Chapter 54: He has already become shameless

"He is a half-baked person teaching children, misleading the youth, so I have to say something."

"I like him misleading my children, alright? Really full and bored. What kind of things you did yourself, don't you know in your heart? Still have the face to come to my stall to make trouble? Where did the gentleness of a scholar go? The skin is actually so thick?"

"You! You! You!"

"I respectfully call you Teacher Lin, that's already giving you face. You listened to someone else's slander and announced to the outside world that you aren't accepting students for the time being. Who exactly is it aimed at?

You know in your heart. If you come to buy things, I welcome you. If you want to find trouble with me, I'm not afraid either. Or why don't we go to the Town Chief to reason?

There is only your school in this town, but there are thousands of schools in the Great Ming Dynasty. You don't accept students, there are plenty of people who do. Because of a student who can't be on the stage, you target my child. You aren't worthy of being a teacher."

"Good, good, your wings are hard, you dare to offend anyone?"

"I'm telling the truth, what's wrong? You don't accept students, I find someone who can read to teach my son, did I break any law? Everyone judge for me. There is only his private school in town. He doesn't accept students, but my son wants to study. Is it wrong for me to find someone who knows how to teach my son?"

"It's not wrong, it's very reasonable."

"Right, it's a very reasonable thing. Why did it become unreasonable when it came to Teacher Lin?"

"You, I, I can't reason with a woman."

Shopkeeper Lu finally understood. Teacher Lin was supporting Tian Yaozu, so he put out the pretense of not accepting students.

He wanted Qiao Mai to bow her head, bring the child to the door in person, and by the way, act as a peacemaker to reconcile the grievances between the Tian family and her.

She didn't expect Qiao Mai to ignore this set at all and directly found Yuan Jiaqi, who was nothing, to teach the children.

Teacher Lin felt his face was damaged, so he came to reason with Qiao Mai under the pretense of misleading the youth.

There was definitely something fishy here. The Tian family must have instigated it.

Lu Sanniang looked into the distance and found Tian Yaozu in an inconspicuous corner.

Qiao Mai also felt something. Following Lu Sanniang's gaze, she also saw that bastard. At such a young age, he hadn't learned anything else, but he actually used these low-down means.

As soon as the Town Chief got home, someone came to invite him, so he angrily came to Qiao Mai's stall.

"Teacher Lin, what are you making a fuss about in front of a woman's stall? Don't forget you are a scholar and have merit on your body. How come you don't have any cultivation?"

"Town Chief, I?"

"I've heard about this. Are you too narrow-minded? Lady Qiao has money, even if she throws it on the road, can you manage it? Rural children don't know characters from a young age,

why don't you show some kindness and teach them? Why target her, a divorced woman? Don't forget, she also saved two children. Those two children don't have any blood relationship with her at all.

She is willing to spend money to invite people to teach the children. What about you? If you have this energy, you might as well go back and teach your students well. Running here to make a fuss, what kind of system is this?"

The Town Chief was really angry. Regardless of whether there were people present, he bombarded Teacher Lin.

"Town Chief, it's not like that, I?"

"She kindly adopted two children and let them know a few characters. She spent her own money. When the children were begging on the road, why didn't you stand out?"

Teacher Lin wasn't as old as the Town Chief, so he could only listen to the Town Chief's reprimand and didn't dare to talk back.

"I'm sorry, Town Chief, I was wrong. It was because I heard about this and lost my composure."

"Hurry back and teach. This isn't a place you should come to. You're such a big person, without your own ideas, actually instigated by a student."

"Yes, Town Chief, Lin will go back now." Teacher Lin walked away with his head down and his face red.

"Everyone disperse. If you block the way and startle the carriages of nobles passing by, none of you can afford it."

The crowd dispersed with a swoosh. Tian Yaozu in the distance gritted his teeth and went to chase Teacher Lin resentfully.

The Town Chief glared at Qiao Mai. "All day long, you only know how to find trouble for this old man. I'm an old bone, yet I have to deal with your affairs every day."

Shopkeeper Lu saw him glaring at her sister and immediately glared back.

"It's because you're old that you should walk around more. Be careful that your legs won't be able to walk if you sit all the time."

"You just protect her."

"This matter isn't my sister's fault. It's him who went crazy and came to find trouble."

"Also, what's going on with this Teacher Lin? He used to be such an upright person, how come he's making unreasonable trouble now?"

"Someone instigated it."

"Who?"

"You just pretend. Don't you know? It's that kid from the Tian family who doesn't get along with my sister."

"Understood. Not studying properly all day, using his brain on this. Teacher Lin thinks he's good, but I don't think he can even pass the child scholar exam."

The Town Chief walked away with his hands behind his back.

Shopkeeper Lu poked Qiao Mai's arm. "Sister, go back tonight and greet Yuan Jiaqi?"

"Greet what?"

"I see that kid from the Tian family failed one plan, I'm afraid he'll come up with another. He probably doesn't want Fengyun and the other to study. Teacher Lin failed to find you, will he find Yuan Jiaqi? He had grace toward him back then, right?"

"He shouldn't be that shameless, right?"

"He can do this today, he's already shameless. Does he care about finding Yuan Jiaqi?"

"Alright, I'll go ask Brother Yuan tonight."

In the afternoon, after Qiao Mai closed the stall and returned home, she actually saw Yuan Jiaqi there too.

Seeing her return, he helped her move the things into the courtyard, then sat on a stool, at a loss, not knowing what to say.

Qiao Mai knew he might have something to ask her for help, so she sent the three Fengyun away.

"Brother Yuan, just say it if you have something to say. I like people who are straightforward."

"This morning's matter, I think you must have seen it. My father and mother have come to town to make trouble for me and Chuan'er more than once. No matter where I move, they can find out."

"Mm, and then?"

Yuan Jiaqi took a deep breath. "I want to get rid of them, I want to give the child a good living environment, so I ask Lady Qiao to help me."

Qiao Mai frowned. "How do I help you?"

"I want to marry into your house, is that okay?"

"Become a matrilocal husband?" Qiao Mai was a bit surprised.

"Yes."

"But I don't want to get married."

"Listen to me, we are just getting married falsely. As long as I can get rid of the Yuan family, after a while when things calm down, you can divorce me. Whatever you want is up to you, is that okay?"

"Just going through the motions?"

"Yes."

"I have to think about this carefully."

"Can't think anymore, there's no time. If it's any later, they will arrange that family's daughter for me. Yuan is really at the end of his rope. Without separating the family, without household registration, where can the child and I go?"

"Why did you choose me? Chen Shi next door is also single, right?"

"You are strong, brave, diligent, capable, and not afraid of gossip, but Chen Shi can't. She is a traditional woman and can't accept these. You can. The key is that my Chuan'er likes you."

"This favor is too big. Then what benefits can I get?"

Yuan Jiaqi's face turned red. "I am very diligent. You don't have to worry about things at home. I can do them all. I can cook too, just not as delicious as you. I can earn money too, just not as much as you. I can copy a book in three days and earn two or three hundred wen. I can earn two or three taels of silver a month. In the future, I will teach the children to read, and you don't have to give me tuition."

"Sounds like I saved two taels of silver, but my house has to vacate a room. Then where will my quails live?"

"I've seen the little chickens you raise. Some places aren't reasonable. It's better to make them into wooden boxes and put them on shelves. This saves more space."

Qiao Mai nodded. "Alright, then those two taels of silver will be the living expenses for you and Chuan'er. You have to work hard to earn money in the future. My family's living conditions are quite good, two taels of silver aren't enough."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 55 =====