Chapter 76 - A Night Visit to Xu Jiao
The entire Qiaotou Village had about a hundred households. Aside from the nouveau riche Zhou Family, the Qiao Compound that Elderly Lady Qiao lived in was considered as one of the wealthier families in the village.
Youngest Uncle and Xu Jiao’s home was situated next to Qiao Compound and there was a side door that they had installed in between to connect the two residences.
Elderly Lady Qiao was fairly indulging toward her youngest son, and this led to the grandchild who she favored the most also being Xu Jiao’s child, Qiao Xiaobang 1 .
When Qiao Mu stealthily sneaked outside the window of her youngest uncle’s house, she became a witness to four-year-old Little Chub throwing a great tantrum inside the house. Xu Jiao was wrought with distress from trying to pacify the child and was also berated a few times by her husband in displeasure.
Xu Jiao tossed the little chub onto the bed in anger before turning back to point at Qiao Zhongheng and yelling, “Comfort him yourself then if you’re so good.”
After the day she had, Xu Jiao was nearly angered to death. She made a trip to Eldest Brother’s house and not only did she not gain anything, but she was also admonished by the old-fashioned old man, Third Great Uncle, causing her lungs to nearly explode from anger.
“I have to say, doesn’t our son merely want a clay figurine toy? Just buy it for him! You caused him to make such a din, how should we pacify him now!” Qiao Zhongheng got angrier as he spoke.
“Buy buy buy! With what money! That lousy toy costs half a tael of silver! If you think it’s so easy, why don’t you buy it for our son yourself!” As soon as money was brought up, Xu Jiao turned more incensed. “You know full well that the thing with Xiao Lin’er is mucked! The down payment that we accepted from the buyer is all returned too. Your mother even told me to forget about this matter from now on! Money money money, this needs money, that needs money! Why don’t you give me 10 or something taels of silver to spend then?”
“Why are you shouting at me?” Qiao Zhongheng’s face turned the color of a pig’s liver from his wife’s berating. He had always been someone who idled about and waded through life in a drunken stupor. The money that his mother gave her did not last him more than a few days, so how could he know about the financial straits that their home was in.
“I… it’s not like I knew Xiao Lin’er’s thing was spoiled! Didn’t you say last time that we can gain 20 taels of silver if we sell Xiao Lin’er?” He had wanted to swindle a few taels of silver from his wife to buy two jars of good liquor.
“Sell, sell, sell! They won’t sell anymore!” Xu Jiao’s head ached from her fury. She exclaimed while glaring at her husband, “That niece of yours is quite talented, alright! Don’t you know how she slapped your mother’s face again and again in front of everyone today?”
“Let me tell you, that niece of yours is truly a debt-collecting demon! So young, but already so skilled at scheming. I truly don’t know how she considered so many aspects even though she’s so young. She actually invited Old Village Chief and Third Great Uncle here to be officials and caused Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-Law to be separated from the family with a few words.”
“What?” Qiao Zhongheng raised his voice. “Eldest Brother’s family had separated from the family?”
“Drink, drink, drink. All you do every day is drink. How could you know anything! I think that everyone in the family knows about this matter besides you. Who doesn’t know that Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-Law’s family were divided from the family today?” Xu Jiao was so angry that she shoved Qiao Zhongheng away and resentfully twisted the handkerchief in her hand.
“So the 20 taels are gone like this?” Qiao Zhongheng shouted in pain. “That’s 20 taels!”
“Bah! 20 taels? We even lost the middleman fee!” Xu Jiao wished for nothing more than to take a bite out of him. Why did she marry such an unambitious thing; her liver was aching in pain from the rage! She pulled the comforter over her and fell straight asleep on the bed.
After Qiao Zhongheng shouted at their son, he blew out the candle and also went to bed. He put on a fawning look as he pulled Xu Jiao into his arms, asking, “Wife, about our 20 taels, are we just gonna leave it at that? I know you have more ideas and are smarter than me. Think of a way.”