in2ebook Chapter 8 Incompetence Leads to Outburst
Chapter 8 Incompetence Leads to Outburst
Madam Qiao immediately burst into tears, half of her body burying her face in the couch, pounding the bed and weeping bitterly.
“Uncle, it’s not that I’m an unkind old woman, it’s just that the manor really can’t afford any more money. The estate has been heavily in debt these past few years, and her father’s salary hasn’t increased for years. It’s just spending without earning. The Marquis’s manor has long since become an empty shell. If it weren’t for this difficult situation, how could I have mistreated my good wife? I also feel indebted to her. Why didn’t my good wife take this old woman with her when she left? She would have had company on the road!”
Bai Zhining watched coldly as she continued to press for answers.
"Why is it that you have 50,000 taels of silver to give Mr. Ye, but not enough for my sister?"
The old woman was prepared; she continued pounding the bed, tears streaming down her face.
“If I weren’t ashamed to face the old Marquis, I would have slit my throat and followed him long ago. Now that the Marquis’s mansion is in such a sorry state, how could I dare to die? The money for the funeral rites has mortgaged all the land deeds and house deeds of the Marquis’s mansion, and even my own coffin money has been mortgaged. Uncle, you have no idea how difficult things are for the Yongchang Marquis’s mansion! Now, my good daughter-in-law still has some money for the funeral. But when it’s my turn to die, I’m afraid I’ll just be wrapped up in a straw mat and that’s it.”
Bai Zhining frowned upon hearing this, knowing that the old woman was being unreasonable. She was already feeling humiliated, and now she was disgusted by her words.
Just as he was about to argue further, Qiao Qingshu gently tugged at his sleeve.
Qiao Qingshu spoke softly,
“Uncle and Aunt, let me take you to pay respects to Mother. Grandmother is tired, let her rest first.”
Seeing the meaningful look in Qiao Qingshu's eyes, Bai Zhining stopped arguing and the group left Fushou Hall and headed towards Liufang Garden.
Shen Wenying took a sip on the way and said,
"This is truly rare! There are still mothers-in-law like this in the world."
Bai Zhining had been frowning ever since she entered the Qiao residence. Seeing Qiao Qingshu's haggard face and dark circles under her eyes, she knew that the child must have been working hard for a long time to prepare for her mother's funeral, and she felt very sorry for her.
Upon entering the mourning hall, seeing the simple furnishings and even the coffin made of ordinary nanmu wood, Bai Zhining was so angry that she pounded her chest and stamped her feet.
“Good Shu’er, I can’t bear to see your mother suffer like this. My family asked me to bring five thousand taels of silver. I’ll give you another thousand taels privately, plus the two thousand taels that the old lady gave me privately, for a total of eight thousand taels. Use it first. If it’s not enough, come and ask your uncle for more. I’ll make sure your mother leaves with dignity.”
Shen Wenying also said,
“Shu’er, your maternal grandmother has fallen ill these past two days due to worry. She was originally going to come with us, but if she sees this simple furnishing, she might faint from anger. We absolutely cannot let your maternal grandmother see these things. When she comes on the seventh day after her death, we must arrange this place to be more presentable.”
After saying that, he took out a large wad of silver notes from his pocket and stuffed them into Qiao Qingshu's hands.
A tear rolled down her cheek involuntarily, and a warm feeling rose in Qiao Qingshu's heart. Although money is a mundane thing, it can reveal the true nature of people.
The same thing happened in her previous life. The Bai family spent a lot of money on her mother's funeral and took care of everything. They also showed great concern for Qiao Qingshu. Unfortunately, she couldn't see people's true colors back then and was sowed discord with the Bai family by Old Madam Qiao and her own father. In this life, she is determined to unite with the Bai family!
There weren't many clansmen who came to pay their respects at this time. Qiao Qingshu led the Bai couple into the east wing, closed the door, and gave them a brief explanation.
“Uncle and Aunt, my mother is not dead. I have settled her on a farm in the suburbs of Beijing. You two have come at the right time. I have something to ask of you. On the seventh day after her death, I would like to ask you to invite someone to come for me.”
Qiao Qingshu briefly explained the situation, and Bai Zhining listened with a frown, somewhat worried.
"Shu'er, are you really going to do this?"
Qiao Qingshu nodded firmly.
"Uncle, I will explain the whole story to you in detail after this is over, but you must believe me. I did this for my mother and myself. I have long seen through the fact that the Qiao family is a cesspool, and I will not waste my energy here! But I know that the Qiao family has wronged my mother, and I must vent my anger before I am done! None of those bastards will get away with this! I will personally clean them up one by one."
Qiao Qingshu's eyes were filled with intense hatred, and her gaze was gleaming with a bloodthirsty light. Her whole being was enveloped in a fierce aura, like a wild beast hunting.
The Bai couple looked at each other for a moment and nodded in agreement.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Qiao Qingshu saw her uncle and aunt off at the second gate before leaving.
On the way back to the house, I heard the sound of porcelain being pounded on the ground coming from my aunt's Lanxiang Pavilion, along with the screams of the maids.
Lin Dong, supporting Qiao Qingshu, whispered something to her.
“Girl, your aunt is furious. As soon as she got back, she took it out on the maids. She twisted the jade and amber in her room, making them cry and call for their mother. They’re still throwing a tantrum in the room right now.”
Lanxiang Pavilion
The ground was littered with broken porcelain and scattered ornaments, and the tables, chairs and benches were all overturned, creating a complete mess.
Xu Biyun sat on the couch, still cursing and swearing.
"You little bastard, you weren't even born when I was scheming against you. Now you're acting all high and mighty with me? Qiao Qingshu, I'm really giving you too much face. When Second Master comes back, let's see how many more days you'll have to enjoy yourself! I'll make sure you're dead. You'll be kneeling on the ground calling me 'Mother' then!"
Sitting on the embroidery stool, Liu Wan'er, pursing her lips and doing needlework, didn't look up, but still continued,
"Mother told you long ago not to do such a big thing. Even if you're greedy, you should be less greedy. Swallowing half the silver at once, no wonder my cousin could see through it. You're just too ostentatious, otherwise you wouldn't have gotten this beating today."
Xu Biyun put her hands on her hips, pointed at her daughter, and started scolding her.
"You little slut, you still bring this up! When your mother was slapped until her face was covered in blood, you didn't even come out to protect me. You didn't even say a word for me in front of the old lady. You're like a dead person!"
She grew angrier the more she talked, and got up to snatch the purse that Liu Wan'er was embroidering from her hands and tore it apart.
"What's the point of embroidering these broken things all day? Xiao Er won't even care about them. Stop wasting your time. Once Qiao Qingshu really marries into the Xiao family, you probably won't even be able to catch a glimpse of Xiao Er!"
Liu Wan'er quickly pulled the purse back, carefully smoothed out the wrinkles, and looked up displeasedly.
"Mother, what do you know! It's not certain whether Xiao Lang and Qiao Qingshu will get married. As long as she hasn't married into the Xiao family, I still have a chance. Even if she does marry into the family, so what? Does Xiao Lang only want to be with her? Besides, Xiao Lang seems to have feelings for me now."
Xu Biyun was overjoyed and quickly asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Really? Xiao Chengyan really has feelings for you?"
Liu Wan'er lowered her head and chuckled softly, carefully tucking the purse into her bosom.
"Of course it's true. Last time at the Lantern Festival, he avoided Qiao Qingshu and came to talk to me. He even praised my embroidery skills, saying that the azaleas on my handkerchief were so lifelike, and asked me to embroider one for him too."
Xu Biyun scoffed.
“My girl, even if he is interested in you, it won’t matter. We are living in the Marquis’s mansion and are dependent on others. We are inferior to others for no reason. Someone like you with no family background can only become a concubine at most.”
He paused and then said,
"If you're going to be a concubine, you'll still be inferior to her. Do you know that there's a world of difference between a wife and a concubine? No amount of favor can buy you the dignity of a wife! I'm a living example of that. I've truly had enough of being humiliated following Qiao Jizhou all these years!"
Liu Wan'er frowned, a hint of impatience appearing at the corner of her mouth.
"Mother, anything is possible!"
He paused, then smiled and looked at his mother.
"Mother, aren't you also looking forward to a good day? Second Master will be back soon."