Qi An clicked his tongue twice: "He's already dizzy? The old man's mental fortitude is lacking. This is only the beginning."
The servants quickly carried Han's mother back to her room. Qi An gave no instructions, and no one called a doctor for her.
Yuan Qing was indeed very efficient. Before nightfall, the bizarre and dramatic love affair between Han's mother, the housekeeper, and the four old women had spread rapidly throughout the capital.
At the same time, news also spread that the Han family relied entirely on their daughter-in-law's dowry to support the family, and that Han's mother abused her kind, gentle, and filial daughter-in-law.
People have always enjoyed watching gossip about high society, especially since it incorporates popular elements such as scandalous love affairs, love triangles, wicked mothers-in-law, and property disputes.
The Han family and Han's mother suddenly became famous in the capital.
"That old woman used her daughter-in-law's dowry to cheat on her husband, and then she bullied the girl, taking advantage of her and eating her food. She's shameless."
"That's right, they're halfway to the ground and they're not ashamed at all. It's disgusting to even talk about it."
"That housekeeper is amazing; he can completely bewitch five old women."
"Oh, that poor girl from the Song family. She lost her mother at a young age and married into such a family. She's a filial daughter, living like a widow while still treating her mother-in-law like her own mother. What a pity..."
"Who can argue with that? With that old woman's character, what good could her son be? I think they married Miss Song just for her dowry."
"I think so too..."
"I also……"
Qi An listened to Yuan Qing's report, a pleased smile playing on his lips.
Okay, now that Song Xinlan's image as an innocent and pitiful victim is established, things will be easier from now on.
Ata asked, puzzled, "Boss, this isn't like you. You usually do things directly. Why are you taking a roundabout approach and waging a war of words this time?"
Qi An smiled and said, "Song Xinlan still has a family. This is ancient times. If her reputation is ruined, it will have a great impact on her father's business and her brother's studies and marriage. We have to consider her family."
"Besides, it wasn't her fault in the first place, there's no reason for her to suffer."
Ata nodded.
Qi An then ordered his men to retrieve all of Song Xinlan's valuables from Han's mother, and also to empty Han's mother's private treasury.
Most of it came from Song Xinlan's dowry, but some of it was Han's mother's private property accumulated over the years.
After all, if Song Xinlan's money is all spent, then Han Xiuzhe's salary will be saved.
So when Han's mother woke up the next day, she was faced with an empty room, with no servants around.
All her precious antiques, jewelry, jade screens, silks and satins were gone, and even her bedding was taken by Yuan Qing.
That was bought with Mrs. Hua's money.
When Han's mother went to her private vault, she found it completely empty.
Her throat tasted metallic, her vision blurred, and she almost vomited blood again.
Han's mother loved her son most in this life, followed by money. This is why she agreed to let her son marry Song Xinlan even though she was not satisfied with her.
But now, not a single hair of her precious baby is left.
Han's mother rushed into Song Xinlan's courtyard like a madwoman. Green Pearl and Red Bean were serving Qi An breakfast, while Yuan Qing was reporting on his work progress.
Qi An ate with relish; she wouldn't deprive herself. The servants were now very perceptive, bringing all sorts of good things to Qi An.
Anyway, the one thing the master has the most of is money.
The clever new housekeeper also instructed the servants that whatever they went out to buy, they should say it was for the old lady.
As a result, the criticism of Han's mother intensified, making her reputation even more infamous, which only made Song Xinlan seem more innocent and pitiful.
Watching Qi An devour his food, Han's mother's eyes were bloodshot, her hair disheveled, and she was barefoot, looking every bit like a madwoman.
"Where's my silver? You stole all the treasures from my yard! Give them back to me!"
Qi An spat out a bone in her face: "What a big mouth you have. Think it over before you speak. Are those treasures yours?"
Han's mother choked, only then remembering that she had snatched those priceless treasures from Song Xinlan.
After using them for a long time, she forgot that those things never belonged to her in the first place.
"What about the silver in my private treasury? That's my son's salary. You wretch, give it back to me now!"
Upon hearing the word "bitch," Qi An gave Yuan Qing a look, and Yuan Qing immediately slapped Han's mother across the face.
Han's mother covered her mouth in disbelief; how dare a lowly servant hit her, his master?
Qi An said with dissatisfaction, "Didn't you eat? Is that all the strength you have?"
Qi An stood up and punched Han's mother, knocking out all her teeth. Han's mother opened her bloody mouth wide and rolled around in pain.
Yuan Qing, Hong Dou, and Lü Zhu: "..." Master is mighty.
"Old man, can you speak human language now?"
Han's mother was terrified of being beaten, and nodded through her tears.
Qi An sat down and continued eating: "Other families earn money to support their wives, but you and your son are doing the opposite, eating and taking money from each other."
"How much money have you cost me these past three years? Your good-for-nothing son's meager salary isn't even enough for me to have a decent meal, and you still have the nerve to ask me for money."
Han's mother was both hungry and in pain, and dared not retaliate.
She thought to herself, "Let you be smug for a few days. My son will be back soon, and when he does, I'll have him beat you to death."
Her son had sent her a message a while ago saying he was coming back, but she hadn't told Song Xinlan. It's been about a month and a half since then.
Qi An continued, "Now that you're awake, you don't need to stay in the courtyard anymore. I've prepared a new place for you to live, and you'll move there in a bit."
"By the way, I don't support freeloaders. Right now, I'm short of a maid. You can fill in. Go sweep the yard first, and then wash the clothes."
Han's mother's eyes widened: "I..."
Qi An raised his fist: "...?"
Han's mother said, feeling frustrated, "I'll go."
After working hard all day on an empty stomach, Han's mother, who was so tired that she could barely straighten her back, was led by Yuan Qing to a new place to live.
Looking at the dirty, messy, and cold woodshed in front of her, Han's mother trembled with anger.
Several servants shoved her inside, threw her half a bowl of spoiled rice and a bowl of cold water, and then locked the door.
"The master has instructed that you must get up at Shenshi (3-5 PM) tomorrow to clean all the toilets in the mansion before you can eat."
Han's mother sat on the straw, sobbing uncontrollably, muttering curses at Qi An under her breath. She would quickly cover her mouth in fright at any noise outside.
She has a big appetite and had been working all day on an empty stomach, so she was almost starving.
I endured the nausea and finished the spoiled rice and cold water, gagging incessantly but daring not to vomit.
Han's mother, dressed in rough, stiff clothes and wrapped in a dirty, thin quilt, slept curled up in the corner of the woodshed.
She had only been asleep for less than two hours when someone roughly dragged her out of bed and took her to the backyard.
Upon seeing the stacks of toilets emitting a foul stench, Han's mother immediately vomited.
"Hurry up and swipe your brush, you can eat after you're done."
Han's mother had been pampered for the past few years, and she kept vomiting while brushing her teeth. By the time she finished brushing, it was already noon, and she was so exhausted from vomiting that she was almost fainting.
Then she received a cold, hard, spoiled bun and half a bowl of water.
She took it and began to devour it, finding it even more delicious than any other delicacy she had ever eaten before.
Qi An stood not far away watching and said with satisfaction, "Old people should get up early and move around more. Look how good his appetite is now and how energetic he is."
Ata: "..."
Listen to what people are saying.
The next second, Yuan Qing smiled and flattered, "Master is wise."
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