The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Your Man is Dead

"Jiaojiao, you said you wanted chicken soup, so I went to town today to look for one. They were all too scrawny, so I just butchered our old laying hen. I guarantee this soup will be delicious. Besides that, I also bought the crispy sugar candies and chestnut cakes you love. Have some after we eat, otherwise you won’t have room for dinner."

Mrs. Mao treasured those few old hens as if they were her own life. She counted on the eggs they laid day by day to exchange for a little spending money. Normally, let alone eating a chicken, she wouldn’t even part with the eggs.

To butcher one just like that, and the biggest, fattest one at that—it was impossible not to feel the sting.

But that sting was nothing compared to the Silver Tian Jiao had brought home.

Jiang Wu had told her before that Tian Jiao was figuring out a way to make big money, and that she would use it to get them, the old couple, a new house. Mrs. Mao hadn’t believed it, thinking Tian Jiao was just sweet-talking her son.

’All I saw her do was mess around with those vegetables in the cellar. Making money? In her dreams.’

Who would have thought she’d not only make money, but ten taels of it!

’Ten taels in one go! A few more times like that, and wouldn’t our family be rich?’

Mrs. Mao was nothing if not adaptable, and her attitude toward Tian Jiao did a complete one-eighty.

’Looking at her now, Tian Jiao wasn’t inferior to Ji Huan in the slightest. In fact, she might even be more capable.’

’No matter how good Ji Huan was at making money, she still had the reputation of a jinx. She was an ill omen, and Mrs. Mao wasn’t exactly keen on her joining the family.’

’But Tian Jiao was different. She had a sweet mouth, was considerate, and now she had even learned how to make money.’

Mrs. Mao patted herself on the back for her discerning eye. She really hadn’t picked the wrong daughter-in-law.

The dishes were prepared and brought to the table. As the family sat down, full of cheer, Tian Jiao had just finished pouring wine for her parents-in-law when a loud CLANG came from the main gate as it was pounded on.

"Who the hell is that!" Mrs. Mao grumbled, getting to her feet with a queasy feeling of irritation.

’Don’t tell me it’s those poor, greedy devils from next door. They must have smelled the meat and are shamelessly coming over to freeload, aren’t they?’

In the countryside, neighbors were close. Usually, when someone made something delicious, they would share some with those next door as a gesture of goodwill.

’Mrs. Mao had certainly eaten her fair share of food from her neighbors. But in her heart, she felt that worthless junk couldn’t possibly compare to chicken, fish, meat, and eggs. Giving any of their food away would be a total loss for the family!’

Mrs. Mao opened the gate a crack, thinking, ’If they’re really here to freeload, I’ll slam the door shut immediately.’

When she saw two unfamiliar men standing outside the gate, not from the village and wearing decent clothes, Mrs. Mao breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

The restaurant owner snorted and slapped a hand on the half-open gate. "Get Tian Jiao out here!"

The gate was shoved open, and Mrs. Mao nearly stumbled and fell.

After steadying herself, she stomped her foot and yelled, "What do you think you’re doing! Coming to our house to cause a scene! Don’t you know..."

The restaurant owner didn’t want to waste his breath on her and made to barge into the courtyard.

But he remembered what Ji Huan had told him: the Jiang family was thick-skinned. The confrontation had to be at the gate. Not only did it have to be public, it had to be a huge scene. That was the only way they wouldn’t dare refuse to pay. Otherwise, the village gossip alone would be enough to drown them.

So the restaurant owner didn’t take a step. He pointed at Mrs. Mao, glaring fiercely. "You think you’re tough? You think my family is a pushover? I suggest you get that Tian Jiao out here, or you’ll live to regret it!"

His vicious tone sounded quite intimidating. Mrs. Mao was, after all, just a country woman. She could put on airs in her own home, but she couldn’t act tough outside, let alone with strangers.

"Wh-what do you want with Jiaojiao?"

"What for? To pay up!"

Mrs. Mao jumped. "Pay for what?! How could Jiaojiao possibly owe you money? Don’t stand here trying to intimidate us."

"Whether she owes me money or not, we’ll find out once you call her out here."

Seeing that he wasn’t flustered in the slightest, Mrs. Mao began to panic herself. She turned and ran back across the courtyard toward the main hall.

With such a commotion outside, those inside had heard everything long ago. The moment Tian Jiao heard the words "pay up," the color drained from her face. She immediately started trying to think of excuses to avoid going out.

"Mother, how could I possibly owe anyone money? Someone must be jealous that our family made some money and is trying to extort us. If I go out, I’ll be playing right into their hands. Why don’t you and Father go deal with them, intimidate them, and send them away?"

Jiang Li kept his head down and drank, not saying a word. He had never liked this daughter-in-law. He had disagreed when his son wanted to change brides, but he wasn’t the master of the house. After watching Tian Jiao marry into the family, he became even more reluctant to get involved in their affairs.

Mrs. Mao was completely useless in situations like this. She herself was already intimidated, so how could she be expected to intimidate anyone else?

She went straight to Tian Jiao and grabbed her, saying, "If you don’t owe them anything, then go out there, make it clear, and tell them to get lost!"

Tian Jiao cursed inwardly and looked to Jiang Wu for help.

Jiang Wu, however, felt that his family had done nothing wrong and had no reason to hide. He was the first one to walk out of the main hall.

Seeing her son take the lead, Mrs. Mao felt as if she had found her backbone. She grabbed Tian Jiao and dragged her all the way to the main gate.

The three of them stepped out of the courtyard, only to find that there weren’t just two men. Behind a mule cart stood a crowd of villagers, and at the very front was none other than Ji Huan.

Tian Jiao first saw the father and son, then saw Ji Huan in the crowd with a faint, mocking smile on her face. The color instantly drained from her own.

Jiang Wu uncomfortably averted his gaze from Ji Huan and asked the furious-looking man, "Who are you? Why do you say my wife owes you money?"

The restaurant owner ignored him, pulled his son forward, and pointed at Tian Jiao. "Open your eyes wide this time and look carefully! Is it her?!"

The owner’s son had looked up when Jiang Wu started speaking. Now, he stared at Tian Jiao with a resentful expression, not answering his father.

"Didn’t you tell me you were a new widow, all alone at home, and had to sell vegetables just to survive? Then what’s his deal? Why does he say you’re his wife? Isn’t your husband dead?"

He pointed at Jiang Wu, his words an accusation directed at Tian Jiao.

Jiang Wu’s face immediately darkened. "She is my wife, and I am her husband. We are perfectly fine. Who are you cursing to be dead?"

Tian Jiao avoided the owner’s son’s gaze, her face flushing red as she stammered an explanation, "Y-you... don’t talk nonsense..."

But the owner’s son was the stubborn type.

"I’m not talking nonsense! You clearly told me your husband was dead! I felt sorry for you, that’s why I spent ten taels to buy your vegetables..."

The crowd instantly erupted.

Ten taels?! What kind of vegetables could sell for ten taels?

"I bet she’d fetch more than ten taels if she sold herself..."

"Maybe she really did sell herself... Didn’t you hear? She told people her own husband was dead. Isn’t that just deliberately leaving an opening for someone to take advantage?"

"My heavens, she and Jiang Wu always seem to have such a good relationship. How could she curse her own husband like that?"

"She dares to curse her own husband to death for ten taels of Silver. Give her twenty, and she might actually murder Jiang Wu..."

Naturally, all this gossip reached Jiang Wu’s ears.

He didn’t want to believe Tian Jiao was that kind of person. But that day, after they were turned away by the army, they had passed through Juyong Town. Tian Jiao had asked him to wait at the town entrance. Later, she did indeed sell the vegetables to a restaurant and did indeed get ten taels of Silver.

He looked at Tian Jiao.

Tian Jiao pinched herself hard, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She grabbed Jiang Wu, sobbing as she explained, "Brother Wu, don’t listen to their nonsense. I didn’t sell to them..."

Tian Jiao was so frantic she lost her head, trying to deny the whole affair right in front of the wronged party.

The restaurant owner walked directly to the mule cart and ripped off the cover.

"Take a look! Are these yours or not!"

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