Chapter 74: Qiu Yu is kindhearted. Lin Cuihua suffers retribution.

After sending the woman away, Qiu Xuan returned to the bamboo shoot pile.

The originally stacked bamboo shoots collapsed, and many of them were scattered on the ground nearby.

Zong Xiao came over and helped her put the things into the bamboo basket. It took them a long time to finish packing.

Qiu Xuan rubbed her legs and slowly stood up. When she turned around, she saw Zong Xiao still with a stern face.

Qiu Xuan: "Still thinking about what just happened? Don't worry, that Lin Cuihua is not going to be a problem."

What kind of brain does someone have who wants to beat Qiu Yu up for twenty copper coins have?

Zong Xiao was indeed angry, but he was worried about much more than that.

If he hadn't returned in time today, those people might have really hit Qiu Xuan with sticks, and they were just a few village women.

What if the person today was a thug from a brothel?

Zong Xiao didn't think about it any further, as he was afraid that his expression would scare Qiu Yun.

"There are so many outsiders and they are talking too much. Let's go home first." Zong Xiao reached out to carry the bamboo basket, but was stopped by Qiu Yu with a slap.

"Your wound has just healed, and I'm afraid it will split. This isn't heavy, so I'll just carry it." Although it's not heavy, it still weighs dozens of pounds. Qiu Xuan squatted down and almost couldn't stand up after carrying it on her back.

Zong Xiao pursed his lips and smiled: "Let me do it. It's just a few steps away, it won't be a problem."

As he spoke, Zong Xiao took the bamboo basket off Qiu Xuan's body. Without even bending his waist, he lifted the basket weighing dozens of kilograms with one hand.

Qiu Yan:...

It is true that people cannot be compared.

There were only the two of them in the mountains today, so Qiu Xiu peeled a bamboo shoot and stir-fried it simply.

Spring bamboo shoots are so tender that they are very fragrant even with just a little salt sprinkled on them. Qiu Xiu ate more than half a bowl of rice with the bamboo shoots.

Qiu Xuan: "Let's take all these bamboo shoots down the mountain tomorrow. We'll save some for cooking and sell the rest."

The price of bamboo shoots has not fallen yet, and these can still be sold for dozens of copper coins.

Zong Xiao: "Okay."

At night, Qiu Xuan carefully checked the things she was going to bring down the mountain, and only after making sure that she had not left anything behind did she go to bed with peace of mind.

There were many quilts at home, so the two of them didn't have to share one quilt.

Qiu Xuan was about to close her eyes and rest when she felt something approaching her.

No need to guess, it must be Zong Xiao.

Qiu Xuan turned her head to look at him, "Aren't you sleepy? Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Qiu Xuan was exhausted; she had been digging bamboo shoots for half the day.

Zong Xiao had something on his mind and was not sleepy at all. Now that it was dark and quiet at night, he just wanted to talk to Qiu Yun.

Zong Xiao hesitated for a moment and asked, "You asked those women to lead Lin Cuihua down the mountain tomorrow. Have you thought about how to do it?"

Qiu Xuan laughed angrily: "Why are you looking at me like that? Can I hit her?"

No matter how bad Lin Cuihua was, she was still her stepmother. According to the laws of the time, if she beat Lin Cuihua, it would be considered extremely unfilial and she would be sent to jail.

Zong Xiao naturally didn't mean that, but he was tongue-tied and didn't know how to explain himself.

In the end, I could only lift the quilt and crawl into Qiu Xuan's side, coaxing her by warming the bed.

Qiu Xuan neither dodged nor pushed him away.

Now that there is no kang in the house, the quilt is indeed not warm. Now that there is a big stove over, it is much warmer.

"I really want to hit her, but I definitely can't. You know I'm a very kind person." Qiu Yu spoke without any guilt. She continued, "But if I don't do it, someone else will. I'll tell Qiu Shitou about this tomorrow. I think he will handle it himself." The little affection between Qiu Shitou and Lin Cuihua had been worn away by the suspicion on the day the silver was lost.

Qiu Xuan knew that neither of these two people was a good person, so she let them fight each other, which would not dirty her hands.

"Tomorrow we'll go down the mountain later. When we pass by that village, I'll go find Sandan and ask him to deliberately let Qiu Shitou know what's going on."

If Qiu Shitou knew that Lin Cuihua wanted to harm her and she wanted to report it to the police.

Which is more important, a son or a daughter-in-law?

Qiu Xuan didn't want to think about it, as long as that family was in trouble, that was enough.

The next day, Qiu Xuan slept until she woke up naturally.

She packed up quickly and hurried down the mountain before noon, but of course she did not forget to pass on the message.

Sandan lived at the entrance of the village and saw it as soon as she got off the mule cart.

Sandan ran over and said happily, "Sister Qiu, why are you here?"

Qiu Xuan hadn't heard anyone call her "sister" for a long time. She smiled and took out a wooden slingshot from behind her back. "This is for you, but today, Sister Qiu has something to trouble you with."

Sandan wished she would trouble him more. After all, if it weren't for them, he might not have survived when he was chased by wild boars in the mountains that day.

"Go to the Qiu family later and see if Lin Cuihua is there. If not, tell Qiu Shitou that I asked you to go and that I have something to discuss with him at noon under the locust tree in front of the small restaurant in town."

Everyone in the village knew that Qiu Xuan opened a small restaurant, but Qiu Xuan didn't believe that Qiu Shitou didn't know about it.

Sandan nodded, "What if Aunt Lin is here?"

Qiu Xuan felt that Lin Cuihua should not be here, but she was not sure. She said, "If she is here, just tell Qiu Shitou quietly."

"Okay. I'll go then." Baby Sandan took the slingshot and slipped out.

Qiu Xuan also turned around and got on the cart. She raised her hand and patted Zong Xiao's left shoulder, asking, "What do you think Qiu Shitou would react if he heard that I wanted to find him?"

Zong Xiao: "Happy?"

Qiu Yu was puzzled. "Why do you think he would be happy? Shouldn't he be panicking?"

Zong Xiao drove the mule cart down the mountain and said to the wind, "He's such a greedy person that he might think you want to give him money."

Qiu Yan:...

Everything happened just as Zong Xiao had imagined. As soon as Sandan passed the news to Qiu Shitou, he was so happy that he didn't even smoke.

Qiu Xuan, a married woman, actually came to find him for the first time and said she wanted to meet him in front of her popular restaurant.

"Dad, don't go. She definitely has bad intentions." Hu Zi hated Qiu Xuan so much that his teeth itched. It was all her fault. If she had died in the water that day, what happened later wouldn't have happened. His legs...

"What do you know?" Qiu Shitou glared at Hu Zi. "Before, she was afraid that people would say she was unfilial even when she opened a noodle stall. Now that she has opened such a big restaurant, there must be a lot of people who are jealous. She is bowing to me, your father. She is afraid that her business will be affected, so she wants me to come forward to prove her filial piety."

"Then you can't go. No matter what she does, it would be best if her business fails." Hu Zi hated it.

"Business ruined? You really take after your brainless mother." Qiu Shitou was delighted, but he couldn't hold back his words. He said, "She's begging us now, so she'll definitely give us money."

He had looked at the small restaurant from outside and saw that business was brisk, so he thought it must be making a lot of money.

Then it shouldn't be too much for him as a father to ask for a few dozen taels.

Thinking of this, Qiu Shitou could not sit still for a moment. He went back to the house, changed his clothes, and then hurried out of the house.

-

Yuanxiang Town is already bustling, and now with the beginning of spring, even more people come to the town to attend the market.

It was a half incense stick journey, but because there were so many people on the street and Qiu Xuan and the others were driving a mule cart, the delay lasted a full incense stick.

As soon as the mule cart arrived, Sanshui, who was standing outside the door greeting passers-by, saw them.

"Boss, you came at a perfect time today. The young boss just went out and said he would be back in half an hour, but a table of diners just came into the shop. I was just worrying about what to do when you came." Sanshui took the things off the cart with great attentiveness.

Seeing that there were young bamboo shoots inside, he praised: "These bamboo shoots are really tender. The ones grown in the mountains are really good."

"We just dug them yesterday, so they're really fresh. Let's have bamboo shoots for lunch this afternoon."

"Okay. I'll listen to you, boss."

Qiu Xuan did not help them move things. Now that the restaurant had no chef, she had to take over quickly. If she didn't fill a table, she would lose dozens of copper coins.

Qiu Xuan went straight to the kitchen, where her mother-in-law was preparing side dishes.

"Mom, what dishes did the guests at that table order?" Qiu Xuan rolled up her sleeves and washed her hands.

"Finally, someone's here. Just now, neither of you two were here. I was so worried." The grandmother's forehead was sweating. She pointed at the already cut pork leg and said, "They ordered a dish of stewed ham and pork elbow, and a dish of stir-fried vegetables."

Seeing her coming, the clan mother finally felt relieved, "Sanlang prepared the two main dishes long ago, but I didn't dare to cook this small stir-fry because I was afraid that my own would not taste as good as yours."

Qiu Xuan immediately praised: "How could that be? Mom's cooking skills are really good."

The iron pan in front of her was already heated. Qiu Xuan scooped a little lard into it. When the oil melted, she immediately poured the meat in.

The stir-fry is simple and Qiu Xuan can prepare it in no time.

As she served the dishes, she asked, "Mom, where has my third brother been? Why haven't I seen Huaixue and Yueyang?"

"I'll tell you when mom comes back." Afraid that the diners outside would be anxious waiting, the grandmother quickly brought the dishes out. Fortunately, the diners who came today always patronized their restaurant and didn't mind waiting a little longer.

Although the other party doesn't mind, the restaurant cannot just sit there and say nothing.

The grandmother gave them the change on the spot, which was four copper coins.

"You were not here yesterday. Yueyang's elder brother Liu Zhong also rented a shop nearby and is moving in today." Seeing Qiu Xuan coming out, the clan mother came forward to talk to her, with an unconcealable smile on her face.

In the future, the Liu family will also open a shop here, and the two families will have more and more interactions, and they can help each other if anything happens.

Qiu Xuan: "That's great, but I don't know what kind of shop Brother Liu opened."

The clan mother said: "What else could it be? Of course it's a meat stall. The Liu family raises pigs, so selling pork is the best option."

Qiu Xuan: "That's right, there really doesn't seem to be any pork stalls on our street."

The clan mother replied, "Yes, it is convenient for us. In the future, if we need any meat, we can make an agreement with the Liu family right away. We are not greedy for cheapness. We will pay them the same price as the outside world."

Even brothers settle accounts openly, let alone in-laws.

There were no more diners in the restaurant, so Qiu Xuan chatted with her mother-in-law for a while and naturally told her about what happened yesterday.

The clan mother turned pale with fright, and quickly pulled Qiu Yun's hand to take a closer look.

"Mom, what can happen to me?" Qiu Xuan turned around in front of her.

"I'm so scared! How could Lin Cuihua be so cruel?" Even though she wasn't Qiu Xuan's biological mother, she had raised her for over ten years. You could have feelings for chickens and ducks at home, but how could she be so cruel to her child?

"Mom, don't worry. Erlang and I have arranged everything. Please close the shop door and pretend that we are not open."

"Just close the door?"

"Well, just shut it up for a while."

Qiu Xuan looked out the window and saw that it was not yet noon, so she rested in the shop for a while.

When she finished the tea in front of her and was about to go out, she happened to bump into Qiu Shitou.

"Why are you here?" Qiu Yu frowned.

"Tsk, kid, didn't you say that dad would come find you? Have you forgotten?" Qiu Shitou had never been to this kind of restaurant before. He stood in front of the door, eager to come in.

"I meant across the street, not inside the shop."

"What's the difference? You've come to your father's presence and you're not polite at all. Be careful or I won't recognize you." Qiu Shitou was about to go in, but was pulled out by Qiu Yu in disgust.

Afraid that he would delay things, Qiu Xuan dragged him directly to the opposite side, but not under the locust tree, but to a noodle stall three meters away from the locust tree.

"The restaurant won't let me in and asks me to eat noodles here?" Qiu Shitou was very arrogant now. He felt that Qiu Yun had something to ask of him.

"Eat noodles?" Qiu Xuan chuckled. She kept her eyes on the big locust tree, and soon the four women from yesterday appeared.

Qiu Shitou was getting impatient waiting. He cursed, "You stupid girl, you want me to recognize you back with your character? You're just dreaming. I won't recognize you without fifty taels of silver."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone gathered under the big locust tree.

Qiu Yu asked him to look behind him, "Look who is under that big locust tree."

Qiu Shitou turned around and saw that Lin Cuihua, who had said she was going into the mountains to pick bamboo shoots that morning, was actually there, carrying a bamboo basket. She was looking towards the closed restaurant and smiling as she took some money out of her purse.

Qiu Shitou saw it carefully. She took out a total of twenty copper coins and gave five to each of the four people in front of her.

"This...what do you mean? You called me here just to see this." Qiu Shitou felt something was wrong.

"Yesterday, your good wife sent someone to kill me." Qiu Xuan deliberately used the word "kill" to scare him. She continued, "Fortunately, I was lucky enough to escape this disaster. At that time, I was wondering whether it was her or you who wanted my life."

"I'm your father, how could I kill you!" Qiu Shitou panicked instantly. He wanted to stand up, but Zong Xiao pushed him back to his seat with a palm.

Qiu Yu shook her head. "How is that impossible? Hu Zi is still my brother, and he wants to kill me too."

Qiu Shitou opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.

"I thought about it all night yesterday, and I think it's all because I didn't report it to the police last time." Qiu Xuan looked at Qiu Shitou, a smile on her lips, "Do you think we should report it to the police this time or not? If we do, the last incident should be..."

"No!" If he reported it to the authorities, Hu Zi would go to jail. He only has this one son!

Qiu Shitou didn't have time to think about it. He whispered to Qiu Yun, "It's all Daddy's fault. Dad didn't take a good look at that bitch. You're Daddy's daughter. Daddy never intended to harm you. Your brother has repented a long time ago."

Qiu Xuan sighed, "But if I don't report it to the police, who knows if Lin Cuihua will try to kill me again..."

"No! I promise!" Qiu Shitou swallowed his saliva, his eyes filled with hatred for Lin Cuihua, "Dad promises I won't let you see her again. Don't report this to the police, you absolutely must not report it."

"You say that as if I'm going to kill her." Qiu Yu continued to look at Lin Cuihua. She said calmly, "I won't hurt anyone, and I don't want to kill anyone. I just don't want to see her anymore. Do you understand?"

Qiu Shitou's hair stood on end. He felt that the man in front of him was very scary. His daughter had never looked like this!

But he didn't dare to question or speak out.

"Don't do anything stupid." Qiu Yu reminded.

He nodded repeatedly, "Dad understands, Dad understands."

Qiu Xuan smiled at him, "I'm glad you understand. Go back and talk to her more on the way."

Qiu Shitou's body went limp, and he didn't come to his senses until Qiu Xuan and the others had left for a while.

This is all Lin Cuihua's fault! How dare she hire someone to kill someone?

What will Hu Zi do if he gets caught?

Qiu Shitou rested for a quarter of an hour, and when his legs were no longer weak, he stood up and walked home.

Lin Cuihua left a quarter of an hour earlier than him, and he couldn't catch up with her no matter how hard he tried.

When they got home, Hu Zi and his wife hurried out of the house.

"Dad, did you get the silver?" The couple were both looking forward to the silver. Just now, when Lin Cuihua came back smiling, they didn't have time to talk to her.

"Get out." Qiu Shitou glared at the couple, his eyes full of anger. Seeing the wooden sticks in the yard, he picked up one.

Lin Cuihua was in the kitchen, humming a little tune.

She felt happy when she thought about Qiu Xuan's broken leg.

Hearing the movement behind her, she turned around to share in the joy.

But what greeted her was a stick thicker than her arm.

She was hit with stick after stick until she collapsed on the ground and could hardly cry anymore.

Qiu Shitou made a "Pooh" sound and spat at her again.

"You trouble-making bastard, I'm going to break your legs today and see if you dare to go out and cause trouble again!"

Lin Cuihua sobbed. Both of her legs were broken and she was in so much pain that she couldn't utter a word.