Chapter 138: No One Will Laugh at You

When Qiao Mai came over, she saw Yuan Jiaqi alone crying in the living room.

She walked up to him and gently patted his head.

"Revenge is fine, but there's no need to make yourself a slave to hatred; otherwise your future days will be very unhappy."

"Madam, they are shameless; I just lost my temper for a moment, that's why I acted like this."

Yuan Jiaqi suddenly hugged her and began to cry, "At that time, no one helped me. Being a new father, I didn't know how to raise a child; I was both father and mother,

… finally managed to get through. My parents were like vampires, brothers like strangers, and clan members wouldn't help at all; I don't blame you for not helping me. When I was in trouble they laughed at me,

Now that I'm better off, they all come over wanting to bite me. On what grounds? Everything should be reciprocal; they never gave anything for me before, so why should I let them take advantage of me?"

"Then study hard, use your rise in rank and wealth to punish them, make them regret and wish to die, waking up angry from dreams every day—doesn't that sound good?"

"Qiao Niang, thank you. For this lifetime, Chuan'er and I meeting you is a blessing for my father and me."

"Alright, stop crying. I'm still looking forward to basking in your light in the future."

"I will definitely study hard, and in the future will bring glory to our family's doorway."

"The Feng Family has been scheming against you for a long time. Even if they don't know about this concubine, they aren't acting with any good intention toward Ruxin."

"Mm, we certainly can't let that kid off!"

"Why?"

But he doesn't dare; now the whole family despises him terribly, just a freeloader.

"Are you here to see Zu Fu and Grandmother, or do you miss our family's meals?"

There's nothing they can do; they contemplate taking the road to the County Magistrate's Office, but it doesn't feel right, and the constant agitation keeps them sleepless.

"He and my mother stayed in Jingcheng; I'm returning to handle affairs here and settle accounts with them."

"Third Sister, it's been verified, verified: that kid indeed kept a concubine outside, not only that, but also a son over a year old."

"Sister has arrived,"

"You're marrying a Prince; what does someone of my standing amount to?"

"What the whole family says, men can also cry, you know—no one will laugh at you!"

"That woman is always, whether there's a reason or not, holding the child and loitering at the Feng Family gate; my people took notice, looking at that child over a year old, although

… not yet grown, but already bears a striking resemblance to Feng Yinshi."

"Take advantage and act sweet; how many women want to marry into such a household."

This hadn't even been a few days, and Wang Jiaru actually came to Qiao Family; the moment she saw Qiao Mai, she immediately hugged her and burst into laughter.

"Mm, I have something to discuss with you."

The Tian family, knowing that Qiao Mai's senior official had taken first place in the whole‑county provincial exam, were maddened; they stared at Tian Yaohui.

The Tian Family learned that Qiao Mai's husband topped the county's scholar examination, which made them furious; they looked at Tian Yaohui.

"Girl, Xin'er's case is indeed as Brother Qian guessed; that bastard really has a concubine and a son over a year old."

"Mm, I'm waiting!"

"Sister wants you to go; having you makes me feel secure in my heart."

He fled as if running away from the living room, and Qiao Mai giggled behind him.

"Not at all; my Zu Fu and Grandmother are dying to not see me, always saying I'm a nuisance."

"Do you want me to go together?"

"They came especially to see you, and also to check on Zu Fu and Grandmother; of course, they're even more after the meals."

"Unfortunately there's no evidence; that woman rented a house in the County Town with the child, claiming the man died, and none of the neighbors have seen Feng Yinshi there."

"Want to go, yet don't want to."

Lu Third Sister comforted Lu Ruxin for a while, then thought this matter still needed to be told to Qiao Sister.

"I heard the old lady say, this isn't anyone's fault; it's because you were greedy and stole food from someone's mansion."

"Third Sister, you don't need to do anything; I'll handle it."

"Rest assured, we can't let our family's maiden suffer a loss; once we catch him, we'll go to the County Magistrate's Office to accuse him."

"You must be ambitious; we also aim to pass the scholar exam again."

Nearby, Lu Ruxin listened, tears streaming, thinking what a mess this is; people married her just for her family's money and influence, and after marrying, they never even touch her—so disgusting.

Tian Yaozu watched them with a grim stare, really wanting to hurl a brick at those three, they were too eye‑catching.

Yuan Jiaqi wiped away his tears and said apologetically, "Well, then I'm off to class; I made you look foolish today!"

"Long time no see; I've been missing you all."

"This coming month end, I'm going with Brother Qian to catch the adulterer."

So they went to Qiao Family; at this moment Qiao Mai was cleaning the vegetable plot behind, the weather getting warmer, and after harvesting the last batch they would dismantle the greenhouse to plant something else.

"Ru'er, have you seen Grandmother? What about Zu Fu?"

"I don't want that; I just want to live freely like you."

"You're getting married, right?"

"Fine, just call me when the time comes; I'm ready anytime."

Qiao Mai took her hand and walked toward the old lady's courtyard.

"But come on, you're already in a precarious situation; marrying into such a wealthy family will exhaust you just learning etiquette and rules."

Lu Third Sister almost jumped up, "Feng Yinshi, that bastard!"

"You think I want to marry, but it's that Little Prince who's blind and heartless, saying he won't marry me, as if I'd be willing."

"Heh, it's because his family's cook is good; I could smell the aroma from the wall, but after eating your cooking, I no longer crave his family's food."

Seeing the granddaughter arrive, he hurried up, grabbed her, "Ru'er, you're back?"

"Haha!"

【61】 "Then how did you find out?"

Since Lu Ruxin returned to Tianshui Town, the Feng Family, unusually, hasn't come looking for her; perhaps they think she has little benefit and see no need to retrieve her.

"I, a friend of Wang Jiaru, who dares to look down on you? If they look down on you, they're looking down on me; when I see that, I won't deal with them any longer."

The two arrived at the Main Courtyard; Ling'er and the others weren't there, perhaps they went to the Playground; the whole small yard was just the two of them.

"Hmm, the gentleman said that in two more years he'll let me have my turn, and he also said I'm a good seedling."

Miss Wang graciously nodded, "Remember to come to my wedding, okay?"

Anyway, this period passed very peacefully; Qiao Mai showed no reaction to her return, and Lu Ruxin had no face to go find Qiao Mai.

Although they're no longer master and disciple, they are still good sisters.

"Mother, why is my fate so miserable? I treat people kindly, yet I'm schemed against; I really want to fight him."

"Come, let's talk in my courtyard."

When Mayor Qian left, Ruxin clutched Lu San‑niang and began to cry.

"Alright, Brother Qian, everything is left to you!"

That was the top case; from now on no scholar will escape, it will surely be solved, and just like that it vanished into their hands.

Two days slipped by, and after receiving the news, Mayor Qian hurried to Lu the Shopkeeper's place.

"Zihan?"

"Foolish maiden, someone like him isn't worth fighting for; learn from a mistake, keep a margin for yourself in deeds, and even a step back won't make you fall off a cliff to death."

While speaking, they arrived at the old woman's courtyard; she was sitting there sunbathing at that moment.

Upon hearing that, she pursed her mouth.

The Qiao Family of Lihua Village grew even angrier, seeing the young lady's household prosper more and more—now they have money and also a scholar son‑in‑law.

"We're giving them a lesson."

"He doesn't dare go during the day; he must go at night. He'll return from Fucheng at the end of this month. After a month without seeing a woman, his thoughts must be out of control; how about we trap him like a turtle in a jar?"

"Then, what shall we do?"

"If the two elders find out you came just to see them, how heartbroken they'd be."

"This time I'm coming will stay here a few days, then go back to handle affairs, and after that return to the capital."

"Has the date been set?"

"Yes, September 16th; you just need to arrive before that day."

"Hmm, it's a good day, probably one the royal family has chosen, right?"

(End of chapter)