Chapter 182: She Really Is Hard to Deal With

She stands on the stage looking at the students below, "Zhujia, you are students, the pillars of the court, later you will take the civil service exams, become officials; may I ask, after you take on a case, do you believe the accuser's fragmentary words? Do you not investigate and gather evidence?"

Originally those who were still discussing this matter below all fell silent.

"Spit and rotten seed kill people, that's what I'm talking about. We study to broaden our knowledge, increase our understanding of things. May I ask, in the Great Ming Law, without solid proof, you just listen and believe, causing inconvenience to their lives, even expelling them from school—does that count as false accusation?"

His words struck their hearts like lightning; now they finally realize they are no different from the village Gossiping Woman and shrew, just gossiping.

"I am Yuan Jiaqi's wife, I'm here to tell everyone about the grievances with the household elder, and I will clarify the facts."

Qiao Mai stood on the stage and concisely summarized the family matters in two minutes.

"Because they are blood relatives, Yuan Jiaqi and I are not as inhumane as they are; we only drove them away. If not for this relationship, they would be life‑and‑death enemies of us as a couple!"

Saying more is useless, she stepped down, pulled Yuan Jiaqi and Old Mr. Wang, went straight out of the Academy's Dameng; they boarded a carriage, she mounted a horse.

"Let's go home; the world has more than just Fenglin Shuyuan."

"Hmm, let Yuan Jiaqi study at home, I'll tutor him."

"Don't worry, I'll find all the books in the world for you; study well at home."

With such raincoats and boats, the Qiao Family feels as if they've taken a calming pill, no longer afraid.

He constantly seeks knowledge in the sea of learning, asking the master whenever he doesn't understand.

"Send me a hundred copies; I'll pay whatever the books cost, rare copies are another matter. If you give me a chance to discuss first, I'll add an extra ten percent of the book price as a reward, how about that?"

Jixiang Yuan enjoyed a period of peaceful tranquility, but the good times didn't last; with a thunderclap in the sky, the dreaded event finally arrived.

"Being capable just means it takes longer."

"Do you have any orders?"

"I'm sorry, I caused you trouble."

The reason they have risen to this point is because of this life's gratitude; both sides have parents, even if she is cold‑blooded, she hasn't gone so far as to kill her own parents.

A circle of bookshelves lines the four walls, and the central open space is filled with bookcases.

Time flies; it's June now, the weather is still mostly rainy with few sunny days, and the crops in the fields aren't thriving due to excess rain.

Chuan'er snuggles in Yuan Jiaqi's arms, "Dad, let's go to Mother's side; if something happens, we can discuss it together?"

"Hmm, I entrust you to handle a matter through Yahang."

"Not bad at all,"

"The son is for your good."

"You, eat less, learn more from your two older brothers Fengyun, see how diligent they are?"

These two families realized that Qiao Mai would never forgive them; better to have no one prosper than to let anyone have it.

Yuan Jiaqi here remains calm; without Qiao Mai there would be no him now; studying at home is fine, and when bored he can help with chores.

"Dad, you won't keep going like this with Mother, will you?"

"What nonsense you're spouting, it's my fault that caused you trouble; honestly, that meal that day I could have endured, but I didn't want to, so I acted. How about it, you love studying, I'll bring you all the books in the world; you don't need to become an official to succeed; see that old man? He hasn't grown that many scheming thoughts; in the officialdom one only gets replaced."

Honestly, with her temperament, she really wants to kill them.

In the sky, black clouds like fish scales pressed down overhead.

The whole family is making preparations; in the next moment, thunder and lightning roar and hiss.

Wang Meng Lao Xiansheng's book, which Yuan Jiaqi reads hungrily, and Yahang delivers a hundred books to the Qiao Family every so often.

"Hmm"

Yuan Jiaqi lowers his head, shedding two tears.

Once back home, Old Mr. Wang sent someone to Fucheng to fetch books from the Wang Family; his collection is quite large.

"I can read on my own, too."

The two signed a document; after that, she stayed at home pondering the matters of the Qiao Family and Yuan Family.

"Adults' affairs, children should not speak up; just manage yourselves."

"Of course, there are many things you haven't seen."

"Deal!"

Even if she later traveled through time, having no feelings for them, unless absolutely necessary, she still wouldn't act.

"That's a must, you have many fine items in your hands."

The loud sound could scare anyone; the custom‑made small boats, one per courtyard, are placed in the hallway, ready for flood‑times so the house can escape onto the boats.

"Dad, like a monk, you can't be like this; you must marry Mother truly, and later have younger brothers and sisters, so Mother will truly spend a lifetime with you."

No need to guess; the instigators of this matter are the Qiao Family and Yuan Family; when she hits people she holds back, so she won't get hurt, only a little pain.

The thunder above keeps emitting a moving‑heart‑string sound, no one has the mind to rest, everyone is extremely nervous.

Especially since she will later cultivate immortality, killing her own parents, heaven and earth will not tolerate it—she truly has a hard time, these turtle‑offspring tricks really put her in a bind.

"It doesn't matter; as long as I can keep living with your mother like this, even if we're not true spouses, Dad is willing."

Qiao Mai placed the book titles from the paper on the table, "Aside from the books listed here, we need all the books; can this be done?"

"Damn, if it's light it won't change, if it's heavy it's just right at this critical juncture; I don't mind, afraid of causing more trouble for Yuan Jiaqi."

Upon hearing about the rainproof clothing, they were overjoyed, especially the old man who got playful and actually wore a raincoat to stroll outside.

Yuan Jiaqi felt a bit embarrassed, "We are men, being reckless would be very inconvenient for her."

After they returned home, they let the incident ferment, pretended to be injured and lie at home, letting people deliberately spread the accident.

She also asked Old Mr. Wang to write down all the book titles in the house and took them to Yahang.

This kind of life is quite good; he doesn't blame Qiao Mai, nor dare to blame her, and even admires her, having done what he long wanted to do.

And he taught them how to wear raincoats, after all they had never seen such styles before.

Qiao Mai had people clear out the west wing of the courtyard where Yuan Jiaqi lived, and ordered many modern bookcases from the Carpenter's Shop.

Qiu Shopkeeper was a bit stunned; this was the first time anyone commissioned Yahang to handle such a matter.

Qiu Guanshi, seeing her quite pleased, said, "Qiao Niang, you're here?"

"Hmm, we'll continue the examination next year; even without them, we can still earn Merit."

After returning, she felt the clothes inside—they were dry—and laughed heartily with delight.

"Then, after you've used it, keep it properly."

But those few pests keep pestering her all day, truly annoying to the limit.

At that time, Qiao Mai could not attend to much else; she returned to her space, bought dozens of raincoats on the Platform, and personally handed one to each person.

Those few people, he wanted to act, but worldly notions restrained him.

Qiao Mai immediately had everyone at home place the clothes and bedding on a high spot, and Yuan Jiaqi put his cherished books on the highest shelf.

"This is a hundred times stronger than a raincoat, still light and handy—did you bring it from overseas?"

"Dizi knows."

At that moment, a massive thunderclap sounded, shaking the eardrums to the point of pain.

At that time, the rain outside fell in a torrent, pouring down, and everyone simultaneously opened the doors and went out.

Such rain even the drainage couldn't keep up; the water quickly filled the courtyard and kept surging toward the long corridor.

Qiao Mai, seeing this scene, suddenly recalled a talisman called a Water-Repelling Talisman; if one were pasted at each room's doorway, could it prevent water from entering?

(End of chapter)