Chapter 228: This Fellow Came Just for the Food

"This is my subordinate, Liu Shiye!"

"My subordinate has seen Wang Laoyezi Yuan and Madam Yuan."

Then he placed the gift box he was holding onto the table beside the elder.

Qiao Mai pursed her lips, "Just call me Lady Qiao. Xianggong is my family's son‑in‑law; I don't take his surname, he should take mine."

Zhu Xianling covered his mouth, nearly breaking his composure; this Lady Qiao is truly amusing, and Yuan Jiaqi watched without getting angry.

"My lady says that, according to the Great Ming Law, this is proper; Yuan himself is willingly becoming a son‑in‑law."

Their solemn explanations made Zhu Xianling feel embarrassed.

"Well then, Liu Shiye, quickly give the children their New Year money."

A few children rushed over to bow together, "Happy New Year, Uncle two!"

Then, with a stern face, she asked, "May I ask which lady you are looking for?"

Qiao Mai glared at Yuan Jiaqi, "Invite her in!"

Qiao Mai snorted, "We deceive people? I think it's Qu Guniang—a single woman who set her sights on a married man; the couple lives happily, yet you force yourself in."

She sat in the guest chair, maintaining a smile the whole time.

Qiao Mai pursed her lips; Zhu Xianling's mouth was smeared with honey, and he threw it away vigorously, not caring about money.

His words were perfectly neat; it seemed he had practiced before coming.

Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi's mouths twitched simultaneously; it seemed this fellow came just for the food, truly impolite.

"I am a local gentleman of Shexian, and I have a good relationship with Wang Laoyezi Yuan."

Yuan Jiaqi glared angrily at the doorway with a sour face; he wanted to see who had come, daring to ruin his and his wife's relationship.

Qiao Mai tossed a flirtatious glance at Yuan Jiaqi, who quickly nodded.

Qu Guniang's hands trembled with anger, "You keep acting; I'm not afraid. From the moment I first saw Wang Laoyezi Yuan, I was smitten. In this lifetime I will marry no one but her!"

"You're wrong. I keep him for his own good, so I can't leave him. If I left, he'd die of lovesickness—what about promotions and wealth? All gone, right, Xianggong?"

That little knife patch was truly timely, and Qu Guniang, still angry, stood up.

"Haha, fine, fine. I've long heard your household's meals are even inferior to the great families of Fucheng; I shall humbly obey."

"In this world, men having three wives and four concubines is normal. My Qu family is powerful; you, a shameless, talentless, unvirtuous village woman, should quickly step down from the position of primary wife, or else—hmph!"

Seeing the steady stream of New Year visitors, Zhu Xianling instinctively went to the side hall, where the wealthy town mayor was; they inevitably had to exchange pleasantries again.

"Hmm, many say I'm unworthy of him, but he loves me that way; I have no choice. I also want to be single and carefree, yet he clings to me, right, Xianggong?"

Two servant girls hurried over, "Miss, Miss."

"Yo, the children in your family are each like jade trees in the wind; this young lady is like a little fairy, her future achievements will be limitless."

Seeing that most guests had arrived, the couple rose and ordered the housekeeper to the kitchen to start cooking.

It was everyone's first visit; seeing the host's home like this, they were all astonished—what a wonderful house.

The two returned to the main seat; Qiao Mai lifted her teacup, took a few sips to moisten her throat.

"Hmm, Happy New Year, Qu Guniang, please sit," Qiao Mai said, showing no pressure toward her.

Fortunately, Qiao Mai had prepared many red envelopes; as the children received them, they also returned them.

A house like this, not just in the town but even in the county, would rank among the notable ones in Fucheng.

Qiao Mai nodded, "Alright, after you boil me to death, you can marry him!"

The two servant girls thought, "You're truly possessed. This is someone else's territory; you come here shouting, making us act? We certainly aren't courting death."

"Xianggong, come, sit down. I suppose Qu Guniang came here with something to say, right, Qu Guniang?"

Qiao Mai swept her hand through the air toward her, a slap sending her flying into the courtyard; Qu Rui landed like a big pancake with a thud.

"I, the lady, have come to pay New Year respects to Wang Laoyezi Yuan and his lady."

Seeing this, Qiao Mai hurriedly ordered the Steward to lead people to the storeroom, fetch a dozen baskets of provisions, and have them take them home, making the subordinates feel embarrassed.

After these people left, no one else came; the housewives were about to close the courtyard gate when an uninvited guest arrived!

A carriage stopped at the courtyard entrance, and a young lady with two servant girls alighted.

"You are unworthy of Wang Laoyezi Yuan!"

The last wave consisted of Yuan Jiaqi's subordinates, the people from Shexian.

At this moment, Qiao Mai stepped out; the commotion was so great that even those in the side hall came to watch.

Qiao Mai cursed inwardly, "Damn it, they've taken it this far; if they had any self‑awareness, they'd have fled crying long ago, yet they sit there with such thick skin."

"Then just say it."

The young lady smiled, gently bending her knee, "Qu Rui has seen Wang Laoyezi Yuan and Madam Yuan; wish the lord and lady a Happy New Year."

Yuan Jiaqi politely said, "Since Brother Zhu has arrived, why not stay for a meal at noon?"

"Didn't I make it clear to you? Why are you still entangling me?"

Then the gate‑keeping housewife rushed over, "Sir, madam, a young lady at the gate says she wants to pay New Year respects; look at her posture—she won't stop until she sees you."

Yuan Jiaqi looked puzzled at Qiao Mai, who extended a finger toward the main seat.

"No, no, we came to wish the lord and you a Happy New Year; we must return. During the New Year we also take turns on duty; the more the New Year passes, the more we love to cause trouble."

Qu Rui struggled to rise from the ground, "Go, give this village woman a good lesson!"

"My subordinate pays respects to Wang Laoyezi Yuan, wishes Lady Qiao a Happy New Year, may the lord and lady have a good New Year, a harmonious family, and good health!"

"W‑what's going on?"

The Qiao Family is truly bustling; almost everyone in the small town has reported in.

"May I ask who you are?"

Qiao Mai was very courteous to them, "Happy New Year, everyone; welcome to my home as guests. Stay for a meal at noon?"

The two acted as a loving couple before her, making Qu Guniang almost bite her own lips.

"If you want what's best for him, you should leave him at once; our Qu Family has a patron in Jingcheng, and it will only be good for his future Shizi."

Yuan Jiaqi hurriedly nodded, "Madam, you are absolutely right; without you in this life, I couldn't go on."

Yuan Jiaqi clasped her hand, "Madam, on the day you die, I, Xianggong, will not live alone; I will go with you."

When the couple saw the newcomer, Yuan Jiaqi instantly lost his poise; he sprang up, pointed at her, and said harshly.

The older women frowned and thought, "It can't be the Master's paramour; there are many women looking for the Master, and the Master will surely be angry."

"Yes!"

"You are truly overstepping!"

"Madam, a day without seeing you feels like three autumns; in this life I, Yuan, am yours in life, and in death I am your ghost."

"Still, the lady is better!"

Qiao Mai glared at Qu Guniang on the ground and said, "Look at your appearance; your skin is as coarse as Cornmeal, and even a fan would feel rough. Tell me, what are you? Go to Jingcheng and inquire— the Emperor wants to recruit my Xianggong as Prince Consort, yet he hasn't agreed. How dare you utter such a reckless statement? Who do you think you are? A golden-branch jade-leaf noble, or a palace lady? Yet you are shamelessly despicable to this degree."

"You, you wait for me!"

"I'm waiting, my man. Only if he says he wants to leave will I let him go; otherwise no one may come, and anyone who dares to act violently, I will kill him. Go back and look in the mirror properly— your shoulders cannot bear, your hands cannot lift, you cannot contribute even a single thread to the nation, nor obtain any profit for the people. Someone like you, who knows a bit of poetry and song, thinks you're a fool who can ascend to heaven. My Xianggong doesn't even want to look at you. Get out!"

"You, you, you, you poisonous woman, I'm going to fight you!"

(End of chapter)