent.¡±


    Qiao Mai red at her. ¡°Quickly rest in your room. Don¡¯t leave any hidden illness.¡±


    ¡°Mother, please?¡±


    She looked at the crown prince. ¡°Your man has been affected by a venomous worm. Once infected with this kind of poison, he will be controlled, and in severe cases, it can lead to death.¡±


    The group turned pale. ¡°What poison has the crown prince been infected with?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t studied this kind of insect. If it¡¯s something from the immortal realms, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. Fortunately, it¡¯s a local insect, and I have sufficient means to deal with it.¡¯


    ¡°So the crown prince is being controlled?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. But when I searched his soul, it didn¡¯t seem like that. Otherwise, why would I ask him?¡±


    The emperor and empress looked at the crown prince. ¡°Speak up!¡±


    The crown prince gritted his teeth. ¡°I have nothing to say. What I said and did before seemed like a blur, and it was only after spitting that blood just now that I felt clear-headed.


    Qiao Mai squinted at him. ¡°Not giving up, huh?¡±


    She closed her eyes, reached in a direction, and grabbed a ck-clothed woman by the neck.


    The crown prince¡¯s face turned pale at the sight.


    The veil on the ck-clothed woman¡¯s face was lifted by Qiao Mai¡¯s other hand. ¡°Long time no see.¡±


    The others looked closely. The emperor immediately pointed at her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the woman who fainted on the road?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Failing to seduce you, she turned to seducing the crown prince. Beautiful women never go out of style, do they? Crown prince?¡±


    Li Yuxuan felt guilty and lowered his head. Qiao Mai looked at the ck-clothed woman who was struggling to breathe.


    Her fingernail scratched the woman¡¯s face, and ayer of skin peeled off. She then pulled off her mask, revealing an ordinary face.


    The crown prince turned even paler. ¡°No, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Whether her face is real or not, I hope you can exin to me about your actions.¡±


    ¡°If you didn¡¯t like Ling¡¯er, there were better men in this world waiting for her. We didn¡¯t have to choose you. Marriage is a big matter, and it involves mutual consent. If agreed upon, you should treat her well. How much time has passed now? You easily changed your mind and betrayed Ling¡¯er for a superficial appearance. This is something I cannot allow.¡±


    The emperor tried to defend the crown prince. ¡°Inw, it might be that thing called a venomous worm. It made him lose his mind, causing him to do such things. I hope you can be lenient.¡±


    Before he could finish his words, the Golden Dragon Guards outside reported.


    ¡°Your Majesty, the two midwives surrendered. They were following the crown prince¡¯s orders, intending to harm the crown princess during childbirth and save only the newborn.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Qiao Mai mmed her hand on the table, turning it into powder.


    ¡°Bastard. Trying to kill the mother and save the child? Are you making space for her?¡±


    She seized the ck-clothed woman by the neck, instantly exerting force. With a crisp sound, her neck snapped.


    She threw the woman out. ¡°Crown prince, I want to hear aplete exnation. Otherwise¡­¡±


    Seeing Qiao Mai furious and about to take the crown prince¡¯s life, Ling¡¯er rushed forward and stood in front of Qiao Mai despite just giving birth.


    ¡°Mother, even if he is wrong, spare him this once for the child, considering he was manipted. If it happens again, you can kill him.¡±


    Qiao Mai felt disappointed. ¡°Girl, how many lives do you have to let him mess around? This time, ckie happened to notice something different about him.Otherwise, you, the child, and the Great Ming Empire- Would you hand them over?¡±


    Otherwise, you, the child, and the Great Ming Empire- Would you hand them over?¡±


    ¡°Mother, he is still young, inexperienced, and has encountered few things. I beg you to spare him this time.¡±


    ¡°You really infuriate me.¡±


    Qiao Mai red fiercely at Ling¡¯er, then pulled Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s arm, disappearing on the spot.


    Ling¡¯er finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Father, Mother, let¡¯s put an end to this matter. I will go rest.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    The two watched the crown prince kneeling on the ground. ¡°If Father guessed right, were you enchanted by her beauty?¡±


    ¡°Son was wrong.¡± Li Yuxuan nced at the ck-clothed woman lying dead on the ground, sadness in his eyes.


    ¡°As a man who stands tall and firm, making a promise means keeping it. You have let Ling¡¯er down.¡±


    ¡°I will repent.¡±


    ¡°During this time, reflect in the Crown Prince¡¯s residence. I am in the pce.


    You can entrust Ling¡¯er¡¯s postpartum recovery to your mother.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father.¡±


    The Golden Dragon Guards escorted the crown prince out of the pce. The emperor sighed. ¡°A lifetime with one person sounds simple when spoken, but it¡¯s challenging in practice.¡±


    ¡°Yes, from ancient times, emperors rarely had one woman by their side, whether it was due to scheming outsiders or the emperors themselves. Sigh.¡± ¡°Take good care of your daughter-inw. I¡¯ll go handle state affairs.¡±


    Ling¡¯ery on the bed, tears streaming down her face. She could still sense the changes in the crown prince despite his pretense.


    Considering he was under the control of a worm, she gave him a chance. If there was a second time, not only would Mother not spare him, but she wouldn¡¯t either.


    In the courtyard, me stood by the window. Ling¡¯er called out to it.


    It leaped over the window, and the room immediately felt warm. Its attribute brought warmth to the room.


    ¡°me, thank you for apanying me. If he betrays me again, take his life.¡±


    me let out a low growl. The crown prince, who hadn¡¯t left the pce yet, trembled upon hearing the growl.


    Fortunately, Ling¡¯er¡¯s temperament didn¡¯t follow the Tian family. She was molded by Qiao Mai.


    She was willing to give him a chance for the sake of the child.


    In Lucky Garden at Tianshui Town.


    Qiao Mai was so angry that she smashed everything in the courtyard. She had never been so mad before.


    Yuan Jiaqi watched on the side, letting her vent. It was better to let out the anger than to keep it in, as it could harm oneself.


    ¡°Wife, this is the child¡¯s choice; let it be.¡¯


    ¡°Once a man betrays, he will betray countless times. It¡¯s the same for women. One act of unfaithfulness means a lifetime of distrust. It¡¯s such a simple truth. How many times have I taught her?¡±


    ¡°She still has feelings for the crown prince. Let¡¯s take it step by step.¡±


    ¡°Do you know that an open attack is easy to defend against, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against? His tricks are useless against me, but it¡¯s not the same for Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°He should restrain himself for the sake of that position.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat down and sighed heavily. Yuan Jiaqi brewed tea for her. ¡°Wife, don¡¯t be angry. I believe with you guarding her, nothing will happen to Ling¡¯er.¡±


    ¡°I never expected that someone with a decent appearance and royal blood would be as fickle and heartless as anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Wife, when you held that woman, she kept clutching her stomach. Is she¡­?¡±


    ¡°If not, why would I be so angry? If he was attracted to her, I could forgive it.


    But they had physical intimacy..¡±

 Chapter 397 - 397: Greetings To The Young Lady

    Chapter 397 - 397: Greetings To The Young Lady


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°So many changes in such a short time. The world is indeed unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t watch over them for their entire lives; everyone has to walk their path.¡± ¡°Wife, will you still enter seclusion?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m leaving the household to you. I n to visit Taihang Mountain and then the Holy Dark Temple. This debt must be settled.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi pouted, ¡°I want to go too.¡±


    ¡°You can go to Taihang Mountain, but you can¡¯t go to the Holy Dark Temple.¡± ¡°How about we go to Taihang Mountain, and then I¡¯ll return on my own?¡±<div>


    ¡°You¡¯re clingy.¡±


    Qiao Mai gave him a yful re and shook her head helplessly.


    She had nned to stay in the capital and take care of Ling¡¯er until after her postpartum recovery, but in her anger, she returned home. Now, she wouldn¡¯t need to worry about it.


    The four servants rushed to Qiao Mai when they heard their master was leaving.


    ¡°Master, can wee along?¡±


    ¡°Taihang Mountain is full of old Taoists. What¡¯s there to see?¡±


    ¡°I heard their internal martial arts are exceptional.¡±


    ¡°The techniques I taught you are the best.¡±


    ¡°Following Master, we can learn a lot.¡±


    It seemed these four servant girls were determined to follow. Qiao Mai was speechless and had no choice but to agree.


    Three dayster, six fast horses left Lucky Garden. Instead of taking a carriage, they rode a horse and set off on the official road heading south before dawn. This journey was not for leisure, so they took the fastest route, selecting a path they hadn¡¯t traversed before.


    These four young servant girls had developed skills beyond their years since following Qiao Mai, each with ten years of internal strength.


    Xi Yu was the eldest, focusing on agility and medical arts. The other three specialized in formation techniques, poison, and crafting, each with their own unique skills.


    They were intelligent, resourceful, and perceptive despite their young age. Especially Xi Yu, who seemed like a grown-up, took care of everything along the way.


    Six dayster, they arrived at the foot of Taihang Mountain in Taihang Town.


    Though called a town, it looked bigger than a county town and even more lively.


    ¡°Master, it¡¯s bustling here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a martial arts center. Peoplee from afar.¡±


    Xi Yu spent some silver inquiring with the locals and then led them to the busiest street, where they checked into a guesthouse called Saint Martial.


    The inn was surprisingly spacious, covering about a hundred acres.


    From the outside, it didn¡¯t look like an inn, more like arge mansion. Xi Yu stood at the counter.


    ¡°Innkeeper, we need the best rooms for six.¡±


    The innkeeper smiled, looking at her. ¡°Youngdy, we don¡¯t have rooms; we only have courtyards.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then the best courtyards, please.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s one hundred taels of gold per day.¡±


    Xi Yu didn¡¯t seem surprised. Instead, she looked back at Qiao Mai, who nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll stay for ten days.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    It only happened once or twice a year to receive a wealthy guest like them. The innkeeper happily handed them the keys and led them to the back.


    It was indeed the best inn in the small town. The scenery wasparable to Lucky Garden. As they walked further, it became even more beautiful. The courtyard that cost a hundred taels of gold was located at the end.


    It was exceptionally elegant. The courtyard is connected to Taihang Mountain, offering not only a breathtaking view but also a path leading up the mountain.


    It was much faster and less strenuous than an average person would take to climb.


    Qiao Mai nodded in satisfaction, heading straight to the main house on the second floor. Inside, all the furniture was made of sandalwood. The fragrance was so pleasant that there was no need for incense.


    The innkeeper led them inside and then asked with a slight bow.


    ¡°If guests stayed here, we were supposed to arrange six servants for them. If you need them, I can bring them over.¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Alright, if you do, you can find me up front.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    As soon as the innkeeper left, Xi Yu and the others closed the courtyard gate and arranged their amodations.


    ¡°Master, do you need to freshen up? We saw a natural hot spring in the backyard.¡±


    ¡°You go first. We¡¯ll followter.¡±


    ¡°After we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll reserve a table for the local vegetarian feast. It¡¯s said to be famous.¡¯


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    With the servant girls gone, Qiao Mai went upstairs. Upon reaching the second floor, she saw arge bed andzily sprawled herself on it. Yuan Jiaqi checked the tea set. ¡°Wife, are you thirsty?¡±


    ¡°No, you rest too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. Don¡¯t underestimate my martial skills. Did you notice that the shopkeeper is quite skilled?¡±


    ¡°In this small town, those who can¡¯t fight are rare. Without any foundation, would they dare to open an inn here?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s explore this ce properly.¡±


    ¡°As long as those two aren¡¯t following us, it¡¯s up to you.¡±


    As they spoke, Qiao Mai involuntarily closed her eyes and started to doze off.


    The efficiency of the servant girls was impressive. After an hour, they set up a vegetarian feast downstairs.


    Qiao Mai took a deep breath and was led to the table by her husband.


    ¡°The smell is decent.¡±


    Seeing the master pick up the chopsticks, the servant girls began devouring their food.


    ¡°Master, this tofu tastes as good as meat, or even better.¡±


    ¡°Enjoy as much as you like.¡±


    Qiao Mai also became interested and took more bites of the dishes on the table.


    On the mountaintop, an old Taoist sat in meditation on a central cushion in arge hall.


    Suddenly, he opened his eyes and counted on his fingers.


    ¡°A distinguished guest has arrived, an honored one.¡±


    The old Taoist¡¯s eyes shed with a sharp light before closing again to resume meditation.


    At the same moment, Qiao Mai hooked her lips and smiled.


    Although she couldn¡¯t count like the old Taoist, her spiritual power had circled Taihang Mountain. She paid no mind to the Taoist¡¯s words.


    Destiny is merely a precalcted orbit. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be sayings like ¡°man proposes, God disposes.¡±


    It provides many paths, but your choices determine where you end up.


    Don¡¯tment about the unfairness of destiny because you have choices but decided to ept your fate.


    The next day, Qiao Mai and her party didn¡¯t rush to climb the mountain. Instead, they roamed the small town with her husband and servant girls.


    Qingfeng Temple was thriving, with many pilgrims buying incense and ascending the mountain devoutly. Some even kowtowed every step of the way.


    There were many vegetarian restaurants, mainly serving vegetarian dishes and some alcohol, tailored for ordinary people.


    Most visitors abstained from alcohol and meat for three days before ascending the mountain.


    Qiao Mai and her group followed the local customs, having vegetarian meals from morning till night. They did drink a few sips of wine.


    Drinking a few sips of rice wine made from grains is nothing. After all, even monks endorse the idea of enjoying wine and meat.


    After three days in the guesthouse, nning to climb the mountain on the fourth day, Qiao Mai didn¡¯t expect Qingfeng Taoist to arrive early in the morning when they nned to climb the mountain the next day.


    He came with two disciples, appearing at the back of the guesthouse.


    The two disciples respectfully knocked on the door. Xi Yu and the others walked out.


    ¡°Greetings to this youngdy.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°We are from Qingfeng Temple. Qingfeng Taoist requests an audience with the Duke of Blessings and his wife.¡±


    Qiao Mai was in the living room. Upon hearing this, she went out with Yuan Jiaqi to greet them.


    ¡°I was just about to go up the mountain to visit you.¡±


    ¡°I am ashamed.¡±


    ¡°Youck skill, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°I will need guidance from you, Royal Consort.¡±


    ¡°Exorcising demons and suppressing evil are your duties, but don¡¯t be blind. People have good and bad sides. When they are bad, they can be worse than demons. Demons, too, have good and bad ones. Acting recklessly will lead to bad consequences. Isn¡¯t your Taoist school known for emphasizing cause and effect?¡±


    ¡°This Taoist is indeedcking in skill. I almost caused a disaster. I apologize.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss inside.¡±


    Entering the living room, Qiao Mai looked at Qingfeng Taoist.


    ¡°Did anyone ask you about me when you left the capital?¡±


    ¡°At that time, I spent a few days recovering from my injuries in the pce. After that, I left the city. On the way, I encountered several princes traveling together. I noticed abnormalities on their foreheads and even advised them.¡± ¡°Did you tell them about the demons in Lucky Garden?¡±


    ¡°No, it was their spection. I told them not to overthink and that it was not a demon but a type of beast. That¡¯s all..¡±

 Chapter 398 - 398: Another Lovelorn Girl

    Chapter 398 - 398: Another Lovelorn Girl


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°I didn¡¯te to Taihang Mountain specifically to look for you but to pass by the Holy Dark Temple.¡± ¡°Hmm? The Holy Dark Temple?¡±


    ¡°Have you heard of it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a powerful organization, but it¡¯s not within the boundaries of the


    Ming Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a map?¡±<div>


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s on the mountain. Would you like me to apany you up the mountain, or shall I send someone to escort you to the foot?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go up the mountain. Since we¡¯re here, we might as well familiarize ourselves with the surroundings.¡±


    Qingfeng Taoist stood up and made a polite gesture. The couple went up the mountain from the path behind the inn. ¡°Taoist, how old are you this year?¡± ¡°One hundred and eighty-six.¡±


    ¡°Not bad. You take good care of yourself.¡±


    Qingfeng nced at Yuan Jiaqi. ¡°The Duke of Blessings looks like he will have a long lire.¡¯


    ¡°To guard my wife, even if I don¡¯t want to live long, there¡¯s no choice.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was pleased to hear this. He had always wanted to apany his wife for a long time.


    During the journey, Qingfeng Taoist acted as a tour guide, introducing everything while climbing the mountain. Despite being over a hundred years old, he was in excellent spirits. Even Yuan Jiaqi was panting, but Qingfeng Taoist was unfazed.


    He guided them through the halls, exining the Buddhas they worshiped.


    Then, they rested in a quiet room at the back of the courtyard. A servant brought in tea and then left. Qingfeng took out a map and handed it to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°This is the terrain of the five kingdoms. The small ind in the middle is where the Holy Dark Temple is located. It¡¯s a tropical area with many poisonous creatures. Even experts won¡¯t easily set foot there. However, I believe you should be able toe and go freely.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Qiao Mai opened the map, took a few nces, then folded it and stored it in her space.


    At the same time, she took a few books from her pocket and ced them on the table. ¡°These are some magical techniques popr overseas. Check if they are useful for your Taoist practices.¡±


    Qingfeng took the book on top and started reading carefully. Initially, he thought of learning from each other, but as he read, his excitement grew. ¡°Royal Consort, the Qingfeng Temple sincerely thanks you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I ept your gratitude. Just remember to focus on benefiting the people. Don¡¯t act recklessly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip of tea, watching Qingfeng absorbed in the books.


    After a long while, he came back to reality. He immediately gathered the books and bowed to Qiao Mai.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been impolite. I¡¯ll take these books to the elder monks for their opinions. Will the two of you stay and enjoy the vegetarian feast in our temple? If you¡¯re willing, you can stay overnight on the mountain.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Qingfeng Taoist left, and the couple moved outside. The girls, including Xi Yu, were wandering around the mountain.


    There were many Taoists on the mountain and even a registeredy disciple.


    The girls were curious about everything, especially the formal martial arts training of the Taoists.


    However, they were quickly chased away.


    They pouted. ¡°What¡¯s so great about it? Their moves are so empty. Master taught us practical techniques. All of that looks like showy postures.¡± Surprisingly, their words were heard by the Taoists. They were angry and helpless. The girls were young, and the Taoists felt awkward about confronting them even if they wanted to.


    However, some Taoists were younger, so they decided to confront them.


    It led to a fight, and the four maids defeated the nine Taoists.


    Although they were beaten, it was not severe¡ªjust some bruises. In terms of practical martial arts, the young girls were superior.


    Qiao Mai¡¯s teachings are more suitable for practicalbat, while the Taoists from Qingfeng Temple focus on a showy and ethereal style, visually appealing and full of immortal aura. However, in actualbat, theyck experience.


    On the other hand, the four girls, practicing daily and engaging in real fights, demonstrated their practical skills.


    While the couple enjoyed their tea, the girls returned, looking confident and energetic.


    ¡°Hey, did you go for a fight?¡±


    ¡°Master, we had a friendly match with the Taoists from the temple.¡±


    ¡°And you won?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, the four of us fought against nine and emerged victorious!¡±


    ¡°Not bad. Taihang Mountain is a blessed ce with exceptional Qi. You can practice in the courtyard tonight; it will benefit your internal energy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    Soon, a group of Taoists came over, still unsatisfied. They wanted to confront the maids¡¯ master.


    Qiao Mai looked at the crowd of Taoists and said, ¡°If your skills are inferior, just admit it. Why bothering over? Is this how your master taught you to bepetitive?¡±


    ¡°It was your disciple who said we only practice showy postures.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, you have many showy moves and fewer practical ones. When ites to a real fight, will your enemies allow you to prepare? Will they let you pose in advance?¡±


    ¡°Then please enlighten us.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the person. ¡°Even Qingfeng doesn¡¯t dare to ask me for guidance. Go back and practice for another hundred years before challenging me.¡±


    ¡°Arrogant!¡±


    The person rushed over to Qiao Mai, but she casually waved at him. With a miserable scream, he fell to the ground. Witnessing Qiao Mai¡¯s strength, the others kept silent.


    Qingfeng arrived at this moment. ¡°She¡¯s a distinguished guest of our temple. What are you disturbing her for?¡±


    The crowd lowered their heads, receiving a scolding. Qingfeng said, ¡°Do whatever you need to do. Even if you practice for two lifetimes, you won¡¯t be able to defeat thisdy. Disperse now.¡±


    The Taoists dispersed, and Qingfeng sat down.


    ¡°The old masters in the monastery love those books.¡±


    ¡°Good. Study them well.¡±


    At this moment, a vegetarian feast was served. Qiao Mai called over the girls to join them.


    Looking at the four maids, Qingfeng said, ¡°Good potential.¡±


    ¡°They were picked up. Let¡¯s see what they can achieve in the future.¡±


    ¡°If they stay, no one will dare to invade the Great Ming Dynasty for a hundred years.¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and nced at Xi Yu and the others. ¡°Hopefully.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, our temple¡¯s internal martial arts techniques are unsuitable for them. Otherwise, staying here for some time would benefit them.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll invite the elders to visit Tianshui Town.¡¯


    ¡°Definitely. ¡±


    After dinner, Qingfeng Taoist left. The time on the mountain passed slowly and boringly, mostly pilgrims visiting.


    They brought a lot of money, especially the additional offerings for incense.


    There were also those seeking talismans from the monks, praying for peace, and various requests.


    As the night gradually fell, stars and the moon seemed within reach.


    The girls finished dinner and started meditating. Qiao Mai set up barriers for safety.


    Facing each other, the couple enjoyed the beautiful night. How could such a night be without good wine?


    They silently drank to the moon. This courtyard was the highest standard in the mountain, upied by Qiao Mai and herpanions.


    Below them were three rooms and eight more rooms further below. At the bottom were over twenty ordinary guest rooms.


    They were savoring the silent victory when they heard someone ying the zither in the courtyard below.


    The zither¡¯s sound was mncholic. The couple stood up and went to the wall, looking down.


    ¡°Looks like another lovesick girl.¡±


    ¡°Not everything can go as nned. It¡¯s none of our business.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll set off for the Holy Dark Temple tomorrow. If you want, you can stay here for some more time.¡¯


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll take Xi Yu and the others home. It¡¯s nice outside, but it¡¯s more reassuring at home.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    While they talked, a shadow rushed towards the girl with a glittering dagger aimed at her heart.


    Qiao Mai grabbed a stone from the wall and threw it at the assant.


    With a miserable scream, the stone hit the person¡¯s head, and they fell to the ground. The courtyard was in chaos as the maids rushed in.


    ¡°Miss, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Assassin! Assassin!¡±


    The people from the temple rushed in. They carried the assassin away and started questioning everyone in the courtyard.


    Qiao Mai snorted. ¡°With a face as delicate as a flower, she possesses a strength that doesn¡¯t match. She was defenseless.¡¯


    ¡°People have their destinies. Back then, you asked Ling¡¯er to learn martial arts, but she wasn¡¯t cut out for it. It¡¯s beyond our control..¡±

 Chapter 399 - 399: He Was Shocked

    Chapter 399 - 399: He Was Shocked


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s not the type. That¡¯s why she almost got ambushed. Ling¡¯er chose the most ordinary path, but fortunately, she has me protecting her. Otherwise, she would have been eaten alive with nothing left but bones.¡±


    ¡°Wife, you get agitated every time you mention her.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m angry.¡±


    As the two talked, the girl in the courtyard below looked up.


    She knew someone had helped her, or she would have died by now.<div>


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Qiao Mai nodded at her. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Saving you once doesn¡¯t mean we can save you multiple times. Be cautious in the future.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi led Qiao Mai back to their room. ¡°Since we¡¯re leaving tomorrow, rest early tonight. The mosquitoes in the Taihang Mountains are numerous. I¡¯ll light some mosquito repellent for you.¡±


    Before dawn, Qiao Mai left the Taihang Mountain.


    Yuan Jiaqi and Qingfeng bid farewell, preparing to set off with the four girls.


    As they left the guest courtyard, they saw the girl they had rescued yesterday standing at the gate with some people.


    ¡°Benefactor, please ept my gratitude.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi stepped aside. ¡°It was my wife who saved you. She had urgent matters and left already.¡± ¡°But benefactor¡­


    ¡°I am not your benefactor.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi spoke coldly, then turned around and walked down the mountain with the four girls. The girl wanted to follow them.


    Unexpectedly, the four girls drew their weapons, ready to fight her.


    ¡°Youngdy, don¡¯t you understand humannguage? If you dare to approach again, don¡¯t me our des for being ruthless.¡± ¡°I¡­ I only want to thank my benefactor.¡± ¡°I think you have eyes for my master, right?¡±


    The girl blushed. ¡°No, I¡­¡±


    ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Xi Yu scolded her without mercy and followed Yuan Jiaqi down the mountain.


    Last night, when this girl looked up, she was captivated by Yuan Jiaqi¡¯s handsome figure illuminated by moonlight.


    Today, she fell even more deeply upon seeing him again.


    She was delighted to learn that his wife wasn¡¯t around, but she didn¡¯t expect this man to be so indifferent.


    After settling the bill at the inn, they rode back home.


    Unexpectedly, the youngdy was waiting for them on the official road, much to Xi Yu¡¯s annoyance. She knew her master too well.


    Seeing that the youngdy was about to greet Yuan Jiaqi again, Xi Yu immediately expressed her anger.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. My master didn¡¯t save you. If you dare to harbor thoughts about him, you won¡¯t have a good ending.¡±


    The girl looked aggrieved. ¡°Youngdy, please don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯m just afraid of encountering another assassination. I want to travel with you for safety.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To the South.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re heading North.¡±


    ¡°I also have rtives in the North. Why not travel together? When we reach there, my rtives can arrange for me to go home safely.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi interrupted, ¡°Miss, please maintain your dignity. I am already married. If you continue to follow us, my maid will take action.¡±


    The girl teared up, looking pitiful. Any other man would probably be moved.


    But unfortunately, she encountered Yuan Jiaqi.


    In his own words, he was lucky to encounter his current wife. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t spare a nce even if a woman undressed and stood before him.


    Qiao Mai believed he must have been a monk in his previous life, passing through the Kingdom of Women, where he encountered her. They made a pact to fulfill each other¡¯s destinies.


    On the carriage, the girl twisted her handkerchief in frustration. Her appearance would enchant any man, but Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t even look at her.


    She instructed her maidservant to hurry with the carriage, attempting to catch up.


    However, their mode of transportation was a carriage, while Yuan Jiaqi and the others were on horseback. Naturally, they were faster, and the maidservant couldn¡¯t catch up.


    Qiao Mai rode her horse, heading southward. As she traveled, she examined the map.


    Locating the Holy Dark Temple wasn¡¯t challenging. She continued South until there was no road left, pointing towards the direction of the sea.


    She switched to a water route. After five or six days of sailing, she would see the inds. The Holy Dark Temple stood in the central part, atop the highest peak.


    The entire pce was ck, resembling the Nine Hells. At night, it was said to be pitch-ck, as if shrouded by dark clouds. It was terrifying, and this condition persisted throughout the year.


    Qiao Mai sneered. That ce must have been fortified with formations.


    Otherwise, how could it maintain such a dark atmosphere throughout the year?


    She wondered who had poisoned the Crown Prince. She had broken the curse this time, but had the perpetrator suffered the consequences?


    Dayster, she stored the Dongzhao in her space and stood by the vast sea, waiting for the ship.


    In her free time, she read a book about venomous worm curses.


    There were heart-devouring curses, soul-devouring curses, and unity curses, all designed to control others.


    Compared to the immortal realm, the worm curses in the mortal realm were fewer.


    Inside the Holy Dark Temple, dim lights illuminated the figures of several people. One of them was the Grand Master who had been harmed by the restriction bacsh.


    There were also three Sect Lords, one lying on the ground, barely alive.


    The Grand Master roared, ¡°I told you toe back. What are you doing in the Ming Dynasty? Have you not suffered enough losses? Are you looking for death?¡±


    The three Sect Lords kept their heads down, not daring to make a sound. The Grand Master covered his chest, so furious that he felt like kicking the man on the ground.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯re the only one capable? Do you think you¡¯re the most skilled in the world? There¡¯s always someone better. Even beyond that, there¡¯s the unknown. If you suffer losses, who can you me? This is a lesson for you.¡±


    The Grand Master red at the man on the floor and took a few deep breaths.


    ¡°Someone, take him to the second floor. Find a room to settle him in. When I recover a bit from my injuries, we¡¯ll provide him with treatment.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grand Master.¡±


    Several ck-d individuals carried the injured man away. This injured man was one of the four Sect Lords whom Qiao Mai had sent back with a message.


    Unexpectedly, he didn¡¯t return to the Holy Dark Temple but went to the capital. He intended to use curse worms to control the crown prince but ended up falling t on his face.


    He was unconscious, and his most capable assistant had also died.


    If it weren¡¯t for the signal re heunched before losing consciousness, he would have been in the grave now.


    The Grand Master paced back and forth on a high tform with his hands behind his back.


    ¡°Increase the guards. If you find any suspicious persons, report them immediately.¡±


    ¡°Grand Master, I heard that the Duke of Blessing¡¯s wife in the Ming Dynasty is very mysterious. She keeps many ferocious beasts in her house.¡±


    ¡°Rumors are rumors. I believe when I see it.¡±


    ¡°Our scouts never returned.¡±


    ¡°This matter is tricky. If we are not careful, we might be in trouble.¡± ¡°How about we disperse our people?¡±


    ¡°We must disperse. Let themy low on the ind as ordinary people. Everyone, remember to keep a low profile. The opponent is formidable. Even I am uncertain.¡±


    On the boat, Qiao Mai stood on the bow, gazing at the endless sea.


    ¡°Boatman, how many days to reach the Inds of No Worries?¡±


    ¡°Depends on the weather. Could be six days if it¡¯s good, or ten days if it¡¯s slow.¡±


    Qiao Mai sat down cross-legged and closed her eyes. The boatman shook his head, paying her no mind.


    Little did he know that she sat for six days. Regardless of wind, sun, or rain, she remained motionless. The boatman thought she had starved to death and approached to check on her.


    To his surprise, Qiao Mai opened her eyes as soon as he got close, startling him.


    ¡°You¡­Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±


    ¡°People who practice martial arts can go without food for half a month.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve grilled fish. Would you like some?¡± ¡°How much for one?¡±


    ¡°Ten silver coins for a fish about two pounds.¡±


    ¡°Bring one. Also, get me a pot of rice wine.¡±


    ¡°One pot of rice wine is one silver coin.¡±


    Shortly after, the fish and wine were brought over. Qiao Mai sniffed them, confirming no tampering by the boatman.


    She started eating while faintly seeing the silhouette of the archipgo in the distance.


    After a few bites, she raised her head, emptied the wine into her stomach, and gazed at the small inds.


    ¡°Boatman, do you have the clothes of the ind residents?¡±


    ¡°No. People wear all sorts of things there from five different countries.¡±


    ¡°Oh, is it crowded with people?¡±


    ¡°Not too many. The residents are mostly foreigners from the past who have be locals over time.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. That way, I won¡¯t be afraid of not understanding their conversations..¡±

 Chapter 400 - 400: I Want To Blast Them To Death

    Chapter 400 - 400: I Want To st Them To Death


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Are you here for business, or?¡±


    ¡°Just wandering around.¡±


    ¡°You are bold. There are few women like you.¡±


    Qiao Mai smirked, thinking, ¡®Far more than just a few. I am rare.¡¯


    The seemingly nearby ind took half a day to reach. The sky was filled with twinkling stars as soon as theynded, and there was an inn right where they disembarked.<div>


    Business was good, but things were a bit chaotic.


    Staying there required no references, no registration, and no one bothered to ask.


    ¡°Give me the best room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ten silver coins per night.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay for one night first.¡±


    Such straightforward guests were very much appreciated by the innkeepers.


    After Qiao Mai entered the room, she locked the door and entered her space in a sh.


    Greeny immediately appeared before her. ¡°Master, have we arrived at the Inds of No Worries?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll go out tomorrow. What do you think?¡± ¡°Hehe, I was just thinking about it. I¡¯m here to collect some new species.¡± ¡°I wonder if my husband has returned home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been so many days. He should have arrived by now. Don¡¯t worry, master.


    Dracaena is watching over him.¡±


    Qiao Mai sighed, lying on the bed in her sleepwear. Greeny found a song on theputer and fell asleep in no time.


    When she woke up, it was already dawn. Qiao Mai emerged from the space, and it was hustle and bustle outside the inn.


    She opened the windowzily, gazing outside.


    ¡°Oh, there are all kinds of people. It seems there are people from beyond the five kingdoms as well.¡±


    Greeny flew out. ¡°Oh, there are people with dark skin, light skin, yellow skin, blue eyes, ck eyes, brown eyes¡­ Looking at these people, it feels so fresh.¡±


    ¡°There are also quite a few hawkers. This must be the only pier on the small ind. ¡±


    ¡°Master, I see dried fish being sold here. Shall we stock up?¡±


    ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll order some local dishes.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the plump fish on the stall, gulped, and was delighted to find something she wanted to eat.


    She didn¡¯t have the desire to wander around but changed her clothes because of her cravings. Greeny transformed into a beautiful butterfly, fluttering in her hair.


    ¡°Master, look! There¡¯s preserved ribbonfish and dried yellow croaker. They¡¯re so big!¡±


    Qiao Mai bought quite a lot, put them in a basket, and then transferred them into her space. She repeated the process many times, buying the best items on the market.


    The master and servant found a crowded tavern, ordered steamed fish and salt-baked crabs, and enjoyed a delicious meal.


    They settled the bill at the inn, hired a carriage, and headed straight for the central part of the inds, where the Dark Temple was located.


    On the way, she held a handful of dried fish and a jug of wine.


    The coachman asionally turned back to look at her and shook his head.


    ¡°Madam, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°I heard the ck house is famous. I n to look around there.¡±


    ¡°Be careful. The surroundings are full of poisonous insects. If you¡¯re bitten identally, you might lose your life.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look from a distance. After all, I¡¯m here on a trip.¡±


    ¡°Sounds reasonable.¡±


    After half a day, they arrived at the Holy Dark Temple. The coachman brought her to the location, considerately finding an inn for her in the vicinity.


    Feeling assured, Qiao Mai looked at the Holy Dark Temple from afar and leisurely checked into the inn.


    She paid a high price to stay in a room that directly faced the temple.


    ¡°Master, do you n to deal with them?¡±


    Qiao Mai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll let them taste the power of the cannon. I bombed them all night in my dream.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it seems you have kept the cannons.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Buy a few more cannonballs from the tform for me. I¡¯m going to st them.¡±


    ¡°Then let me check in the space to see what models they are. I¡¯ll debug them.¡±


    Qiao Mai pouted. ¡°Unfortunately, this pce is not worthy of using missiles. It will be reduced to rubble in one hit.¡±


    Greeny rolled her eyes. ¡°If you use atomic bombs, this ind will sink.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    As night fell, Qiao Mai slept on the spacious bed, deeply asleep after drinking quite a bit.


    But she knew what she had to do. In the middle of the night, she sat up from the bed without lighting a candle, walked to the window, and looked across.


    Greeny appeared in a sh with a cannon and a base.


    ¡°Master, the inn we stayed at is not very sturdy. I added a base to the cannon to reduce its impact force.¡±


    ¡°Smart. Come on. Give me the cannonball.¡±


    The tiny Greeny, holding a cannonball several times its size, stuffed it into the cannon barrel.


    Qiao Mai found the coordinates. ¡°Fire.¡±


    With a bang, the cannonball flew out. It didn¡¯t hit,nding on the wall of the Holy Dark Temple. Even so, it made the pce shake several times.


    At the same time, the inn also shook. Qiao Mai gritted her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s exhrating. Continue.¡±


    She kept adjusting the angle, and finally, the third cannonball hit. Qiao Mai clicked her tongue.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I yed with this thing. My hands are sore.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not bad, considering the distance isn¡¯t close.¡±


    ¡°Tonight, let¡¯s st them into pieces. Let¡¯s try to destroy their formation too.¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡±


    The master and servant yed with joy. The Holy Dark Temple, which had never been brightly lit, was now illuminated. At the same time, the guests in the inn woke up.


    They all ran outside, thinking it was an earthquake.


    After a night of intense bombardment, the Holy Dark Temple was reduced to ruins.


    As dawn approached, Qiao Mai and Greenyy sprawled on the bed and fell into a slumber.


    However, themotion on the small ind began.


    A group of ck-clothed individuals searched the surroundings, going from house to house. Qiao Mai¡¯s inn was not spared either.


    A knock on the door interrupted her sleep. Dressed in her nightgown, Qiao Mai opened the door with sleepy eyes.


    A ck-clothed man stared at her, ncing around her room.


    ¡°Are you the only one in the room?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Were you in the roomst night?¡±


    ¡°No, it seems there was an earthquakest night. I was scared and didn¡¯t dare to sleep. I only went to bed when it was almost dawn.¡±


    The room was empty, and the smell of gunpowder had long dissipated. The ck-clothed men, judging her as a weak woman, asked a few more questions and then left.


    However, they returned shortly after Qiao Mai fell asleep again.


    ¡°Come with us.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Why? In our Dark Temple, what we say on this ind is an order. Let¡¯s go!¡± Qiao Mai was taken away by them in her nightgown.


    It was only at this moment that she saw the true face of the Holy Dark Temple, entirely constructed with ck marble.


    However, the once-overcast sky had now turned into a bright sun.


    Many suspects were brought to the edge of the ruins.


    A ck-d figure, wearing a ck cloak with a wide-brimmed hat that obscured his face, stood amid a crowd of simrly dressed individuals. They were arranged in a hierarchical order below the Grand Master.


    His eerie voice echoed, ¡°Speak up. Who did it?¡±


    The surroundings were so quiet that even the buzzing of mosquitoes could be heard. ¡°If no one speaks, I will kill everyone. Since no one is talking, you will all die.¡±


    Having spoken, he observed the people around him. Qiao Mai stood in the middle, not standing out.


    As the ck-clothed men raised arge knife, ready for a massacre, Qiao Mai sneered.


    ¡°Let them go. I destroyed your pce.¡±


    The Grand Master abruptly stood up and swiftly appeared before her. They locked eyes.


    ¡°You? You stepped forward voluntarily to save them?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t!¡±


    Qiao Mai flipped her hand, revealing a pistol. She aimed at one of the ck-clothed men and pulled the trigger.


    The man fell, and the Grand Master stared at her, stunned for a long time. Finally, he waved his hand.


    ¡°Release them.¡±


    As the people left, the Grand Master arched his hand towards her. ¡°Please have a seat..¡±

 Chapter 401 - 401: That Can’t Be Done!

    Chapter 401 - 401: That Can¡¯t Be Done!


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Qiao Mai sat down. The Grand Master never took his eyes off her face.


    ¡°Madam, are you from the Great Ming Dynasty?¡± ¡°Smart. It seems you were prepared for this?¡±


    ¡°You broke my restrictions? You broke our curse worm?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I also destroyed your Holy Dark Temple. What can you do to me?¡±


    ¡°Admirable! You¡¯re the first person who dares to disrespect us. You are so young. I wonder about your strength. You even delivered yourself to us!¡±<div>


    Qiao Mai¡¯s face darkened. She grabbed the Grand Master¡¯s robe like an eagle snatching a chick. The Grand Master shivered in fear.


    How did she do that? It¡¯s incredible!


    ¡°Luring my kingdom¡¯s emperor on the road, sending people to poison my son-inw, using seduction to cause a rift between him and my daughter¡­ How can I not settle the score?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you all like squashing a bug. I destroyed your pce as a lesson.¡±


    ¡°Are you the Duke of Blessing¡¯s wife?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you know.¡±


    Qiao Mai did not release her grip on him. With her other hand, she shed towards the other ck-robed men.


    A series of screams echoed as the men fell one after another. The Grand Master¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°Stop! Stop!¡±


    Qiao Mai snorted, throwing the Grand Master away.


    ¡°What happened? Do you regret killing people now? Weren¡¯t you ruthless a moment ago and ready to kill innocent civilians?¡± ¡°The strong are respected. It¡¯s their fault for being weak.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Whose fault is it for being weak?¡±


    The Grand Master fell silent. He got up, looking at his fallen subordinates, and burst into tears.


    Qiao Mai pointed at him, crippling his martial arts.


    ¡°This is your lesson. Killing you is too easy. If you ever dare to scheme against my Great Ming Dynasty again, I¡¯ll make sure you die without a burial ce.¡± She stood up, flicked her shirt, and walked away.


    The Grand Mastery on the ground, shedding tears of regret. If he hadn¡¯t investigated it, he could have kept his subordinates alive longer, but bringing a suspect had led to their catastrophic downfall.


    The four Sect Lords were dead, and his capable generals were gone.


    Devil. She was a devil. Without even blinking, she killed so many people and crippled him.


    If he didn¡¯t leave this ce soon, the people on the ind would know he had be useless, and he would face disastrous storms.


    The Grand Master wiped his tears, searching for treasures in the temple.


    He nned to take them away quietly and find a secluded ce to start over.


    Unexpectedly, all his wealth was gone. He thought of that woman, pounded his chest, and stamped his feet.


    It was over, all over!


    Qiao Mai returned to the inn, closed the door, and looked at the temple opposite, smiling.


    If they hadn¡¯t taken her there, she might have given them a chance. Unfortunately, he wanted to kill in front of her, so she had to act.


    Once they¡¯re dead, it¡¯s over. They won¡¯t harm anyone else in the future.


    As for the scattered followers of the Holy Dark Temple in various kingdoms, they are just small fries and won¡¯t make a significant impact.


    Qiao Mai ced a ban on the Grand Master¡¯s brain. If he doesn¡¯t behave in the future, the consequence will be a head explosion.


    There would have been arge-scale battle if it were anyone else.


    They didn¡¯t expect things to end so quickly. It was their actions that catalyzed this war.


    If they had known that capturing Qiao Mai would lead to such a catastrophic disaster, they wouldn¡¯t have done it even if they were beaten to death.


    The ck-robed men disappeared from the ind that day.


    Upon learning of their demise, the inders happily spread the news.


    It seemed they had not been treating the people well.


    After settling the matter, Qiao Mai and Greeny collected nts and poisonous insects on the ind.


    Greeny marked out an area in the space to raise these poisonous creatures.


    Qiao Mai captured a few curse worms in the Holy Dark Temple, including a golden Curse Worm King.


    Creatures like these were not sold on the tform.


    Greeny was ecstatic. ¡°Master, this golden insect has a trace of the bloodline of an ancient worm king. If it evolves properly, it will be a great help to you.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t go to the immortal realm, strength is useless.¡± ¡°Master, if you cultivate properly, you can definitely go within ten years.¡± ¡°Even if I can, I won¡¯t go. I want to apany my husband.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, your husband is the hardest man to find in this world.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll apany him through this journey first. It¡¯s not urgent. Anyway, my talent and understanding are top-notch. Haha.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t boast.¡¯


    On the way back, she went on a shopping spree on the ind.


    Arriving at the pier, she took the same boat back. It seemed like the boat was waiting specifically for her.


    ¡°Ah, madam, how fortunate.¡¯


    ¡°Fortunate? Bring me a jar of rice wine and grilled fish.¡±


    Qiao Mai cheerfully ced the silver in the boatman¡¯s hands and sat at the bow cross-legged.


    The boatman attentively arranged a wooden table for her, humming a song.


    ¡°Why are you so happy?


    ¡°Haha, the Holy Dark Temple is gone. Wemoners don¡¯t have to pay high taxes anymore.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Qiao Mai took a sip of rice wine. ¡°So, can you give me a discount on the wine and fish?¡± The boatman shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    With Qiao Mai on board, the boat sailed smoothly. Shended six dayster.


    Riding on Dongzhao, she returned to Tianshui Town.


    Yuan Jiaqi sat in Qiao¡¯s Snack Shop after dealing with official affairs, waiting for Qiao Mai.


    Only when thenterns were lit did he return home.


    ¡°Husband?¡± Qiao Mai shouted at him from a distance.


    Yuan Jiaqi stood up and ran towards her. ¡°Wife, you¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°The matter is resolved. We don¡¯t have to worry about the Holy Dark Temple anymore.¡±


    ¡°Are you tired? Come, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    He took Dongzhao¡¯s reins and held Qiao Mai¡¯s hand, walking back to Lucky Garden. The people in town witnessed this scene, envious and admiring.


    ¡°The duke and his wife are so affectionate.¡¯


    ¡°Of course. He only has eyes for Madam Qiao.¡±


    Unbeknownst to them, a pair of mncholy eyes watched Yuan Jiaqi in a corner of Tianshui Town.


    This person was the girl who had followed them from Taihang Mountain. She persisted, inquiring about them all the way here.


    Upon hearing that the man she admired was the Duke of Blessings, her heart sank like falling into an ice cave.


    Although she knew it was impossible, she still found herself trapped.


    She always watched him from afar, not daring to get close, afraid of making him hate her more. Until now, she didn¡¯t know how to approach Yuan Jiaqi. Now that Qiao Mai had returned, she had nowhere to turn.


    After freshening up and lying on her bed, Qiao Mai hummed contentedly. Yuan Jiaqi sat in front of her, massaging her legs.


    ¡°Wife, was the ind beautiful?¡±


    ¡°It was alright but hot. It was dangerous this time. Next time, I¡¯ll take you with me.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I want to see it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make fish for you. I collected many deep sea fish. They are all dried and taste delicious whether stir-fried or steamed.


    ¡°No hurry. You need to rest.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s the situation in the capital?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er has finished her postpartum recovery. She and the Crown Prince are still living the same way as before. The emperor only punished him for a month and handed over the court affairs to him again.¡±


    ¡°I knew it would end up like this. What about ckie?¡±


    ¡°I let it stay in the capital to guard Ling¡¯er and Chuan¡¯er. If anything happens, we¡¯ll be informed in advance.¡¯


    ¡°Alright. Since the weather is getting warmer, I¡¯ll renovate our house. It¡¯s too cold here in winter. I¡¯ll build a bathhouse for each courtyard and install a purification system like the one in the capital.¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you, wife.¡±


    ¡°This time, I¡¯ll make it into a finished product. It won¡¯t take much effort, and I won¡¯t need to hire workers anymore. It¡¯s troublesome.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s do it together?¡±

 Chapter 402 - 402: Do What You Should Do

    Chapter 402 - 402: Do What You Should Do


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at her with hopeful eyes, and Qiao Mai smiled. She pulled his arm and shed into the space.


    He widened his eyes, looking at the splendid scenery.


    ¡°This is where you perform magic, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, most of my thingse from here.¡±


    Qiao Mai flew with him in the air within the space. ¡°Greeny takes care of these.¡± ¡°Goodness, isn¡¯t this spacerger than thend governed by the emperor?¡±<div>


    ¡°He governs only that much. Thend area here is thousands of times his.¡±


    As they spoke, Greeny appeared in front of them. ¡°Master, Master¡¯s husband, greetings.¡±


    ¡°Greeny, can you speak humannguage?¡±


    ¡°I am the spirit of this space. I am proficient in human or animalnguage.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, my master is even more amazing.¡±


    ¡°Of course. My wife is the most amazing.¡±


    They flew low to get a better view below, and Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t help but exim.


    ¡°This ce has everything!¡±


    Greeny raised its head. ¡°Master¡¯s husband, each nt here regenerates after being picked. Don¡¯t believe it? Look.¡±


    It reached out, plucked a peach, and handed it to Yuan Jiaqi.


    A new peach quickly grew in the same spot. Yuan Jiaqi was quite astonished.


    This was an endless and incredible self-sustaining resource.


    Realizing it was impossible to see everything, Qiao Mai brought him back to theputer.


    ¡°Husband, you¡¯ve seen most of my space. My space is just for nting vegetation and raising small animals. Rare items like those are bought here.¡± Yuan Jiaqi stared at theptop in disbelief. ¡°We can buy things directly here?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Sit next to me and watch. I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Qiao Mai first bought some small items from the tform. She ced the silver on the table, and the money pouch disappeared, reced by the purchased items.


    Yuan Jiaqi couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°You can just buy a table of food from here instead of cooking?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, yes.¡±


    She selected many dishes they liked on the tform and bought a bottle of wine.


    Greeny set up a table in the courtyard, looking at the full table of food. The couple sat down.


    Greeny poured the wine attentively, then obediently flew away, not disturbing the couple¡¯s private life.


    ¡°Wife, I thought I¡¯d never see the day you¡¯d bring me in.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t n to bring you here because everyone has their secrets. I¡¯ve never hidden anything from you. There¡¯s no real difference betweening in or


    ¡± not.


    ¡°Do you usually cultivate here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the air here is helpful for me. It¡¯s more efficient than practicing outside.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi served her food while asking.


    ¡°So, once you¡¯re in seclusion, can I stille in?¡±


    ¡°You can call Greeny. It has the authority to bring you in.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi was delighted. He feared that once she closed herself off, he¡¯d be left outside, unable to see her for months.


    ¡°Does that mean after the house is renovated, we can buy things from here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can order the design we want. No need to build houses. Then, we can create arge pit for wastewater treatment on the ground behind, simr to the one in the capital.¡±


    ¡°Wife, it seems our tenants might terminate their leases.¡±


    ¡°Oh? They¡¯re not renting anymore?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯ve umted wealth from years of cultivating greenhouses, and each family has bought fertilend.¡±


    ¡°Perfect. Instruct someone to surround the rear sixty-five acres with brick walls. We won¡¯t need therge greenhouses in the future.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll use techniques to seal off the backyard. There won¡¯t be any need for a greenhouse. It¡¯ll be warm like spring all year round.¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s over sixty acres. What should we grow?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you want. I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, alright.¡±


    The couple spent a romantic night in the space. The next day, the transformation of Lucky Garden officially began.


    After closing the gate, Yuan Jiaqi, along with his household staff, began the renovation under Qiao Mai¡¯s guidance.


    Three dayster, all the bathrooms werepleted. Five days after that, the sewage treatment was revamped, and half a monthter, the rear sixty-five acres ofnd were enclosed.


    Qiao Mai used enchantments to set up the area in the back, employing numerous talismans as needed.


    The temperature will remain constant throughout the year, unaffected by wind or rain. For watering the fields, they utilized water from a nearby river.


    A live water source was introduced to the backyard, making it convenient for the household staff to irrigate.


    Qiao Mai also arranged an enchantment in the front yard, using high-quality spiritual stones to set up arge array.


    Living in this ce for an extended period was believed to promote longevity. People here were expected to live longer than ordinary individuals.


    As the renovations progressed until July, Lucky Garden rarely opened its gate, causing the residents to specte if something significant was happening.


    The Liu and Qian families even dispatched people to inquire.


    The gate only opened in mid-July, and some curious individuals stood outside, peering in. They couldn¡¯t tell if it was an illusion, but they were surprised to see an ethereal mist emanating from inside.


    After taking care of the house, Qiao Mai entered seclusion in her space.


    As for the situation in the capital, she didn¡¯t want to know anything. If the children wanted to visit, it would be with her husband¡¯s hospitality; otherwise, let them be.


    Sons will eventually have their path, and daughters will have their own families. Forcibly picked melons are not sweet. They have all grown up, and it¡¯s no longer appropriate for their parents to interfere in their lives.


    After Qiao Mai entered seclusion, Yuan Jiaqi managed the family business and rarely went out.


    asionally, rtives and friends woulde, and he would arrange food and drinks for them. But he never drank much.


    If he missed Qiao Mai, he would call Greeny at night.


    He apanied Qiao Mai all night inside the space. He wouldn¡¯t sleep as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of looking at his wife.


    The next day, he would go out and do whatever needed to be done.


    The industries in County She were profitable, and he divided the ie into two halves, giving half to Chuan¡¯er and half to Ling¡¯er.


    For businesses like Qiao¡¯s Small Eatery, he would keep the money. He would hand it over to Qiao Mai to manage.


    The emperor and empress had been living in the capital¡¯s Lucky Garden. Sometimes, they would chat with Old Master and Mistress Wang.


    The Golden Dragon Guards often reported the situation in County She to the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty, the reconstruction there isplete. All thend has been enclosed, and trees, vegetables, and fruits have been nted.¡±


    ¡°Did Mr. Yuan personally work on thend?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the servants in the family also work on thend daily. They say the backyard is beautiful. We want to zo in, but for some reason, we can¡¯t. We can only enter openly through the main gate.¡±


    The emperor snorted, ¡°It¡¯s strange if you can go in. Even if you can, you might die inside without some skills.¡±


    The leader of the Golden Dragon Guards smiled awkwardly, ¡°Naturally, we can¡¯tpare with the Royal Consort. She has extraordinary skills.¡±


    ¡°Of course. She is the pir of our Ming Dynasty. Without her, we would have been finished long ago.¡±


    Lying on a bamboo chair, the empress aterge grapes sweet enough to narrow her eyes.


    ¡°Your Majesty, should we go to Tianshui Town for the New Year?¡±


    ¡°Not now. The crown prince seems to have turned over a new leaf, but I know he¡¯s hiding himself. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to Ling¡¯er. We¡¯ll go in a few years when it¡¯s safer.¡±


    Speaking of this, the empress looked ufortable.


    ¡°A beauty is a hero¡¯s tomb. He was enchanted by that skin.¡±


    ¡°Why did I give birth to such a son? Except for this, he¡¯s good in all elements.¡± ¡°He might be holding a grudge because of the child in that woman¡¯s belly.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about him. The future heir must be Ling¡¯er¡¯s child. This is also an exnation to my inw.¡±


    The empress sat up abruptly. ¡°Do you mean to bypass the crown prince and appoint a new heir directly?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±

 Chapter 403 - 403: Really Detestable

    Chapter 403 - 403: Really Detestable


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°Would the crown prince be willing?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s his failure to cherish. He wants to be ungrateful. If it weren¡¯t for his mother-inw, he would be a disabled prince in the rear pce. His status is all thanks to his mother-inw, but he doesn¡¯t know how to treat Ling¡¯er properly. It¡¯s despicable.¡±


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    The Golden Dragon Guard remained silent on the side and continued.


    ¡°The Royal Consort is in seclusion.¡±<div>


    ¡°Yes. The stronger she bes, the stronger our Ming Dynasty will be. When shees out of seclusion, I n to elevate their statuses.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t it high enough already?¡±


    ¡°Not enough. They should be the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. If that¡¯s impossible, I¡¯ll appoint her as the Guardian Princess of the Kingdom.¡± The empress couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Why not just make her the ruler?¡±


    ¡°Well, as long as she¡¯s willing.¡±


    The Golden Dragon Guard coughed lightly. ¡°Your Majesty, the Holy Dark


    Temple has disappeared.¡±


    ¡°I know about it. Anyone with that capability must be our Guardian Princess.¡±


    The empress rolled her eyes, thinking that Qiao Mai might not even approve of this title, but the emperor was already calling her that.


    ¡°They went to Qingfeng Temple first. Qingfeng personally paid a visit to her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a must. Although Qiao Mai is younger, she is more capable than


    Qingfeng.¡±


    ¡°I heard that she also gave a few books to the temple. Qingfeng Temple is keeping this a secret. The monks and elders are very excited and happy.¡± ¡°Hehe, she only gives good stuff. Just wait; our Ming Dynasty will get better and better. Haha.¡±


    At this moment, Jiamei arrived with her children.


    ¡°Father, Mother, why such joy?¡±


    ¡°We were talking about your mother-inw. Don¡¯t stay at home all the time. Take some time to visit your mother-inw in Tianshui Town. Which daughter-inw doesn¡¯t serve her mother-inw?¡±


    ¡°My mother-inw is not an ordinary person. She said she doesn¡¯t need me now. When she gets old, she will let me know.¡±


    ¡°Still, you should show filial piety.¡±


    ¡°I will pick and send gifts my parents-inw likes during festivals.¡±


    ¡°You are lucky. Chuan¡¯er treats you so well, and he¡¯s particrly devoted. Enjoy your life.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s all thanks to Father and Mother. Otherwise, how could he know me?


    How¡¯s the crown prince¡¯s side?¡±


    At the mention of him, the joyful atmosphere turned somber.


    The old emperor snorted. ¡°He better be sensible. Otherwise, I can¡¯t help him with your mother-inw.¡±


    ¡°The crown prince got into a dead end and can¡¯t find a way out.¡±


    ¡°Your mother-inw has spared him once. If there¡¯s a second time, I won¡¯t plead for him. By the way, your sister-inw is quite bored alone in the pce.


    Visit her often.¡¯


    ¡°Yes, Father, Mother.¡±


    At this time, Ling¡¯er held her child, gently coaxing him to sleep in the room.


    Since that incident, she and the crown prince have never shared a bed again. Even when they slept together, they faced away from each other, causing a night of silence.


    She wanted to change this situation, but the crown prince no longer treated her with the warmth he used to.


    Ling¡¯er sighed softly. It wasn¡¯t her fault. Why should shepromise?


    She gave him a chance. If he didn¡¯t cherish it, she wouldn¡¯t be med for her cruelty.


    So, she focused all her energy on the child. The ce she lived was guarded by the Golden Dragon Guards on the roof.


    The emperor was afraid that something might happen to her. This was his only legitimate grandson, and there couldn¡¯t be any idents.


    He was overthinking it. Jiamei¡¯s children and Linger¡¯s son had multipleyers of insurance from Qiao Mai. Even their elixirs were prepared from birth.


    All of them were non-poisonous elixirs designed for the growth of the body and mind.


    Qiao Mai also considered their guardian beast.


    It had to be said that Qiao Mai was qualified, whether as a grandmother or a great-grandmother.


    In the imperial study, the crown prince diligently corrected memorials. Sometimes, he stared at a random ce, lost in thought.


    He was desperately practicing martial arts and striving to be a good crown prince. However, whenever he visited his wife, a nce from the lion would break through all his defenses.


    This was the difference between him and his mother-inw. No matter how hard he tried, he still had to live in her shadow.


    He was almost driven crazy. Although he saw the real face of that girl, how could he forget the many days and nights spent together and the child in her belly?


    Especially thatst nce before her death, carrying so much grievance and affection.


    He wanted revenge, to kill the executioner, his mother-inw. However, he knew he was no match for her. He couldn¡¯t even deal with her daughter.


    He hated the Qiao family to the core. In these past few months, he had almost gone insane.


    Every time, he would secretly stare at Ling¡¯er, thinking of killing her when she wasn¡¯t paying attention! He would kill the child as well.


    Sometimes, he stared at the child, thinking why Ling¡¯er¡¯s child was healthy while the child of his beloved woman died in the womb.


    This was unfair. They should all die!


    These were his secret fantasies. He didn¡¯t dare to act on the surface. After several months of inner struggles, he became gloomy and dark.


    Ling¡¯er could feel it. She always remembered her mother and how she couldn¡¯t embarrass Qiao Mai.


    She tried to ease the rtionship between them. When she saw no results, she didn¡¯t force it. Everything would happen naturally.


    But what she couldn¡¯t stand was his gaze at the child, as if he wanted to devour him.


    Whenever this happened, me woulde to the child¡¯s side, roaring softly at the crown prince to warn him.


    So, the crown prince didn¡¯te to her pce, and she didn¡¯t invite him either. The two maintained a seemingly respectful rtionship, which didn¡¯t arouse suspicion from outsiders.


    This life went on for ten years.


    Ling¡¯er had only one child, while Jiamei had two more. Yuan Jiaqi was overjoyed when he heard about it and sent many gifts.


    In these ten years, the Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town had be like a fairnd, especially the backyard, which was well taken care of by Yuan Jiaqi.


    Greeny would asionallye out for a stroll, exchanging experiences. They wanted to surprise Qiao Mai when she came out of seclusion.


    As the year-end approached, heavy snow fell outside the courtyard.


    In the space, Qiao Mai opened her eyes. She looked down at her cultivation level and smiled, feeling satisfied.


    She crossed a major realm in ten years. It wasn¡¯t a small achievement.


    At this moment, she was nearly fifty years old. Coming out of the space, she saw Yuan Jiaqi staring at her.


    ¡°Wife?¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled. ¡°Husband? What¡¯s the matter? We haven¡¯t seen each other for ten years. Don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye. ¡°Even if you turned into ashes, I¡¯d still recognize you. You don¡¯t seem to age a day and even look younger.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a single grey hair either. You are still mature and handsome as always.¡±


    ¡°Thanks to Wife¡¯s blessing, I look so young. People of my age usually have grey hair.¡± ¡°How has the family been in my absence?¡± ¡°All well.¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er still only has one child, right?¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi sighed, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°That heartless guy hasn¡¯t touched Ling¡¯er in these ten years. He¡¯s silently protesting.¡±


    ¡°Jiamei has birthed two more children. She has two sons and a daughter.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°The emperor and Old Master Wang sent letters to report their safety.¡± ¡°How are Old Master and Mistress Wang?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re doing well. Wang Zongsheng is nning a birthday celebration for him in the capital.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Let¡¯s go and take a look. Some matters should be settled.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi took her hand, ¡°Wife, I¡¯ve nted things on the sixty-five acres in the backyard with Greeny¡¯s guidance. Would you like to take a look?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, sure..¡±

 Chapter 404 - 404: Fly Back?

    Chapter 404 - 404: Fly Back?


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    Yuan Jiaqi brought Qiao Mai to the backyard. When Qiao Mai saw the picturesque scene, she grinned. ¡°It seems Greeny has taught you a lot.¡±


    ¡°Does it look good?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, not bad. There are vegetables and fruits. Everything is here. It¡¯s like a mini version of my space.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi reached out, plucked a honeydew, and handed it to Qiao Mai. ¡°Wife, try it.¡±


    Qiao Mai didn¡¯t bother wiping it and took a bite. ¡°It¡¯s fragrant and rich with a hint of spiritual energy. If this melon is sold, it shouldn¡¯t be cheap.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ten taels of silver for one melon, and they¡¯re still hard to get.¡±<div>


    ¡°You¡¯re getting better at business now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my wife¡¯s good upbringing.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Qiao Mai looked affectionately at Yuan Jiaqi. He felt a flutter in his heart.


    ¡°Wife, it¡¯s been ten years.¡± ¡°Have you missed it?¡±


    ¡°Too much!¡±


    ¡°Come. Let¡¯s go back and satisfy your longing.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    After many years of marriage, a nce could reveal each other¡¯s thoughts.


    The two enjoyed sweet love as if they just dated, not leaving their room for several days. Xi Yu and the others avoided the courtyard, afraid of disturbing the couple.


    Five dayster, Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi left their room. ¡°Xi Yu?¡±


    ¡°Master, we are all here.¡±


    The four servant girls jumped down from the roof. Qiao Mai nced at them. ¡°Your stealth skills are good, and your internal strength has be stronger.


    You¡¯ve worked hard over these years.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s all thanks to Master¡¯s good guidance.¡±


    ¡°I will go to the capital with my husband tomorrow. You guys can either travel together or go on separate journeys. Remember that when you¡¯re out, don¡¯t do anything that harms people or goes against principles. Don¡¯t use my name to do anything outrageous. If I find out, you know the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°The training period is five years. Get ready.¡±


    After sending away the four girls, Yuan Jiaqi pulled her to sit in the courtyard. ¡°It¡¯s been ten years. We haven¡¯t seen our children.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Ling¡¯er still only has one child. I guess that scoundrel hasn¡¯t touched her.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Ling¡¯er doesn¡¯t want him to touch her either. After all, he slept with that woman. Like you, Ling¡¯er is fastidious in this regard.¡±


    ¡°The child is only ten years old; he¡¯s still young. It¡¯s too early to let him handle state affairs. It¡¯s like forcing a duck onto a perch.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Wife, you¡¯re wrong. I heard that Tianyi has been intelligent since childhood. He has an exceptional memory and is talented in civil and martial skills. He looks even better than his father.¡±


    ¡°The better-looking he is, the more likely he is to attract women. In the future, his harem may have countless women. It¡¯s too chaotic.¡±


    ¡°Wife, how do we return to the capital?¡±


    ¡°We will fly! ¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡±


    ¡°I like it! Thest time you took me flying, it only took a second. Can I truly experience the feeling of flying this time?¡±


    ¡°It can only be at night. It¡¯s too conspicuous during the day.¡±


    ¡°Then let me go pack.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Qiao Mai leisurely sipped tea, not worrying about anything at home. While Yuan Jiaqi packed, she had someone summon all the servants, including the shopkeeper and assistants who ran the store.


    They stood nervously in the courtyard, not knowing why Qiao Mai called them.


    Qiao Mai looked at them with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. You¡¯ve all done well. I called you here to check your bodies. After so many years, I¡¯ve seen your hard work. If you¡¯re healthy, that¡¯s good. If you¡¯re unwell, I will treat you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    ¡°Line up one by one.¡±


    Qiao Mai checked their pulses. Those without illness received a flow of wood-attributed spiritual energy into their bodies, nourishing them. Those sick were given a pill that instantly removed all hidden injuries. The elderly received a pill for longevity.


    Everyone benefited greatly. After leaving the courtyard, some clenched their fists, while others leaped a few times.


    ¡°God, I didn¡¯t expect the Royal Consort¡¯s medical skills to be so amazing. She can heal instantly, and we don¡¯t even need to drink bitter medicinal soups.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Look at who our Master is!¡±


    ¡°Who is she?¡±


    ¡°An immortal.¡±


    ¡°Correct. Our Master is extraordinary.¡±


    The dozens of people in Lucky Graden all praised Qiao Mai but wouldn¡¯t mention these benefits outside.


    Without the need for Qiao Mai to say anything, they were self-aware.


    Some of the servants were over fifty years old. Living here, eating well, and nourishing their bodies with spiritual fruits and vegetables made them look younger. Some in their sixties worked no less than the young ones. Qiao Mai paid special attention to those over fifty.


    As long as they didn¡¯t say they wanted to leave, loyal and devoted servants in the Qiao family wouldn¡¯t be mistreated.


    Late at night, the couple held hands, watching the moon.


    With a slight pull, Qiao Mai took Yuan Jiaqi into the high sky and experienced the joy of flying.


    ¡°Wife, it¡¯s so magical!¡±


    ¡°If you know martial arts, you can still fly for a short distance.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this internal energy?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked down and then up at the starry sky.


    ¡°The moon seems within reach; it¡¯s so beautiful.¡±


    Qiao Mai flew southward with him, maintaining a slow speed to allow him to experience the pleasure of flying.


    As dawn approached, the twonded on the official road near the capital.


    Releasing Dongzhao and Dracaena from her space, they slowly rode toward the capital.


    ¡°Husband, how does it feel to fly?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s amazing. How about flying again when we return?¡±


    ¡°If you like it, we¡¯ll fly every time we go out.¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, wife.


    While talking, they arrived at the capital. The city gate had just opened. Following the crowd, the two squeezed into the city.


    Ten years had passed, and there was almost no change here. Following the direction from their memory, they arrived at Lucky Garden.


    The servants inside were cleaning. When they raised their heads and saw Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai, they were momentarily stunned, then immediately shouted in joy.


    ¡°The Duke of Blessings and our mistress have returned!¡±


    ¡°We pay respects to master and mistress.¡±


    ¡°Is everything okay at home?¡±


    ¡°Thanks to your blessings, everything is fine.¡±


    The two dismounted. Dongzhao and Dracaena followed them automatically. Some servants ran inside to report.


    Jiamei arrived in no time, running to the living room with her two children.


    ¡°Father, Mother, you¡¯re finally back!¡±


    Qiao Mai smiled and waved at her. The mother-inw and daughter-inw had always gotten along well. They embraced each other, and Jiamei immediately called her children over.


    ¡°Quickly greet your grandmother and grandfather!¡±


    The two boys and one girl stood out as extraordinary with their beautiful appearances.


    ¡°Yuan Chen, Yuan Yu, and Yuan Lin greet Grandfather and Grandmother.¡±


    Qiao Mai went over and hugged each of them before nodding. ¡°Jiamei, you¡¯ve raised these three children well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Mother¡¯s guidance.¡±


    Qiao Mai flipped her hand, and three jade pendants appeared. She hung them around the necks of the three children.


    ¡°These are not ordinary ornaments. With these, no one can harm you.¡±


    The three children touched the ink-colored jade and said, ¡°Thank you,


    Grandmother.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi looked at what Qiao Mai had given and looked at his wife with a grievance.


    Qiao Mai red at her husband. ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours. What I do equals what you do. What are you calcting?


    ¡°Hehe, then I won¡¯t give them anything.¡±


    They haven¡¯t seen Chuan¡¯er. Yuan Jiaqi asked, ¡°Jiamei, where¡¯s Chuan¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°He went to the morning court.¡±


    ¡°Is the emperor hosting or the crown prince now?¡±


    ¡°The emperor. Since the incident, the emperor only lets him assist in handling government affairs. The emperor still handles important affairs personally.¡± ¡°Is there anything unusual about the crown prince?¡±


    ¡°No, he is the same as before. However, he rarely goes to Ling¡¯er¡¯s pce now.


    Even if he does, it¡¯s just for show..¡±

 Chapter 405 - 405: Take Care of My Image

    Chapter 405 - 405: Take Care of My Image


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    ¡°How dare he do that?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er asionally stays with Tianyi at my ce. The crown prince has never visited Lucky Garden. On the surface, their rtionship is respectful, but their marriage has long been in name only.¡±


    ¡°Has Ling¡¯er ever told you what she thinks?¡±


    ¡°She said she only wants to raise the child. As for the future, she hasn¡¯t thought about it. She¡¯ll take it step by step.¡±


    Qiao Mai shrugged. ¡°Silly girl. Her son is destined to be an emperor. It goes without saying. She will be the empress dowager.¡±<div>


    If this statement is made by someone else, Jiamei would be afraid, but the words spoken by her mother-inw are usually urate. Qiao Mai is too powerful.


    ¡°Mother, should we go to the pce to visit Ling¡¯er? I can prepare for it now.¡±


    ¡°No need. Your father and I will rest for a few days first. You can send someone to the pce to inform them. Whether theye or not is up to them.¡±


    Little did they know that as soon as the pce received the news, the emperor immediately skipped the morning court and dered a three-day recess, intending to visit Lucky Garden with Empress Rongrui.


    Upon learning about this, Ling¡¯er immediately dressed up and followed the emperor to Lucky Garden with her son Li Tianyi.


    She had not seen her mother for ten years. She missed her dearly.


    Hearing this news, the crown prince clenched his fists. Over the years, he had spared no effort to deal with this powerful mother-inw.


    He refused to believe there was nothing he could do against her.


    If he couldn¡¯t defeat her openly, he would resort to dirty tricks. Now that she had returned, he wouldn¡¯t let go of the Qiao family.


    As long as his mother-inw fell, he would have no one to fear and nothing to worry about.


    Now, most of the officials in the court were his people. The only reason he hadn¡¯t acted was that he still had to consider his formidable mother-inw.


    So this time, he must eliminate Qiao Mai, and the entire Ming Dynasty would be his.


    He no longer wanted to be restrained by others, to work for the emperor, and to be hisborer.


    The old emperor was also to me. He had decided to pass on the throne to him, but he still held onto power.


    But it didn¡¯t matter; it had been ten years. He had been nning and scheming, almost taking control of the court. Those officials sided with the emperor on the surface, but they were in his faction.


    Thinking of his arrogant mother-inw, the crown prince¡¯s eyes revealed a dangerous light.


    Since she had arrived in the capital, he would make sure she had no chance to leave.


    He turned to the bookshelf, reached out, and opened a box. He took a small jade bottle and then put it into his arms.


    Taking a deep breath, he headed straight for Lucky Garden with his entourage.


    At this time, Ling¡¯er had embraced Qiao Mai and started crying. The emperor and empress were particrly awkward on the side.


    Seeing Qiao Mai again, they felt she was different. She became more mysterious and profound. The emperor was happy and worried.


    He was happy because the strength of the Qiao family had increased, which would make his kingdom more secure and prosperous. He was worried because his foolish son had not touched Ling¡¯er for ten years, which was embarrassing for them both.


    Qiao Mai gently patted Ling¡¯er¡¯s back. ¡°What kind of life have you led these years? Mother knows everything. Cry if you want, but you must walk the path you choose. Women can live wonderfully even without men.¡±


    ¡°Mother, I¡¯m not aggrieved. Father and mother-inw have been great to me.¡±


    Ling¡¯er wiped away her tears and quickly turned to pull her son, Li Tianyi, staring at Qiao Mai in a daze.


    ¡°Tianyi,e over and meet your grandmother.¡±


    Tianyi immediately bowed to Qiao Mai. ¡°Tianyi pays respects to Grandmother. I have heard of Grandmother¡¯s name for a long time and have been wanting to meet you.¡±


    ¡°You brat.¡±


    Qiao Mai suddenly reached out toward him. Tianyi reacted quickly and avoided Qiao Mai¡¯s swift hand. However, he was astonished to see his grandmother hanging a ck jade pendant around his neck. A cold sweat broke out.


    If this were an enemy, his life would be over.


    ¡°Grandmother, Tianyi has learned his lesson.¡±


    ¡°You react fast. Unfortunately, you¡¯re up against me. Keep working hard. When you can withstand a move from me, you will be invincible.¡±


    Tianyi stared at Qiao Mai in a daze. ¡°Can Ie to consult you often at home?¡±


    ¡°For literary matters, consult your grandfather; for martial matters, consult me. But I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t stay in the capital for long. If you¡¯re willing, you can go to Lucky Garden in Tianshui Town.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grandfather, Grandmother.¡±


    Yuexian Pavilion was filled with joyousughter. The old emperor and empress chatted casually with Qiao Mai. At this time, a maid came to report.


    ¡°Master, the crown prince has arrived.¡±


    Qiao Mai nced at the emperor, then at Ling¡¯er.


    ¡°Has the sun risen from the west?¡±


    Several people lowered their heads slightly. Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi exchanged a nce. ¡°Let him in.¡±


    The crown prince, waiting outside, took a deep breath. Today, he would either seed or meet his doom. In any case, he and his mother-inw were mortal enemies.


    Entering Yuexian Pavilion¡¯s living room, he respectfully bowed to Qiao Mai and everyone present.


    ¡°In the past, I was indeed not a filial son-inw. This time, I came to apologize to my father-inw and mother-inw and seek their forgiveness. I have realized my mistakes.¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered, ¡°When did you realize it? Just now, or have you realized it a long time ago?¡±


    She stared coldly at him, and the crown prince was unnerved by her gaze. Those eyes seemed to see through him, which sent a shiver down his spine.


    ¡°I realized it a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then why haven¡¯t you shared a bed with Ling¡¯er for ten years?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because I felt ashamed to face Ling¡¯er.¡±


    The words sound logical, but Ling¡¯er suddenly stood up.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even med you for sleeping with other women. I invited you to my pce and spoke to you kindly, yet you say you can¡¯t face me? Then why have you been cold and indifferent towards me?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, I was wrong. I¡¯m worried and afraid because I am still the crown prince. I care about my image.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you can do such things but still care about your image? If you care about it, why did you agree to my parents¡¯ request in the first ce? For the position of the crown prince, for that throne, were you reluctantly agreeing to my family¡¯s request?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡¯er, I¡­¡±


    ¡°As a man, you are inconsistent and me your grievances on others. Is that why you came to apologize?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at the crown prince, pointing at him. Immediately, the crown prince was frozen in ce.


    ¡°Your Majesty, check out what valuable thing your good son has in his hands. It seems important. If I go myself, you might say I¡¯m framing him.¡± Although the crown prince was frozen, his mind still worked. He was immediately anxious and turned red-faced.


    ¡°Father, this son has nothing in his hands.¡±


    The emperor, who had known what his son wanted to do as soon as Qiao Mai spoke those words, clenched his teeth and lightly uttered two words.


    ¡°Courting death! ¡±


    He walked to the crown prince and grabbed his wrist. With a forceful twist, the jade bottle ended up in the old emperor¡¯s hands.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°This is medicine. Recently, my health has not been great. I have asthma. So, I¡¯ve been carrying it with me.¡±


    The old emperor was in doubt. He opened the bottle and took a whiff, immediately feeling weak all over. He knew right away that this medicine was not simple.


    He red at the crown prince. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. What kind of medicine is this?¡±


    Qiao Mai sneered. ¡°Enough. Even if you ask him, he won¡¯t say.¡± She raised her head, and the jade bottle flew towards her.


    She smelled it. ¡°Huh, it seems like this medicine is meant for me. It has a strong effect.¡±


    The emperor was shocked and angry, ¡°Li Yuxuan, do you want to harm your mother-inw?


    The crown prince hurriedly exined, ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t dare. Mother-inw is so powerful; how could a medicine like this harm her?¡±


    Qiao Mai looked at him coldly. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know the name of the medicine, it is meant to deal with someone with martial arts.. After taking it, one¡¯s martial arts will bepletely lost, right?¡±

 Chapter 406 - 406: The Grand Ending

    Chapter 406 - 406: The Grand Ending


    Trantor: EndlessFantasy Trantion Editor: EndlessFantasy Trantion


    The crown prince wore a gloomy look, stubbornly denying his actions. ¡°No, I never intended to harm my mother-inw.¡±


    Qiao Mai swiftly approached him, pinching his neck, pouring the bottle of medicine into his mouth, and then helping him swallow it with a cup of tea.


    The emperor felt distressed but knew any interference could worsen the situation. It seemed like the medicine wasn¡¯t fatal, so he resigned himself.


    After consuming the medicine, the prince will be docile and won¡¯t harbor any further thoughts of rebellion.


    As expected, the prince wore a horrified expression after swallowing. He wanted to use his inner strength to break free from the acupoints, but all his inner strength vanished.<div>


    His body felt as if in a state of exhaustion,pletely powerless. Without Qiao Mai having to release his acupoints, he immediately copsed to the ground.


    The empress wanted to help him, but Qiao Mai¡¯s stern gaze deterred her from moving.


    The emperor¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. However, his son¡¯sck ofpetence led to this situation. To think that his son would plot against his mother-inw!


    The fact that Qiao Mai didn¡¯t take his son¡¯s life already showed a great deal of consideration for him.


    ¡°Inw, thanks for sparing his life.¡±


    ¡°Confine him to the ancestral residence, never toe out.¡±


    ¡°And what about the position of the crown prince?¡±


    ¡°Give it to Tianyi. He¡¯s ten years old now. In a few more years, he can take your ce. My grandson will be the emperor. No one else can interfere.¡±


    The emperor sighed and issued an order.


    ¡°Where is the Golden Dragon Guards?¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, pleasemand us.¡± Several men with their faces covered with shiny golden veils swiftly appeared.


    ¡°Take him away. Confine him to the ancestral residence for the rest of his life.¡±


    ¡°Your Majesty, how should we announce this to the court and the officials?¡±


    ¡°Publicize his crimes to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±


    The prince, now stripped of his martial skills, faced a grim fate. He red at Qiao Mai. ¡°I don¡¯t ept this! I don¡¯t ept it!¡±


    The old emperor hurriedly waved his hand. ¡°Quickly, take him away!¡±


    He was afraid that any dy would result in the prince being cut down by Qiao Mai.


    After the prince was taken away, Ling¡¯er regained herposure. ¡°How could he treat my mother this way? What a heartless wolf.¡±


    Qiao Maiforted her, holding her hand. ¡°You¡¯re a living widow. Instead of keeping a time bomb by your side, it¡¯s better to resolve it early. It¡¯s good for you and the child.¡±


    ¡°Mother, it¡¯s Ling¡¯er¡¯s fault. I put you in danger.¡±


    ¡°There was no harm done. Don¡¯t worry. No one in this world can harm your mother. You¡¯re still young. Do you want to stay with Tianyi or find another husband?¡±


    ¡°No, Mother. Your daughter won¡¯t marry. Staying with Tianyi is enough.¡± Seeing Tianyi standing on the side with teary eyes, Qiao Mai waved to him.


    Tianyi obediently walked over.


    ¡°Do you me your grandmother?¡±


    Tianyi shook his head. ¡°No, this is not grandmother¡¯s fault. Father did something wrong first. He tried to harm you, and you spared him. That was already merciful.¡±


    ¡°Grandma also wanted the best of both worlds, but your father became obsessed, broke his promise, and even wanted to harm me. I am doing this for my sake but also yours. He has already fallen into the demonic path.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother, what does demonic path mean?¡±


    ¡°His inner demons, a kind of fanatic illness.¡±


    Wiping away a tear, Tianyi said, ¡°Grandmother, I knew about Father¡¯s actions when I was very young.¡±


    ¡°Child, do you want to be the crown prince?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I want to be a good crown prince, serving the people and the kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Grandmother has secured this opportunity for you. You must seize it.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grandmother!¡±


    Qiao Mai stood up. ¡°You can all go back now. I understand that everyone¡¯s mood is not great today. Take some time to calm down.¡±


    Yuan Jiaqi led Qiao Mai back to their residence.


    The news of the crown prince¡¯s disgrace spread like wildfire in the capital.


    ¡°Did you hear? The crown prince has been deposed!¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°He wanted to harm Madam Qiao. He tried to use a type of medicine to make her lose her martial arts. But before he could administer it, he was caught in the act and captured on the spot.¡±


    ¡°What? How could he be so foolish?¡±


    ¡°I heard it¡¯s like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Good heavens, he promised to marry only one wife but secretly took in another woman. That woman is an undercover agent and should have died. He made a mistake himself and even med Madam Qiao. If it weren¡¯t for her, our Great Ming Dynasty would be in danger.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    As people discussed these events, an imperial decree was issued, announcing the appointment of Prince Tianyi as the new crown prince.


    The decree clearly stated that Tianyi would support for five years before sitting on the throne.


    Qiao Mai and her husband spent a few days in the capital. Fearing her displeasure, the emperor granted them the titles of Grand Duke and Duchess, which would be inherited by their children.


    Ten dayster, Qiao Mai left the capital with her husband.


    In gratitude for Yuan Jiagi¡¯s support over the years, Qiao Mai devoted three years to traveling with her husband to various countries, experiencing diverse cultures andndscapes.


    She took her husband flying during each visit, making him feel like a celestial being.


    Afterward, they returned to Tianshui Town, where she closed herself off again.


    This time, the seclusionsted longer. Nevertheless, neither of the couple was idle. Although Yuan Jiaqi withdrew from the court, he actively supported the livelihoods of themoners.


    He applied the knowledge he gained from Qiao Mai to assist the vigers, encouraging them to cultivate barrennds. He allocated a portion of the family¡¯s ie to subsidize them.


    Nowadays, there is no trace of wastnd to be found within the territory of Wei City.


    Yuan Jiaqi expressed his views on this. ¡°Unusednd should not be left idle.


    Even if it¡¯s not used for growing crops, nting trees has benefits. At the very least, trees can prevent sandstorms and stabilize mud and sand. When winteres, you can cut tree branches for firewood, utilize orange peels, nt greenhouses, weave things-there are plenty of possibilities.¡±


    He also united all the escort agencies, providing convenient services for themoners.


    The crops and grains produced by the vigers were transported to other regions for sale, resolving the issue of surplus production.


    In short, he ensured that themoners could lead good lives.


    The old emperor dedicated himself to teaching Tianyi, molding him into a qualified and benevolent ruler.


    Two yearster, the emperor abdicated in favor of Tianyi. Then, he often traveled between the capital and Tianshui Town with his empress.


    Time flew, and another decade passed. The old emperor¡¯s head was full of grey hair, the empress¡¯s temples showed a touch of frost, and Yuan Jiaqi was no exception.


    They often visited the orchard and vegetable garden behind the mansion, enjoying the seemingly ordinary but extraordinary life.


    Fortunately, their spirits remained high, although they aged physically.


    Especially when they wandered through the garden, the air seemed fresh and invigorating.


    Gradually, the emperor and empress stopped returning to the capital. They chose to reside in Lucky Garden.


    Every day, they eagerly awaited for Qiao Mai toe out. Time was like a burning me, and once ignited, it passed swiftly.


    Another decade went by. Yuan Jiaqi didn¡¯t feel much as he could visit his wife in the space whenever he wanted.


    Each time, he found her sitting cross-legged, motionless.


    ¡°My wife, it¡¯s been twenty years. Aren¡¯t your legs stiff by now? Why don¡¯t youe out? I miss you.¡±


    At that moment, the space trembled, kicking out Yuan Jiaqi and Qiao Mai.


    They tumbled to the ground and gazed at each other.


    ¡°Wife, why did wee out?¡±


    Qiao Mai touched her nose. ¡°Haha, the space upgraded, and we got kicked out.¡±


    ¡°Upgraded?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My cultivation reached its peak, and it agreed with my intention. It expanded.¡±


    ¡°I see. So, what¡¯s your cultivation level now?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, if we were in the immortal realm, even stomping my foot would tremble their hearts.¡±


    ¡°Haha, impressive!¡±


    ¡°Of course. Unfortunately, we can¡¯t go there. Now that I¡¯ve reached the peak, I won¡¯t go into seclusion again. I¡¯ll apany you all to live an ordinary life for the rest of our days.¡±


    Touched, Yuan Jiachi¡¯s eyes reddened. He knew his wife wasforting him, but he was content..


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