Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 382 - 382 383 Who is the New Master_1

Chapter 382: Chapter 383 Who is the New Master_1 Chapter 382: Chapter 383 Who is the New Master_1 “Humph, just the other day, Qiao Yuanzhen had the audacity to come back and put on airs like the Eldest Young Master, visiting his relatives. He dragged several carts full of fine goods and brought along several servants. He looked so imposing. And that Madam Zhao, strutting around like a bantam rooster, boasted about how accomplished and capable her son was. Indeed, accomplished! He thought up such a path!”

“I’ve been wondering how he suddenly became so wealthy and even got his reputation back. Turns out, this is what he was up to. He truly brought shame on his ancestors’ name for generations. It’s a good thing our village drove him out early. Otherwise, how embarrassing that would be! When others ask, saying that our village produced a Little Groom, it makes me feel so ashamed, I can barely stand it. And Qiao Yuanzhen usually acts so high and mighty, yet his skin turned out to be thicker than us country folks!”

“Isn’t that the truth? And he’s a grown man to boot! If it were me, I’d rather hang myself with a rope than do such a thing. Even the goods Qiao Yuanzhen brought back the last time he visited, I find them filthy! I really don’t know what the Qiao family has to be so proud of!”

Everyone cursed and complained in turn, and Muniang secretly covered her lips and smiled, then quietly climbed onto the carriage and left.

She thought it best not to tell Mrs. Lin about this; worried it might be more than she could handle, considering that for an extremely traditional ancient woman, such a matter was indeed overly stimulating.

Initially she was afraid Qinghe would feel pity for her former husband, but upon mentioning it, Qinghe seemed as disgusted as if she had eaten feces, filled with revulsion: “He, he, he actually did such a thing?!”

Muniang suddenly seemed to understand something. After all, Qinghe was once Qiao Yuanzhen’s wife, the woman he had shared a bed with. The idea that a man she had slept with had been with an old man, well, that thought was indeed quite provocative.

“He just wanted to seek wealth and status, what wouldn’t he do? I saw he looked quite happy about it too. Don’t you remember the smug look on his face when he returned to the village last time? He didn’t show a shred of shame!”

Qinghe said with disgust: “I now truly realize how blind I was before!” How had she ever fallen for such a man?

Muniang burst into laughter: “These are Qiao Yuanzhen’s true colors, it’s just that before, when everything was smooth sailing, there was no need for him to be pushed to that extent. He could indulge his temperament and maintain the facade of a refined gentleman to show off his status.”

Thinking back to the first time she met Qiao Yuanzhen, it was because Dashan had accidentally knocked him down while picking hawthorns on the mountain. During the dispute with the Qiao family, Qiao Yuanzhen did not utter a curse word, but presented himself with a disdainful elegance, aloof to the common squabbles of country folk.

But now, Muniang could only sneer!

Indeed, a person only reveals their true nature when pushed to the brink.

Qinghe shook her head: “I was young and ignorant back then, that’s why I made the wrong choice in a person. If I could do it all over, I would never marry such a man, not in a million years.”

Muniang laughed: “Why start over? After all, you are about to become a bride again.”

Qinghe sighed: “It’s a pity that no matter how you look at it, I’m only getting remarried. I’ve let Zeng Gang down. If I hadn’t failed so miserably in recognizing people from the start, then…”

“What are you talking about? If you hadn’t married Qiao Yuanzhen at first, you would have listened to your brother and married into Dashan’s family. How would Zeng Gang come into the picture then? And where would you find a lovely child like Xi’er? So, perhaps all of this is fate. No need to blame yourself anymore, it’s all in the past, isn’t it?”

Muniang, in truth, didn’t believe in the supernatural, but she did not want Qinghe to fall into regret over the past again, so she resorted to this notion to comfort her.

Qinghe laughed softly: “That’s true. No matter the hardship I’ve been through, having Xi’er is my greatest fortune.”

The entire Mei Garden was now caught in a wave of anxious panic, as everyone knew that the ownership of Mei Garden had changed. However, no one knew who the new master was.

Although Mrs. Luo had suffered a fall from grace, everyone was aware that Mrs. Luo’s downfall was caused by her subordinates usurping her property. As for the Servant’s Certificates of Mei Garden and the troupe of actors, no one could be certain whose hand they would end up in.

But actually, no one really held any expectations. If Mrs. Luo was of such character, could her underlings really be any kinder? What everyone feared was whether the new master would be even more brutal.

After all, they were just a group of insignificant people whose fates were tied to their Servant’s Certificates. They lived lives lowly as ants, without a glimmer of hope.

Then, a young servant rushed in, panting, “The new master has arrived! The new master has arrived!”

At that, everyone jerked up in shock, with a look of fear dawning in their eyes. Even the usually composed Zhong Yulang had a particularly serious expression. Who would hold their destiny in their hands this time?

The large doors suddenly swung open, and Muniang stepped in with slow, leisurely steps, her eyes shining with an extraordinary spirit.

The troupe of actors immediately gasped. The new master was Lady Yu?!

Zhong Yulang was so shocked he could hardly believe his eyes; he had never imagined that the new owner would be Qiao Muniang. Wasn’t it said that Mrs. Luo’s subordinates had divvied up her property? What did this have to do with Qiao Muniang?

Muniang lifted her head slightly and Qingya opened a small box in her hand, “Here are the property deeds for Mei Garden and all the Servant’s Certificates.”

Everyone clearly hadn’t yet recovered from their astonishment when they heard Muniang’s loud voice, “From today on, Mei Garden belongs to me. Do you all understand?”

Shen Dong was the first to snap out of it, shouting excitedly like a child, “Understood! We have seen the Lady!”

The rest of them followed suit, shouting out, with joy spreading across their faces. If Qiao Muniang became their mistress, their lives would undoubtedly improve drastically.

Muniang curled her lips slightly, “My rules are simple. Work honestly and sincerely, don’t play tricks on me. If you do well, there will naturally be more benefits. But if anyone dares to go against my way, I will not be lenient. If you think I am a woman and thus easy to talk to, you are welcome to try me out. I don’t mind setting an example by making a chicken out of a monkey, so everyone can see my methods.”

“Yes!”

Everyone felt a wave of embarrassment. In fact, as soon as they knew that Qiao Muniang was their new mistress, they had already guessed her methods. Otherwise, how could Mei Garden have ended up in her hands?

Muniang cast a cold glance at Zhong Yulang, “You, come with me.” With that, she turned and headed toward the private room upstairs.

The crowd couldn’t help but feel nervous for Zhong Yulang. It was clear that the Lady was about to settle scores, after all, if not for Yue Guan’er’s concealment from the Lady, how could they have been trapped by Mrs. Luo to such an extent?

Zhong Yulang pursed his lips and followed her upstairs, his heart beginning to thump with trepidation. Now that Qiao Muniang held his Servant’s Certificate, if she truly sought revenge at this moment, wouldn’t he be at her mercy?