The next day, Anle handed the tonics she had bought to Qiao Qiusheng, and instead of going to the Duan family's house again, she had Qiao Qiusheng take them to the Duan family.

She didn't leave immediately, but planned to wait there for a few days to see if Qiao Zhiyi's condition would improve. If it did, she planned to tell her cousin Zhiyi about the embroidered clothes.

The Duan family.

Qiao Qiusheng carried the large bags and small packages that Anle had bought into the house. No sooner had he entered than the gatekeeper ran to Madam Zhang of the Duan family to tattle on him.

At that moment, Madam Zhang was sitting on the couch, her eyes half-closed, while her maid massaged her shoulders.

Upon hearing the servant's words, Zhang suspiciously lifted her eyelids and glanced at the servant.

Are you serious?

The servant nodded hastily.

"Really, really."

Zhang's voice immediately betrayed her dissatisfaction, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Does the Qiao family really think they've become phoenixes just because they've entered the Duan family? Or do they think I'll just give them money to get rid of them? That's why they spend money so recklessly?"

Since she wasn't going to accept the hundred taels of silver, she wasn't going to give her a single penny more.

I never knew the Qiao family was so greedy.

They weren't satisfied even with a hundred taels of silver.

"Mother, I think we should just have them kicked out. It's bad luck to have a sickly person living in my house." Duan Meili, dressed in a flashy outfit, sat next to Zhang Shi with a cold smile on her lips, looking rather impatient.

Zhang sighed, her brows furrowing with worry.

"Beautiful, do you think I don't want to kick them out? I find them so annoying to look at."

Isn't this because there was such a thing as arranging betrothal for children back then?

If we kick them out, and the Qiao family makes a scene in front of our Duan family's door, the noise will reach the Cui family's ears, and your brother's future will be ruined.

The fact that they were engaged can no longer be kept secret.

"Mother gave you a hundred taels of silver before, and you said it wasn't enough. Why don't you give us a little more silver? Just send them away quickly. If Sister Zhiduo finds out that they're staying here, what will happen to my brother—"

A sinister glint flashed in Zhang's eyes, sending a chill down Duan Meili's spine for no apparent reason.

"Hmph, does a little girl think she can hinder my Qi'er's future? I will never allow this to happen."

Duan Meili asked tentatively.

"Mother, you mean—"

Zhang waved to the servant, who understood and left.

Seeing that the servant had left, Zhang Shi spoke in a sinister tone.

"With the current standing of my Duan family, how could the Qiao family possibly be worthy of our status? If we were to ruin her reputation, do you think she would still have the face to stay in my residence?"

Duan Meili's eyes lit up, and she excitedly asked, "Mom, have you thought of a great idea?"

"If that girl Qiao Zhiyi were to have an affair with someone else and Qi'er caught them, what do you think of this idea of ​​killing two birds with one stone?" This way, Qiao Zhiyi would feel unworthy, and Qi'er would give up on her feelings for Qiao Zhiyi.

This is the only way she can think of to deal with the Qiao family right now.

After all, the old man still had some relationship with the Qiao family, so it wasn't appropriate to be too harsh in front of him. Therefore, this was the only option they could come up with.

Moreover, Yang Zhaodi is no pushover. If she does anything too revealing, she'll kick her out. Yang Zhaodi is really going to drag the Duan family down with her and make them lose all face in Baicheng.

Yang Zhaodi was definitely not bluffing at the Duan family; if pushed to the limit, she really could do such a thing.

Duan Meili was stunned for a moment, then her eyes tightened. Had she been having an affair with someone else?

Is this an attempt to exploit Qiao Zhiyi's reputation?

Although this idea is somewhat insidious, once it succeeds, Qiao Zhiyi's reputation will be completely ruined, and it will be impossible for her to marry into a good family in the future.

However, it's a good thing for her brother.

After all, Sister Zhiduo's family background is something Qiao Zhiyi can't compare to.

The one who brought her brother a bright future and brought glory to her Duan family was Sister Zhiduo, and the Cui family behind Sister Zhiduo.

"Good, that's a good idea, but what should I do, Mother? Having an affair with Qiao Zhiyi isn't something Qiao Zhiyi can do alone. Who is this 'adulterer'? Do you have any plans, Mother?"

Zhang thought carefully and said, "Of course we can't ask outsiders to do this. If word gets out, our Duan family's reputation will be ruined. I don't trust outsiders to do it, so let's ask our own family. Our family members are discreet, so we can trust them."

"So, Mother, who did you look for? Or who are you planning to look for?"

A calculating smile played on Zhang's lips as she glanced at the screen: "What do you think of this doorman for our family?"

She's tall and pretty, but if it were an affair, she wouldn't even be as pretty as Qi'er. Who would believe that?

Most importantly, this is one of our own people, so we can trust him. He seems intelligent and unlikely to make mistakes.

Duan Meili blinked and pondered for a moment.

“Mother, now that you mention it, it does seem to make sense. The young servant who guards our gate is tall and strong, and quite handsome. He is indeed a good man.”

What should Mother do? Do you need my help?

Zhang smiled, a cold smile curving her lips.

"Find a way to get that kid to wander around that yard more often. Before it rains, we need to hear some rumors, right? If we're going to do it, we need to be thorough. As long as Qi'er believes us, this will be a success."

Duan Meili frowned, rubbing her chin with her index finger, looking a little troubled.

“Mother, this is a bit difficult. This servant is just a gatekeeper. Qiao Zhiyi lives in the back courtyard and is lying in a hospital bed. It would be difficult for her to have any contact with him. How could the servant possibly run from the front gate to the back courtyard?”

"Mother, why don't you transfer him to work here? That way, they'll have a chance to get to know each other."

Zhang shook her head.

"No, that would be too deliberate, and Qi'er would notice something's wrong."

"But Qiao Zhiyi is lying in a hospital bed and can't go out, so it's not good to find any opportunities for her from either side, right?"

Zhang smiled.

"Isn't the roof of the house in the back yard supposed to be leaking?"

Duan Meili's eyes lit up, a sudden inspiration struck her, and she smiled knowingly, "Ah, I know, Mother, the roof of the back yard really needs to be repaired. I'll go talk to Father about it."

**

"Mom, why is it so noisy outside?" Qiao Zhiyi has been taking the tonics Anle sent her these past few days, and her health has improved a lot. Her face has also regained some color and looks rosy.

He propped himself up to sit up, turned his head, and asked Yang, who was carrying bird's nest into the room.

Yang placed the bird's nest in her hand on the table without looking up and said, "They came to fix the roof; it seems the two rooms next door are leaking."