Chapter 83: First Murder

Qiao Mai inhaled deeply, carefully opened the window a crack, and by the moonlight she saw five dark silhouettes; from their heights and the thickness or thinness of their bodies, none seemed familiar to her memory.

Her hand in her bosom silently drew the silenced pistol, rested the gun on the window sill, and pulled the trigger aimed at a person's head.

With a bang, a muffled sound rang out, and one of the dark silhouettes fell to the ground.

The other silhouettes hadn't reacted yet when five successive muffled gunshots rang, and one after another they collapsed to the ground.

After waiting a moment, there was no sound at all around.

Qiao Mai quietly opened the door, used a thought to pull the five bodies into a space, then quickly cleaned the bloodstains at the doorway.

She returned inside, swiftly shut the door, and flashed into the space.

On the ground were five men in black; Qiao Mai lifted their face-covering cloths—three she didn't recognize, but the other two she did.

They were the two thieves who had visited her home last time; apparently after being released from prison they were dissatisfied, brought three more, thinking that five would be foolproof?

Last time I didn't kill you, letting you live those extra days—consider that a favor, huh!

This time, I will make you disappear alive and dead, so your families won't be able to find you at all.

Tian Yaozu, this time you aren't the one who incited them, are you?

Seems that if I don't give you a taste of color, you've forgotten your own surname, huh?

Two more months and you should be taking the imperial exam, right? Boy, you wait for me.

Looking at the five dead bodies on the ground, she ignored them, directly moved Ling'er out, and the mother and daughter slept through the night.

Upon waking, she checked the doorway and the curtain again, leaving no trace at all.

After meals she led out Winter Jujube, tied the Saddle onto Ma'er, locked the gate after leaving the courtyard, cradling Ling'er in one arm and supporting the horse with the other, then swung herself onto the horse.

The sun rose, the weather was fine today, and as soon as she stepped out, many of Wang Jiaru's Acquaintance greeted her.

"Is this taking your daughter out for a stroll?"

"Yes, spring is here, the weather looks good, going out to play for a while."

She rode Ma'er northward at a leisurely pace, scanning the distance; the mountains to the northwest were closest, so she took a shortcut with Ling'er, passing through Mai Tian.

After about half an hour of riding, the mountains appeared before her eyes.

Winter Jujube carried her through the forest, moving without danger; it would keep going forward until it sensed no path or danger ahead, then stop.

Qiao Mai moved her daughter into the house within the space, and also moved Ma'er onto the open ground of the space.

Then she walked alone into the mountains for about an hour; by observing the surroundings she noted wolves, bears, and even tiger droppings, indicating deep mountain terrain.

With a thought, she pulled the five bodies out of the space.

She didn't touch any of their belongings, including the swords and daggers in their hands, leaving them untouched.

During the cautious period, she rechecked the five, confirming they were dead, and turned away without hesitation.

Reaching the outskirts, she once again moved Winter Jujube out, rode onto the horse's back, then moved her daughter out—a seamless sequence like flowing clouds and water.

The mother and daughter returned to Tianshui Town in the afternoon, and Ling'er, exhausted, dozed on the horse's back.

The purpose of this trip was to relocate the bodies; from start to finish, no one suspected her, nor knew what she had done.

She had done such things many times in a previous life, feeling not at all nervous, even somewhat excited.

As long as no one reports it, the disappearance of the five goes unnoticed; over time, not even the bones can be found, having been devoured by mountain beasts and turned into dung.

This was her first killing since arriving here.

Back home, she placed Ling'er on the kang and took out the Account Book to tally the accounts.

During the whole winter she didn't set up a stall, selling goods at home; each month she still earned three to four hundred taels of silver, and since the fifteenth until now, even with fewer sales, she still made about a hundred and ten taels per month.

Adding the income from Embroidery Work, she easily made three to four hundred taels, and after completing the Big Zhai, she could have four thousand taels of silver left.

Purchasing some furniture would be more than enough.

With a shop, she could add many snacks inside.

The more varieties, the more money naturally; as long as the household doesn't hire servants, it's enough for expenses.

To be honest, such a large house feels a bit empty without a servant.

Anyway, those are matters for the future; she'll think about them later, as she currently has no plans to hire servants.

Being able to live in a Big Zhai and let the children play freely inside is enough; everything else is unimportant.

After balancing the books, she counted all the silver in the space: 4,863 taels.

She paced around the Shelf, took out a piece of Ginseng and two Embroidery Goods.

There are many expenses for the new home; when she reaches Fucheng, she'll sell the Ginseng at Yiguan and give the Embroidery Goods to Shopkeeper Lu.

As long as these items remain outside for a day, they won't reappear.

It's as if when she traveled here, the space copied them; once eaten or destroyed, they automatically replicate.

She regretted not moving the entire supermarket into the space; modern Earth had many good items.

Especially the row of Jade Ornaments she kept on the Shelf—any one taken out was priceless.

In addition, there were various Gemstones and Diamonds, all part of her collection.

There were also many items obtained through illegitimate channels, also lying on the Shelf, waiting until she could protect herself and her family to try selling a few.

In fact, getting rich isn't hard; she just became lazy and didn't want to labor for money.

Time flew to the end of February; Yuan Jiaqi and the children were due to return.

Qiao Mai cleaned the house thoroughly, even tidied an extra room; Old Mr. Wang would return with them.

She even heated the kang for them; even though March is near, the weather remains cold.

The mother and daughter got up early for breakfast, and she carried Ling'er on her back, busied herself in the kitchen.

She calculated the time; they should return around noon, and when they entered, a large table of dishes was already set on the table.

As expected, near noon a carriage stopped at the Qiao Family's door.

Several people got out of the carriage; Old Mr. Wang waved his hand, and the driver hurried away.

Qiao Mai opened the courtyard gate and greeted with a smiling face.

"Yo, old gentleman, please come inside quickly."

"Are the wine and dishes ready?"

"Naturally."

"Haha, you're thoughtful."

Yuan Jiaqi gave her a smile and said, "My wife, you've worked hard at home."

Feng, Yun, and Chuan'er all rushed over, "Mother, sister, we've missed you to death."

"Haha, you miss mother, huh? Then go home, eat more, have a good sleep, and for the next two days help mother work hard."

"Hehe, that's a must."

Arriving at the Keting, Wang Lao first saw a table of dishes he liked and sat down directly at the head seat.

He picked up his chopsticks and urged, "Yuan Jiaqi, pour the wine, pour the wine."

Yuan Jiaqi had spent a month with him, and had come to understand the old gentleman's temper; this gentleman, despite his age, is just an old child.

He knows how to coax, likes to be obedient, is optimistic, and as long as there's food and drink, he's happy.

The family sat together, and the children happily stared at the table of dishes, drooling.

"Mother, it's been over a month since we've tasted your cooking; we're about to starve."

"Then eat more, just don't overeat."

Yuan Jiaqi filled the old gentleman's cup, filled Qiao Niang's as well, and after setting down the wine jar, took Ling'er from her arms.

"Come, let father hold you. Mother, you've worked hard; let mother eat. Father will feed you, okay?"

Ling'er looked at Yuan Jiaqi, smiled suddenly, "Father!"

Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then burst into happy laughter.

"Little sister can speak now, wonderful! Little sister, call brother, call brother."

Qiao Mai gave them a white‑eyed look, "She only knows how to call 'father' now. Let her call me mother; she only shouts 'Liang', it's driving me crazy."

"Haha!"

(End of chapter)