Ugly girl only wants to farm

Xu Chaoyan's smile remained unchanged as she pulled her over, saying, "I'll treat you to tea."

Qiao Yue couldn't break free no matter what she did, and kept shouting, "How can a woman like you be so strong? Ouch, be gentle, you're hurting my hand. I already said I didn't mean to attract your man's attention this time. You don't need to be on guard. Although I, Qiao Yue, am a bit mischievous, I still have my principles. I already said, let go of me now, why should I drink tea? I don't want to drink tea."

Qiao Yue kept chattering away, but Xu Chaoyan ignored her and only called out to Meng Jiuxia, who was not far away.

"Sister-in-law, we're not setting up our stall today. Let's pack up and go home quickly."

Cailian was extremely anxious: "Let go of my young lady right now! What are you doing? Didn't we already tell you we're not interested in your husband? Don't think we're offering ourselves up to be humiliated."

Xu Chaoyan, both amused and exasperated by the master and servant, let go of their hands and said with a serious face, "Miss Qiao, I think you are a very straightforward and easygoing person. I'd like to make friends with you. I happen to be free today, so how about I invite you to my house for some ice cream?"

Cailian gave her a look of disdain: "What good things could your little shabby courtyard have? It's just an ice bowl. It's not like we can't afford to eat that."

Seeing her sister-in-law being treated so disliked, Meng Jiuxia couldn't stand it anymore. She snorted at them, "What are those broken ice bowls you're eating? My sister-in-law's food is much better than what you get in restaurants. I guarantee you'll lick the bowls clean after eating it."

Qiao Yue never expected to be proven wrong so quickly.

"Is there any more of that? Give me two more bowls."

She held the empty bowl and looked at Xu Chaoyan with longing eyes, like a lapdog begging for a bone. Xu Chaoyan couldn't help but smile.

Meng Jiuxia sarcastically remarked to the master and servant, "Weren't you looking down on my things just now? Why are you so fond of them now?"

I happened to have made some ice jelly at home, which I originally planned to keep chilled until the three of them came back from school to eat. But it's perfect for serving the little girl.

Add some crushed peanuts and melon seeds, put in some ice, and top with fresh seasonal fruit. One bowl is refreshingly tempting. Not only did Qiao Yue love it, but even Ya Ya reached out for more.

Qiao Yue didn't leave the courtyard all day, pestering Xu Chaoyan for the recipe for ice jelly, saying she would ask the maid to make it for her when she got back.

Meng Jiuxia grabbed a broom and started arguing with her: "You must be in cahoots with that shrew, trying to get my family's formula to do business. You want to make that dirty money, don't you think so?"

Qiao Yue was called a heartless businesswoman by a girl a few years younger than her. She was furious and started arguing with Meng Jiuxia.

Xu Chaoyan was at her wits' end. She tried to appease one of them while trying to appease the other, but the two ended up arguing even more fiercely.

Meng Jiuxia looked at her with a wronged expression: "Sister-in-law, don't you love me anymore? You're actually siding with outsiders. When my brother comes back, I'll make him ignore you."

Qiao Yue mocked from the side, "You're still breastfeeding, aren't you? You're such a big girl now, and you're still acting like a tattletale. Aren't you ashamed? I stopped playing that trick when I was five."

After finally managing to appease the two little devils, I promised to make them hand-pulled noodles later, and they finally calmed down.

Qiao Yue, that girl, seems so carefree. She had just finished arguing with Meng Jiuxia not long ago. After a while, she went to her room and took a nap. Meng Jiuxia was so angry that she picked up a wooden board to splash water on her, but fortunately, Xu Chaoyan stopped her.

As dusk fell and Meng Jiu and the others returned to the courtyard, they heard laughter and chatter coming from inside. The three of them looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhang Xuyang listened intently for a while: "This voice sounds strangely familiar, but I just can't remember it."

Meng Jiuhe also became somewhat puzzled and muttered to himself, "Have we had guests at home? Should we leave?"

He had barely finished speaking when Zhang Xuyang pushed open the courtyard gate: "This is our own home, so we should avoid each other. I'm leaving now. I still have some lessons I don't understand today, so I'll have to ask Brother Meng for some guidance."

When they saw Qiao Yue and her servant playing happily with Ya Ya, they were stunned.

Zhang Xuyang rushed over, picked up Ya Ya, held her protectively in his arms, and looked at her warily.

"You tigress, what are you doing in my house? You haven't been holding a grudge and chased me all the way here, have you? Let me tell you, I haven't settled the score with you for stepping on me last time. We'll settle it together today, so don't you dare try anything with my niece."

After saying that, he pointed at Qiao Yue and Ya Ya and said, "That woman is a bad bastard, a tigress. If you see her, stay away from her. Tell your uncle if she pinched or hit you or anything like that."

Before Zhang Xuyang could even turn around, Qiao Yue, her face ashen with rage, punched him right in the eye.

Zhang Xuyang's painful screams echoed throughout the courtyard, even scaring away the birds in the trees.

Two tables were set up in the courtyard at night. Zhang Xuyang, with bruises in his eyes, stared fiercely at Qiao Yue across from him.

Zhang Yueniang tugged at his sleeve, saying, "Xuyang, be more polite to that girl. She helped us today, after all. What are you doing? A real man should be able to let go of things. She only punched you, so why are you so ungrateful?"

Zhang Xuyang gritted his teeth and pointed to his eye socket: "Is this what you call punching me? The kick she gave me last time was still swollen for days, and I haven't even settled the score with her yet."

Meng Jiuhe privately said a few words to him: "You also slandered people without distinguishing right from wrong. No wonder the girl punched you. Don't be so impulsive in the future."

Qiao Yue looked at him smugly, giving him a lucky smile, as if to say, "Come on, do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Xu Chaoyan had just told Meng Jiu and the others what had happened today. He was also surprised that this pampered young lady, who he had initially thought was arrogant and lacking in ideals, was so frank. He had misunderstood her before.

Meng Jiuhe raised his glass with a calm expression: "Miss Qiao, this glass is to thank you for your help."

Qiao Yue quickly stood up, looking flustered: "Meng Jiu told me that I no longer have those feelings for you. Please don't misunderstand, I did it on purpose. Also, I didn't bring those people today. Besides, I'm an honest person. If it's not my fault, it's no use having them."

Meng Jiuhe smiled gently and said, "Miss Qiao, you've misunderstood. I just wanted to toast you to thank you for being willing to offend those people and lend a helping hand to my wife under those circumstances."

The meal lasted for almost an hour before ending. Because of the hot weather, no one had much of an appetite. Xu Chaoyan set up a simple barbecue grill and cooked some grilled meat and vegetables.

Qiao Yue seemed to have spotted something strange and unusual. She kept following Xu Chaoyan around, claiming she wanted to secretly learn her skills, while Meng Jiuxia remained wary of her.

Meng Jiuhe came in from outside carrying a basin of warm water: "Wife, I've prepared some hot water for you. Take a rest and get ready. You've had a long day."

Xu Chaoyan was sitting there, calculating non-stop.

Meng Jiuhe sat down to the side and gently put the copper coins away. He lightly flicked the tip of her nose.

"You're still such a money-grubber."

Xu Chaoyan glanced at her: "I'm not greedy, but then we'll go hungry. Since we came to the prefectural city, our expenses have been increasing and our income can't even cover them. We can't just sit around and eat our savings."

Meng Jiu bent down, picked her up, and placed her on the bed, looking at her with deep affection: "Wife, besides counting money, we can actually do some other fun things."

It suddenly started raining outside that night, the raindrops pattering incessantly. The crisp, melodious sound was almost hypnotic. The rain only gradually subsided as the sky began to lighten.

When Xu Chaoyan got up in the morning, she rubbed her slightly sore lower back. Seeing Meng Jiuhe come in from outside, looking refreshed and full of energy, Xu Chaoyan called out to him.

"Professor Meng."

Life went on unhurriedly, just like that.

That day, Xu Chaoyan was returning home alone when someone called out to her as she passed through an alley. When she saw that it was Aunt Qi, her face lit up with joy.

"Aunt Qi, what are you doing here? Why don't you go inside? Qi Yu and the others have been waiting for you for so long. They must be very happy to see you now."

Aunt Qi quickly stopped her: "Don't tell Yu'er and the others about my visit to that young Meng's wife. Come on, let's find a place where I can talk to you."

Seeing Aunt Qi's serious expression, Xu Chaoyan did not hesitate and led her to a private room in a teahouse to order a pot of tea.

"Auntie, has something happened? Why can't they know you were here?"

Aunt Qi sighed softly: "This is a long story, so I'll just explain it to you in a few words."

"Do you remember the gentleman who came to my house to deliver congratulatory gifts before?"

Xu Chaoyan nodded: "I remember."

"Actually, the fact that the three of them were able to study at the prefectural school, as well as the matter of Yu'er cheating on the imperial examination, was all resolved by that master. Didn't I tell you before that I worked as a maid in someone's household when I was young?"

Xu Chaoyan nodded. Based on her years of experience watching TV dramas and reading novels, there must be some stories they didn't know.

"Actually, that person is Yu'er's biological father. Years ago, my parents sold me to be a maid. The old lady saw that I was well-behaved and sensible, so she made me go to the young master's room to be a maidservant."

After saying this, seeing that Xu Chaoyan did not show any disdain towards her, she continued speaking.

I originally thought life would pass by peacefully like this, and I would simply stay in the house to serve my husband after he married into the family. Who knew? My wife was incredibly jealous; she was jealous that my husband stayed in my room. While he was out, she falsely accused me of adultery and had me drowned in a pig cage.

Xu Chaoyan's expression changed slightly when she said this.

"I know you'll ask me how I survived. Back then, the master relied on his wife's family to rise through the ranks. As for his wife's decision to drown me in a pig cage without his consent, he just waved it off."

Xu Chaoyan held her hand with a look of heartache and said softly, "Aunt Qi, you suffered all those years?"

Aunt Qi sighed, "It was my fate to die. They threw me into the water and left shortly after. I was rescued by Yu'er's father. I recovered thanks to his care. Later, I learned that he was born with a disability and no one wanted to marry him except for one person in his family, so I married him. He gave me and Yu'er our lives. Therefore, he can only be the son of the Qi family to carry on the Qi family line and has nothing to do with the Li family."

After saying this, she took Xu Chaoyan's hand and pleaded, "Little Meng's wife, I'll have to trouble you to take good care of Yu'er and his wife from now on. Ever since Li Guangshuo met Yu'er, he's known he's his son, and he's tried everything to get Yu'er to be recognized as a member of the family. Madam is a jealous person, but one can't be without conscience, and I don't want Yu'er and his wife to be in danger. That's why I've stayed by his side to prevent this from happening. I've come in a hurry today to find you. Please take this money. Find a suitable time to give it to the couple for me. Tell them to stop looking for me. As long as Yu'er is doing well, I'll be content."

As Xu Chaoyan walked along the road, she felt the silver in her arms was rather heavy. She was still struggling with whether or not to tell Qi Yu about it.

He longed for his mother to come over, hoping that he would get into high school and give her a better life.

"Sister-in-law, why do you look so distracted? I called you several times, but what happened?"

Qi Yu stood there holding two strings of candied hawthorns.

Xu Chaoyan glanced at the candied hawthorn in his hand and smiled slightly: "You're bringing snacks back to Ya Ya again, aren't you afraid your older sister will scold you? Ya Ya has been eating too much candy these days, be careful she doesn't get cavities."

Qi Yu smiled happily: "It's just two strings of candied hawthorns. The little girl likes them, so I bought them for her. Why be so strict with her?"

Xu Chaoyan suppressed her thoughts upon seeing his satisfied expression.

The following spring, Xu Chaoyan finally opened her first shop in the prefectural city.

Qiao Yue and Meng Jiuxia were arguing non-stop again. Xu Chaoyan rubbed her aching temples. These two always argued as soon as they met.

Meng Jiuxia complained that her sister-in-law never paid attention to Qiao Yue whenever she came over. She was always making ice jelly and dumplings. She suggested that Qiao Yue should just be her younger sister from now on.

Qiao Yue chimed in, criticizing Meng Jiuxia for being too childish, saying she always brought her lots of snacks when she visited. She added, "Is it worth holding a grudge for so long just because I borrowed her bed for a nap?"

The shop's business was booming. Qiao Yue became acquainted with the young ladies of the city and brought many customers over.

As Xu Chaoyan saw the increasing amount of silver in her hand, her smile grew even brighter.

As the two lay in bed that night, Meng Jiu held her close and whispered seductively in her ear, "Wife, do you think Ya Ya is cute?"

Xu Chaoyan reached out and nudged him: "She's very cute. She's also very well-behaved and sensible in helping adults with their tasks."

Meng Jiuhe's breathing became heavy and he said in a hoarse voice, "We've been married for quite a while now, shouldn't we have a child?"