Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 403 - 403 404 Retribution_1

Chapter 403: Chapter 404 Retribution_1 Chapter 403: Chapter 404 Retribution_1 Qinghe laughed and said, “You really are thoughtful, but you’ve been so busy these days. How did you even find the time to fuss over these things? I’ve heard you’ve been running between the Embroidery House and the opera house lately, and you hardly have any spare time.”

“How could I neglect such an important day as your wedding? I can set aside everything else. Being busy all the time isn’t fun, right? Whatever is left can wait—nothing’s running away!”

Qinghe smiled, resigned, “Alright, alright, you always have a reason for everything. I just can’t win an argument with you.”

“And yet you still insist on being stubborn with me!” Muniang snorted.

Qinghe playfully began to tickle Muniang, “Look at you—getting all cocky because I complimented you. Are you going to take it and run with it, huh?”

Muniang and Qinghe were laughing and playing when Qingya came in and said with a smile, “Lady Qinghe, better stop the ruckus. Master Zeng has sent over Lady Qinghe’s bridal gown. Let’s have a look.”

Muniang immediately stopped and quickly took the gown that Qingya was carrying on a tray, clicking her tongue in appreciation, “Zeng Gang really put in a lot of effort. This wedding dress looks quite beautiful. What do you think?”

Qinghe blushed, “If you think it looks nice, then it must be nice. I think it’s pretty good as well.”

Muniang teased, “Oh, you call this pretty good? Seems like you’re not really satisfied. Maybe we should have Zeng Gang take it back for alterations.”

As she said this, she was about to call someone, but Qinghe quickly stopped her and gave her a light glare, “Who said I’m not satisfied? I really like it!”

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized that Muniang was just teasing her, and she embarrassedly began to tickle Muniang again, “You’re always making fun of me.”

Muniang laughed merrily, “I apologize, okay? Here you are about to get married and still so shy!”

Qinghe was puzzled indeed. She had already been married once; what hadn’t she experienced? Yet faced with this again, Qinghe felt a sense of being a bride anew.

Qinghe began to laugh, “Maybe this is because I view this marriage as another new beginning. Muniang, the feeling I have this time is completely different from the last. When I was about to marry Qiao Yuanzhen, I felt anxious and uneasy deep down, but this time…” Qinghe said, breaking into a smile of happiness.

Muniang was also full of joy. Qinghe was her best friend in this era; seeing her emerge from hardship to happiness naturally made her happier than anyone else.

Suddenly, Muniang seemed to remember something and asked, “What about Zeng Gang? He brought the bridal dress here, but why did he not come in?”

Qingya responded, “It’s customary to avoid suspicion before the wedding, so Master Zeng left after delivering the items.”

Muniang was astonished; he really was earnest: “He hasn’t been around in a month, has he?”

She had been preoccupied with the affairs at the opera house for the entire month and hadn’t really noticed.

Qinghe nodded, “Of course not, it’s the rule.”

Muniang felt ashamed; these honest folks ah, before Yu Ze got married, he would climb over the wall every night to see her secretly, which was extremely shameless!

Muniang pretended to sigh with regret, “Ah, what a pity, Zeng Gang clearly knew he couldn’t meet her, yet he insisted on coming in person, probably missing her a lot. But unfortunately, he cannot see her and can only look at the house and long for her.”

Qinghe chuckled, “You sure have a lot of ideas!”

Muniang blinked, “Isn’t that so?”

The wedding day arrived quickly, and Li Cheng’s house was bustling, entertaining most of the village. There wasn’t enough seating for everyone, so tables were simply set up outside in the yard; after all, there’s plenty of open space in the countryside!

The whole house was filled with jubilance. Muniang was busy helping to cook, and whenever someone laid eyes on her, they would tease, “Yo, is Muniang the head chef today? I haven’t eaten Muniang’s cooking in a long time; it would really be a treat to have some now!”

Muniang smiled, “Rest assured, at least half of the dishes were made by me, plentiful and tasty. Everyone, just dig in!”

“Well, that’s great! We won’t hold back then!” Everyone laughed heartily.

Muniang exchanged a few jokes and then turned back to the kitchen, where Yu Ze was helping her add firewood. Whenever Muniang cooked, she always cared about controlling the heat, whether it was during her clumsy moments or when she was clear-headed, they cooperated well; naturally, if Muniang was in charge of the kitchen, Er Liang would help.

The other women in the kitchen looked on with envy, saying that gentlemen should stay away from the kitchen. If this man was not a gentleman, then the other men in the village were simply not men at all. He could even personally take care of tasks such as adding firewood; they quietly lamented why they hadn’t encountered such a good man.

But looking at a woman like Muniang, they really couldn’t compare. Not to mention her good looks, the key was her capability. With her own strength, she had brought such good days to their family, a skill that most women couldn’t even come close to. Indeed, a certain type of horse matches a certain type of saddle.

On the way to the village, everyone discussed how well Qinghe had married this time. After all, Zeng Gang’s betrothal gifts took two lifts to carry! While it might not mean much in wealthy families, for their village households, it was a significant amount.

When Qiao Lianhua heard others’ envy for Li Qinghe, it made her furious, and she burst out cursing, “After all, she’s just a twice-married woman and a cast-off wife. She’s the worn shoe that our Qiao family didn’t want anymore, what’s there to show off about? She even has a child in tow. If it were me, I’d rather stay single all my life than do something as low as remarrying!”

Everyone looked at her with a strange gaze, saying sarcastically, “You’re even hoping to remarry? You’re an old maid, and nobody wants you. Now you see someone getting remarried and doing so well, you’re green with envy? You’re unwilling? Then go find someone yourself!”

Qiao Lianhua was choked up, “You!”

But the person didn’t pay her any attention anymore and continued, “It’s all fate, after all. Look at the Qiao family, everyone’s fate is so poor, perhaps it’s the retribution for driving away Lin Mother and Daughter. It seems Heaven does have eyes after all. We really shouldn’t commit too many bad deeds; otherwise, retribution will come sooner or later. Just look at your Qiao family now, it truly chills one’s heart.”

Qiao Lianhua trembled with anger but couldn’t find any reason to refute the person’s words. The Qiao family was indeed experiencing retribution. There was no need to mention Qiao Yuanzhen, who was now in jail, and the Qiao Parents were now living in miserable dependency. Things weren’t much better in her own household either. Her brother’s wife, Xia Bing, was barren and wouldn’t let her brother find another woman. She made a fuss with crying, creating drama, and threatening to hang herself, causing the whole house to be in chaos. She was nearly nineteen and still unmarried, and wasn’t everyone in the village snickering behind her back?

At this thought, Qiao Lianhua felt a chill down her spine. Could there really be such a thing as retribution?