Chapter 266: What You Said Is Truly Shameless

The matchmaker is easy to send away, but the Fengyun brothers' former clan members are not easy to send away.

If they are not let in, they will wait at the gate of Jixiang Yuan, and the others also do not make a fuss, just standing on both sides waiting.

If they want to give the Qiao Family a gentle rebuke, since they are willing to wait, let them wait; after all, Qiao Mai has issued orders, and any search for the Fengyun brothers is nowhere to be found.

If they want to bring a lawsuit and accompany, whether soft or hard, Qiao Mai is not afraid of them.

The Yuan Family Clan Head, seeing the situation, also joined the commotion, bringing clan members to the Qiao Family's gate to cause trouble together, and even the two long‑absent Qiao Family elders arrived.

While causing a ruckus in the crowd, Qiao Mai sent someone to deliver a letter to Yuan Jiaqi; he directly took the four Yuan brothers and also the two Qiao brothers, and had them first bring their own elders back.

The Yuan Family Clan Head, upon seeing Yuan Jiaqi, immediately knelt before him.

"Yuan Jiaqi, you are a member of our Yuan Family; you cannot abandon the clan members,"

Yuan Jiaqi kept a composed face, "Back then the Yuan clan members saw me and my child suffer and did nothing; now I'm thriving, on what basis do you expect me to take care of you."

"That's different; before your parents scolded you, that was your family's affair, but now you're thriving, it's a matter of the entire clan."

"I pressed their acupoints; before the officials arrive, none of them can think of leaving. A bunch of shameless things—when the child was young they bullied them, now the child has become successful, and each one clings like a foul fly. If I let them just walk away today, it would truly be unfair to them who kept coming back."

In total he captured about twenty people; this trip earned the court Two Hundred Taels of Silver.

Hum—, don't underestimate your Third Son.

He bowed toward Yuan Jiaqi, "Lord Yuan!"

"That child belongs to our Jiang Family; why don't you return them to us."

"You're so wealthy; what's the problem with spending some on them?"

The bound people have only just now woken as if from a dream; they lie in the carriage and howl loudly.

That is not a place for people to stay; go in fine, come out as if blood has been drained.

The remaining Jiang Family members immediately dispersed in a clamor; they all went home, because to get relatives out of the government you need money, otherwise you must stay in prison for at least One Month Prison.

"Lord Zhu!"

"Yes,"

Mu Guniang also moved a ladder and placed it on the wall top; seeing the future mother‑in‑law calmly standing on the steps, she was extremely envious.

"Mm, impressive."

After recuperation, his legs and arms are barely better; Zhu Xianling personally called him forward and scolded him, and to keep his current post, he has been surprisingly obedient during this period.

Ling'er clings to the wall top, waves at them, "Brother, look quickly, Mother is so impressive, they seem all unable to move,"

"Brother, can you?"

"Clan Head, if you now take the clan members back, when there is work in the County Town later, I will think of the Yuan Family clan members. If you keep causing trouble, not only will there be no work for you later, but disasters will also follow. Others have relief, you don't; think about it."

"A few years ago I already said, if you want it back, just return what I spent on them; if you don't return, who can you blame?"

"Lord, spare us, we won't dare any more,"

Chuan'er pouts, "I'm still young, in a few years I'll be able to,"

"Having angered this woman, they won't also send people to kill them, will they?"

"We just want our child back,"

"Mu sister, my mother is impressive, right?"

"Yes"

"Why, we are just at the gate, not hindering your matters,"

Yuan Jiaqi stands on the steps shoulder to shoulder with his wife, "Wife, what's happening with them?"

Their original intention was to block, but somehow they ended up clearing the way.

Two old women came out from the side gate and mounted horses; for some reason, all the Jiang Family people automatically cleared a path, their eyes showing incredulous looks.

"Much obliged."

Hum—, Qiao Niang has spared you many times, yet you keep not learning. Others are rascals, still want to take what's already there for free; take it all away.

Seeing the old women mount horses and head south, they all became frightened; some gave up and tried to sneak away.

The next day, Zhu Xianling sent people over; each was beaten with Twenty Big Boards, sentenced to One Month Prison, and to release early, each must pay Ten Taels of Silver.

"We don't have,"

"This group is too detestable, must be severely punished."

An hour later, Zhu Xianling personally arrived, bringing the twenty officials from the County Magistrate's Office, among them Tian Sanzhuang.

Qiao Mai stepped out from the courtyard gate, "Indeed shameless, originally you wanted to sell the child; it was I who saved them, gave them plenty to eat, the best education. You people want to take what's already there?"

Yuan Jiaqi, after speaking, no longer paid them any heed, and approached the Jiang Family people.

In the courtyard, a few children had set up a ladder at the gate and were secretly watching; Mu Guniang was also there, and she and Feng'er had not met for a long time.

The old women gave a shout, and someone went to lead the horses.

Qiao Mai's face turned cold, "Since you all are so shameless, we have to meet at the government; you have affected my life here, I can fully sue you according to the law."

"This doorway area is mine, Qiao Mai; without my permission, you staying on my territory is affecting my life; go, report to Yi County County Magistrate's Office."

"Heh, this is truly shameless, my money didn't just blow in like a great wind; they called me mother, so I spent on them. If they stop calling me mother, on what basis must I spend on them?"

"If you don't have it, don't come; when you have it, then come. I can't let Qiao Mai waste so much undeserved money."

Ling'er, still rational, tilted her head and asked her.

"We will change, as long as you go back, we will change."

The Jiang Family, relying on their numbers, tried to block the Qiao Family from passing, but Qiao Mai, hands behind her back, stood on the doorway.

"I have heard the account of the events from your people; a bunch of obstinate citizens, shameless like this, I will later properly deal with them,"

Unexpectedly, this time they met in such a manner; both faces reddened, and they simultaneously nodded at each other.

Zhu Xianling, upon arriving at the Qiao Family gate, immediately ordered the officials, binding the foremost several people tightly, hired several carts, and directly escorted them away.

"Sorry, I have already been expelled from the clan, and I no longer yearn to return to that cold‑blooded family."

"That's called Point Acupressure,"

Zhu Xianling mounted his horse, waved his hand at the officials, and they, escorting the people in the carriage, headed south.

When they saw Qiao Mai, they all shivered, and thinking of the Tian Family made them feel fear in their hearts.

"I, the County Magistrate, know that you are just like the Yuan Family; it's the same old line: if you want the two brothers to return, you must return every single expense he has incurred at my house over these years, not a cent short. Otherwise, if this lawsuit between my Yuan Family and you proceeds, even if it reaches Jingcheng to file a petition with the imperial court, I will accompany you."

To everyone's surprise, their bodies were completely unable to move, as if cursed, their two legs unbearably heavy.

"Then, let them keep calling you mother, but it has to be a foster mother; the child is still mine."

"Tch, Mother always says you lack the talent for martial arts; even after another ten years you still won't have it."

Her mother-in-law ought to be like that; that's the mother-in-law she hopes for—so elegant, so calm, so powerful? As she kept watching, she grew excited, truly wanting to shout and cheer for her mother-in-law.

The Jiang Family thought it was a harmless farce, but it ended with the loss of a lady and the sacrifice of troops as the price.

In May, Jixiang School finally opened its doors, but this time it was no longer the Qiao Family teaching; two scholars came to apply, and Qiao Mai thought they were fine, hiring them at Five Taels of Silver per month.

One morning for classes, one afternoon for classes, teaching just one class; if they teach poorly, they're out.

This is Five Taels of Silver, whereas normally they teach at the school for only Two Taels of Silver; with the Qiao Family offering such a generous sum, they will naturally give their all.

(End of Chapter)