She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 197 - 196: The Bully Effect

Chapter 197: Chapter 196: The Bully Effect

Madam Pang cradled her son as she sat on the small round stool, offering him a chicken wing tip from the kitchen, her voice soft as she said, "Hui’er, eat this, it’s meaty and delicious."

Qi Conghui’s eyes lit up at the sight of the chicken, and he quickly grabbed it and sent it towards his mouth.

On this side, Qi Jia’s voice had also drawn Madam Pang’s attention.

Qi Jia, pulling Qi Sanshun along as they walked outside, kept saying, "Come on, Brother Sanshun, I’ll show you the tangram puzzle Third Uncle Wong made for me. It’s really fun. You can make lots of patterns with it."

It was one thing to play with toys, but that wretched child even pulled out a paper-wrapped parcel from his pocket, opened it, and handed it towards Qi Sanshun: "This is for you. It’s cheese balls made by Nanny Liu. They contain cheese inside and are sweet and fragrant."

Qi Jia was passing the paper-wrapped parcel to Qi Sanshun just as he walked by Madam Pang.

This was the first time since Qi Jia had left the third branch that Madam Pang was so close to him. She eyed the fine cloth clothes he was wearing. Not only were they brand new, but the entire front of the shirt was embroidered with fine cloud patterns, and even the edges of the pockets bore embroidery in the same color.

Madam Pang watched with resentment as Qi Jia walked closer and closer, seeing how that wretched child’s originally sallow face had become more delicate and smoother than her own child’s, how the previously dull eyes had become dark and bright, and how the detestable child who would tremble with fear at the mere sight of her was now so close yet so arrogant and content that he didn’t even spare her a glance, as if she didn’t exist.

In the instant that the two children neared her, Madam Pang became dizzy with frustration, and she reached out, making a grab at Qi Jia.

Qi Sanshun had always been quick-witted, positioned between Madam Pang and Qi Jia. As her hand came snatching, he instinctively pulled Qi Jia back without holding on tight to the paper parcel, stepping in front of Qi Jia and looking at Madam Pang in surprise.

"Fourth Aunt, what are you doing?" Qi Sanshun asked, glancing at the small round sweets scattered on the ground and then looking up at Madam Pang.

Nanny Liu, having been instructed by Ye Xinyan to watch over Qi Jia, was already heading their way the moment Madam Pang reached out.

"Young Master, are you hurt anywhere?" Nanny Liu asked, holding Qi Jia’s small shoulders and looking him up and down.

Qi Jia, leaning against Nanny Liu, glanced at Madam Pang with bright eyes. After only a glance, he withdrew his gaze and said to Nanny Liu, "No, Brother Sanshun was in front of me, Fourth Aunt didn’t catch me."

Nanny Liu bent down to straighten Qi Jia’s clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles caused by the children’s play, then slowly straightened up, shifting her feet to deliberately crush several of the sweets, and asked Madam Pang, "You’re Madam Pang, the daughter-in-law of the Qi Family Third Branch, right?"

Madam Pang was first caught off guard by Qi Jia’s fearless and emotionless gaze, which made her heart twitch involuntarily.

Before she could recover from the twinge in her heart, Nanny Liu’s stern and regulated gaze was upon her, asking her question and making her recall how the villagers said that family servants working for the second branch of the Qi family must be greeted respectfully even by the village head and the Lizheng.

Fear rose in Madam Pang’s heart, even making her forget to stand up from the small round stool, as she instinctively hugged her young son tightly.

Nanny Liu’s gaze fell on Qi Conghui, who was in Madam Pang’s arms. It seemed to be just a moment, yet as if a long time had passed, Nanny Liu withdrew her gaze, looked at Madam Pang, and said, "Given your unique status, you should keep your distance from the Second Branch family’s Young Master in the future. When the Young Master comes near, you should move aside. Remember, the Young Master’s status is noble, not something you and your son can compare to."

Nanny Liu emphasized the words "your son" heavily, and Madam Pang, recalling the cold look Nanny Liu gave her own child and seeing the crumbs of sweets under Nanny Liu’s feet, shivered all over, hugging her child even tighter.

"Do you understand?" Nanny Liu pressed.

Madam Pang quickly nodded repeatedly, stammering her response, "Unde-understood." Seeing Nanny Liu’s still disapproving gaze, she hastily added, "I’ll keep my distance from the Young Master in the future, I remember."

Nanny Liu finally turned around, patted Qi Jia’s head, and said gently, "Go play. Young Lady has also placed some pastries with Cousin Sister Xingxing. If little master would like some, he can go there and take some." She also patted Qi Sanshun’s shoulder, praising him, "Good boy, always protecting your younger brother."

Qi Sanshun smiled with squinted eyes and led Qi Jia to fetch the Tangram puzzle.

Although there wasn’t much commotion at Madam Pang’s place, Nanny Liu’s influence was significant. As Madam Pang gave a trembling reply that satisfied Nanny Liu, everyone in the courtyard who had been paying attention to them, whether openly or secretly, breathed a sigh of relief.

Even the troublesome Lady Zhang, looking at the crushed pastry crumbs trampled by Nanny Liu, felt a shiver of cold relief as she was glad she had not caused trouble with the second branch of the Qi family or gossiped about them today.

Her gaze swept over the crumbs on the ground once more; they were just a few small pastries, truly nothing to be scared of.

That’s what she thought, but Lady Zhang couldn’t help but shrink her neck. Forget it, forget it. Even if she envied that the third branch couldn’t take advantage of the second branch, she didn’t dare offend them. Otherwise, would her own family really end up as fragile as those few pastry crumbs, easily crushed to pieces?

Another troublesome figure, Ye Xinyan, also shrank her neck as she looked at Nanny Liu. Nanny Liu, who unexpectedly kept such a low profile, managed to have such a bullying effect just by crushing a few pastry crumbs; she must have gone through many storms of conflict in this back house.

Ye Xinyan’s imagination ran wild, wondering if Nanny Liu could be someone Jinrong’s mother sent from the treacherous imperial palace to assist Jinrong.

With Madam Pang testing the waters, the meal shared by the three major branches of the Qi family was incredibly harmonious. It was the Qi family’s quietest, most orderly, and most proper meal in history, with the fewest incidents.

...

After the Mid-Autumn Festival came the tense period of the autumn harvest. The autumn harvest was a busy time not only for the farmers but also for Jiang Yifan, who was keen to advance further in his official career. He had gone around various villages like a Rotating Lantern, and then planned to visit Clear Water Village.

The only difference in this year’s autumn harvest was Clear Water Village. Although its cattle farm was not large, it was the place with the highest concentration of cattle breeding in the entire Yuyuan Prefecture.

Jiang Yifan had always been opposed to the cattle farm managed by Ye Xinyan, but he was clear about its importance in agricultural practices where cattle could be utilized effectively.

After visiting the other villages under his jurisdiction, Jiang Yifan led his attendants and a few subordinates straight to the cattle farm.

However, when they arrived outside the cattle farm fence, the place was eerily quiet, without the usual sight of farmers going in and out herding cattle. The large gate of the cattle farm fence was also firmly shut, and only two or three long-term workers were seen handling miscellaneous tasks and occasionally checking on the few remaining dairy cows and calves.

A runner called out to a nearby long-term worker. Seeing that the people from the government office had arrived, the worker hurriedly opened the gate to welcome them.

"The commoner greets your honor and the officials," said the worker after stepping out, bowing in a circular fashion.

"No need for formalities," Jiang Yifan waved his hand and asked, "Where are Manager Fan and Manager Cui?"

The worker responded with a hand folded in salute, "Both managers have gone to check on the leased cattle. The three of us stayed behind to watch the gate and look after the livestock."

Not far from the second branch of the Qi family, Ye Xinyan, from a distance, saw a group from the government office riding over, and among them, she spotted Jiang Yifan up front.

She hesitated for a moment but still walked toward the cattle farm.

The worker at the cattle farm exchanged a few words with Jiang Yifan, then pointed behind him and said, "Sir, Steward Qi has arrived. He is in charge of the arrangements at the cattle farm."