She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 180 - 179 Why is your mouth so cheap?

Chapter 180: Chapter 179 Why is your mouth so cheap?

When Qi Yougui got home, Nanny Liu and three other servant women and maids had already left, leaving only his own old wife and his son and daughter-in-law to tidy up the remaining things.

Speaking of remaining things, it was just about straightening up the banquet that had been dismantled in the main house, along with the tables, stools, bowls, and dishes used by the retinue of county officials and servants for dining. Since there were many people eating, a lot of items had been borrowed from neighbors, and they had to be cleaned and returned afterward.

The children in the family had been kept busy in a corner by Lady Wang all along. Only now, when the guests had all left, did they have time to come out, reheat the food, and have this belated lunch.

As Qi Yougui walked further inside, he couldn’t help but notice that there were still a few people seated in the main house. Preparing for lunch, aside from his own family members, there were also all the adults and children from the Third Branch family.

When Lady Wang saw Qi Yougui return, she hurried over to him. Without even going inside, she anxiously asked, "We all didn’t dare to go near the main house, not knowing what the Magistrate Sir discussed with you all?"

As he walked, Qi Yougui replied, "Where would we get the chance to speak with the officials and gentlemen? Only Er and Ye Zi managed to speak with them. Er’s blood brother is no ordinary person either; he responded to the County Magistrate’s questions with composure, none of the anxiety you’d see in farm folks like us."

By the time Qi Yougui said these words, he had already entered the main hall of the main house.

When Qi Yourong heard his elder brother mention Cheung Wusi, he immediately became annoyed and said, "Big brother, how could you tolerate that barbarian entering our home? He fought with me, your brother, remember? You should have kicked him out right away!"

"That was the County Magistrate who had summoned him for questioning; how could I have a say in it?" Qi Yougui glared at him and retorted as he started to take off his shoes and climb onto the kang bed, "If you had behaved more peaceably, none of this would have happened. Just can’t keep your mouth shut, can you? Would it kill you to hold back some unpleasant remarks?"

Seeing Qi Yougui climb onto the kang, Madam Song hurriedly slid down from the side and followed up on Qi Yougui’s reproach, complaining, "That’s right. We used to get along just fine with Second Brother’s family until my old man stirred up trouble, pushing things to the point where we can’t even associate with them anymore. Big brother, please talk to Second Brother for us. We’re still brothers, connected by a kinship others don’t share. Let’s not let minor issues ruin the harmony with our kin."

Now, people from the Second Branch family looked at them as if they were strangers. And with their household now flanked by cold-faced servants from other big families, there were simply no opportunities to get closer, even if they wanted to.

Qi Yougui said irritably, "Do you think I haven’t spoken about it? Yourong, and you and your family, who among you acts like you want to get along well with others? There’s no need to mention Yourong; every time we gather together, if he doesn’t criticize Er for being unfilial and not providing for his parents, he feels unsatisfied. Then there are your two sons and daughters-in-law,"

Qi Yougui gave an angry glance at each member of the Third Branch family’s two couples and continued, "You gossip about Second Branch family’s faults behind their backs, making a joke of Ye Zi, saying she mingles among a crowd of men all day, not behaving like a proper woman, not doing decent things..."

Qi Yougui pointed accusingly at the members of the Third Branch family while speaking, "There are plenty of gossipy women in the village already. Do you think Second Branch family are all fools, not knowing what you’re saying? They simply can’t be bothered with you."

Standing on the ground, Lady Zhang was still indignant and argued, "People always say, if you stand straight, you don’t fear a crooked shadow. If Ye Zi were upright in her affairs, what reason would she have to be afraid of people’s gossip?"

As Lady Wang stepped through the door, holding a plate of food, she sneered, "There’s also a saying that spit can drown a person. Your family, being blood relatives with First and Second Branches, if even you start saying that Ye Zi is not behaving like a proper woman, those who originally didn’t believe such gossip might be swayed just because they think you know the inside story.

It’s better for them to ignore your family. At least some people will give it a second thought, wondering if your accusations are out of spite due to bad relations between your families. If Second Branch still remained close with you despite these accusations, wouldn’t that just confirm Ye Zi’s supposed guilt?"

Madam Song opened her mouth but couldn’t utter half a sentence in her defense.

Yourong, without a care in the world, peered at the dish Lady Wang brought in, drooling over it as he said, "I’ve been starving since noon when I saw that unfamiliar old woman servant from Second Brother’s house leading a cart over here, unloading a lot of delicious food, the kind our farmer folk wouldn’t usually splurge on, even for holidays."

After inspecting the food dishes, she said to Lady Wang, "Eldest sister-in-law, we are one family, you must not hide secrets from us. I watched with my own eyes as so many items were unloaded, plenty of food indeed; those people can’t possibly consume it all."

Facing Qi Yourong like this, Lady Wang was also helpless, "Let your sister-in-law go to the kitchen and watch over it; as for today’s leftover food, your family can take half."

Madam Xu, Lady Han, and Meizi were just bringing the heated dishes to the table.

Hearing Lady Wang’s words, Lady Zhang immediately stopped Qi Yourong who was about to pick up her chopsticks, turning to Madam Song, she said, "Mother, our family still has many businesses incomplete. Why don’t we take our meals back home, eat quickly, and then we can start work early?"

Madam Song seemed very tempted by her daughter-in-law’s proposal.

Lady Wang showed a look of disdain—it must be because she thought the main house had more people and was afraid her own family would suffer a loss.

Qi Yourong, however, spoke up, "That won’t do, I still need to ask whether Magistrate Sir has promised any benefits to Big Brother’s and Second Brother’s families. We’ll speak after asking."

Lady Wang got impatient and said, "What’s the final decision going to be? Come up with a definite plan. My family has been busy since morning, we haven’t even had a sip of water or a bite of rice."

"We’ll eat at Big Brother’s house," Qi Yourong decided, then turned around and berated Madam Song, "You foolish woman, don’t you know what you’re pondering every day? Would Big Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law let our family suffer?"

Seeing Qi Yourong speak like this, not everything was a blur to her, it seemed.

Lady Wang suddenly smiled and said to Lady Zhang, "Dongzi’s wife, although my family has many children, most of them work outside and there are not many at home. Niece-in-law doesn’t need to worry there won’t be enough food."

Both Madam Song and Lady Zhang had displeased expressions. It was precisely because the main house got along well with the Second Branch family that they now had these benefits, with four children earning silver in the county town.

As for Madam Pang, she always kept the attitude of staying out of matters that didn’t concern her, not making a sound, just holding her own son, ready to start eating at any moment, ensuring her son would have a good meal.

The two old masters and the sons from each family were seated on the kang. Although Qi Yougui had sat through a meal with Jinrong and others, he had hardly eaten much. He was the first to pick up his chopsticks.

At the table set on the ground, Lady Wang, Madam Song, along with the daughters-in-law and children from both families, also began to pick up their chopsticks and eat.

Under Qi Yourong’s relentless questioning, Qi Yougui briefly recounted the conversations that Jiang Yifan and Jinrong had had, including the earlier and later parts.

While eating, Qi Yourong lamented that such delicious food, without a little wine to boost the enjoyment, wasn’t perfect, and he couldn’t hide his regret in saying, "If Sixth Master Rong and County Magistrate have grown close with Second Brother’s family, why haven’t they promised any benefits? Such a good opportunity, and only a nice meal to show for it, truly a waste of a chance."

Qi Yougui, annoyed, said, "Your shallow understanding, what benefits could you see? Not to mention that Ye Zi responded to Lord Jiang and Sixth Master Rong without losing any ground. Just consider the words that Lord Jiang said in public—who would dare to find fault with your Second Brother’s family now? These kinds of benefits are already great enough."