Chapter 180: Reborn in the Nineties: The Tyrant Flower Chapter 180 — Dao Heart Shattered

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

"Grandmother..." Chai Mi suddenly stopped Wang Huirong, who had already taken a few steps out: "You'd better say a few words less. Don't go bragging when there's nothing going on; I've grown up this big and haven't seen you skin anyone yet..."

Chai Youqing froze: "Uh..."

Wang Huirong also froze: "I..."

Chai Mi, just you wait!!!

Sooner or later, I'll skin you!!!

I'll make you pay for that sharp tongue!!!

Wang Huirong was so angry she stomped her feet repeatedly, but in the end she didn't dare say anything and left in quick steps.

Chai Mi smiled and said lightly: "Helpless rage."

Then Chai Mi stared at Chai Youqing and said: "Dad, look at my grandmother's expression just now — it was practically written on her face that I did this. Tell me, you work yourself to the bone for the old family home, and now that a little something's happened, my grandmother is the first to suspect I did the bad deed. It's hilarious..."

Chai Youqing hadn't thought much of it originally, but hearing Chai Mi put it like that, his brows instantly knitted tight.

Not to mention anything else, Chai Youqing was loyal and devoted to his parents.

Especially loyal and devoted like those great loyal ministers of ancient times.

The degree of his loyalty was comparable to Yi Yin and Huo Guang of ancient times...

The moment Chai Mi finished speaking, Chai Youqing suddenly felt a sense of loss and oppression.

Indeed, he could see it now — just now Wang Huirong didn't really seem to be asking him for help catching someone; it was more like she was checking if he was home?

Chai Youqing was spacing out when Chai Mi spoke again: "There's an ancient term called 'yi ji xin chan' — suspecting the loyal and believing slander — and a saying: 'If the ruler doubts the minister, the minister must die.' You've listened to Romance of the Three Kingdoms eight hundred times and watched who knows how many Peking operas; Deng Ai destroyed Shu but was himself suspected out of jealousy and died miserably. My grandmother suspects you now, and you won't get any good outcome."

Chai Youqing's heart gave a sudden thump.

Being suspected by his own birth mother hurt him more than taking his life!

But the reality is exactly this!

Wang Huirong's suspicion was practically written on her face, utterly undisguised!!!

Chai Youqing saw it clearly; he turned to look at Chai Mi and said with some dejection: "Come on, let's go back to sleep."

Chai Mi felt a surge of joy inside but still pretended to be unwilling: "Don't be like that; my grandmother still said to catch the person, it wouldn't be right if you don't go..."

"Nothing wrong with it. What if that thief is luring the tiger away from the mountain, planning to steal our stuff?" Chai Youqing said: "We've got cattle and sheep at home; what if the thief deliberately lured me out and then came back to steal our things? So I can't go. Even if Grandpa asks afterward, I'll say the same thing." Chai Youqing was somewhat disheartened.

If the past quarrels made him grow distant from Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong, this suspicion has basically caused a total break with the old family home.

Chai Youqing, though foolishly loyal and honest and dutiful, ultimately couldn't escape worldly concerns. He worked diligently for the old family home — what for?

Naturally for his parents' praise, and harboring a fantasy like those ancient dynasties, that he would inherit the family estate.

Many years ago he already couldn't inherit the family estate, so he started fantasizing about inheriting from his father Chai Zhongxiao and becoming the head of the Chai family.

But Chai Mi poured basin after basin of cold water on him, making him realize Chai Youqing fundamentally lacked the ability and the opportunity to become that person.

After that, he felt he could just be okay.

But reality thoroughly woke him up: in Wang Huirong's eyes, Chai Youqing understood, he had already become the "bad person."

Chai Youqing was just about to walk back when Chai Mi spoke in a yin-yang tone: "If I were my grandmother, I'd suspect you too..."

Chai Youqing frowned, not understanding.

Then Chai Mi said faintly: "Who told you to be the most incapable, the worst at speaking, the most unlikable? The cost of suspecting you is the lowest..."

Chai Youqing was speechless: "I..."

"My grandmother tells you to go, you go. It just so happens Qiu Shui is staying at our place for a night, it's not convenient for you to be home anyway. You've got nothing to do, so go mooch a breakfast — don't eat for nothing." Chai Mi smiled: "My grandparents' home got smashed, such a big deal, and it was my grandmother who sent for people, right? Her legs and feet aren't agile, she can only summon a few people; your legs and feet are agile, you go summon people. Our Old Chai Family has plenty — a hundred or eighty mouths are still there, call them all up. Let the big fellows help my grandmother catch the thief."

Chai Mi laughed halfway through her own words.

The thief, naturally, can't be caught.

And it'll make them lose face all over the village...

Chai Mi doesn't mind adding fuel to the fire, making Chai Zhongxiao's "glorious image" known to the whole village.

One, have Chai Youqing call more people, the bigger the commotion the better. It's already near three o'clock; in another hour or two it'll be dawn. Let the big fellows get up early to catch the thief. They won't catch the thief, but everyone will know the old family home's glass was smashed to smithereens...

When the time comes, a crowd watching Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong in a frantic state — Chai Mi thinks about it and feels happy.

Two, Chai Youqing goes. Then Qiu Shui and I are perfectly 'dark under the lamp.' We did the bad deed, but if Chai Youqing goes, no one will suspect Chai Mi, because in the countryside there aren't so many twists and turns — a classic 'thief shouting stop thief'...

Besides, Chai Youqing himself doesn't know Chai Mi and Qiu Shui did this; he doesn't even need to pretend — whether emotional manipulation or expression, it's all precisely accurate in letting the big fellows know the bad person isn't Chai Mi.

Three, doing this indeed causes loss to Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong. Calling up several dozen people and not treating them to breakfast in the morning will naturally cause dissatisfaction among the big fellows.

And given Chai Mi's understanding of Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong, how could they possibly provide a meal?

Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong aren't like Da Lao Song, so honest and upright that Qiu Shui could sweet-talk them into arranging ten-odd tables.

Someone with skin thicker than city walls like Wang Huirong — she only mooches food and drink; how could she possibly provide a meal?

Never mind outsiders; even Chai Youqing and Su Wan, the couple, helped with a whole day's farm work and didn't see her provide a meal. Wang Huirong only provides meals for Chai Lao San's family and her own daughters and sons-in-law; everyone else is impossible.

As for Chai Zhongxiao, on the matter of providing meals he and Wang Huirong are birds of a feather.

Although Chai Mi feels the vast majority of people helping Chai Zhongxiao catch the thief wouldn't complain even if no meal is provided, there will definitely be some dissatisfied ones. This way, it can further blacken Chai Zhongxiao and his wife's reputation in the village.

Anyway, anything that gives Chai Zhongxiao and Wang Huirong trouble, Chai Mi is especially willing to do.

"When the time comes, don't you go saying anything random. You find people and just say my grandmother sent you. You just say the old man and old lady's glass got smashed, everyone help out, go catch the thief. When the thief isn't caught, in the morning you lead this group to the old family home to sit and wait for breakfast."

"Ah..." Chai Youqing visibly froze for a moment: "Your grandmother didn't say anything about providing a meal?!"

"That's not for you to worry about. Whether she provides a meal is her business; leading people there is your business. You just lead the people you summoned to go eat. What, working half the night isn't worth a meal's money? Then who'll help them in the future?" Chai Mi coldly laughed: "Can't let them hog all the benefits. Anyway, my grandparents wave their big hands and just know how to use people for free. Let them see what end comes of using people for free."

Chai Youqing nodded half-understanding.

As for why she did this, Chai Youqing still hadn't figured it out, but since it was Chai Mi who said it, he just had to follow her instructions.

Chai Youqing was about to leave when Chai Mi gave her father a final warning: "I'm telling you, don't you go bringing those people back to our house later. I'll bolt the main gate in a bit, and Qiu Shui sleeps like the dead — she doesn't get up early. You'd better not provoke her; you know her temper. If you stir up trouble for no reason and wake her up, I'm telling you, when she starts raising hell, I'll just sit back and watch the show."

Chai Youqing hastily promised he absolutely wouldn't bring anyone home for a meal, and added that he wouldn't even come home before eight o'clock.

After all, the fact that Spiritual Little Sister Song Qiushui wasn't quite right in the head was known to everyone.

When Song Qiushui's condition flared up, she'd go all dazed and blank — nobody could afford to provoke her.

Chai Youqing left right after. Chai Mi watched him go, then stretched lazily, went into the courtyard, and bolted the main gate.

Only then did she unhurriedly open the door and go inside.

In the center of the room, Song Qiushui was pressing her palms together in prayer: "Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, I am the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. I curse that Wang Huirong who scolded me — may all her future sons be born without assholes..."

Chai Mi's brows knotted into a single twist. She walked over and patted Song Qiushui: "Hey, sister. Cut the spooky act. It's the middle of the night — what are you making a fuss about when you've got nothing better to do? Besides, you didn't even turn on the light — who are you praying to, what ox-horse-snake-god?"

Song Qiushui let out a cold hmph, her expression solemn: "This Venerable One is naturally praying to herself for peace and safety! This Venerable One is the incarnation of the Jade Emperor — you, a mere mortal..."

"You just said you were the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord..."

"Ugh... you talk too much!" Song Qiushui stopped her worshipping, dissatisfied.

Then she whooshed over to the head of the kang, pulling the quilt over herself: "Chai Mi, do I look like a fox immortal possessed?! Let me tell you — better to rely on yourself than others. I've got nothing to do so I pray to myself, and it's always accurate. Want me to read your fortune?"

Chai Mi rolled her eyes at Song Qiushui, thinking to herself: This guy's condition is way more severe than in her previous life... Back then she was just a Spiritual Little Sister, now she's like Pure Brain-Dead Development...

What fox immortal wraps herself in a quilt in the middle of summer?

A fox immortal with this kind of IQ — forget it!!!

"Alright, no more fox immortal possession. Those guys couldn't possibly know anything. You and I have an ironclad alibi."

Song Qiushui relaxed after hearing this, then glanced at Chai Xiu.

Chai Xiu felt a chill down her spine under Song Qiushui's stare: "Uh..."

Then Chai Xiu looked at Chai Mi: "Sister, she's asleep — the kind where you can't wake her no matter how you call..."

Then Chai Xiu flopped down and fell asleep.

Chai Mi smiled watching her, rubbed Chai Xiu's hair, and tucked the thin little quilt properly over her.

Then she said to Song Qiushui: "I've bolted the main gate. The two of us can sleep easy — even if the sky falls, we don't care. I told my dad not to come home before eight. Is that enough time for you to sleep?"

Song Qiushui was a night owl by nature — she could stay up late, but the trade-off was she couldn't get up in the morning.

Song Qiushui shook her head, instantly looking dejected: "Sigh! Eight's too early... I'll just make do and sleep."

Meanwhile, Chai Youqing started going door to door calling people out. The village had a lot of people, and some came out on their own. With Chai Youqing's summons, plus Wang Huirong rallying a whole crowd from the Old Chai Family clan on her end, Sanjiacun erupted into activity in an instant.

A hundred-odd people launched a massive manhunt for the "thief."

Even Village Chief Liu Zhanggui and Accountant Song Qingshan got roped in.

Especially Village Chief Liu Zhanggui — he stared dazedly at the lights blazing in every household across the village, looking completely unwell. He rubbed his eyes, looked at the panicked crowd, and asked Song Qingshan: "Lao Song, I'm telling you — if you hadn't told me someone smashed Chai Zhongxiao's glass, I'd have thought the Qing Dynasty's Eight Banners troops had come again!"

Song Qingshan yawned, shaking his head: "Village Chief, wake up — the Qing Dynasty perished ages ago."

Liu Zhanggui pursed his lips, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, then looked at Song Qingshan again, and finally passed one over.

Song Qingshan shook his head: "What are you smoking for in the middle of the night? I'm old, my lungs can't take it. You smoke it yourself."

Liu Zhanggui lit his own cigarette, walked a few steps, and came back a moment later: "How much glass got smashed? Why call this many people?"

"All of it..."

"Nobody's hurt, right? Smashing all of it still doesn't warrant calling this many people..." Liu Zhanggui couldn't figure it out: "This thing — you can't catch anyone anyway. Middle of the night, they hide in some remote corner, who can find them? Even if they hide in the vast wilderness, you still can't catch them. If you ask me, better to just write it off... Sigh, you say Chai Zhongxiao, he's in his sixties and his temper's still that dogged... Their family's nothing but trouble. I can't guess who he offended, that someone would retaliate against him."

Song Qingshan's face twitched, he nodded imperceptibly: "Who knows."

Song Qingshan had only come out because he heard Chai Youqing's summons. Hearing Chai Youqing's simple explanation, Song Qingshan immediately guessed — this was exactly his precious daughter's doing...

After all, all the glass at his own home was shattered too.

Looks like his precious daughter Song Qiushui used it for target practice...

Song Qingshan couldn't help but sigh at the time: "I'm really useless — everything has to be done by my daughter, I'm a useless father..."

Of course, Song Qingshan thought Song Qiushui smashed Chai Zhongxiao's glass to make up for Cousin Sister Song Qiuping — he never imagined Song Qiushui did it purely for entertainment.

He'd never imagine Song Qiushui used a slingshot on her own home's glass just for simple fun...

Since he guessed his daughter did it, Song Qingshan got anxious — afraid it'd be bad if Chai Zhongxiao caught her.

So he urgently roused Village Chief Liu Zhanggui — if they caught Song Qiushui, with the Village Chief there, they could say: she's a child, just playing around.

But by now, they'd been searching for over an hour with no one caught, so Song Qingshan relaxed.

"The Old Chai Family's had nothing but trouble lately — they've offended everyone they could and couldn't afford to offend. Chai Zhongxiao's truly senile — he has three sons, he's offended two, drove the eldest's wife back to her mother's family, and offended my niece Qiuping too. Now whenever my niece mentions Chai Zhongxiao, she opens her mouth and calls him that old lamp..."