Chapter 252: Free Dates Still Have Worms

The Qiao Family's three‑treasure examination news, as if it grew wings, reached the surrounding villages that very day.

Some rejoiced, some worried; the Jiang Family watched glory pass them by, maddened with regret. In the old days, they could have mustered the whole clan and still taken in the Fengyun brothers.

But now, the later it gets, the higher Qiao Mai's price, and they simply can't pay.

When Fengyun's external family heard, they came again, but this time weren't even let through the gate, so the women began to make a scene at the Qiao Family's doorway.

Qiao Mai, too lazy to deal with them, directly ordered the matron to report to the officials.

The Mayor's House guards promptly seized them, took them to Zhu Xianling, and in the government office they spoke with grandiloquence.

"Sir, we are Fengyun's external family; can't we go see him?"

"External family?"

"Yes."

"Qiao Niang's external family is gone; where does her son get an external family?"

In May, he took Ruyi and the child to Fucheng; Jixiang School was taken over by Feng'er and Yun'er, who taught classes while learning from the master.

"Remember to buy more high‑grade Spirit Medicine on the Platform."

"Indeed, you are now a Jindan Stage cultivator; your Pill is already at level five, and a single bottle of your Pill could buy the whole Ming Emperor."

"Sell it then."

"Mother,"

"Sir, you and the Qiao Family wear the same trousers, officials protect each other; you dim‑witted official."

"Hehe, these days are so busy—teaching and running the shop; my master and I are exhausted to the point of collapse."

"My daughter said not to sell; these were embroidered by mother, and I can't bear to part with them."

At the end of April, Qin Yide returned; he passed, and was assigned to Weicheng, serving under Prefect Wang.

They neither requested leave nor gave any reason, simply stopped coming; Feng'er reported the matter to Qiao Mai.

"The son feels that daughters of high‑status families aren't special; the key is eye‑connection and character—no matter how lofty the lineage, poor character won't suffice."

"Will you and Yun'er teach?"

Those intent on causing a ruckus, the Mayor's House guards were waiting at the school gate.

Xiao Qing watched from the side, blinking, "Master, can these made for the young master turn a profit?"

Unexpectedly, Chuan'er, at eleven, secured second place among child scholars; actually Mr. Wang held him back, otherwise he would have risen even earlier.

The Jiang Family's women's troupe they sent was annihilated; the Tian Family wouldn't return Ling'er, had no reason to cause a disturbance, and could only watch in anger.

"Yo, my Ling'er finally has time to go to the backyard."

"Hmm, it's best your brothers think this way; with your current achievements you can only marry a scholar's daughter. You can't expect other families to hold you in higher regard; an imperial scholar's daughter could marry you, but taking a well‑educated high‑status lady is rather difficult."

"Do you think it's urgent? The feng shui of Jixiang Yuan is truly excellent; it produced a Five‑Official Household, and each child is remarkably accomplished."

"They kept the children from school for several days as a protest; you think these people are foolish?"

"Jin Mama only now discovered that the double‑sided embroidery in Qiao Mai's house was actually embroidered by herself; what kind of people is the Main Family?"

"Seeing them, everyone fled home in terror; that's the insatiable greed of people—Jixiang School's free lessons can't be taken, they disdain the master for not being an imperial scholar, and the result is chaos."

Qiao Mai nodded, "You and Yun'er, what are your views on marriage matters?"

"Daughter remembers you still have several Palace Fans you don't need; perhaps give them to your daughter."

Jin Mama hurriedly pulled a paper from her sleeve and handed it to Qiao Mai, "It's all here,"

But Qiao Mai wouldn't relent, insisting they must wait until they're eighteen.

"Free dates still have worms; isn't that perfect? Skipping a meal saves us a lot of grain each year. Let's delist them and never take them again."

Meanwhile, Jin Mama and Ling'er's shop was also renovated.

"Sir, blood ties cannot be changed."

Before, Qiao Mai was struggling alone in the space; since Xiao Qing arrived, she grew lazy, and even when she cultivates she rarely interacts with Xiao Qing.

Those families who didn't come soon regretted, wanted their own children to come later, but the school no longer accepted them.

"Alright, whatever you like, just search for it."

"Yes, we teach the children exactly as the master taught us."

"Yes, mother."

The Yuan Family, they didn't expect that a single Yuan Jiaqi would be enough to incite their jealousy.

Yuan Jiaqi's four consecutive crowns were noted, but Brother San's results didn't stir anything in the Zhi Family.

That night, Qiao Mai entered the space and, on the Platform, bought for her dozens of boxes of Palace Fans, screens, ribbons, handkerchiefs, embroidery goods, clothing, and the like.

"Speak, Little Clever Ghost, what brings you to mother?"

When he left, Qiao Mai gave him a silver note of fifty thousand taels, letting him begin constructing a workshop.

Three days later, Jin Mama and Ling'er came to fetch the items; upon seeing the box's contents, the two were overjoyed and couldn't part with them.

"But we are truly their external family."

"When idle, just sell level 1 to 5 Spirit Medicine; after all our space can replicate infinitely."

Qiao Mai smiled, glanced at Jin Mama, "When you get back, give me a list so I can look it over first."

It's just that we have little stock on hand; this master and disciple ended up in the backyard.

"It's made for her; better to profit, if not, treat it as practice; I don't lack that money."

Previously, Qin Yide taught here; his reputation was well known, and many families sent their children because he was a provincial graduate master, but when they had to switch to two children, some parents were displeased.

"Mother, what do you think we should do?"

One master, one servant, each busy with their own affairs.

His brain must be waterlogged, spouting wild words in the government office; without a seal, it'll fly away.

"The shop lacks many goods; I'd like mother to help, make some items related to embroidery goods, so my master and I can run the shop."

Feng'er blushed at once and said, "I think mother is right; we should build a career before starting a family. Dizi doesn't want his figure locked by family at such a young age."

"Yes, master,"

Yuan Jiaqi, having heard that Ge San had all succeeded, returned from Shexian, celebrated with them briefly, and then left.

"Yes, mother"

"You're ignoring the law, aren't you?"

The grandfather and his son are both so dazzling that they can't eat well or sleep soundly all day.

"Oh"

Qiao Mai flicked her nose, "Greedy devil, this plundering has wiped out ten thousand taels of silver."

The most uncomfortable are those matchmakers; the Fengyun brothers have passed the New Year but are already fifteen. A good man must step up his game, or else he'll be taken by others.

Being both literary and martial, and her needlework is so good, truly impressive.

"How audacious, under the Great Ming Law, the Fengyun brothers are no longer descendants of the Jiang Family; they are now Qiao Niang's sons, and their maternal family should be Qiao Niang's maternal family."

"Cheap-mouthed, speak quickly"

But outside, it's not certain.

Zhu Xianling was angry, damn it, I kindly explained to you, and you still dared to insult this official; I immediately gave each of these women Twenty Big Boards and threw them into the Prison.

"Nothing can escape mother's discerning eye, you know."

It's truly maddeningly jealous, but the Fengyun brothers are teaching at the School, which gave some people an opening; that's a later story.

"Mother, I think the embroidered screen in your room is nice; let me move the shop first, I'll set up the shop and not sell."

"Hmm, you've grown up; hearing you say that, mother feels relieved. Go, manage the School well; consider it training."

Qiao Mai took it over, looked it over carefully, "Hmm, come to me here in three days to collect it."

"Everything is so exquisite, we're reluctant to sell them."

"Jin Mama, you're well‑versed; you decide the pricing, okay?"

"I want to set a high price, but can our Small Town sell at that price?"

"Good things aren't sold low; you handle it."

(End of chapter)