Chapter 11: Afraid to the point of making an old face blush

Sister-in-law, I'm not saying this about you, but did our hoe just blow in with the wind? Others borrow it, and you just hand it over so readily?

Oh, so it's Qiao Lianhua.

Sister-in-law, do you not know what kind of person Qiao Lianhua is? You still associate with her. She had a child out of wedlock, and you're not afraid your daughter will learn from her?

The speaker was none other than Zhang Qiao's elder sister-in-law, Fang Hemiao.

Fang Hemiao is usually lazy and fond of eating, and she is especially sharp-tongued and spiteful.

Zhang Qiao snapped, "Elder sister-in-law, what nonsense are you spouting? Xiao Shitou was adopted by Lianhua; he's not hers by birth. Don't believe every rumor!"

Hearing that, Fang Hemiao rolled her eyes and said, "Adopted? Who would believe that? These days, who would discard a son they cherish?"

Xiao Shitou clenched his fists.

Qiao Sheng noticed, ruffled his hair, turned his gaze to Fang Hemiao, and said, "Are you done speaking?"

Seeing her still glaring at her.

Fang Hemiao snorted and said, "How could you do such a thing and still fear gossip? Truly, one cannot judge by appearance—you're so ugly yet you fool around; that man must be desperate…"

That's exactly what she had been waiting for her to say.

Qiao Sheng lifted her foot and kicked.

Fang Hemiao never expected Qiao Sheng to do such a thing; she staggered and fell flat on her buttocks.

"You wretch, you dare kick me? I'll fight you to the end!"

"Xiao Shitou, step back."

After saying that, Qiao Sheng sidestepped to dodge, seized Fang Hemiao's arm, and threw her over her shoulder to the ground.

She had studied some martial arts in modern times, so dealing with someone like Fang Hemiao posed no problem at all.

Zhang Qiao stared, stunned. "Is this still the Qiao Lianhua I know?"

Xiao Shitou looked at Qiao Sheng with admiration.

Fang Hemiao's face twisted in pain; it took her a while to get up, and as soon as she did, she began slapping her thigh and wailing.

"It's outrageous! Qiao Lianhua came to borrow our hoe, I only said a few words, and she kicked me. How could there be such a vicious woman in the world?!"

Her voice carried; everyone living nearby heard it and came over to watch the commotion.

"What are you wailing for?!"

Madam Yang led a child by the hand as she walked out of her room.

She was the mother-in-law of Fang Hemiao and Zhang Qiao; the two children she led were Fang Hemiao's son Sun Xiaobao and Zhang Qiao's daughter Sun Maixiang.

Fang Hemiao immediately went to complain.

"Mother, Qiao Lianhua came to borrow our hoe; I asked her what she needed it for, and she replied, 'None of your business.' I was certainly not at ease, so I spoke up about her, and as a result she kicked me."

She heard her spouting nonsense.

Zhang Qiao spoke up: "Mother, don't listen to your elder sister-in-law's nonsense. Lianhua never said that, and she didn't kick her. Elder sister-in-law, you're purely slandering Lianhua…"

She heard that.

Fang Hemiao, unable to contain her anger, shouted at Zhang Qiao: "Zhang Qiao, how dare you turn against your own family! No matter what I say, I'm still your elder sister-in-law; you usually don't respect me, but now you're speaking up for that wretch!"

Zhang Qiao usually didn't quarrel with Fang Hemiao.

Now she's being so arrogant.

Zhang Qiao certainly wouldn't indulge her anymore.

"I don't respect you? When have I ever not respected you? You keep calling me a wretch—if your parents knew they'd raised a daughter like you, they'd be mortified!"

"You…"

Fang Hemiao moved to strike Zhang Qiao.

Madam Yang stopped her: "Fang Hemiao, aren't you done yet? I don't care what you said earlier—go back to your room!"

(End of chapter)