Chapter 170: Family Must Not Deceive Family

Watching their cousin's every word and deed, the two wondered why their uncle would sell her and cut off relations with her; such a good person—what fools.

Mao Dong of the Qiao Family was at home; when he heard grain was being distributed but none for Mao's family, his anger boiled over.

Although they heard it was issued by Mayor Qian, they quickly inferred that it must be the donation from that White-eyed Wolf.

The Qiao Family, unable to get grain, kept showing off in the village, "This grain was bought with my daughter's silver; you must give me some."

Some villagers who couldn't stand them retorted, "Your daughter? First see if she even recognizes you before you speak."

"Hmph, keep talking nonsense—believe it or not, shall I have my daughter take the grain back?"

"This was given by Mayor Qian, not by your daughter."

"It is indeed my daughter's; she said that on purpose so we wouldn't know."

"You can drop that!"

Qiao Shicheng saw the huge sack of grain and his eyes reddened; he and his Dizi tried to rush up to seize it, but the villagers drove them back home.

He walked alone with two dogs, quietly.

"I told you not to stay at home; the roads are open, go find Old Five. It's getting colder, how can he not help you a bit?"

As for the Yuan Family, given the old couple's temperament, they had already had their four sons stock up firewood; since the snow fell they haven't left the house, nesting at home every day, fearing that a careless step outside would freeze them to death—how unprofitable, their silver hasn't even been spent yet.

"Hey, five, Fifth brother, you, you came?"

Why should their parents have to stay in a mud‑brick house, Mao Dong, while the son gets to live comfortably in the Big House?

If you let them bite even once, the bone will surely break.

Qiao Mai, after hearing that, jabbed the needle into the fabric, rubbed her face with her hand, and said, looking at his somewhat uncomfortable demeanor.

If that's the case, what official can he be? He'll still have to adjudicate cases in the future—how can he adjudicate like this?

"We'll go push, go push."

No one buys his act; everyone knows who he is, so let him just make a face for himself and brag.

When the four brothers came, they said never demand silver; proceed step by step—first ask for some grain, then see Old Five's attitude.

The surroundings were silent, no one in sight; the white snow piled high on both sides, making it hard to hide a person, everything was packed tightly.

Walking from the village entrance to the far end and back, not a single house was collapsed.

"Enough, enough, thank you Fifth brother, thank you Fifth brother."

They must be at Jixiang Yuan, while Old Five and his son are in the mud‑brick house here.

"They came on foot."

He, with a gloomy face, arrived at a Xin Fang, knocked on the door, and a woman's voice sounded from the courtyard.

So these two truly commit sins, daring to stir up those four brothers again.

Qiao Mai was doing Embroidery Work on the kang when she was startled by his voice.

Yuan Jiaqi's expression instantly turned sour; he was blinded by that sliver of familial affection, listening to whatever others said without ever considering he was being deceived.

The old woman said coldly, "My maternal uncle said he has other matters; each household should take its share and leave."

"No, taking the grain without her consent is already wrong; if you don't bring a cart home and take it yourself, then don't take this grain. I have no obligation to deliver it to your home."

"Can you or not?"

"One hundred jin of grain per household, is one big bundle of firewood enough?"

His heart warmed; this must have been sent by his wife, and the two dogs were very spirited and fierce—several people couldn't overcome these two.

Qiao Mai lowered her head, took the embroidery needle and continued the Embroidery Work, while Yuan Jiaqi, with red‑ringed eyes, walked out of the house.

Speaking, the four grown men actually began to shed tears, putting on a pitiful act.

The four ran back to the village, each pushing a handcart from their homes to the Qiao Family; at the doorway, four large bags of grain and four big bundles of firewood were already placed there.

Xinghua Village had few new houses; aside from mud‑brick homes, there were a few newly built ones, discernible from the shape of the earthen bricks in the walls.

"I'm coming to see whether your house has collapsed!"

"Who is it?"

The old woman gave them a cold stare, watched them haul away the grain and firewood, then closed the Dameng.

"What exactly happened?"

"Mother, please stop the hassle; whether we go or not doesn't matter to you."

Whether it's truly ruthless, Yuan Jiaqi sighed inwardly.

Seeing him come in, she gestured with her eyes, "Sit, there's tea on the table—serve yourself; my hands are busy."

"Go back and push a small cart over; otherwise you can't bring it back."

Half an hour later, he arrived at the entrance of Xinghua Village; in such cold weather, not even a child's figure could be seen in the village.

"Go have a look; family should not deceive family."

"How did you come?"

"Why does it not matter? Aren't you preparing New Year gifts for us?"

"Right, you split the family and left without building a new house? The new house gets crushed by snow like this? I advise you to dress warmer, let Wu Zhui and Sai Xue accompany you back to see; hearing is false, seeing is true."

Because of this, Yuan Jiaqi felt uneasy; he couldn't bear to read any more, and anxiously came to the doorway of Qiao Mai's house.

"Come in!"

Yuan Jiaqi frowned when he heard they had arrived, but recalling that they had previously brought things to see him, he set down his book and went to the front hall.

Thus the four brothers came together to the Qiao Family.

As long as he can give the first time, he can give the second.

"Although we both signed documents, for now you are also a member of the family; let's not discuss that matter, just talk about you, the scholar."

None of the four sons wanted to deal with them, but they still listened to the elder's words.

When she opened the door and saw Yuan Jiaqi, her face looked as ugly as if she had eaten feces.

The angry woman walked while scolding, "You shout without even a hum, always banging away—trying to die and be reborn?"

He was only thinking about today's matter, hadn't gone far, when Wu Zhui and Sai Xue caught up.

Aye, aye!

He hoped in his heart that the elder brothers wouldn't deceive him; the warmth he had felt was now gradually freezing again.

"Those two elders have silver in their hands; when they split the family, each could get about a hundred taels of silver, plus a dozen or so mu of land."

So he sprang to his feet, "I was wrong, thank you, madam, for the reminder. I'll quietly go back to the village and take a look."

Yuan Jiaqi looked at her, a little puzzled, not understanding what she meant.

"Hmm?"

They had visited Yuan Jiaqi before and delivered gifts; although the Clan Head incident had angered Yuan Jiaqi, they were still the same with him, so they could probably give it a try.

"It's still early,"

He returned to the house, put on his clothes, didn't call Wu Zhui or Sai Xue, and set off alone toward the village.

"Madam, today without your consent, I gave each of the four Yuan Family brothers a bag of Corn flour and a large bundle of firewood."

"Old Five, you must help us."

"The snow is too heavy; part of the house has collapsed, and we're all crowded together for warmth. Could you lend us a hand? Don't worry, we don't need silver—just some grain and firewood will do. The grain shop in Town has shut, and there's hardly any stock left inside."

Yuan Jiaqi, with a grimace, made no sound, and kept knocking on the door with his hand.

"Madam, may I come in?"

But at Old Five's place, those two still hadn't intended to let go.

"Elder brother, second brother, third brother, fourth brother."

"First of all, is Yuan Family really unable to continue living?"

The woman froze, at a loss, when several men staggered out of the house, reeking of Wine, the four brothers who had just gone to fetch grain.

What a coincidence—he casually knocked, and exposed all of them at once.

"Is this to bring something? Are they celebrating inside?"

"Elder brother, you really have refined tastes! The house collapsed and you can still drink here. Let me take a look at your house—wow, it's all collapsed, still room to drink and chat? That's not easy!"

(End of chapter)