Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 358 - 358 359 Help Me Pull Some Strings_1

Chapter 358: Chapter 359 Help Me Pull Some Strings_1 Chapter 358: Chapter 359 Help Me Pull Some Strings_1 “Get out!” Qiao Yuanzhen roared.

Frightened, Madam Zhao shuddered. She hadn’t said anything out of line, so why was her son angry again? But she didn’t dare to ask; she had watched Qiao Yuanzhen’s temper grow over time, and if she dared to speak out of turn now, his anger would surely flare up even more.

“Alright, alright, I’m going, I’m going!”

Madam Zhao hurriedly made her way out, and Qiao Dazhi, who normally loved to act the grand lord in front of his son, didn’t dare to say another word now. Merely the sight of Qiao Yuanzhen’s eyes made him extremely cautious, and he immediately walked out.

Madam Zhao, still worried for Qiao Yuanzhen, couldn’t help but add as she reached the doorway, “Yuanzhen, remember to take your medicine on time. I have it simmering on the little stove outside—”

Before she could finish, there was a “bang” as a bowl smashed against the door. A chill ran down Madam Zhao’s back, and she quickly scurried away with her head down.

Right now, Qiao Yuanzhen was so furious he could kill. Especially when he saw this dilapidated room, it reminded him of his once single-minded ambition to become a high official, to bask in glory and riches. Yet now his reputation was in tatters, his title as a scholar gone, and he had been cast out into poverty, reduced to living in a slum. It was a complete joke!

At that moment, a figure slipped in cautiously—it was Qiao Lianhua.

Qiao Yuanzhen, whose face was originally handsome, now bore an even deeper look of disgust. “What do you want?” He looked down on everyone from the Qiao family. After all, he had mingled with the wealthy in Chatu Town, and now looking at the people from Tupo Village felt like looking at a bunch of bumpkins.

Qiao Lianhua gave a nervous smile. “Fourth Uncle, I just happened to be passing by and thought I’d check on you.” In fact, she had come earlier but hadn’t dared to enter, all too aware of her uncle’s fiery temper.

“If you’ve got nothing important, don’t bother me,” Qiao Yuanzhen said impatiently. He was on bad terms with Qiao Lianhua and had no intention of showing her any kindness.

“I do have something, something important!” Lianhua quickly leaned in. “Fourth Uncle, to have fallen to such lows, how unlucky. This place is filthy and stinks. How can you stand living here?”

Veins throbbed on Qiao Yuanzhen’s forehead. “What are you trying to say?”

“No, no, I’m not mocking you. I’m here to help you. Right now, isn’t the most important thing to get money? We have to find a way to get money quickly, so you can get out of this tough situation.”

Qiao Yuanzhen narrowed his eyes at her. “You have a way?”

Qiao Lianhua eagerly said, “Of course, naturally, I’ve reached the age to marry now. Among the wealthy people you used to associate with, is there not a suitable influential family? Just help me make a connection. If I marry into such a family, I certainly won’t forget your help, Fourth Uncle. Wouldn’t that be real silver coming your way to support you?”

Qiao Yuanzhen sneered. “So after all this beating around the bush, you just want me to find you a man?”

“By helping me now, Fourth Uncle, you’re helping yourself. Even if it means becoming someone’s concubine, I can bear it!” Lianhua said through clenched teeth.

She had previously gambled on Qiao Yuanzhen becoming a scholar, expecting that many sons of prominent families would then want to marry into the Qiao family, which would raise her own value and allow her to marry into wealth as a lady. But with the current situation, how could she even dream of becoming a primary wife? She’d be over the moon to land a spot as a concubine. It had to be better than marrying into a peasant family and eating coarse grain every day!

“Do you think it’s so easy to become a concubine in a wealthy family? Do you think any woman can just casually marry into a rich household?” Qiao Yuanzhen mercilessly mocked.

But Qiao Lianhua seemed oblivious to the scorn. “But Qian Yuan had his heart set on making Li Qinghe his concubine, didn’t he?”

“First, you’d need a face like Li Qinghe’s.”

Qiao Lianhua’s face flushed with anger, unable to accept that anyone in the village could be better than herself. Yet there she was, being mocked by her own great-uncle.

However, Qiao Yuanzhen suddenly said, “If you really wish to do so, there are ways to achieve it.”

Qiao Lianhua’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“When your injuries have healed a bit more in a few days, I’ll take you there myself,” Qiao Yuanzhen said, a cunning gleam flitting across his somber eyes. Why not use someone who was offering themselves up for use? If he could indeed curry favor with that powerful official, not only could he earn some silver, but he might even help reclaim his scholar title.

The carriage slowly arrived at the Lu Mansion, and as Muniang stepped down, a servant greeted her: “Lady Yu, you’ve arrived. The young misses have been waiting for you.”

Muniang nodded slightly and then walked in.

Yu Ze hadn’t completely recovered from his injuries, and Muniang wouldn’t allow him to run around, so she had him stay at home for recuperation.

These past few days, she had prepared the theatre’s business plan, and today she planned to start discussing cooperation with theatres. Coincidentally on her way, she picked up Tianniu to come along and learn from the experience.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Tianniu ran towards Muniang with excitement: “Mu, you’ve come! Did you bring something delicious?”

Muniang tapped her on the nose: “You little glutton, always thinking about food, have you been studying properly?”

“Tianniu studies very diligently!” Tianniu pledged, determined not to let Mu be disappointed in her!

Muniang chuckled and pulled Tianniu into the house: “Where’s Miss Lu? Let’s greet her before we leave.”

“Yeah! Great!” Tianniu responded excitedly, clearly finding the prospect of learning about business far more interesting than studying with the master.

Lu Qi’er hung her head sadly, watching Tianniu: “It’s a pity my father won’t let me be involved in that. It will just be Tianniu having fun by herself.”

“You’re the legitimate daughter of the County Chief. If you were seen out and about, imagine how ashamed your father would be. Just stay at the mansion and study. I’ll tell you about the fun stuff when I get back,” Tianniu boasted.

“Thinking it’s all play, are you? It’s not as enjoyable as you imagine,” Muniang said helplessly.

“It’s way better than listening to that old master talk,” Lu Qi’er whispered conspiratorially to Muniang with a wink.

Muniang smiled at the childishness of kids but looked up and noticed the absence of Qingmei, so she asked about her. Lu Qi’er also seemed puzzled: “She was just here a moment ago.”

“Never mind, I brought you a few big watermelons. You can’t buy them in town now, and the regular ones haven’t even grown yet. Have them to ease your cravings. I’ll be going now,” Muniang said straightforwardly.

As soon as Lu Qi’er heard there was food, she became happy and immediately agreed.

After Muniang left with Tianniu, a petite figure slowly emerged from the corner, her eyes filled with desolation.

Muniang had inquired before; the biggest theatre troupe in Chatu Town was the Mei Team. For convenience, Muniang had decided to go directly to that theatre troupe to discuss the cooperation.