Thinking it over, Lin Chunying took the dried fish, put it in the kitchen, and then took a chilled cucumber from the water tank and gave it to Qiao Qiqi.

"Look, it's been kept chilled in the water tank all this time, it's kept cool."

Although Qiao Qiqi really wanted to eat it, she held back. "Never mind, I'm on my period right now, I can't eat it."

Lin Chunying paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How many days is it?"

Qiao Qiqi, unsuspecting, casually replied, "Three days."

Ouch!

Upon hearing that it was the day Qiao Qiqi had asked her for her household registration book, Lin Chunying angrily slapped her.

"You brat, you lied to me! You two didn't... you actually lied to me and said you two did 'that'!"

"that?"

Qiao Qiqi was stunned for a moment before realizing what Lin Chunying was talking about, and then laughed, "Mother, you mean the wedding night? We didn't have a wedding night, that's because I had my period, but we did sleep together the day before."

Fearing that Lin Chunying would feel she had wronged Qin Huai, Qiao Qiqi immediately assured her, "Don't worry, although Qin Huai and I didn't consummate our marriage, I will definitely make it up to him properly after I finish in seven days."

Lin Chunying's face stiffened. Seeing that she dared to say such a thing directly, she glared at her.

"You silly girl, you can't keep your mouth shut."

Qiao Qiqi chuckled, then glanced out of the corner of her eye at the window of the east room.

Upon seeing a figure lurking in the corner, and realizing that Lu Xiufen was eavesdropping on their conversation, a cold smile quickly spread across her lips.

This old hag always liked to eavesdrop on the conversations between the mother and daughter, a fact that Qiao Qiqi already knew from the original owner's memories.

Seeing that Lu Xiufen was indeed eavesdropping again, just as she had expected, Qiao Qiqi immediately took out the handkerchief she had brought from her pocket and stuffed it into Lin Chunying's hand.

"Oh dear, I suddenly have a stomachache. This is the betrothal gift Qin Huai gave me. I'm afraid it will fall into the latrine. Could you please catch it for me?"

Lin Chunying was surprised, "You child, why do you carry so much money with you? Aren't you afraid of losing it?"

"I was just worried that if I left it at home, no one would be home and it would get lost," she said, clutching her stomach and crying out again. "Oh no, I can't take it anymore. I'm going now. Please remember to put it away carefully for me, and please don't lose it."

Lin Chunying watched her run quickly to the backyard and shook her head helplessly.

She had intended to carry it with her, but the tank top and shorts she was wearing didn't have any pockets, so there was nowhere to put it.

Thinking about it, she turned around and went into the house, stuffing the money into the cabinet.

To keep an eye on Lu Xiufen in the east room, she made sure to close the door before going out to continue washing clothes.

Soon, the door to the east room opened, and a furtive figure sneaked into the west room.

Qiao Qiqi pressed her face against the back window and saw the figure linger in the west room for about a minute before quickly returning to the east room, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

Once she was certain that things were going as she had envisioned, she immediately dusted off her clothes and went back to the front yard.

When Lin Chunying saw her return, she immediately said, "I put your money in the cabinet. Go and get it back quickly."

"No rush. I see the persimmons in the yard are ready. Mom, where's the sun hat I bought for you? Can I wear it for a bit? I want to pick a couple of persimmons to eat."

Lin Chunying's face stiffened, and she quickly said, "I put the hat away. I'm too lazy to look for it. You can just go pick it. It's just two persimmons, it'll be quick."

Qiao Qiqi quickly glanced at the window of the east room and asked quietly, "Mother, is your hat really at home? It wasn't stolen again, was it?"

Lin Chunying was exposed. She looked up and saw Qiao Qiqi staring at the east room with a sneer. Realizing that her daughter already knew, and adhering to the principle of avoiding trouble, she immediately said, "Forget it, it's just a hat."

Qiao Qiqi knew that Lin Chunying would definitely do the same thing as before and not care.

She didn't seem to care and simply looked away, saying, "Okay, then give me the money. I'm going back now."

Lin Chunying was initially worried that Qiao Qiqi would hold a grudge, but seeing that she didn't mind, she immediately wiped her hands and said, "Okay, Mother will take it to you."

He turned and went back into the house, but what he saw there was terrible!

The money is gone!

Lin Chunying's expression changed drastically, fearing that she had misremembered. She immediately took out all the clothes from the closet and shook them out one by one.

She clearly put the money in this spot just now, but now she can't find it anywhere.

Qiao Qiqi walked into the house. "Mother, what's wrong?"

Lin Chunying froze, suddenly realizing something, and jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed) and ran to the east room.

As soon as she ran out of the house, she saw a figure flash by the door. Lu Xiufen quickly rushed out and ran towards the gate of the courtyard.

"Mother, stop right there!" Lin Chunying realized something was wrong and immediately chased after her.

Qiao Qiqi followed closely behind and chased after her.

Seeing that the two had spotted her so quickly, Lu Xiufen ran even faster, carrying her crutch in her hand and running swiftly on her short legs, showing no trace of her usual unsteady gait.

Qiao Qiqi saw this scene from behind and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

She always knew that Lu Xiufen was just pretending to carry the cane; in reality, she was just trying to shirk her work.

But Lu Xiufen was getting old, and coupled with her long period of not working, her physical strength couldn't keep up, and she soon got out of breath from running.

Seeing that the distance between them was getting closer and closer, Lin Chunying chased after them with all her might, "Mother, stop right there!"

Seeing that the two were about to catch up, Lu Xiufen suddenly saw a familiar figure appear at the intersection ahead.

This person was none other than Zhao Yuxiang, the second wife of Qiao Qiqi's uncle.

Zhao Yuxiang also saw the three of them. As Lu Xiufen ran up to her, she asked in confusion, "Mom, why are you running so fast?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lu Xiufen suddenly shoved a wad of money into her hand and said quickly, "Take this money and go!"

When Zhao Yuxiang saw so much money, her eyes lit up. Before she could ask what was going on, she turned and ran.

But how could Qiao Qiqi let her get away?!

She immediately ran forward and blocked Zhao Yuxiang's path, "Aunt, what are you going to do?"

As they were talking, Lin Chunying caught up and immediately grabbed Lu Xiufen's hand, "Mother, how could you take Qiqi's betrothal money? Give the money back right now!"

Lu Xiufen was caught red-handed, but she still stubbornly refused to admit it. She suddenly shook off Lin Chunying's hand and looked arrogant.

"Who took your money? What does it have to do with me if you don't have your own money? Besides, I don't have any money on me at all. If you don't believe me..."

As she spoke, Lu Xiufen took action herself and emptied all her empty pockets.

Lin Chunying was completely dumbfounded when she saw this scene.

There were only three people in the house just now. If it wasn't her and her daughter who did it, then it could only be Lu Xiufen...

"Mom, the money is in Auntie's pocket," Qiao Qiqi reminded her.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuxiang exploded: "Qiao Qiqi, don't make false accusations! All the money on me is mine, how could it be yours? You said it was yours, did you put your name on it?"