Chapter 100 Provocation and Testing
"Where did this old woman come from? How dare she meddle in my business? I think you're tired of living!"
The young man named Cui Hao looked to be in his early twenties. He was quite handsome, but he looked at people with a sidelong glance and had an arrogant and haughty demeanor.
A few steps away from him, Qiao Laosan, Qiao Qingchen, was also looking at Min Qiaoshi with a shocked expression.
Seeing Madam Min approach, Qiao Qingchen bowed apologetically to her, saying, "Madam, I appreciate your kindness. However, please don't meddle in my affairs, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
No sooner had Qiao Qingchen finished speaking than Cui Hao looked at Qiao Qingchen with a strange smile, then at Min Qiao Shi, and said in a vulgar tone, "Tsk tsk, they do look somewhat like a married couple! Third Brother Qiao, is this old woman your lover?"
"You brat from the Cui family, how dare you spout such nonsense and slander someone's innocence?"
Qiao Qingchen immediately turned red with anger, "If you want to target me, just come at me directly, why drag unrelated people into this?"
Cui Hao said with a mocking smile, "If this old woman weren't your lover, why would she bother with your business? Hehe, I must say, you two really do look alike! Look, everyone! Don't you look alike? Don't you look alike?"
Upon closer inspection, someone exclaimed, "They really do look alike! Oh dear, could there really be some connection?"
Hearing everyone say that the two looked alike, Qiao Qingchen couldn't help but take a few more glances at Min Qiao Shi. Upon seeing her, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.
He looked at Min Qiaoshi with excitement, and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.
"You, you are..."
Qiao Qingchen still couldn't believe her eyes, her tone full of hesitation and disbelief.
Seeing Qiao Qingchen's expression, Cui Hao immediately perked up and exclaimed excitedly, "See? See? You still dare to say that this old woman isn't your lover?"
When Madam Min saw that Qiao Qingchen recognized her, she became impatient with the noise.
He immediately ordered the men behind him: "Smash his mouth."
Ajiu stepped forward in response, and the people around Cui Hao quickly protected him.
The four servants who came out with Min Qiaoshi also rushed forward to help block the people protecting Cui Hao.
Seeing the opportunity, Ajiu rushed towards Cui Hao.
Surprisingly, when Ajiu slapped Cui Hao, she missed.
Cui Hao quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding Ajiu's slap.
It wasn't until Cui Hao retreated into the crowd and was blocked that A Jiu caught up and kicked him in the back of the knee, causing him to kneel down and take two solid blows.
Just then, several white-haired elderly men dressed in brocade robes slowly descended the stairs.
Upon seeing this, the diners in the restaurant who had been watching the commotion spontaneously stepped aside to make way for the group.
Thus, Ajiu, holding Cui Hao captive, and Min Qiaoshi's people, blocking the Cui family, became the only two obstacles in the middle of the road.
"Isn't this Magistrate Cui's nephew? What is he doing?" a thin old man with a goatee asked.
Another old man in blue, with a mocking expression, said, "Young Cui, you've got a bad time too?"
Cui Hao blushed with embarrassment, broke free from Ajiu's grip, stood up, dusted off his trousers, and bowed to the old men, saying, "I'm sorry to have made you all laugh at me. I only made a few sarcastic remarks about Uncle Qiao, and I was beaten up. I beg you all to help me."
The old men exchanged glances, communicating silently.
After a moment, the old man with the goatee stepped forward and said, "In the end, you were in the wrong first, so you should apologize to him properly."
As he spoke, he led his men to Madam Min Qiao, cupped his hands and said, "Madam, this young Cui was unintentional. Please, for my sake, have him apologize to Master Qiao, and let this matter be over. What do you think?"
Min Qiaoshi narrowed her eyes slightly.
She realized that this was a premeditated act aimed at her.
Whether it's humiliating Qiao Qingchen or deliberately slandering her, it's all to test her bottom line and attitude.
Cui Hao's appearance was not an accident. The old men's attempts to reconcile them were definitely not a coincidence either.
She had already spread the word in Suzhou, and three days was enough time for interested people in Hangzhou to notice her arrival.
"What if I disagree?" Madam Min raised her chin slightly, her eyes looking down at him with an air of dominance.
Upon hearing this, the old man with the goatee didn't even change his expression. He just smiled faintly and said casually, "Then consider it me meddling in other people's business."
With that, he bowed to Madam Min and said, "I'll take my leave now."
They left so decisively and cleanly.
The other two old men quickly followed the old man with the goatee.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
These three are incredibly influential figures in the Jiangnan region! In Hangzhou, they are so powerful that a mere stomp of their feet can shake the entire city!
He was clearly going to meddle in other people's business just now, so why did he turn around and leave after only two sentences?
It's truly baffling!
However, there was one thing that everyone noticed.
That is, this old lady is definitely not a simple person!
Sure enough, as soon as the three old men left, Cui Hao respectfully bowed to Madam Min Qiao and apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, Madam. I was rude and offended you. I will send the apology to the Yuelai Inn later. Please forgive me this time."
As he spoke, he slapped himself several times.
Good heavens, Cui Hao's blows are no less severe than Ajiu's! He slapped himself twice across the face in just a few strokes.
Madam Min raised her hand. "Go."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Cui Hao bowed and left with his men.
They came in a whirlwind and left in a whirlwind, as if their trip wasn't for a meal, but specifically to humiliate others.
Now, the atmosphere in the restaurant became even stranger.
Min Qiaoshi also knew that she could no longer stay at the restaurant.
After paying the bill, he took Qiao Qingchen back to the Yuelai Inn.
Madam Min took Qiao Qingchen back to her room, with Ajiu following silently.
Since leaving home, Ajiu has stayed by Min Qiaoshi's side almost every step of the way. Even when she leaves for a short while, she always makes sure that there are other people with Min Qiaoshi.
Aqi was busy making tea for Min Qiaoshi and Qiao Qingchen. Asi went to the inn's kitchen.
Just now at the restaurant, no one ate much. Especially the old lady, she had only taken a few bites when the troublemakers arrived.
She wanted the inn to prepare dinner for everyone again, and also to make sure someone made a separate meal for the Dowager Madam. And yes, she also wanted to prepare one for that Third Master Qiao.
After the three returned to their guest room upstairs, Ajiu stood at the door, and Madam Min Qiao led Qiao Qingchen to sit down at the small table in the room, where the two began to talk.
"You must be Xiao Sanzi, Chen Ge'er?" Madam Min Qiao said with a sigh, "It's been more than 30 years since we last met, and even my eldest sister wouldn't recognize you."
Tears streamed down Qiao Qingchen's face as he asked incredulously, "You, are you really my eldest sister? Are you really my eldest sister, Qiao Qinghe?"
"I am! I am Qiao Qinghe! I am your older sister!" Madam Min Qiao couldn't hold back her tears either.
After so many years, someone is finally calling her name!
Her name is Qiao Qinghe. She was the eldest granddaughter of the Qiao family, a wealthy merchant family in Jiangnan! She was also a well-known capable girl in Hangzhou!
But now, she can only be called Min Qiao Shi!
...
Mini-theater:
Qiao Qinghe: As the female lead, I only got my own name after 100 chapters! Is that reasonable?
End of winter month: Outrageous! Therefore, from now on you will still be called Min Qiao Shi!
Min Qiaoshi: o(╥﹏╥)o
Min Qiao Shi: A Jiu, slap her in the mouth!
End of winter: o(╯□╰)o
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