Chapter 347: Reluctance

The two, with nothing to do, rode their horses around the small town, becoming a beautiful sight in Tianshui Town.

The Yuan Family, the Qiao Family, and the Tian Family, each time they learned that Qiao Mai had returned home, would fall silent for a long while.

Regret Medicine, they will never get in this lifetime, but fortunately, Qiao Mai did not report back to them; before Yuan Jiaqi left, he arranged the men of the two families, and they all have jobs, and the pay is decent.

These years they have been extremely settled; fearing loss of this job, they have all had their families look after the elders, no longer letting them go to the town to hustle.

They couldn't hustle either, and Qiao Mai and the others all went to Jingcheng.

Afterwards, each year news of Qiao Mai's family arrived; every time they heard it they were filled with regret—if they had been kinder to the couple back then, would they now be living in Jixiang Yuan, being called "old master" and "old madam" by the servants?

Where there is cause there is effect; if it had been good back then, the later events wouldn't have happened.

After auditing the accounts of Tianshui Town, she went to Shexian; the workshops increase every year, and the number of workers also rises annually.

Pine nuts, shampoo paste, laundry liquid, etc., have also opened markets in the North, favored by wealthy households, and business grows richer each year.

Jingcheng seems to have these items as well, but only in small quantities, and they haven't become popular yet.

"Hmph, if you dare to do evil, no amount of closeness will work."

The plump woman entered the house with her son, glanced at the kang a few times, then sat down to one side.

"Heavens, to become Crown Princess, isn't that something for later?"

He led his wife and children into the Small Food Shop, ordered them hot milk tea, and also got some snacks; this also gave him a chance to go out.

"Yes, that's exactly what you think."

"If you can't say it, then don't; after all these years, I still don't know you?"

"Sss~ sss~ becoming an empress consort, huh?"

"Hmm."

"Then how many years would that take?"

The plump daughter chattered nonstop; Tian Sanzhuang came to his senses, hurriedly helped them onto the carriage, and then raced the horse‑drawn carriage back to Taohua Village.

"Haha."

"Qiao Niang, are you all coming back?"

After inspecting the shop, she returned to Jixiang Yuan, held a banquet, and invited old friends over to gather at her home.

Clearly he has feelings; Ling'er is his daughter, but why? Why? He truly cannot understand.

"Father is about to leave, but he has unfulfilled wishes; leaving feels unwilling."

"Doesn't the heart hurt? That's one's own flesh and bone, sigh~"

"What are you thinking?"

Jia Mei saw the old woman silent, gave a sweet smile, "He is my youngest brother, the Eleventh Prince, now the Crown Prince."

"Good mood, tasty meals, that's the secret to everlasting youth."

"Then will we have a commander later?"

Tian Sanzhuang entered the room and saw his father with his eyes tightly closed; if it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest, one would think he was dead.

Lu Sanniang looked at Qiao Mai, "How are Ruyi and his spouse doing in Jingcheng?"

Although Ling'er said that, her gaze turned toward the inside of the shop.

"Ah, to marry whom?"

Pine nuts are sold in the Jingcheng shop, while shampoo paste and laundry liquid are placed in the Xiu Pin Puzi.

"Time flies; think back to when Ling'er was a baby, you saw—in the blink of an eye she's about to get married."

"Just a coincidence; because of this, that man even specifically came to my house for a Blood Dripping Test, tested three times, and I have nothing to do with him."

Mayor Qian looked at Qiao Mai, "Younger sister‑in‑law, you are still so young, unchanged at all— is it a beauty‑preserving technique?"

Unfortunately, even now he can't find an opportunity; that woman has made everything airtight.

This time Qiao Mai came over, gave orders to the administrator of Shexian; after the New Year, she had them send a small batch of goods to Jingcheng, all the way to Qiao Ji Snack Shop.

"Girl, I…"

Only Jia Mei and Ling'er remain watching over Jixiang Yuan; when they have nothing to do, they eat gourmet food inside the house while enjoying the snow scenery, or they hold hands and go out to the doorway of Qiao Ji Snack Shop to sit, watching the north‑south traffic of carriages, experiencing the flavor of a northern small town.

"Qiao Mai should have been our daughter‑in‑law, should have prospered our family; we wronged her, lost her, let her prosper another family, and Father is unwilling."

"Prince."

When Tian Sanzhuang brought his wife and children out, Jia Mei and Ling'er had already left; he let out a soft sigh.

Tian Sanzhuang gently shook Tian Laohan, "Father, Father, Third Son has returned to see you; could you open your eyes and look at your son?"

"Where are my brothers?"

Once they recognized each other, she felt guilty toward her own mother; fortunately Ling'er harbors no feeling for him, she only nods at him.

"Haven't eaten for two days, occasionally mutters dream words,"

What a pity, this justice can't be obtained; mother won't let her reveal her origins.

"Ruxin is also in Jingcheng, did you know?"

"Just left a short while ago."

Everyone else kept asking about this and that; Qiao Mai never grew impatient and answered everything.

At home, Tian Laohan lay on the kang, with a woman of about forty beside him, continuously wiping away tears.

"How is my father?"

She suddenly wanted to go to Taohua Village to see those villagers who had once been indifferent to her mother; later they would nonchalantly hold the relief grain given by her mother, and she wondered whether their hearts felt any pain.

Jia Mei lightly frowned and whispered, "Ling'er, why do you look so much like him?"

"Better not mention it!"

"Miss Ling'er?"

Ling'er took a deep breath; this was her biological father— their similar looks gave a sense of familiarity, yet she could not acknowledge him.

Her affairs, he had been watching all along, so he couldn't help but hurry the carriage to stop in front of Qiao Ji Snack Shop.

She still wants to go see the Tian Family; being human, knowing how they raise their own children, why can't they be a bit nicer to the women who bear them offspring?

She also wants to go to the Qiao Family; why do some households treat their daughters as treasures while others treat their daughters like weeds?

"Sigh~"

"Go"

On the carriage were his wife and son; this time they planned to return home for a visit, because Tian Laohan had been in poor health since the New Year.

Actually, Ling'er wanted to come back this time; first, to bring Jia Mei to see the northern scenery, second, to see Tian Sanzhuang again, and also to seek justice for her mother.

"Ha ha,"

At this gathering everyone was happy; when leaving, Qiao Mai gave each household many gifts, and then went into Seclusion.

He still imagined Ling'er was his daughter; as an official, he would know whatever happened in Jingcheng, and the father who wants his daughter to become a princess is almost going mad.

"Don't worry, I'm watching; there won't be any problems."

"Are we still leaving after this home visit?"

"Returning, this is the real home for me and Xianggong; after a few years, once I've arranged the children, Xianggong and I will come back to retire."

"No, there isn't."

Mayor Qian's son is already several years old, the Liu Family has also added a few children, and Qiao Mai prepared gifts for them, all precious items; when meeting, she never lets her friends be shortchanged.

"Third Son, you're back?"

At that moment, a carriage came from south to north; Ling'er, sharp‑eyed, instantly saw that the person hurrying the carriage was Tian Sanzhuang.

"Help us get on the carriage, what are you hesitating for?"

"What would you like to say?"

Just as he was about to give up, Tian Laohan opened his murky eyes.

Tian Sanzhuang opened his mouth, not knowing what to say, and just then his family called him, so Tian Sanzhuang had to go into the shop.

Tian Sanzhuang also recognized Ling'er; he hadn't expected that after several years she had grown into such a beautiful young lady.

That plump woman is his father's current wife, and that seven‑ or eight‑year‑old child is her half‑brother.

"Father, the son has taken leave and has returned to see you."

"Father, if she stays in our house, there is only a dead end,"

"That would still be better than her going to benefit others; are you content?"

"The son has changed his mind."

"No, I'm not content; I want to become the old master of the Qiao Family, the Qiao Family is mine, it's mine."

(End of chapter)