Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 666 - 666 667 The Grand Finale (Part 1)_1

Chapter 666: Chapter 667: The Grand Finale (Part 1)_1 Chapter 666: Chapter 667: The Grand Finale (Part 1)_1 Three to five young servants respectfully carried trays out from the inner room and placed them on the table. These were the newest and most expensive pieces of jewelry in the shop, unaffordable for ordinary folks and not displayed outside. Only when someone of status arrived would the shopkeeper have them brought out.

Muniang looked around and took a liking to two silver bracelets, noting their exquisite craftsmanship. Since the bracelets could stretch, they could fit even the slenderest of wrists.

“Xiaobai, Xiaohua, come here, do you like these?” Muniang called the two children over and held the bracelets up for them to see.

Xiaohua giggled with delight, and Xiaobai too stared with wide, round eyes at the shiny bracelets on his hand.

The shopkeeper hastily fawned over them, “Your daughter and young master both seem to like them. My lady, if you find them agreeable, why not take a pair? These bracelets are a matching set, and I think they would suit your two children perfectly.”

Muniang smiled and put the bracelets on the two children; they really did fit ingeniously. Pleased, Muniang said, “Qingya, pay for them. We’ll take these.”

“Understood.”

Just as Qingya was about to take out her purse to pay, suddenly a sharp female voice exclaimed, “Who is this ignorant thing that dares to snatch our Miss Jin’s items!”

Muniang lifted her gaze and saw, sure enough, that misfortune lay on a narrow road—it was impossible not to bump into an enemy when she left the house. Who else could this person be but Jin Qingqing?

The young maid had initially shouted without seeing who it was, assuming she could dominate the situation, but when she recognized it was Qiao Muniang, she instantly froze in fear, shrinking her neck. She wanted to apologize but was also afraid her own mistress wouldn’t forgive her, leaving her desperately awkward.

This silver shop was a frequent haunt for Jin Qingqing, who always had new items set aside by the shopkeeper for her to choose from first. Suddenly seeing someone pick something before her naturally infuriated her, and realizing that someone was Qiao Muniang only fanned the flames of her anger.

As soon as she entered, she confronted the shopkeeper, “Shopkeeper Chen, you really know how to disregard me more and more. I haven’t even seen the new goods, and it’s her turn now?”

Shopkeeper Chen awkwardly replied, “Miss Jin hasn’t been here for quite some time, and I thought that…”

Jin Qingqing glared and said, “Thought what? I’ll have you know, even the things I’ve discarded are definitely not for this woman to touch!”

Qingya retorted angrily, “Miss Jin, watch your tongue. Our Princess is not someone you can insult at will!”

Shopkeeper Chen broke out in a cold sweat. He had thought Miss Jin was formidable enough, but he hadn’t anticipated someone even more formidable, a Princess? She had nobility in her family, after all. Now, with these two quarreling, what was he to do?

Shopkeeper Chen had truly had enough of Jin Qingqing’s temper. She couldn’t stand using things that others had “picked over,” so every time new goods arrived, he dared not sell them to anyone else, waiting for Miss Jin to come.

However, this time Jin Qingqing hadn’t come for a long time, and moreover, rumors had been spreading throughout the Capital that Miss Jin from the Jin Family was going to marry that fifty-year-old of Marquis Ningyuan. Miss Jin didn’t want to marry, making a fuss by neither eating nor drinking at home. In just a few days, she would have to marry. He originally thought she wouldn’t be in the mood to pick out jewelry anymore, which is why he put this batch of new jewelry up for sale, but as luck would have it, he unfortunately ran into her.

But the rumor was that Jin Qingqing didn’t want to marry in the slightest, wishing she could just die instead. So why on earth was she in the mood to come out and browse jewelry today?

He had no idea of the tactics employed by the Jin Family. Now, Jin Qingqing had absolutely no way out: she either had to marry or die. Those were the harsh words laid down by Mr. Jin. Other than resigning herself to fate, Jin Qingqing had no other choice. Today, having barely managed to regain her composure, she came out to distract herself, only to run straight into Qiao Muniang. How infuriating.

Jin Qingqing scoffed coldly, “When did I ever curse her? I was just talking about certain women who overestimate themselves. Are you in such a hurry to take it personally?”

“You!” Qingya was so angry she was almost incoherent.

Muniang stood up, led Xiaobai and Xiaohua behind her, and then spoke in an indifferent tone, “Miss Jin need not say these things to disgust me. Whoever is overestimating themselves knows it well. It’s rather because Miss Jin chased after someone who didn’t reciprocate, and now harbors resentment towards me in her heart. Since you’re going to be married now, why be so mean when you see me?”

Jin Qingqing’s eyes nearly shot flames. She dared to mention the past? If it weren’t for that matter, how could her, Jin Qingqing’s, reputation in the Capital have plummeted, leaving her still without many families willing to come ask for her hand in marriage to this day? If she had married off earlier, how could she have become the family’s sacrificial piece?!

Muniang ignored Jin Qingqing’s murderous gaze and laughed lightly, “Oh, right, speaking of getting married, I have yet to congratulate Miss Jin. Though Marquis Ningyuan may be a bit older, he surely is mature and steady, and will certainly treat Miss Jin with tenderness and care. Not only will Miss Jin feel the gentleness of a husband, but she’ll also get to experience a father’s warmth. Oh, perhaps it should be ‘grandfather’s.’

“You wretch!” Jin Qingqing tried to slap her, but Muniang deftly dodged aside, her tone growing colder, “What’s done is done, what good does blaming me do? It’s all your own doing!”

Having said that, she ignored the difficulties imposed by her and walked out with the children, only to hear Jin Qingqing let out a cold laugh, “Why do you stand there mocking me from such a high place? Do you think you’re going to fare any better? Are you aware of General Yu’s current situation? I heard he is about to be surrounded and attacked; when he dies, poor beautiful young you will have to be widowed, tsk tsk, with two lovely children to boot. I guess you won’t be lonely in your latter years.”

Muniang’s head exploded with a bang, and she looked at Jin Qingqing in horror, shrieking, “Where did you get this information?!”

“Where? My father just went to the palace last night, urgently summoned by the Crown Prince. He said there might be trouble at the border, and they need to hurry to appoint a new army commander-in-chief, because your husband, ah, seems like he’s nearly unable to hold on. Oh no, that news came five days ago; by now, he’s probably cleaned out,” Jin Qingqing laughed maniacally, seeming content as long as she saw Qiao Muniang in more misery than herself.

Nanny Li stepped forward and slapped her, shouting sharply, “How dare you curse the great General of our Daqian Dynasty to death? Do you wish to see our nation trampled by enemy forces?”

Jin Qingqing bit her lip in frustration, well aware that such words indeed should not be spoken recklessly. She had been too impulsive, speaking too bluntly earlier, but seeing Qiao Muniang’s pale little face, she felt an exceptional sense of satisfaction.

Qingya hurriedly supported Muniang, “Princess, don’t listen to her nonsense, the Prince Heir, he…”