Madam Guo scoffed. “That lowly little girl deliberately won all of Old Zhang’s land just to show off to us.”
Madam Liang laughed. “I don’t know what she’s trying to show off—she just got some stinking money from Heir Pei. We’ll see what will happen to her once she’s burned through all the money.”
Madam Wu tapped the table. “I’m asking you all to look for the opportunity to remedy this situation, not to air your grievances.”
Everyone, “…”
Remedy?
How were they supposed to remedy this situation?
Or more precisely, the matter had surely reached its conclusion already.
Old Man Qi did not even want to say a word.
He was very much against his wife’s incessant stirring of the pot. However, he then thought of the beautiful, multi-storied house that was close to completion.
Qi Qingzhu was silent, her lips pursed together tightly. She did not bother paying any attention to her mother.
A long time passed.
Suddenly, Madam Tian’s eyes lit up and she said, “Mom, I have a plan.”
“Let us hear it!” Madam Wu looked at Madam Tian with anticipation.
With a careful smile, Madam Tian began, “All we need to do is to bang the drums and spread the word of Eleventh Daughter’s unbefitting behavior as a lady. We best make a fuss of it and have it spread throughout the entire village. Think about it, you had shown mercy back then, not casting her into the river or burning her to death despite her trashy behavior of having children before marrying! Yet, she still did not acknowledge you as her relative. In this case, if we were to announce out loud her lack of filial piety, that she had refused to acknowledge her parents after having struck it rich, it would show how ungrateful, heartless, and inhumane she is. By that time, with just one word from every single person, the entire town and village will condemn her. We wouldn’t even have to come forward and she will be the one begging to give you money.”
Madam Wu found this suggestion to be a rather good one. “Madam Tian, you are quite clever.”
Qi Qingzhu shook her head. “Mom, this is a completely stupid idea. You’re the ones who first cut off your ties with her, and now you want to…”
Before she could even finish what she was saying, Madam Wu slapped her across the cheek.
Qi Qingzhu looked at her mother wordlessly, her eyes red as she bit her lip tightly.
…
When Si Jin returned to the inn that night, he wolfed down 7 large bowls of rice. When he was done eating, he rubbed his full belly and asked Qi Qingyao, “Are you free?”
“What’s the matter?” Qi Qingyao looked at him with a sidelong glance.
Si Jin smiled and said, “The old masters said that they would like to treat you to a meal once the house is done.”
Qi Qingyao was surprised for a moment before she asked confusedly after a moment, “Shouldn’t I be the one treating them to a meal?”
Si Jin shook his head, showing that he did not understand either.
Jiang Yeqian who was seated at the side, “…”
‘Don’t tell me…those old men probably wanted to meet Master Li Qinglian by getting to know her.’
Qi Qingyao did not think much of it, simply assuming that the masters probably wanted to have a chat with the owner of the house. She glanced at her little dolls who were still in the middle of learning to write and said, “It’s already been half a month. I’ll go take a look at how the house is shaping up when I return to the village tomorrow. I’ll also reward the masters for their hard work while I’m at it.”
“Someone called Qi Qingzhu was looking for you today. She said she’s your older sister.”
Qi Qingzhu?
The original host’s sister.
Qi Qingyao raised her gaze absent-mindedly. “Did she say anything?”
“She didn’t.”
“Oh.”
The next day.
Qi Qingzhu had gone to the new construction site early in the morning again to ask the young man where Yaoyao was. However, she was stopped by Madam Wu. “Let’s go. We’ll first head to town to borrow a drum and then make a banner! We will spread the issue of Qi Qingyao’s lack of filial piety and her unbefitting behavior as a lady.”
Qi Qingzhu did not want to go but was roughly pulled along by Madam Wu.
On the other side.
Qi Qingyao was in town buying some refreshments and whatnot. She was about to head for the village and just when she alighted the carriage, she saw some familiar figures through a small chink in the window. It was a few people from the Qi family.
‘Is that them?’
However, them coming into town had nothing to do with her.
Jiang Yeqian, who was beside her, glanced outside and said, “That sister of yours is also there. Do you want to go and say hi?”
“I have no business with people from the Qi family.” Qi Qingyao waved her hand, motioning toward the driver. “Go back to the village.”
