Chapter 93: Regretting It to Death

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Now that she has paid off the debt, does this mean Qiao Mai will have plenty of money in the future?

This is outrageous. Why does she need so much money? To raise other people’s children?

The Qiao family is like sitting on pins and needles; the whole family can’t sit still.

They were busy inquiring discreetly in town, and it turns out to be true.

Her shop was impressive, and she even hired a shopkeeper and assistant. By looking at the carriages parked outside the shop, one would know that business is booming.

They were green with envy. This money should have belonged to the Qiao family.

They regret it so much. Why did they cut ties with Qiao Mai so decisively? If they had endured a little hardship, they could have asked her for money when she became a money-making tree.

But now, Qiao Mai holds the Letter of Disownment, and her household registration is under a woman’s name, so they have no way to benefit. They can only watch in frustration.

On the other hand, Tian Yaozu’s hands are injured. Teacher Lin was furious when he found out. It’s not easy to train a disciple, and he was about to take the Imperial Exam when someone harmed him.

After visiting him at home and realizing Tian Yaozu could never study again, he knew that everything he had done for Tian Yaozu before was in vain.

Now that Tian Yaozu has dropped out of school and can’t do anything, his living standards have plummeted. Old Tian is determined to raise a scholar in the family.

Apart from Tian Yaozu in the main house, the others are incapable. In the second house, there’s Tian Yaohui. Shortly after the eldest grandson was injured, Old Tian sent Tian Yaohui to the town’s school.

Tian Yaozu was so mad that he wanted to smash things but couldn’t do it now. He wasn’t a fool. In this situation, how could he dare?

He feared the family would give up on him and find an excuse to kick him out.

Not to mention, the writing materials he used were all given to Tian Yaohui by Old Tian.

Now, he needs someone to feed him even during meals; the Tian family has abandoned him.

Tian Yaozu was disheartened. After eating, he went to Tianhe Town to chat with his hooligan friends.

But when he arrived in Tianhe Town, he couldn’t find them, no matter how hard he tried. He only found out after asking around.

Those troublemakers in town disappeared overnight and still haven’t been found.

Tian Yaozu noticed those people disappeared around the same time he got injured.

He tried recalling what he had done with those five people before they disappeared.

Right. He found those two people who had been released from jail strongly criticized Qiao Mai in front of them.

He incited those two to hate Qiao Mai and said they should find a few more people to deal with her in a few days.

Thinking about it, his face turned pale. If Qiao Mai managed to hurt his hand without anyone noticing, could those people be long dead?

Even though he was arrogant, he was still afraid of death. Tian Yaozu hurried back home, locked himself in his room, and didn’t dare to leave for several days.

The more he thought about it, the scarier it seemed. Qiao Mai had become a murderous demon. But when he thought about it, it didn’t make sense. If she could kill people, why didn’t she do it before? Why did she almost die at the hands of her family?

Could she be possessed by an evil spirit after giving birth prematurely? Thinking about this, Tian Yaozu got so scared that he crawled into his bed and didn’t move.

What a coward!

As for the Yuan family, their faces turned dark when they heard about this. The fact that their fifth son could study in the Capital was definitely related to Madam Qiao.

She had money, and their fifth son would surely prosper. They had severed ties with her and wouldn’t benefit at all. What could they do?

During the New Year, the four sons of the Yuan family bought land and built houses. In mid-April, when Qiao Mai opened her business, they all moved out of the family house.

The old couple sneaked into Qiao’s eatery and saw the business booming.

It was even better than when she set up her stall back then, and the variety of goods she sold was more.

They felt bitter. After dreaming of having maids and servants waiting on them, becoming officials and wealthy, they had nothing to do with it now.

How could they be content?

No matter what these three families were thinking, Qiao Mai lived the life she wanted.

Next door, Madam Chen heard that Qiao Mai had bought land and was building a house. She was anxious.

She didn’t care if Qiao Mai moved out, but when Yuan Jiaqi left with her, it would be challenging to see him again.

Not to mention, Chen Hao’s education at the town’s school was not going well. It was worse than when he was with Yuan Jiaqi.

Chen Hao always received criticism from Teacher Lin, while Yuan Jiaqi always encouraged him. The more he praised Chen Hao, the more motivated he became.

In this comparison, it was clear who was better and worse.

Madam Chen had some thoughts. She thought about whether she could arrange for Chen Hao to study with the Yuan family in the Capital.

This way, her child could excel in his studies, and she could see Yuan Jiaqi more often to alleviate her longing.

Now that Qiao Mai was doing better, she could continue to bask in her glory if possible.

Madam Chen even thought she could have Chen Hao recognize Qiao Mai as his godmother if necessary. After all, Qiao Mai had adopted several children, so caring for her son wouldn’t make a difference.

What kind of people was she? If Qiao Mai found out, she would tear her face apart and give her a few slaps.

Madam Chen climbed up the ladder every day to spy on Qiao Mai’s family. Every time she saw several maids cleaning and two maids watching over Ling’er, she felt jealous.

Qiao Mai wore clean and elegant clothes, with a full set of silver jewelry on her head, ears, and hands. She sat in the courtyard doing embroidery, looking leisurely and relaxed.

Seeing this, she was so envious that her eyes turned red.

Today was the day when the Yuan brothers and the children returned. Madam Chen had opened her courtyard door early and stood at the door, holding a piece of clothing to sew while waiting.

When Yuan Jiaqi returned, their carriage passed by her house. She wanted to look at him from the door and discuss with him whether her son could go to the Capital with them.

But as soon as she saw them and was about to mention Chen Hao’s matter, Yuan Jiaqi kept his distance from her.

“Are you thinking about discussing the matter of Hao’er going to school?

Teacher Lin’s school is quite good. Let him study there.”

“But for some reason, the teacher at that school always scolds him, and my son becomes less motivated to study there. He does better when he studies with you.”

“I’m sorry, but I have to study too. I don’t have time to teach him.”

“Then, can he go to the Capital with you and study under the old teacher?”

Before Yuan Jiaqi could speak, Old Mister Wang snorted inside the carriage. “Madam Qiao gives me a thousand taels of silver in annual tribute. If you have that, you can come too.”

This sentence choked Madam Chen. A thousand taels? She would rather die. Even the town’s school was too expensive for her, and Yuan Jiaqi taught for free. She wanted to save on the gift. How could she possibly come up with a thousand taels?

Seeing her speechless, Old Mister Wang snorted again.

“You don’t have the money but still want to go with us? You want to freeload, don’t you? I’ve seen shameless people before, but I’ve never seen someone as shameless as you. You’re even thinking about taking advantage of someone else. Look at the way you’re looking at her husband; you’re practically sticking to him. A woman with no morals. Get out of here!”

He almost humiliated Madam Chen to death. She blushed and turned around, ran to her courtyard, and cried in her room.

After getting off the carriage, everyone entered the courtyard, and the coachmen drove the carriage away.

When they saw the maids in the courtyard, everyone was dumbfounded. They hadn’t been home for a month, but there were so many more people in the house.

Two little maids were holding Ling’er. When they saw the young master return, along with the young master’s teacher, they quickly greeted them with proper etiquette.

“Yue Hong and Yue Xie greet you, Old Mister Wang, Master, and Young Master.”

The other cleaning maids also greeted them in the same way. Even the two chefs came out.

Experienced, Old Mister Wang snorted, “Do what you need to do.”

“Yes, Teacher..”

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