She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 181 - 180 Your Granddaughter Is Not Easy to Marry Off

Chapter 181: Chapter 180 Your Granddaughter Is Not Easy to Marry Off

Qi Yourong swallowed a large bite of egg-wrapped meat and nodded, "That’s true. But brother, why on earth won’t Ye Zi agree to borrow the silver from Sixth Master Rong? From what you’ve said, Sixth Master Rong is willing to lend the silver for our second brother’s family to build their house. Even if the Second Branch family doesn’t pay it back, I imagine he won’t go after them for it."

While dining and listening to the gossip, Lady Zhang chuckled with a "puh" laugh, covering her mouth as she said, "Why on earth would anyone willingly lend their real gold and silver to an abandoned wife? Isn’t that obvious? Ye Zi refuses to borrow, but it’s just for show; in the end, she’ll still take their money, the kind you don’t have to pay back."

With a "smack", Lady Wang slammed her chopsticks down on the table, angrily saying, "Younger sister-in-law, you might as well take your daughters-in-law home. Your granddaughter is still young and doesn’t understand the filthy talk of Dongzi’s wife, but I have Meizi at home, a girl ready to be married off. Do you mean to say that, in your eyes, it’s alright to welcome this sort of harm just because she’s not your own flesh and blood?"

The faces of Madam Song and Madam Pang and her mother-in-law turned sour immediately, with Madam Pang’s face drooping so much that she even forgot to serve her son.

The faces of Qi Yougui and his family members also looked displeased, and Meizi’s face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Lady Wang turned to Qi Yougui and said, "Old man, our family doesn’t have the backbone of your younger brother’s family. We still want to cling to the Second Branch family to seek a good future for ourselves and for our children. Lady Zhang says such things in our presence, but we cannot bear this responsibility. As the old woman sees it, our family should also reduce contact with your younger brother’s family, lest we get dragged down by them and fail to gain the favour of the Second Branch family."

Qi Yougui’s face was grim as he looked at Qi Yourong and Madam Song. After a long while, he sent Meizi out to boil water and then spoke, "Younger brother, my wife might be speaking out of anger, but since your daughter-in-law dares to say such things in front of you and your wife, it seems you must agree with this perspective."

"As the saying goes, ’catch a couple in adultery, catch a thief with the goods,’" Qi Yougui stared at Lady Zhang and asked, "Did you see Ye Zi behaving improperly? Where? When?"

Although Ye Zi sometimes acted forthright, her words and actions were always aboveboard. Plus, with her own second brother setting an example, if Ye Zi were not good, his temper surely wouldn’t have allowed it.

Lady Zhang mumbled, not daring to speak, but her demeanor made it clear she wasn’t admitting she was wrong, just that she dared not say it.

Furious, Lady Wang said, "Dongzi’s wife, if you have something to say, then say it. Don’t let us wrongly accuse you for nothing."

Lady Zhang rolled her eyes secretly, defiantly saying, "Things like that are done behind people’s backs; how could anyone see it happen?"

Lady Wang was nearly furious enough to pass out. The one targeted by Lady Zhang was really unlucky—just by this sort of reasoning, one could be presumed guilty. How formidable indeed.

Qi Yougui was also indignant. Setting down his chopsticks, he commanded Lady Wang, "I’ve finished eating. Clear away the meal. Wrap up all the food on this table and in the kitchen, and send it all to the third brother’s house."

Turning back, he said to Qi Yourong, "Your elder sister-in-law is right; our family is still counting on Ye Zi to guide the children to a better future. As for our two families, aside from exchange of festival greetings, let’s not interact any further. We don’t have your backbone, and as for Ye Zi, we simply cannot afford to provoke her."

"No, brother..." Qi Yourong tried to speak, but was interrupted by Qi Yougui, "Go on, no need to say anymore. Your daughter-in-law indeed is formidable, we dare not provoke her even more."

The two families got up in a clamor, some attending to tasks, others to conversation. Madam Song, wanting to salvage something, whispered to the more approachable Qi Yougui together with Qi Yourong.

Lady Zhang, while tidying up the dining table, moved closer to Lady Han, and the two whispered to each other with heads almost touching.

Lady Wang, with a sweep of her hand, threw a bunch of chopsticks in front of Lady Han, exploding in front of them and scattering everywhere.

Lady Wang scolded, "Mother of Shunzi, look at the trouble you’ve caused. Perfectly good business of your son Ershun has been ruined; do you feel that it’s not yet enough, not satisfied? As his mother, are you actually hoping for the day when the county government office’s runners smash Chengzi and Shunzi’s stalls too, so that Shunzi has to come back to farming, and you’ll be completely at ease?"

Lady Han’s face instantly changed, and she looked towards Ershun.

Ershun, who had become much thinner, silently glanced at her, lowered his head, and helped Lady Xu carry a vegetable basin to the kitchen.

...

Cheung Wusi walked back in silence, and once inside the courtyard, he pulled Qi Younian into the tent, instructing Wong Qiao, "Ah Qiao, keep watch outside, and if someone comes, give us a signal."

Qi Younian waved dismissively at Ye Xinyan, "It’s fine, go on with your tasks," he followed Cheung Wusi into the tent.

The two sat across the low table from each other, and Cheung Wusi eagerly asked, "Big Brother, what’s the story behind your Ye Zi, how come she can stand up to the county magistrate and The Leader of the Family with such ease and even gain the upper hand? Don’t think about fooling me, that Sixth Master Rong, he doesn’t look like an ordinary person, no less imposing than any general or official we’ve seen before."

Qi Younian shook his head with a chuckle, "I’m not intentionally keeping it from you, there are just some things I can’t tell you. Ye Zi comes from a prominent family in the capital, but due to the mistakes she made at her husband’s home, she couldn’t stay there anymore. After the divorce, she fled the capital with her personal maid. Lord Jiang and Sixth Master Rong are old acquaintances of Ye Zi’s family, though they weren’t very close in the past, which is why they keep their distance now, but looking after Ye Zi is certainly not a problem," he explained.

Cheung Wusi’s eyes widened in shock, "A prominent family from the capital, that means a very distinguished household, right?"

Qi Younian, resigned, replied, "Haven’t I told you? It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, honestly, now is not the time to discuss this. It’s best that you and Ah Qiao know nothing about it. Ye Zi lacks the capricious temperament of a large family’s member; she’s easy to get along with, so just think of her as a clever and clever ordinary child."

Cheung Wusi clicked his tongue, staring at Qi Younian and exclaimed, "Big Brother, you really dare to say, is there such an ordinary child?" Saying this, he laughed himself, "Forget it, let’s consider it a blessing from heaven to compensate Big Brother for the rough life. With Ye Zi’s spiritual energy, I’m afraid a second one can’t be found anywhere in the world. Having such a granddaughter by your side, you could not be blessed more."

Qi Younian said, "That’s why I was thinking, while Lord Jiang is in office, to build up our construction industry. If we can establish ourselves and stand on our own feet in these three years, it would also mean leaving a decent legacy for the family and descendants. Especially for Ye Zi, her family has officially declared her deceased, she can’t return anymore. I want to amass a decent dowry for her, so she could remarry into a good family, which wouldn’t waste this special bond between us," he continued.

Cheung Wusi shook his head, "Big Brother, your granddaughter is not going to be easy to marry off." Qi Younian looked at him, and he went on, "Where can you find a family that matches your clever and sagacious granddaughter? With her capabilities, what man can truly hold her?"

Qi Younian also worried, "That’s exactly what I’m concerned about; sigh, let’s wait and see," he sighed.

Cheung Wusi picked up a small, flaky pastry from the plate in front of him and said, "Just for Ye Zi’s ability to support a family business, which could definitely make a family prosper, it all depends on which family will have such good fortune in the end."

As he spoke, he popped the pastry into his mouth, savoring the rich unusual milk flavor that spread in his mouth.

After a while, Cheung Wusi lamented, "Old Zhang, a crude man all my life, never imagined that half-buried in earth, I’d still enjoy such delicate blessings following Big Brother. To try such refined pastries, such exquisite tastes, it’s something even in my dreams I never thought I’d have. If a business like this wouldn’t thrive, even I, Old Zhang, would feel unworthy."

Having said that, still not satisfied, he picked up another piece and threw it into his mouth.