Chapter 193: Still Have the Nerve to Show Up?

Mayor Qian glared at him, "Tear down your stage? As far as I know, the friends she knows, her relatives, go to your place to enroll, spend the whole day being trained, and after dropping out they haven't even left Shu Xiu; another was turned away at the door. In Tianshui Town we have only your one school—if you don't accept them, what will you do with them?"

I.

"You still act as a model teacher, a gentleman. Back then the Tian Family was unscrupulous; you, as a teacher, only protected your own disciple, turning right and wrong upside down, coming out to pick a quarrel with Qiao Niang. Don't think I don't know what scheme you're plotting."

I.

"As for Yuan Jiaqi's matter, I also sent people to inquire, and even found those students from back then who have grown up and started families to ask. The reason you let him audit is because he brings a load of firewood for your family every day."

Mr. Lin's face flushed scarlet with embarrassment, "I…"

"Fine, fine, stop making excuses. A load of firewood is priced at five Wen, so a month comes to 150 Wen. That's about all a student's Shu Xiu costs, and besides he's only auditing; you never even gave him a book to use. You're not losing anything at all, Old Lin, a person should be decent!"

I,

"If you don't take other people's children, they set up their own school and charge nothing, only taking children from poor families who can't afford schooling. It doesn't affect your Private School at all. If you don't do good deeds, others do; then stop looking for trouble. Otherwise you shouldn't live here any longer—go to another town."

Mayor Qian's words were neither light nor heavy, neither hurried nor slow, yet they struck Mr. Lin's heart hard enough that he almost fainted.

His reddened old face wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground, and he quickly bowed to Mayor Qian.

The children are the least likely to lie about whether it's leftover food—anyone can tell. The Kitchen Maids decided that as long as the weather isn't cold, they'll serve the children meals outdoors, letting them eat outside so everyone can see what the Qiao Family feeds the children.

The modest school is thriving; other towns, and even villages outside Tianshui Town's jurisdiction, have heard and want to send their children over.

Now that the household has a Steward, she no longer has to worry about everything; Niu the Shopkeeper runs the shop, and she can rest easy and focus on Cultivation.

"A righteous person need not fear a crooked shadow; just ignore it. Our school doesn't accept Shu Xiu, so anyone who believes these rumors can stay away. Save your energy."

The onlookers laughed; Qin Yide and Ruyi, accompanied by the servant girl, also ate outside together.

Mr. Chen's old face flushed red, "Not at all. Mother just thought you all used to have a good time, and it's a pity you stopped moving after the move."

He had come to file a complaint, but ended up being humiliated; Mr. Lin fell ill as soon as he got home.

At noon, after the meal was prepared, everyone went to the school and, under the outdoor shed, served the children. They all ate together with the children.

Who would have thought that this woman, after delivering the children every day, would sit in front of Liuhai Gate, saying she has nothing to do while waiting to pick up and drop off the children.

He doesn't go, no problem; Mr. Chen constantly nudges Chen Hao to find Feng'er and the others to play. This gives her a pretext to look for children, so she can wander around the Qiao Family and try to locate Yuan Jiaqi.

Qin Yide returned to the school, and the Qiao Family's Kitchen Maids were displeased.

Then they slunk away, and Mayor Qian let out a cold snort.

Yuan Jiaqi was naturally even more proud; when Qiao Mai was mentioned, his face was bathed in a soft glow, full of pride and happiness.

"Exactly. That rumor‑spreading bastard, do you dare step forward? If our Qiao Family feeds children leftover food, heaven will strike us with thunder, you shameless scoundrel. Our Master is kind‑hearted and runs a school; yet people still envy us. If you have the ability, donate silver, donate your shop, donate meals for the children. If you can't donate, keep making cold remarks—your ancestors in the underworld can't even lift their heads."

"Don't argue. If you hadn't spoken up, Dizi would still find time to play with them. Since you said it, Dizi won't go. Those three brothers study by day and practice Martial Arts by night—no time for play. If you have time, learn from Qiao Aunt, think about how to earn more money, and stop fixating on Mr. Yuan. He's not the kind of family we can covet."

Moreover, Hao Er is usually well‑behaved and obedient, only opposing on Qiao Family matters. The petty Mr. Chen kept another mental score against Qiao Mai.

At this moment, someone began gossiping again, claiming Qiao Niang runs the school just for reputation, that the school's teacher is a hack who won't teach the children properly, and that the noon meal was also leftovers from the Qiao Family.

Yuan Jiaqi felt a bit disgusted with Mr. Chen; if you want to marry, there are plenty of men, but you cling to yourself.

If you were single, your clinginess would be more tolerable, but you've already become a daughter‑in‑law of the Qiao Family and still think of yourself; such a woman is somewhat improper, and he doesn't like it!

At first he still went to the school, but later stopped going.

"Mother, if you want to marry, Dizi doesn't object, but Mr. Yuan already has a wife; you'd better set aside that thought."

"Indeed!"

Nowadays the town has several scholars and even an Old Master Wang, a jinshi who sits in charge. He spends his days not focusing on teaching, only pondering trivialities. Someone like that isn't valued; even if he left Tianshui Town, they wouldn't try to keep him.

Qiao Mai shook her head, unwilling to get involved any longer; this is Mr. Chen's calamity, and also Yuan Jiaqi's calamity.

But, hmm? How does that Mr. Chen keep running into her so often?

After inquiring, they learned that she actually sent Hao Er over.

"Shameless, still have the nerve to show up? If I didn't scold him, I'd be giving him face."

Mr. Chen was mortified, reaching out to strike him, but his hand never came down; later she still pointed at him as if he were her pension.

She handed the school over to Qin Yide and didn't intend to ask further, letting him decide on his own.

Since Qiao Mai moved, she hasn't dealt with her at all; she didn't even invite her during the warm season, and back then she was furious.

"I have been instructed, farewell!"

Later, seeing Qiao Mai making a fortune and helping the people, they grew enviously angry, longing to return to how things were with Qiao Mai.

Eleven‑year‑old Hao Er already understood many things; he glared at Mr. Chen.

When Qiao Mai heard those words, she knew who was behind it.

Old Master Wang, after learning that Qiao Mai had opened such a school, regarded her with even more respect.

Love calamity! Let them cross it themselves!

Sometimes, when he and the old Master were idle, they'd go to the school to help; the elderly lady sometimes followed the Kitchen Maids delivering meals, bringing the servant girl to portion food for the children.

No woman in the world compares to her; men fall far short of her—she truly is a great woman.

The students all ate with gusto, "We have this kind of meal every day, and the dishes even have meat."

"Hmph, which unscrupulous liar says the Qiao Family's meals for the children are leftovers? My family's leftovers are fed to chickens; the Master doesn't even let us ordinary people eat leftovers, let alone these children."

She couldn't cut ties with Mr. Lin, so she kept her frustration. Running a school doesn't conflict at all with his Private School, yet he still looks at her with disdain.

Qiao Mai had no objections, but she insisted they must transport the children to and from school; such a long distance makes her uneasy.

After handling the school matters, Qiao Mai finally lifted a burden.

Qiao Mai rolled her eyes, "Forget it, the adults' mistakes don't affect the children, so she didn't take it to heart."

In fact, she glanced again at Yuan Jiaqi, still utterly infatuated.

Qin Yide found her, "Master, they say this—what do you think we should do?"

Indeed, not accepting Shu Xiu yet providing free meals can still cause trouble; they all worry anxiously for the Master.

Qiao Mai didn't mind; she was at the Qiao Ji Snack Puzi entrance, grinning and watching the commotion.

Whoever believes the rumors, stay away; she hopes her household can still save some grain. After all, this single daily meal amounts to several thousand jin of grain a year, not to mention vegetables and meat.

I don't even know which turtle‑grandson messed up, thinking that she set up a School, as if she were competing with him for business, for silver.

(End of chapter)