??Chapter 122: Chapter 123: Hopefully, It Wasn’t You Who Did It_1
Chapter 122: Chapter 123: Hopefully, It Wasn’t You Who Did It_1
With significant strength behind his punch fueled by his refusal to see Muniang bullied, Erliang managed to knock the big master to the ground with such force that he couldn’t even get up.
The servants that Mr. Ling had brought with him were stunned, scrambling to help their master to his feet. Mr. Ling’s left cheek quickly swelled into a large lump, making him look ridiculous, and he quivered with anger, “How presumptuous! You rebel, do you know who I am? How dare you ‘dig the ground on Tai Sui’s head’!”
Erliang was not afraid, “I don’t care who you are! Whoever dares to bully my wife, I swear I’ll throw you to the wolves on the mountains—believe it or not!”
Muniang quickly pulled Erliang back, knowing that this was not the ti for fierce words, and sincerely apologized to Mr. Ling, “I’m sorry, we were reckless just now. Please, Mr. Ling, don’t take offense. You see, the screen is now ruined. We understand that you are in urgent need of it, probably as a gift, and can’t afford any delays. It’s only right for you to be angry now, but we truly cannot co up with ten thousand Silver Coins. A person of your standing surely wouldn’t miss this small amount of money and wouldn’t bother arguing with commoners like us. Why not give us a few more days? We will definitely find a way to rush out a new screen for you.”
But Mr. Ling’s expression didn’t improve, “Hmm, you an to say that you do not have money to pay
now, nor do you have goods to hand over, so I must abide by your arrangents? You’ll scramble sothing crude together in a few days to fool ? Do you realize the importance of this screen?!”
Muniang began to feel a headache coming on, biting her lip, “So, what would you like us to do now?”
“What would I like?” Mr. Ling, touching his swollen cheek, his eyes brimming with malice, stated, “Hand over ten thousand Silver Coins willingly and promptly. Otherwise, in three days, I’ll personally send soone for you. You’d better be ready to be sold into a brothel!”
Seeing the veins on Erliang’s forehead threatening to burst, Mr. Ling shrank back, hastily retreating towards the carriage, like he was afraid Erliang would co after him and beat him. On his way out, he didn’t forget to shout, “Don’t think I’m scared of you! I’ll rember today’s vendetta. If you cannot pay up in ti, I’ll directly report to the authorities and have the constables co to arrest you!”
Then he had the driver whip the horses and made a swift departure.
Erliang trembled with rage, his fists clenched so tight. Muniang was also extrely vexed; Mr. Ling was proving to be unreasonably difficult, with not the slightest room for negotiation. Where could she co up with ten thousand Silver Coins at such short notice?
Even now, she was only modestly wealthy; the fruits and vegetables were far from ripe, and it wasn’t ti to sell them for money. Their primary inco usually ca from selling small vegetable goods, barely making three hundred Silver Coins a month. Ten thousand Silver Coins was an astronomical amount.
“My love, don’t worry, I will protect you. I definitely won’t let anyone bully you. If he dares to co in three days, I, I, I will kick them out!” said Erliang, gripping Muniang’s hand tight, as if afraid she might slip away.
Muniang managed a strained smile. Kick them out—one maybe, but how could he take on a group?
On the other hand, Qiao Lianhua watched with great satisfaction, feeling the sweet spread of vengeance in her heart. Qiao Muniang, today it’s your turn! She would be overjoyed if that sly wretch did get sold to a brothel!
“Oh, what a karmic retribution. This trouble keeps coming one after another. Ten thousand Silver Coins? Not in three days, three years, or even a lifeti, could you touch that amount of money. Look how angry Mr. Ling is; if he really sends soone after three days, you’ll be sold into a brothel for sure,” said Qiao Lianhua, reveling in their misfortune without a hint of concealnt.
Xiangcai gave her a stern look, “How can you talk like that? After all, you two are cousins. Seeing your sister in trouble, you wish for her to suffer? How can you have such a dark heart, young girl?”
Qiao Lianhua snorted coldly, “I’m heartless? Is she not even more so? She stealthily makes a fortune, but does she give her sister a single penny? Even my reputation was ruined by her. Now that she’s suffering like this, she got what she deserved!”
“Ha! What do you an she ruined your reputation? Was it her who forced you to seduce Mr. Wu? You did sothing shaless and you still don’t want people to talk about it?!” Xiangcai was not one to be trifled with, and she retorted sharply.
As soon as Qiao Lianhua saw her scandal being brought up once again in public, she felt both angry and annoyed, her face burning hot, “You! You! You.”
But Xiangcai ignored her, walking straight to Muniang, “Muniang, sister doesn’t have much money to help you, but there’s a savings of ten taels of silver at ho. If you need it, just co to . Sister isn’t like those with a black heart and lungs; although I can’t help much, I can’t stand by and watch you suffer.”
Her words were warm at first but then turned into a mockery of Qiao Lianhua’s black heart and lungs, which infuriated Qiao Lianhua even more.
Most of the villagers were simple folks, all living together in Tupo Village. Naturally, they wouldn’t stand by and do nothing. Seeing Xiangcai taking the lead, they each said, “Our family also has so savings, Muniang, if you don’t mind it being a little, you can take it for now. We can’t really let soone be sold off, right? Let’s all chip in and see if it’s enough.”
Everyone was speaking one after another, and Qiao Lianhua, hearing this, felt her face burning as if it were about to bleed.
Muniang smiled gratefully, “Having your words is enough for . But everyone should keep their silver coins for now. If I really need everyone’s help in the future, I will certainly not be polite.”
How much money could the villagers have in their hands? Tupo Village was so poor, even if everyone put all their belongings together, it wouldn’t co close to a fraction of the ten thousand taels. Muniang knew this well.
Qiao Lianhua just couldn’t bear to see Muniang looking so pleased with herself and muttered resentfully, “I want to see how you’ll turn the tables!”
Qiao Muniang actually heard her and approached Qiao Lianhua with a cold smile on her lips, step by step. The usually bold Qiao Lianhua felt a little scared now and unconsciously took two steps back.
Yet Muniang walked straight up to Qiao Lianhua and whispered threateningly in a voice only the two of them could hear, “You better not be the one behind this, otherwise, I won’t tell you how dire the consequences will be.”
Qiao Lianhua, frightened, shivered but still held her ground defiantly, “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
Muniang did not even look at her, simply walking past her. She had no ti to think about these things now. After dealing with Mr. Ling, she would then trouble herself with these sneaks.
She wasn’t entirely sure it was Qiao Lianhua, but she felt that Qiao Lianhua’s behavior today was extrely abnormal, emphasizing from beginning to end that this was the punishnt of the heavens, as if deliberately trying to obfuscate the truth. Her probe was also a warning, but judging from Qiao Lianhua’s reaction, it was almost certain.
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