Chapter 87: Things That Don't Get the Nonsense

The person finally left, Qiao Mai also let out a long sigh of relief, slammed the courtyard gate, went back to the house, embraced Ling'er and fell asleep.

Don't think they've only been back for three days; they truly exhausted her to the point of choking.

The Yuan Family had already split up; the four brothers bought a plot of homestead land in the village and have already started building houses.

They each cook their own meals; starting from the First Branch, after each meal is prepared, they have the children carry a portion to the Upper Room.

If they like to eat they do, if not they stay hungry; they don't mistreat the old folk, they just give whatever they eat themselves.

Yuan Old Man and his wife scolded at first, but later when the children put down the stove and ignored them and left, it turned into a physical altercation; the four brothers discussed and decided not to let the children deliver meals any longer.

They have the energy to beat the children, yet they are still propped up by a full stomach.

Seeing the sons each treat them like this, they wanted to cause a ruckus, but didn't expect the four branches to unite.

In the shoving, the two old folk were hit by a daughter‑in‑law here, twisted there, took a lot of loss, and from then on they dared not cause trouble again.

"No need, next time. When your Xianggong returns, you go home and ask the town mayor."

The moment they heard that the fifth elder had actually gone to Fucheng to study, they immediately panicked.

When talking about this, Lu Sanniang felt a bit awkward, "Yes, aside from this point I'm somewhat dissatisfied, but everything else is fine."

Mayor Qian ground his teeth, "Why are you all here early instead of at your own homes?"

What do you mean injured? It's just an attempt to frame someone; they ran faster than a rabbit, hardly looking injured.

Mayor Qian saw the backs of those two old folk and spat on the ground.

"County Town, the legitimate second son of the Feng Family."

"Got it. That household, like ours, is a merchant family; not big nor small, a proper match, right?"

"Wait, I'll prepare something tasty for you."

Qiao Mai took her hand into the courtyard, and with the back of her hand slammed the courtyard gate shut.

"How about you wait here for a while; once I'm done, you can eat at the doorway, how does that sound?"

Qiao Mai ignored her; after all she was hungry, she picked up chopsticks and began eating.

"Hmph, you two sisters, each worse than the other."

"Mayor, we were injured by the Qiao Family, please arbitrate for us."

"Truly, they remember the eating but not the beating. Looking for a son? Who is your son?"

It's not that they're afraid he'll become an official in the future, but that they're afraid he'll never gain any glory, so they couldn't care about anything else; the day after Yuan Jiaqi and his party left, they found the Qiao Family.

"Did you investigate thoroughly?"

Mayor pursed his lips and shook his head, "I wouldn't dare enter your household; if your Xianggong were present, it would be permissible."

A guard beside them laughed, "Fortunately, Qiao Niang met a good official like you, otherwise she would have truly had to drink a whole pot."

The early March sky, especially in the early morning, was still very cold.

"We're looking for a son?"

From the courtyard, as soon as one stepped out, the courtyard gate was being slapped impolitely.

"If we produce more Embroidery Goods, it won't be until May or June."

While speaking, a guard took a rope from his waist, prepared to bind someone; the two old folk, seeing this, quickly scrambled up from the ground and fled like a flash.

"Fine, as long as she's willing, that's all that matters; everything else is unimportant."

Some people know them and realize that if they don't report to the officials today, these old folk won't leave; perhaps the commotion would get even worse. Watching is irritating, hearing it is more irritating, and there's an urge to go up and beat them.

Qiao Mai didn't chase them, turned around, slammed the courtyard gate and went to the Chufang.

"Hmph, only good at flattering."

"Seen, she's also willing."

Each of the two finished a big bowl, then wiped their mouths.

"Bind them, throw them to the County Magistrate's Office, clarify the matter, and let them spend a few days in Prison."

"I thought the same, and after that child learned that his father favored a concubine and eliminated his wife, he swore from childhood never to take a concubine."

"Oh dear, that's wonderful; someone has been asking about this for a while."

"Since you just mentioned the legitimate second son, does that household also have a concubine?"

"The house is still sleeping inside, they haven't had breakfast, right?"

The courtyard gate swung open with a swish, and Qiao Niang walked out from inside, smiling brightly.

She quietly approached the door, curled her lip at the endless scolding outside, went to the kitchen, scooped a bucket of water from the tub, grabbed a handful of ash from the stove area, tossed it in and stirred, then lifted the courtyard gate and splashed it over.

They quieted down, finally having time to hear news about the fifth son.

"Have you seen Xin'er?"

Shopkeeper Lu swallowed, and when she saw two bowls of snail‑lion powder, his face darkened; he pinched his nose and pointed at the powder.

So early in the morning, Mayor Qian was summoned over.

When he arrived with several guards, those two old folk dared not cry, but kept shouting that they had been injured by someone.

"That is also our son."

"I know as well, but that child is truly good, taught well by the Feng Liu clan, it's a pity to miss out."

"Yo, Mayor Qian, thanks for the Hard Work; you came out early this morning to uphold justice?"

Without entering the house, a square table was set up in the courtyard, and Lu Shopkeeper sat on a stool at the table.

After speaking, he glared at Lu Shopkeeper, took his guards and left; Lu Shopkeeper looked at his back and made a childish ghost face.

"None."

"Then shall I invite the mayor to have breakfast at home?"

"The water in the back courtyard of a household with a concubine is black."

The two old things that were splashed with water let out a scream, wiped the water off their heads with a hand, clutched their waists and cursed even more fiercely.

Seeing her eat so eagerly, Lu San Niang also started eating, and the moment it touched her mouth she realized how delicious it was.

"Lu Jie, why did you come?"

The first blow landed on the body and the pain was immediate; Qiao Mai didn't even give them a chance to scold, the second strike followed right after, and it was extremely fast—Yuan Xushi struck once, and Yuan Lao Han's side followed with another strike.

"Dammit, every kind of junk has shown up; Qiao Niang is unlucky too, damn it, to run into this kind of stuff."

"Mayor, you can't do this."

"Oh? Which family did you book?" Qiao Mai felt happy for her disciple.

"Yuan Jiaqi?"

"The law further clarifies that our blood ties with him also exist."

"Indeed, if it weren't for you, sir, I'd truly have a drink."

The two couldn't bother to curse, they got up and ran toward the mouth of the Alley.

"If I let you eat it, just eat it, it's tasty."

"Just finished two pieces of Embroidery Work, you can take them to sell."

Qiao Mai went back to the house and fetched her two small ones and a large Embroidery Goods for her.

"Smells so bad, can you eat it?"

"That works too, then I won't give it to you."

"Yes, sir!"

Town Mayor Qian realized it was futile to argue with these people, so he waved to the escort guard.

"If I, the Town Mayor, recall correctly, under my witness you have already severed all ties."

"You didn't just come for the Embroidery Work, right?"

"I'm telling you,"

"Truly clueless nonsense, after Family Severance you still want to come and bask in the glory—did a donkey kick your brains? Or did a strong wind blow your minds away? The law states that once a Family Severance document is signed, you become strangers, that relationship is gone, and you shamelessly still dare to come here?"

Shopkeeper Lu leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Ruxin's marriage has been arranged."

Town Mayor Qian glared at her irritably, "It's all your fault; I was sleeping soundly, and then someone called me over. Compensation!"

"Well, it's not idle, so I came over."

As she was about to turn and leave, Shopkeeper Lu arrived; the moment she saw him, her mouth twisted to the roots in disgust.

A pair of old folks at the mouth of the Alley, seeing that no one caught up, immediately sat on the ground, slapping their thighs and crying.

Two dogs heard the commotion and kept barking; Qiao Mai, who was sleeping soundly in the space, sensed something amiss.

"Hehe, fine, any month works, as long as you don't seal the Embroidery."

Town Mayor Qian's face darkened, "If you don't want to be caught by the County Magistrate's Office, I'll count to five; if you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite."

It was still early morning, just as dawn broke, when the Dameng was knocked loudly.

"Ling'er?"

Qiao Mai lifted the Stick, opened the door, and struck down at their legs and buttocks.

"Tasty."

"Hopefully the oath is true."

"Regardless, it looks good now."

"Is it booked?"

"Early March?"

(End of chapter)