Chapter 150: No One Would Believe Your Words

To Upgrade, wait for the mist to become spiritual liquid; one hundred drops count as the first order, five hundred drops as the second order, one thousand drops as the third order, five thousand drops as the fourth order, ten thousand drops as the fifth order—this incremental increase is required for her cultivation to achieve Realm Advancement.

However, she can safely perform Foundation Building, which is rather lucky.

Many cultivators have guardians, but she doesn't; she is entirely self‑taught, because she's a top student, there's nothing she can do, Qiao Mai felt a little proud.

She stretched lazily, having heard that after Foundation Building one can fly by sword.

However, it works only within a space; outside there is no spiritual energy, so she can't take off. Within the space, flying doesn't need a sword; she can lift herself.

Realizing she hadn't left the house for a week, she quickly slipped out of the space, opened the door, and saw Yuehong, Yuexia, and Ling'er standing at her doorway, looking at her with resentful eyes, without arguing or making a fuss.

"Didn't I tell you not to worry about me?"

"But it's been a week; without food or drink, a person will starve to death."

"There's food inside the house; I said it's fine, just go do whatever you need to do."

"Mother, how long have you gone without being with Ling'er?"

Since advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, her confidence has skyrocketed; not to mention the Cultivation Realm, even here she truly feels invincible.

Seizing the chance while she was looking that way, she brought out a winter jujube; Ling'er turned her head and saw the winter jujube.

"Your son is still being raised by my daughter; even if you don't admit it, he came out of my womb."

Qiao Mai bit her molars, truly generous; a master who, though wealthy, wouldn't let Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl see a doctor, actually can spare to drink passion fruit costing fifty Wen per cup.

The two of them drank the juice in the cup down to the last drop, then stood up.

"Read books, write characters; if he rises step by step, I can't be too far behind, can I?"

But that child really resembles Tian Sanzhuang, so she told the Tian Family about it.

"Alright, then I'll give it to the teachers and classmates at the school to try."

"Don't release."

Qiao Mai herself also knew that Ling'er's resemblance to Tian Sanzhuang would soon become known, but she wasn't afraid.

"Girls, this way they're cute; I don't like mischievous ones that trouble people."

Even if one day it is exposed, she's not scared; at worst, they die!

If they don't want to live, they'll cause trouble with Ling'er's matter; Ling'er is hers, no one can take her, let alone use this to profit from her.

She also inquired with the Village Head, who said the same; finally, when she went to the Tian Family to ask, the same explanation was given.

These two couples, even when they clash, aren't angry, but the Qiao Family couple is indeed somewhat unusual.

"Alright, mother was wrong, what does our Ling'er want to eat? Should mother make it?"

"Drink it, it's fifty Wen per cup; you'll never be able to give up a cup of this in your whole life."

"This is my daughter's shop."

Thinking of going to Qiao Ji Snack Shop to have the clerk make a cup of passion fruit for Ling'er, she instead saw the Yuan Family elderly couple; they were actually sitting together with the Qiao Family elderly couple, sitting outside her shop drinking passion fruit juice.

"Maybe!"

"They haven't come for several days, what are they busy with?"

"Could it be that they came back to life again?"

Ling'er shook her head, "Mother, I want to ride a big horse!"

The Yuan Family elderly couple pursed their lips, "In‑laws, have a drink, this meal is on me."

Ling'er sat in front, Qiao Mai embraced her, the mother and child rode a crimson high‑head horse out of the Qiao Family.

The Tian Family believed it, but he didn't; he always felt that the little servant girl had Tian Sanzhuang's shadow.

"No, nothing."

"Alright then, are you on holiday for the Moon God Festival?"

"That's impossible; she's been in the Town for that long, always alone; the child was left at her doorstep by someone else, many witnesses attest, we've investigated this, do you think we're fools?"

Speaking of Zihan, the old woman's words were tinged with sadness.

"My son is a child scholar; next year he still has to take the imperial examination."

"Then it's hard work for you, wife."

The two almost jogged to Taohua Village; they first asked the villagers, who all said that Qiao Shi buried the child in the wasteland behind the village and left alone.

"Didn't you say that child died?"

"Here, take it, what do you want with it?"

The old lady took Ling'er, "This child is truly well‑behaved; I rarely see anyone so obedient."

"We have some business, we'll leave now, see you next time!"

"She doesn't recognize you."

However, they kept this matter in their hearts, believing that as soon as an opportunity arose, they would investigate.

That's right; they are reluctant to part with others, but generous to themselves.

The Tian Family thought even more, but Qiao Mai handled everything without leaving a trace, leaving them without any excuse.

Because Ling'er was indeed adopted by her, with both testimonial and material evidence, she wasn't afraid.

Old Tian waved his hand, "This is impossible; perhaps she only adopted the child because it resembled Tian Sanzhuang, we don't know the rest. The child was only seven months old, barely alive at birth; when Qiao Shi left the Tian Family, the child had already been buried at the far end of the village."

"That servant girl Jiaru is like that—mischievous since childhood, grew up with me, gave me a lot of trouble, especially Zihan."

Her hand, when she exerted force, could snap an iron rod; that was only a fraction of her strength—if she used her full power, she believed she could shatter a mountain.

"So let's go to Taohua Village to inquire further, then we'll talk."

Qiao Shicheng didn't intend to call them foolish, but he didn't say it out loud.

"Outside, let it run?"

"He still won't recognize you!"

"These are the Academy and the few who punish people."

Since the injury he's been like that; the Daifu said that once the blood clot in his head clears, he'll be fine, but it's already been several years, and a year hasn't passed lightly.

Speaking of that, Qiao Mai thought of the Awakening Pill in the first Dan Stage, which can clear the head—effective against both vascular blockages and brain issues. When she goes to Jingcheng, she'll secretly give him one to see the effect.

Time flew, and it was again Yuan Jiaqi's bathing day; when he returned, he handed a five‑hundred tael silver note to Qiao Mai.

"His father, did you see clearly?"

Qiao Shicheng pulled Qiao Lvshi away, and the two walked all the way toward Taohua Village.

The two Yuan Family members exchanged a glance, "What's wrong with you?"

She ignored them, and seeing they were there, she turned the horse with Ling'er and left.

The Qiao Family couple could only return to the village dejectedly.

While speaking, she lifted her and walked outward, "Ling'er, look over there?"

That way they could use this as an excuse to set conditions with Qiao Mai.

"Hey, when's the next time?"

With such reach and cultivation, would she fear the Tian Family? Hmph!

She took Ling'er to play a round among the fields, then returned home and went straight to the old lady to report.

"Ride, ride!"

"Hold onto it for now; give it to me when I need it."

"My eyes aren't deceiving me; that kid looks exactly like Tian Sanzhuang, must be his offspring."

"No one would believe you."

The Qiao Family couple turned their heads, sipping passion fruit, looking thoughtful; such a tasty drink being ignored now must mean something's up.

The Wang Family people are fine; she hopes the Wang Family stays well.

"Good, mother, I'll arrange for our baby to ride a big horse right away."

Mother and daughter mounted the horse, rode around the house first, but Ling'er found it unsatisfying.

"Then shall I prepare some Moon Cake and fruit for you?"

"Alright, this time I'll make more, and on August thirteenth deliver them to the school; otherwise eating them early is pointless, and if they're saved for the Moon God Festival they won't be fresh and might even spoil."

Qiao Mai was startled; this time she heard clearly, gave Yuan Jiaqi a deep glance, said nothing, and Yuan Jiaqi, seeing her obvious reaction, felt extremely nervous.

Seeing she said nothing, she finally lifted a weight off her heart.

Feng Yinshi's matter has been tightly concealed by the Feng Family; a month has passed, and it hasn't reached Tianshui Town, and Qiao Mai hasn't brought it up.

This matter, sooner or later, will get to the Lu Family's ears, and she won't be the messenger any longer.

(End of chapter)