Chapter 7: with translation of chapter title

He heard the sound.

Qiao Xuehua put down the small hoe in her hand and asked, "Aunt, you're not working—what did you tell my father and them?"

She is Qiao Lianhua's younger sister, ten years old.

From a young age, her courage has been greater than that of her several older sisters.

"What do you want with me..."

Bai Zhaodi said a sentence to Qiao Xuehua, then walked to the side.

Qiao Hushui and Lan Yue Niang exchanged a glance and followed over; Qiao Xuehua wanted to follow but Qiao Lianhua grabbed her and held her back.

"Third sister, she surely has no good intentions—let me go."

Qiao Xuehua said while pulling at Qiao Lianhua's hand.

Qiao Lianhua still didn't let go.

Qiao Xuehua couldn't break free, so she compromised: "All right, all right, I won't go over—is that not okay?"

Qiao Lianhua said nothing and dragged her off to work.

Over here.

Bai Zhaodi saw Hu Cuicui looking toward them; she called out to Qiao Hushui, and they walked a short distance away before speaking to them.

"That dead-headed Lianhua cheated me out of two hundred wen, Mother—go get her to return the money."

"This, this is impossible—how could Lianhua possibly do such a thing!"

Lan Yue Niang wore an expression of utter disbelief.

Qiao Hushui also didn't believe it: "Elder sister-in-law, you must have made a mistake, Lianhua…"

Seeing them all defending Qiao Lianhua.

Bai Zhaodi interrupted Qiao Hushui's words, saying: "A mistake? How could that be? Go ask and you'll find out, Mother—if you don't get the money back, I'll sell Xuehua off as a child bride."

In order to achieve her goal.

She also spared no means.

Upon hearing that they wanted to sell Xuehua as a child bride,

How could Qiao Hushui and Lan Yue Niang remain calm?

The two of them broke into a run toward the Mountain God Temple.

Inside the Mountain God Temple.

At that moment, Qiao Sheng, with Xiao Shitou, had just finished cleaning the Mountain God Temple.

Thinking that the pottery pot for cooking was gone.

Qiao Sheng said to Xiao Shitou: "Xiao Shitou, we need to go to town again…"

"Then let's go."

Xiao Shitou reached out and grabbed Qiao Sheng's hand, saying.

He didn't ask any further questions.

Qiao Sheng gripped his hand tightly and said: "All right, let's go."

They hadn't gone far from the Mountain God Temple.

Xiao Shitou saw Qiao Hushui and Lan Yue Niang running over from not far away, he pointed and said: "Mother, grandmother, grandfather—they're here."

What are they here for?

When Qiao Sheng came to his senses and looked, Qiao Hushui and the others had already run over.

Qiao Hushui, panting, asked: "Lianhua, did you… cheat your aunt out of her money?"

"Yes."

Qiao Sheng replied.

Seeing that she had really cheated Bai Zhaodi, Lan Yue Niang said: "You little brat, how could you do this…"

Qiao Hushui also spoke up about Qiao Sheng, feeling she shouldn't have done that.

Qiao Sheng met their gaze and said: "How could I do that? Why don't you ask me why I had to cheat her out of money?"

Both Qiao Hushui and Lan Yue Niang looked at her.

Qiao Sheng told them the whole story in detail, without embellishment—just as it was.

She told them the full truth precisely to see what their reaction would be.

After hearing Qiao Sheng finish speaking.

Qiao Hushui furrowed his brows and said: "Even if it's as you say, it shouldn't have blown up like this—we're all family, we see each other every day."

"That's right."

Lan Yue Niang echoed, then said: "Lianhua, quickly take out the money; we'll take it back and return it to your aunt. As for the broken things here, we'll try to get some replacements from home for you to make do with, and we'll replace them later when we have money."

She wasn't just trying to placate Qiao Sheng; she really thought that way.

Without waiting for Qiao Sheng to say anything,

Lan Yue Niang added: "Lianhua, don't blame us—we have no choice. If we didn't do this, your grandmother would have sold your little sister off as a child bride."

(End of chapter)