Chapter 106 Min Qiao Shi Gets Slapped
The house that the Qiao family prepared for Madam Min was even more thoughtful than it appeared.
In addition to cleaning in advance, the room was filled with rice, flour, cooking oil, and several baskets of fresh vegetables, as well as enough chicken, duck, fish, and meat for Min Qiao's group to eat for several days.
Even the bed sheets and duvet covers in each room were brand new.
The main bedroom, in particular, was clearly meticulously arranged and was obviously prepared specifically for Madam Min.
Seeing this, Granny Fang breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a mix of joy and emotion, "Grandma, the old master and old lady really do care about you."
Min Qiao nodded, her heart heavy, unable to describe the feeling.
Min Qiaoshi ate breakfast early, bathed and changed her clothes, and went to bed. Nothing happened that night.
The next morning, Madam Min Qiao got up early, prepared the gifts she had brought from the capital, and set off for the Qiao family's old residence.
The Qiao family's old residence was only visited a few times by Min Qiaoshi when she was a child, and the details have become blurred due to the passage of time.
However, when she actually stood at the entrance of the old house, she couldn't help but feel her eyes sting with tears.
At that time, the Qiao family's old residence was inhabited by clansmen who looked after the house, while the Qiao family lived in Hangzhou city.
When I occasionally return, the people of my tribe always come out to greet me warmly.
But now, the old house is still the same old house, but the once bustling and illustrious place has become deserted.
"Madam, please come in. The old master and old lady are waiting for you."
Upon seeing Madam Min Qiao arrive, the Qiao family's gatekeeper came forward, his attitude not particularly warm, but still respectful.
The gatekeeper led Madam Min through the side door.
Granny Fang frowned slightly. It was one thing that no one came to greet her at the city gate, but when she arrived at her home, no one came out to greet her either! And to make matters worse, why was the Grand Madam made to use the side gate?
This is so disrespectful to the Madam!
Madam Min knew that Granny Fang was feeling wronged on her behalf, but what did she have to feel wronged about?
Given what she did back then, the fact that the Qiao family is still willing to acknowledge her and let her into their home is already a tremendous blessing.
So he shook his head at Granny Fang and followed the gatekeeper inside.
The group passed over the screen wall and entered through the hanging flower gate. The gatekeeper returned to his original position, and the old woman from the inner courtyard continued to lead the way.
However, as soon as the group walked through the covered corridor and entered the third courtyard, they saw two old ladies and three or five maids and servants coming towards Madam Min Qiao.
Upon closer inspection, Madam Min recognized one of the elderly ladies immediately. She was her elder brother Qiao Qingping's first wife, her sister-in-law, Xiao Li.
Because her mother's surname was also Li, everyone used to call her mother "Big Li" and her sister-in-law "Little Li".
Of course, her mother and her sister-in-law were not related by blood; they just happened to share the same surname, Li.
Ms. Li's expression was peaceful, her eyebrows and eyes relaxed, just like the gentle and graceful woman she remembered.
The other woman, with her gray hair, looked much older than her sister-in-law, but she didn't recognize her at first glance. She only vaguely felt that she looked very familiar.
However, the man had a cold face and a blank look in his eyes, and he didn't match anyone in her memory.
Upon seeing the two, Granny Fang's face lit up with joy, and she reminded them, "Grand Madam, it's the First Madam and the Second Madam."
Madam Min was taken aback. Second Madam? Was that gray-haired woman her second sister-in-law? Madam Zhou?
If she remembered correctly, her second sister-in-law was only a few years older than her and two years younger than her eldest sister-in-law, but why did she look ten years older than her eldest sister-in-law?
Before Madam Min could recover from her shock, the two had already arrived in front of her.
"Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law..." Min Qiaoshi spoke first.
However, before she could even open her mouth, Zhou raised her hand and slapped her across the face.
"Second sister-in-law?" Madam Min Qiao was extremely surprised.
In both her past and present lives, this was the first slap she had ever received!
Granny Fang and the others who came with her, Ayi, Ashuang, and Asi, looked at Madam Zhou in disbelief.
This sudden turn of events also startled Ms. Li, who had come along.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?" Little Li reached out and grabbed Zhou, then quickly explained apologetically to Min Qiao, "Sister, don't be angry, your second sister-in-law didn't mean it. She just..."
However, before Xiao Li could finish speaking, Zhou suddenly broke free from her hand, rushed up and punched Min Qiao in the chest, then tightly grabbed Min Qiao's clothes.
"Qiao Qinghe! Qiao Qinghe! Why are you outside? Why did you come back? How dare you come back? How have you the face to come back? Qiao Qinghe! Why don't you just die? Why?..."
Zhou's originally cold and stern face was filled with anger, and her originally dull eyes turned into a deep and piercing hatred.
She cursed loudly and tore at Min Qiaoshi with all her might, looking as if she wanted to devour Min Qiaoshi alive.
Min Qiao was so shocked that she was speechless and forgot to react. She just stared blankly at Zhou.
Everyone else was also stunned. After they came to their senses, Xiao Li quickly had someone come up and pull Zhou away.
Granny Fang and the others quickly shielded Madam Min behind them.
"Qiao Qinghe! Why don't you just die? Qiao Qinghe! How dare you come back? How dare you come back... Qiao Qinghe..."
Zhou was held tightly by the two old women, unable to move an inch. Yet she still glared at Min Qiao, cursing and questioning, her voice hoarse and tears streaming down her face.
Min Qiaoshi watched the crazed Zhou Shi from a distance, separated by two groups of people, tears blurring her vision without her realizing it.
In her memory, her second sister-in-law was a warm and lively woman. Unlike her eldest sister-in-law, who always maintained a gentle and virtuous demeanor as the eldest daughter-in-law and matriarch, her second sister-in-law always liked strange and fun things. Whenever she came across something interesting, she would bring it to play with her. Her second sister-in-law also loved to go out and would often drag her along.
The eldest sister-in-law is like a mother to her. If her eldest sister-in-law plays the role of a mother in her eyes, then her second sister-in-law is like an older sister and best friend. They love each other and talk about everything.
However, her second sister-in-law, who loved to laugh and play and liked her more than anyone else, now hated her to the core!
"Second sister-in-law..."
Min Qiao pushed aside the crowd blocking her way and slowly approached Zhou Shi. "Second sister-in-law, what has happened to you all these years? Why do you hate me so much?"
She desperately wanted an answer.
But Zhou seemed not to hear her at all, only glaring at her fiercely, and even tried to break free from the old woman's grip, rushing up to tear at her.
It was obvious that the two old women had been specially chosen; they were extremely strong. No matter how much Zhou struggled, their hands remained firmly welded to her shoulders and arms like iron clamps, rendering her unable to move.
Min Qiao looked at the two old women's hands; the force was too great. Without even looking, she knew that the places where Zhou Shi had been grabbed by the two women must have already turned blue.
Madam Min looked at Madam Zhou with heartache and said to Madam Li, "Eldest sister-in-law, let Second Sister-in-law go back to rest. Have the maid apply some medicine to Second Sister-in-law."
Little Li nodded and waved for someone to take Zhou away.
After everyone left, she wiped her eyes and said with a look of self-reproach, "Sigh, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have let your second sister-in-law come out with me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been beaten by her."
As she spoke, she looked apologetically at the red mark on Min Qiao's face, "Does it still hurt? Should I call a doctor to take a look at you?"
Madam Min frowned almost imperceptibly and asked in a deep voice, "Second sister-in-law, what's wrong? You seem a bit mentally unstable."
Hearing this, Madam Li wiped her eyes again. "You should ask your parents about your second sister-in-law's matter. I shouldn't say too much."
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