Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 126 - 126 127 Who Will Regret for a Lifetime_1

?Chapter 126: Chapter 127 Who Will Regret for a Lifetime_1 Chapter 126: Chapter 127 Who Will Regret for a Lifetime_1 Qiao Dalang jolted, “What do you mean? She doesn’t know it was us, right? Haven’t we said it was an act of divine retribution, that she was struck by lightning? What’s there for us to worry about?”

Qiao Lianhua bit her lip, finally telling Dalang what Qiao Muniang had said to her last time. Qiao Dalang was also taken aback, not having expected this woman to be so shrewd as to distinguish between a natural disaster and human interference.

After contemplating for a long while, Qiao Dalang finally said, “Hmph, either way, she’s just speculating that it was us and isn’t certain. Rest assured, brother hasn’t left her any handle to grasp onto, even if she truly suspects us. Without evidence, what can she say? We just need to stand tall and straight!”

Having heard this, Qiao Lianhua also relaxed, thinking it made sense. After all, Qiao Muniang couldn’t produce evidence to link the incident to them. Even if she harbored hate or whatever else in her heart, she really wasn’t afraid! She deserved it!

Thinking thus, Qiao Lianhua scoffed, “You’re right, brother. Even if Qiao Muniang knows something, she can only suffer in silence. She had no choice but to swallow the loss of those five thousand taels of silver. Now, without evidence to punish us, she has to endure. Serves her right!”

The Qiao siblings played a clever game, but little did they know, Qiao Muniang was not the kind of person to play by the rules. If she were really so easy to bully, that would be strange.

“But, does Qiao Muniang really have so much money to be able to offer ten thousand taels of silver as compensation?” Qiao Lianhua asked doubtfully.

“Of course not! No matter what, she is just a village girl; where would she get so much money?” Xia Bing just happened to walk in.

Qiao Lianhua, owing to Xia Bing’s willingness to associate with her even at her lowest, felt a deeper sisterly bond with her. Seeing Xia Bing arrive, she immediately took her hand and sat down: “Bingbing sister, you’ve come?”

Xia Bing inwardly scorned her for being a fool while outwardly maintaining a facade of sisterly affection, “I came especially to see you after hearing that Qiao Muniang somehow emerged unscathed.”

Impatient, Qiao Dalang interjected, “You just said her silver isn’t her own, so whose is it? Could it really be that a noble helped her?”

Xia Bing scoffed, “Indeed, you don’t know yet, do you? She’s been getting quite close to Mr. Wu of the Wu Family. That ten thousand taels of silver, didn’t it come from Mr. Wu himself?”

Qiao Lianhua felt her head boom — Wu Haoli? The man she had painstakingly tried to seduce without any success had actually been ensnared by Muniang, and her complexion instantly changed.

Xia Bing continued, “I say it’s just a matter of mutual benefit. Why would the Eldest Young Master spend so much money for her sake? But what I witnessed a few days ago truly astonished me.”

“What?” the Qiao siblings exclaimed in unison.

“On the day when Dalang went up the mountain, Qiao Muniang and Wu Haoli were brazenly hugging at the foot of the mountain, tsk tsk, she really is a woman not content at home. How big a cuckoo’s cap she’s placed on Dalang?” Xia Bing said, referring to the incident when Muniang fainted in Wu Haoli’s arms.

Angry till she turned pale, Qiao Lianhua thought it was no wonder Muniang had been unwilling to help her connect with Wu Haoli; she had her own designs! “The shameless wretch, as they say, like mother, like daughter. Her husband’s not even dead yet, and she’s already thinking of climbing the social ladder!”

Qiao Lianhua cursed continuously, but inside she was even more infuriated by Wu Haoli’s taste. A pure maiden like herself he did not desire, yet he was hooked by a married woman! Was her own charm so lacking?

“No, I must expose her. When I do, let everyone in the village see her true face. It would be best if the village chief punished her with the cangue!” Qiao Lianhua said angrily.

But Qiao Dalang, as if he remembered something, suddenly stopped Qiao Lianhua, and with a strange look, said, “Lianhua, we have a better way.”

Erliang had been unable to work in the fields these days, after all, his injuries were too severe. Muniang, caring for him, still entrusted the affairs of the Embroidery House to Madam Liu.

However, Madam Liu seemed to have lost confidence and came to apologize and resign in person.

“Muniang, it’s better to find someone else to help you with the Embroidery House. This time, because of me, you were almost ruined, and although the Embroidery House is fine now, that ten thousand taels of silver—” Madam Liu said, her eyes reddening. For a peasant family, one could hardly even imagine the concept of ten thousand taels. Yet now, Muniang had lost so much because of the destroyed embroidery piece!

Muniang quickly interrupted her, “You shouldn’t blame yourself, no matter who’s at fault. The screen you made was exquisite. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Whether it’s natural disasters or man-made calamities, one can’t always avoid them. Has anyone ever lived a life without setbacks? Now that Erliang is so badly hurt, naturally, I can’t leave. The Embroidery House still needs to do business. Auntie, you can’t just give up now. Where can I find someone to take over at such short notice?”

Hearing this, Madam Liu felt ashamed. While others were so busy they could hardly manage, she was acting stubborn, like an irresponsible child. But she still said, “I’m just scared that such an incident might happen again. You entrusted the Embroidery House to me, and that was a sign of your trust, but I—alas, I’m frightened.”

Muniang smiled, “Then, Auntie, why don’t you just help me manage it for now? It’ll be some time before Erliang’s wounds heal. Once I can free up some time, we can consider finding someone else to take over.”

Muniang knew Madam Liu’s character well. She was too conscientious, and no matter how Muniang assured her the incident was not her fault, Madam Liu would still take responsibility. Thus, Muniang’s words left her with no room to refuse.

Knowing she was not unreasonable, Madam Liu nodded in response to Muniang’s request, “Then I’ll help you manage for a while longer until you’re less busy and can find a new steward.”

“Hmm,” Muniang didn’t actually plan to find a new steward, as she was quite satisfied with Madam Liu’s capability. If it weren’t for the malicious tricks of those scoundrels, nothing would have gone wrong. However, since Madam Liu’s confidence was shaken, Muniang didn’t mind giving her some time to rebuild it.

After sending Madam Liu off, Muniang had just returned to her room when she saw the porter come in to announce that Qiao Dalang and his sister had arrived. Muniang let out a “heh” and laughed. There are indeed those who are not afraid to court death, coming here to suffer. She hadn’t settled accounts with them yet, but they came eagerly to her door!

“Qiao—Lianhua says,” the servant hesitated for a long while before he dropped the respectful form of address for Miss Qiao. By right, as the lady’s cousin, she should have been treated with respect as a master, but Hong Luo had given the word early in the morning; the Qiao family could be disregarded.

“She said she has something important to discuss with the lady, and if the lady refuses to see her, she will regret it for the rest of her life.”

Muniang raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Something important? Well then, let them in.”

But Hong Luo, upon hearing this, was stunned. When had the lady become so amiable? Previously, when Qiao Lianhua made a ruckus at the mansion’s gate, yelling and cursing, the lady didn’t invite her in. Now, she conceded to a mere idle threat!

As Hong Luo puzzled over this, she saw a mischievous smile curl on Muniang’s lips, “They will be the ones who regret it for the rest of their lives if they dare to come here today.”

Hong Luo shivered. She knew all too well that such a sly lady would not be easy to handle.