A Good Country Wife
Chapter 282 - 276 Furious_1

Chapter 282: Chapter 276 Furious_1

"No, I say Auntie Zhao, you didn’t even bother to learn about how many assets my family has, or how much silver this recipe could make, before you came knocking on our door to flaunt your wealth."

When Lin Yue said this, Zhao Lingxiang furrowed her brow, "What do you mean, are you suggesting that a bunch of poor country bumpkins like you all could own a lot of assets? You’re looking at the big business of the Wei Residence and thinking about taking advantage while the iron is hot, aren’t you! Have you ever seen how much fifty taels of silver are, yet you want to raise the price even higher? Aren’t you afraid of overeating and bursting?"

Xiaocui, watching Zhao Lingxiang holding her forehead, felt somewhat at a loss for words, even she, as a maid, understood the implication of the Lin Family’s words—Auntie Zhao completely failed to see that they didn’t need those fifty taels of silver at all. If Auntie Zhao had immediately made amends and taken out two hundred taels of silver, there might have been a chance to purchase the recipe. However, judging by her greedy appearance, that seemed impossible.

Zhao Lingxiang wasn’t actually foolish to this extent; it was just her past impressions and cognitions that blinded her, subconsciously she couldn’t believe that Zhao Erhu and his wife could be all that impressive. Otherwise, how great a disparity would she have to acknowledge in her heart? Even in the village, a wealthy family owned no more than a dozen or so acres of land; owning more meant being a landlord. She would never believe that Zhao Erhu could achieve such a feat.

"Auntie Zhao, I don’t want to say much else; our family’s recipe, let alone fifty taels, wouldn’t be sold even for five hundred taels. Please leave quickly. It won’t look good for your face if things get physical," Zhao Erhu said, his face stern as he watched Zhao Lingxiang. If she didn’t leave, he really would toss her out.

"Aunt, it seems Uncle Erhu really doesn’t want to sell the recipe, we should head back first," Xiaocui said, genuinely afraid of the menacing look Zhao Erhu had. He seemed much more formidable and capable than Auntie Zhao’s brothers from the same mother. Regrettably, Auntie Zhao was the unfortunate one, as it was clear Zhao Erhu didn’t want to deal with her and didn’t even regard her as a sister, their relationship was not even as good as that of regular neighbors.

Auntie Zhao’s mother from the Wei Family, Xiaocui could tell at a glance, was not a pushover. Otherwise, if the sibling relationship were good, to help her own sister, one would share the recipe without even asking for silver.

Not being able to come up with more silver in today’s situation, Auntie Zhao’s hope of success was definitively dashed without the need for further delay. Other plans would have to be made; it was with this thought that Xiaocui began to urge Zhao Lingxiang to leave. Just the two of them, mistress and servant, could not win an argument or a fight against these people, not to mention that there were farmhands in the family as well. Staying here was just asking for trouble.

"Hmph, you ungrateful thing, let’s go!" Zhao Lingxiang, even without any sense of situation, realized that Zhao Erhu was serious in his words. If she were really thrown out by Zhao Erhu, she would lose all face. Reluctantly, she left with Xiaocui, stomping out.

"I’ll also head back now, Sister-in-law. I’ll come by to chat another time when I’m free, okay?"

Li Xiaomei saw Zhao Lingxiang and her maid leave and casually greeted Lin Yue before following them out. In truth, Li Xiaomei was sometimes quite irritating. She only followed to ridicule Zhao Lingxiang further, as she hadn’t found an opportunity to speak openly while Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were talking earlier.

"Little sister-in-law, I really didn’t want to say this, but you’re truly embarrassing yourself. Not to mention anything else, just the wages that Erhu’s family pays out every month to hire help amounts to over ten or twenty taels of silver. Not to mention other expenses, these fifty taels of silver really wouldn’t be considered much in Erhu’s household. It would barely cover the wages for a couple of months, and it’s only because your Wei Family’s old master is so stingy with your monthly allowance that you think fifty taels is a significant sum. Now you’ve embarrassed yourself all the way to your grandmother’s home."

Before Li Xiaomei could finish speaking, Zhao Lingxiang’s face had already darkened further. "If that’s the case, why didn’t you say so earlier? Why wait until I’ve finished talking and everything has been done? I think you just want to see me made a fool of!"

Xiaocui, seeing Li Xiaomei deliberately stirring up trouble, was even more vexed. Not one of Zhao Cheng’s relatives seemed to be free of drama. Seeing Zhao Lingxiang on the verge of exploding, Xiaocui quickly changed the subject. "Fourth aunt, what you said is not quite right. What do you mean by ’such a small amount’? My mistress’s monthly allowance is no longer just two taels, but fifteen taels, generously increased by the old master himself. It’s the foremost sum in the whole of the Wei Residence’s women’s quarters, a real honor."

"Honor? It’s just the highest amongst the concubines. Can it compare to your own lady?" Li Xiaomei scoffed disdainfully, not giving any face at all.

No longer able to endure Li Xiaomei’s continuous provocations, and already feeling superior, Zhao Lingxiang saw no need to hold back. "Li Xiaomei, enough is enough. I am your legitimate little sister-in-law, yet you side with outsiders against me. Have you forgotten your place? If you keep this up, don’t blame me for having my elder brother divorce you and remarry to someone who’s actually kind and virtuous—one doesn’t need to spend more than ten taels of silver to find a new wife, after all."

Li Xiaomei, initially frightened by Zhao Lingxiang’s words, regained her confidence as she thought about how Zhao Cheng had been treating her better and better of late, and they even had a child together. Zhao Cheng was not a heartless man who would abandon her for Zhao Lingxiang’s silver. However, Li Xiaomei was still angered by Zhao Lingxiang’s malicious words.

"Zhao Lingxiang, don’t be so smug. Not everyone is desperate for your stinking money. Erhu and his wife don’t care for it, and neither does my man! Don’t believe me? Just you try. My Zhao Cheng is utterly devoted to me. If you dare say those words in front of him, he would throw the silver right back in your face. You think everyone is like your old master, fawning over each new face he sees? Not to mention, you haven’t even managed to lay a single egg for your old master. A hen that doesn’t lay eggs, yet you strut around so arrogantly—it’ll be interesting to see who wants you when you’re old and faded!"

Li Xiaomei knew that the most painful topic for Zhao Lingxiang was the mention of children. It was a thorn in Zhao Lingxiang’s side, and every time Zhao Lingxiang returned to the Zhao Family home, the Wei Family would specifically instruct them not to bring the subject up indiscriminately. Now that Zhao Lingxiang was undoubtedly provoked, Li Xiaomei had no intention of getting into a fight, so after delivering her words, she dusted off her buttocks and left quickly, leaving Zhao Lingxiang seething with rage, pointing in the direction Li Xiaomei left, lost for words to curse with.

"Mistress, please don’t be angry. You know what Fourth Aunt is like; she speaks without any consideration. Let’s just ignore her, it’s not worth upsetting yourself to this extent." Xiaocui had to hold back her laughter, but she had no choice but to console her outwardly. However, as she was doing so, Zhao Lingxiang suddenly fainted, which truly alarmed Xiaocui. If something happened to the mistress while they were out, they, as servants, would certainly face punishment.