She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 98 - 97 Uninvited Guest

Chapter 98: Chapter 97 Uninvited Guest

Qi Yougui had already settled the family matters, and the next day, Qi Shun and Qi Ercheng were added to the list of those setting up stalls in the county town. The trio, Qi Younian and the others, were only slightly surprised by Qi Shun’s involvement, and they said no more on the matter.

Ye Xinyan had made her intentions very clear the day before, and today, seeing the addition of people from the second uncle’s household, it was certain that Qi Yougui and Lady Wang had failed to deal with Lady Han. Although Ye Xinyan was not very satisfied with this outcome, she also could not allow her Great Uncle’s household to be thrown into chaos over a small rice tofu stall and lose their peace. Fortunately, time was on her side, and the days ahead for the second branch of the Qi family would become increasingly prosperous. As long as the second branch no longer dealt with Lady Han, that would be enough to shame her.

Nanny Jin helped the four youngsters from Qi family’s main branch for two more days, providing Qi Ercheng and Qi Shun with time to get acquainted with the tasks.

After packing up for the day, Nanny Jin still returned with them, only this time, all the equipment and goods on the horse-drawn carriage were delivered directly to the courtyard of Qi family’s main branch.

The equipment used for making rice tofu and baked pancakes in the Second Branch family’s courtyard, including a small stone mill, was also moved to the main branch’s courtyard, signifying that the rice tofu business was now entirely in the hands of the main branch.

Since the main branch had just started in business and did not have the silver to buy horses and carriages, the horse-drawn carriage remained temporarily in the main branch to facilitate the transportation of goods to and from the county.

Once everything was transported to Qi family’s main branch, and each item had been handed over to Lady Wang, Nanny Jin returned to clean up her own courtyard. She had just finished tidying up the now empty courtyard when an unexpected guest arrived.

Listening to the thudding footsteps, Nanny Jin looked up to see Qi Yourong and Madam Song entering the courtyard with unhappy expressions on their faces.

Nanny Jin was at a loss for words regarding Qi Yourong and his wife. The rice tofu stall did indeed earn some silver, and it’s only natural for the Third Branch family to be dissatisfied since it was given to the main branch.

However, even if they were dissatisfied, it was, after all, someone else’s property, and it’s up to them to decide whom they want to give it to. Yet this older couple appeared to be here to demand an explanation, and they were fuming with grievances. Could it be that their own master and Ye Zi owed something to his Third Branch family?

Internally criticizing, but maintaining a decent demeanor, Nanny Jin thought it best to let her own master handle this matter, as the elder from the Third Branch family, inadequate as he might be, was still Qi Younian’s close relative and it concerned the affairs of the Qi family.

Putting aside the basket she was holding, Nanny Jin smiled and approached them, "Old Master of the Third Branch, you two have arrived? Are you looking for our master? He and Ye Zi haven’t come back yet. Please come in and sit; I’ll make tea for you."

Qi Yourong, with a face full of rage, didn’t meet the person he wanted to see, so he didn’t enter the house. He stood in the courtyard pondering for a long while before angrily asking, "When will Ercheng come back? Has your rice tofu stall been given to the main branch?"

After asking, a glimmer of hope rose in his heart: "Or is it that you were too busy to manage it and handed it over to the main branch for assistance?" If it was only a matter of having the younger generation of the main branch manage it, then perhaps he would have a chance to take over the business?

Nanny Jin feigned ignorance: "You’re asking about this? I’m just a servant who helps out the main family; how would I understand these matters? You should wait for our master and Ye Zi to come back and ask them directly."

Madam Song frowned and glared at Nanny Jin, extremely annoyed.

At times like this, she claimed to be just a servant of the main family, yet a few months ago, when she took their child away, where was this servant-like demeanor?

Nanny Jin, facing their hostile glares, felt not the slightest discomfort, still politely inviting them into the house: "Please come in and sit; I’m going to light the fire and boil water." Saying this, she went to the stove to get busy.

The two of them saw that Nanny Jin wasn’t taking them seriously at all; they were furious but powerless. Looking at the sky, the sun was almost setting, and Qi Younian should have been closing up his stall, heading back soon. The courtyard was filled with a cool breeze, and they simply decided to sit on the bench, waiting for Qi Younian and Ye Xinyan.

Madam Song watched as Nanny Jin busied herself on the temporary stove that had been set up in the courtyard, all the while feeling annoyed with herself.

She had long noticed that Nanny Jin, Qi Cheng, and Qi Younian no longer came and went together but, from the gossip she’d heard from Lady Zhang and Lady Han, she only knew about Qi Younian and Ye Zi making rice tofu for the small eatery and had overlooked the true business of the Second Branch family.

Madam Song’s gaze swept over the Second Branch family’s courtyard once more, full of dilapidation. Although the yard’s doors and windows had been repaired, they were still rough and shoddy. As for the walls and roofing, they would likely struggle to keep out the winter cold.

It was precisely this shabby appearance of the Second Branch family that led her to misjudge their livelihood, believing that they were still desperately earning just enough to get by and didn’t even have the silver to repair their house. She had no idea that the Second Branch family was so cunningly hiding their silver, quietly establishing another business on the side.

Without asking, she knew the side business must be doing much better than the rice tofu stall. Otherwise, why would they give up the breakfast stand that was a steady source of income, handing it over to the main branch for free, even the equipment without asking for a penny?

Madam Song silently resolved if the Second Branch family didn’t give their rice tofu stand a share to her family, then she would make sure they gave up some benefits from their current business venture.

There, Nanny Jin was preoccupied with boiling water and cooking, while Qi Yourong and her husband, drinking the coarse tea uncommon among peasants, could taste nothing at all.

And so they passed the time until Qi Younian returned with his grandson and granddaughter.

Upon seeing Qi Yourong and her husband, Qi Jia was the one with the strongest reaction. Having been away from the third branch for over two months, everything about Qi Jia was slowly returning to normal, but seeing the two old people she had once lived under the same roof with, Qi Jia was still visibly tense and hesitated as she stepped into the courtyard.

For Ye Xinyan herself, seeing Qi Yourong and her husband didn’t affect her; it was an expected situation that brought no surprise. However, seeing them intimidate Qi Jia made her quite displeased.

As Qi Younian came forward to greet them, Ye Xinyan, with a cold face, led Qi Jia past Qi Yourong and her husband and handed Qi Jia over to Nanny Jin. At this moment, Qi Jia especially needed someone to rely on, and being protected by Nanny Jin—who had led her out of the third branch and always cared for her—would give her a greater sense of security.

Madam Song had come to seek justice, but she was snubbed by a junior, which made her feel even more displeased. How could any woman be so indecent and ignorant of manners? No wonder she was rejected by her husband’s family. With such a defiant demeanor, it would be unreasonable not to reject her.

Qi Younian and Qi Yourong, the older couple, sat on the kang bed in the outer room while Ye Xinyan emotionlessly served them tea.

Madam Song asked sternly, "What’s going on with Ye Zi? Are you unhappy to see your great-grandfather and your own brothers getting close, so you’re putting on a bad face for us to see?"

Ye Xinyan smiled faintly. Madam Song really wasn’t brainless. Just by listening to that question, there were ulterior motives, as if she was intentionally trying to disrupt the brotherly love among the Qi family’s elders.

Ye Xinyan placed the blue-rimmed coarse porcelain bowl on the kang table in front of Madam Song and said, "Great Aunt misunderstands. Qi Jiaer is too naive, not only not being close to you two elders but instead feeling timid and afraid. My niece is angry with Qi Jiaer, not with Great Uncle or Great Aunt."