Chapter 113 The Story of the Second Branch of the Qiao Family
"Qiao Qinghe! Why did you come back? Why don't you just die? It's all your fault! It's all because of you!..."
Upon seeing Min Qiao, Zhou went berserk and tried to rush up and tear her apart.
Having no other choice, the crowd had to subdue Zhou and urge Min Qiao to leave the second house's courtyard.
After the birthday banquet for Old Madam Qiao was over, all the families returned the Qiao family's properties. Even the dowry house that had been taken from Madam Min Qiao was returned by the Cui family.
Everything is developing according to the outcome that Min Qiaoshi wanted.
Even the murderer in the Li family massacre has been caught.
As for whether she was the real culprit, Madam Min Qiao did not care.
All she needs to do is clear her name and prevent the blame for the Li family massacre from being placed on her.
Everything has come to a temporary end. Madam Min Qiao also has time to check on Madam Zhou's situation.
When Zhou saw her that day, he was emotionally agitated and acted erratically, which puzzled her and made her very worried.
So, whenever she had time, she would come to see Mrs. Zhou.
However, before she even got close, Zhou, who had been normal, went berserk again when she saw her from afar.
Helpless, she had no choice but to back out.
"Don't be sad, sister-in-law. She didn't do it on purpose. She's suffered too much trauma over the years, that's why she's like this."
Xiao Li, who accompanied Min Qiao to visit Zhou, comforted Min Qiao in a kind and gentle manner.
Perhaps because Madam Min had brought back many benefits for the Qiao family during this period, and with Madam Min in charge, the people around her had become more respectful of the Qiao family, allowing Madam Li to regain some of her former glory. Therefore, her attitude towards Madam Min had become increasingly amiable these days.
Madam Min Qiao naturally noticed the change in Xiao Li's attitude towards her, but she didn't care. She continued to treat Xiao Li with the same respect, politeness, and attentiveness as always.
Seeing that Xiao Li had brought up Zhou's situation, she immediately asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what has Second Sister-in-law been through all these years? Was all the trauma she suffered related to me? Why is Second Sister-in-law usually fine, but becomes like this whenever she sees me?"
Little Li looked at Min Qiao, her expression hesitant, as if she wanted to say something but didn't.
Madam Min's heart sank, and she urged firmly, "Sister-in-law, please speak your mind. If it's my fault, I will try my best to make amends. If it's not my fault, I won't abandon my second sister-in-law!"
Seeing Min Qiao's resolute attitude, Madam Li sighed heavily and slowly said, "I don't know the specifics. I only know that less than two years after you got married, your second sister-in-law's eldest son had an accident. Your second sister-in-law was heartbroken at the time, but at least she still had her younger son, which was some comfort. It took her several years to recover."
"But just as I was recovering, my youngest son was gone too."
At this point, Xiao Li couldn't help but tear up. "Your second sister-in-law is truly unfortunate. She lost two children in succession. If it weren't for your second brother always staying by her side, she would have gone with the two children long ago."
Upon hearing this, Madam Min felt a lump in her throat and couldn't help but shed tears.
"Where is my second brother? I've been back for so long, why haven't I seen him come back?" Min Qiao suddenly thought of Qiao Qinghui.
It's not fair to blame her for being slow to notice; she's been back for so long without asking. The main reason is that before she got married, her eldest brother, Qiao Qingping, was responsible for staying at home to help their father and grandfather manage the Qiao family.
Meanwhile, the second brother, Qiao Qinghui, was busy traveling around, taking charge of the Qiao family's businesses outside the family.
Upon returning this time, she did not see her second brother, Qiao Qinghui. Madam Min assumed that Qiao Qinghui was busy outside and did not know that she had returned, so she did not rush back immediately.
But now, seeing the condition of my second sister-in-law, Zhou, I'm afraid...
Min Qiao felt uneasy.
Sure enough, the eldest sister-in-law, Xiao Li, said sadly, "Your second brother... passed away a few years ago."
Madam Min felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced her heart, and tears streamed down her face. "How...how could this be? How could my second brother be gone?"
Xiao Li also cried along with Min Qiao.
Qiao Qingping, Qiao Qinghui, and Qiao Qinghe are all siblings born of the same mother.
When Xiao Li entered the family, Qiao Qinghe was still young and lived with her grandparents, so she wasn't very close to Xiao Li.
Qiao Qinghui, her brother-in-law, showed great respect for Xiao Li. Many times, when Qiao Qingping couldn't openly protect Xiao Li, it was Qiao Qinghui who stepped in to help her out.
Therefore, Madam Li did have some genuine affection for her brother-in-law, Qiao Qinghui. Incidentally, she also felt considerable pity for Madam Zhou.
After a moment, Madam Min Qiao finally calmed down and asked in a trembling voice, "How exactly did Second Brother die? And how did Second Sister-in-law end up like this?"
Madam Li wiped away her tears and said in a sorrowful tone, "After losing her two children, your second sister-in-law took many years to gradually recover. Then she became pregnant unexpectedly and gave birth to a daughter. Only then did the second branch of the family gradually get better."
"However, by then, the Qiao family was completely finished. Faced with the government's targeting, the encirclement and suppression by the three major merchants, and the betrayal by the Cui family, the Qiao family had no place to stand in Hangzhou."
"After that, in order to save the lives of everyone in the Qiao family, my grandfather took a desperate gamble, abandoned his family and business, and retreated from Hangzhou back to his hometown in Xincheng County."
"Life in Xincheng County is not as glamorous as life in Hangzhou, and I am often criticized, but at least it is relatively stable."
"And so another ten years or so passed. Until a few years ago, your second sister-in-law's daughter, Yuanyuan, reached the age for marriage."
"As soon as the Qiao family announced that they would arrange a marriage for Yuanyao, people came to their door seeking a match."
“That’s an old friend of the Qiao family. They have a clean family background and are wealthy. We’ve met their children before; they’re quite good kids.”
"After making many inquiries, we all felt that the boy was a good person. So, we agreed to the marriage."
"But who knew that not long after the marriage was arranged, the other family came to break off the engagement."
When asked why, they gave vague answers and refused to elaborate.
"We assumed they had some unspeakable difficulties, but after inquiring, we found out they were being coerced."
"In order not to put them in a difficult position, we had no choice but to break off the engagement with their family."
“From then on, it became difficult to arrange marriages in distant places.”
"Later, we made arrangements with two more companies, but both ended in cancellation."
"Yuanyao couldn't stand this injustice and vowed never to get married again."
"But who would have thought that at this time, the Cui family came to the door and said that the three marriages that Yuanyao had been rejected were all arranged by the Cui family from the beginning! The rejection of the marriages was also arranged in advance by them."
"Now that Yuanyao has been rejected by her fiancé several times, her reputation is completely ruined. The Cui family, considering themselves kind-hearted, is willing to take Yuanyao as a maidservant for Cui Cheng's youngest son. They even said that if she gives birth to a boy in the future, they will promote Yuanyao to a concubine. Isn't this better than letting Yuanyao stay in the Qiao family and live a lonely and miserable life, being talked about behind her back for the rest of her life?"
Madam Min slammed her hand hard on the stone table in front of her. "Outrageous! How dare the Cui family humiliate Yuanyao and bully the Qiao family like this!"
Little Li's eyes were also filled with resentment, "Who says otherwise!"
"The Cui family are two-faced scoundrels!"
"In order to curry favor with the Qiao family, the ancestors of the Cui family begged and cried to arrange a marriage alliance with the Qiao family."
"When the Qiao family lost power, the Cui family was the first to jump out and kick them when they were down."
"He's truly a scoundrel!"
...
Mini-theater:
Qiao Yuanyao: Hmm, this name... isn't very auspicious!
Late winter month: There's no other way. Your eldest brother is named Qiao Jingyuan, and your second brother is named Qiao Jingyao. Both of your brothers are dead, so your parents had to give you these names to commemorate your two short-lived brothers.
Qiao Yuanyao: ...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com