Chapter 100: Did They Really Occupy It?

After a few sentences explained the reason, the mayor finally understood what was happening.

At this moment Qiao Mai and Shopkeeper Lu had already brought out their family members to greet them; this time Mrs. Wang also arrived, because the old man insisted she come.

They didn't go to the living room, but first took a look around the house.

The Mrs. who originally doubted the Qiao family now showed interest; the house was interestingly built, not only raising many small animals, but also a long stretch of fields enclosed within the property.

The corn had grown to half a person's height, its green look was truly pleasing.

After Lu Sanniang and Qiao Mai greeted her, each of them supported her on one side, with Ruxin and Miss Wang following behind.

The men were accompanied by Yuan Jiaqi; he loved this home so much—clean, elegant, yet still lively.

Spending time feeding the small animals or going to the back to farm, it truly felt like life couldn't be more wonderful.

He walked while introducing the place to them, his tone a bit excited and proud, as if this were truly his home.

Wang Zihan also followed the men, a pomegranate in their hand, which Qiao Mai had given them, fearing they couldn't stay still and would run around, so someone kept watch and handed them food.

Mayor Qian could no longer stand it and shouted, "You damned thing, we raised your children for over a year; how could we be the ones to give you money?"

"Just came to find you."

"Hmm, then have you actually occupied it or not?"

"Wait, you lost them a year ago and only now look for them? I'm a bit confused; Heavenly Union Town isn't far from Tianshui Town, and everyone knows my great name Qiao Niang, who adopted two children, and the townsfolk all know it. Why did you only come looking now?"

"When I adopted them, they were riddled with illnesses, and besides their bones they had no flesh; I spent ten Taels of Silver to treat their bodies,"

feeding them daily with fish or meat, delicious food and drink; in this town, who doesn't know my family eats the best? I charge two Taels of Silver per person each month,

"We are from Qingzhu Village in Heavenly Union Town; our surname is Jiang. A year ago our home lost two boys, one named Jiang Yuanpeng, the other Jiang Yuanqing."

"What, you still want to settle accounts?"

He originally walked with swagger, but upon entering, seeing the courtyard and then the people seated in the living room, only humility remained in his eyes.

"Children? Two of them?"

Soon after, the old woman led several people into the living room; when they entered and saw so many people, all dressed in fine fabrics, hair ornaments of gold or silver, especially the elderly lady at the main seat with a jade bracelet on her wrist.

Upon entering and seeing the Jiang family, the two brothers immediately ran to Qiao Mai's side, their eyes reddened as they stared angrily at those people.

She was also tired at this moment, and thirsty; she didn't want to move a muscle.

No one spoke up to plead for them; two guards lifted their collars, slap, slap, slap, and the big cheek was slapped outright.

Miss Wang thought this place was very nice and insisted that her grandfather arrange a room for her; she also wanted to stay here without any trouble.

"Otherwise, what? I've raised them for over a year for free?"

"Hmm, just tell me if there's anything."

Don't be fooled by Feng'er and Yun'er being eight years old; they're still just children. The playground Qiao Mai built for them had the kids almost playing themselves crazy.

"So, how much would that be?"

Qiao Mai immediately thought of Feng'er and Yun'er; her face darkened, as she knew everything about the children's past.

There were six courtyards in total: Yuan Jiaqi and Chuan'er shared one courtyard, the Fengyun brothers another, originally Lu Sanniang had one courtyard; she felt scared living alone and insisted on sharing a courtyard with Ruxin and the others, so the Lu family only occupied one courtyard.

The Jiang family were stunned; they had come for the children, intending to take them and sell them later, and to swindle Qiao Niang, but now it turned into them paying money.

Having no choice, the two lifted her up, followed her onto the slide and the carousel; they played side by side, and the playground was filled with children's laughter.

"Explain clearly?"

Several people kept glancing around, greed evident in their eyes; they clearly were restless types.

At this moment Feng'er and Yun'er had already reached the front hall; Qiao Mai had just sent someone to call them.

Upon hearing that, Wang Zihan gave up and insisted on moving in, so the Wang family occupied one courtyard, leaving two courtyards remaining.

The old woman shook her head, "They look unfamiliar, never seen them, and have never bought anything from our house."

Occasionally she would teach them Embroidery Art, and the two servant girls benefited greatly.

"Looking for me? Do you know me?"

"No, we don't want it."

The left corner of the back courtyard was the most popular.

"What business do you have looking for me?"

Soon after, several of their faces swelled.

Yuehong and the other person held Ling'er while watching; Ling'er was eager to go up and play as well.

"Here's the story: the two children thought we had seized their family's property, got angry and ran away; we searched for a long time without finding them, so they must have been hiding from us."

"How could we, as uncles, possibly occupy it? They're just young; we're only temporarily managing it for them."

Mr. Wang and his wife occupied one courtyard; he had already brought attendants, and at that moment they went over to tidy up.

"Sir, have mercy."

After circling around, everyone was tired, returned to the living room to sit, drink tea and rest, while an old woman stood at the doorway to report.

Qiao Mai gave them a once‑over: two men and two women, two older and two younger; their clothes, though without patches, were coarse linen, suggesting their family wasn't very well off.

Mayor Qian, angry, shouted at the outside guards, "Lao Zhang, Lao Liu, come in and shut their mouths for me."

For now it would serve as a guest courtyard, and it's usually cleaned regularly.

"No way, isn't it Qiao Niang who should compensate us?"

"Damn, I've really seen a ghost. Back then those two kids from your family stayed in our town for a long time, I even helped them; if it weren't for Qiao Niang, they would have starved to death. It's already good enough we didn't ask you for any favors, how the hell could you swindle us?"

Two Taels of Silver per person, over a year that's forty‑eight Taels; besides that, I give each child a hundred cash allowance monthly, and last year they even apprenticed under a master and are now studying at the School,

I annually provide the school teacher with a thousand Taels of Silver as a stipend, which works out to eighty Taels per month; my four family members attend the School, each receiving twenty Taels,

After half a year, that's two hundred forty Taels; I won't take any remainder, so the total comes to three hundred Taels.

"Tell me, is there any matter now?"

"Master, several people outside are looking for you."

Qiao Mai laughed, "Town Mayor, calm your temper."

Lao Qian, the Town Mayor, asked coldly, "Do you still want Compensation?"

The servants have their own quarters; the two Wang Jiaru's Servant Girls live in the Main Yuanzi with Qiao Mai, helping her look after Ling'er, and when there's nothing to do they learn needlework from Qiao Mai.

"You must be Qiao Niang, right?"

"She adopted? I think she just set her sights on our two children and took them away, right?"

Two guards carrying Big Knives entered, instantly frightening the people there into a limp heap on the ground.

"Summon them here, then."

"Please return our two children to us?"

Qiao Mai frowned, "Fine. Since you have found this place, I'm not an unreasonable person; if you wish to reclaim them, that's possible. As you are their relatives, just settle the expenses they've incurred over the past year—pay my costs and clear the accounts—then you may take them away."

"Mother, they have seized the house and land that my parents gave us, and they even want to sell us, saying a wealthy old master wants a boy child."

Upon hearing this, Old Mr. Wang's face grew solemn.

"Lao Qian, send your men to Tianhe Town, summon the Town Mayor there, say I invited him, and also summon the Village Head of Qingzhu Cun. I want to see—an uncle who has split the family, daring to seize his elder brother's property and even sell his nephew. I will back my Wang Jiaru's Student, and I want to see who dares to bully them."

"Yes, old master!"

(End of Chapter)