“Back then, you and a man left voluntarily. I clung to your legs and begged you not to go. You were afraid I would tell Zhao Jingzhong, so you locked me in the house. I didn’t eat or drink for two days. When Zhao Jingzhong came back and opened the door, you were already gone.”
Qiao's face turned deathly pale for a moment.
It's been so many years, and Zhao Shi'an was so young back then, how could he possibly remember?
"Shi'an, you must be mistaken, how could your mother..."
"You say you've lived a hard life all these years? This outfit of yours must be worth a lot of money, and the silver bracelet on your wrist and the silver hairpin in your hair are quite heavy. Compared to the aunties and grandmas in the village, you're much younger than them. Is this what you call living a hard life?"
After Zhao Shi'an finished speaking, the expressions of the people in the room varied.
That's absolutely right.
Looking at Qiao Shi and her two children who were clean and tidy, they hardly looked like people who had fled in a sorry state because they couldn't bear the hardships.
Mrs. Qiao stammered, unsure how to explain, and instinctively looked at her eldest daughter.
The thirteen-year-old girl was more composed than Mrs. Qiao; she stepped forward.
“Working in the fields is hardship, but being kept as a pet is not hardship either. My father is rich, but he has a lot of concubines in his mansion. When my mother was young, she could still get some of my father's favor, but now that she is old, new concubines come and go in the mansion, and my father has grown tired of my mother.”
“My two daughters and I had no place to stand in the mansion. The First Madam thought we were superfluous and wanted to sell us, so we escaped.”
As she spoke, the thirteen-year-old girl's tears began to fall.
“I can bear it, after all, I’m grown up and can take some of the hardships for my mother. But my sister is so young, and she’s going to be sold into a brothel. Won’t that ruin her life?”
Qiao's eyes also reddened.
Her daughter wasn't lying when she said that.
She wouldn't have run away if the master and mistress hadn't tried to sell her and her two daughters.
“We don’t ask for anything else, we just hope that this place can provide shelter for the three of us, mother and daughters.”
Mrs. Qiao held her two daughters, her eyes filled with tears; everyone who saw her felt sorry for her.
Zhao Shi'an's expression remained aloof.
"If you want somewhere to stay, tell the village chief. What do you want with me?"
Mrs. Qiao wiped away her tears.
“Son, I just want you to acknowledge me as your mother, otherwise I have no face to stay here.”
"Then don't stay."
Qiao looked pleadingly at the village chief, but the village chief avoided her gaze, not wanting to get involved in their affairs.
"Son, are you really so heartless? Don't you really disown me...?"
"What does it matter whether I acknowledge you or not? Oh, it does matter. If I acknowledge you, you'll benefit from my success in the imperial examinations."
"son……"
"But I just don't want to acknowledge you. Who do you think you are? When I was starving as a child, it was Douya who took me home. It was Aunt Da Niu who fed me and made me clothes. It was Uncle Da Niu who let me go to school. What have you ever given me? You've given me nothing except to bring me into this world. Why should I acknowledge you?"
Qiao was humiliated by his words.
"You said it yourself, I'm the one who gave birth to you..."
"Then I'll return this life to you?"
Fang Qing and Fang Daniu were both terrified.
"elder brother."
"Shi'an, don't talk nonsense. I understand your attitude. You and Douya go to the county town after you finish eating. I'll help you handle these matters," Fang Daniu said, frowning.
Zhao Shi'an didn't bother to look at Qiao Shi again, so he took Fang Qing's hand and left.
Fang Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief after stepping out of her house and getting into the carriage.
"Brother, are you alright?"
"What could possibly happen to me? Don't worry."
The influence of the Qiao family on him had already been worn away in the previous life, and she could no longer control his emotions in this life.
After they left, Fang Daniu looked at the three women, including the Qiao family.
"Shi'an won't acknowledge you. If you want a place to stay, stay in Zhao Jingzhong's old house. I'll pay for it to be renovated and I'll also give you money to live on. But don't even think about bothering Shi'an anymore."
Qiao's pleasant expression towards Zhao Shi'an vanished completely, especially after hearing Fang Daniu's words, her face instantly changed.
"What do you mean? Zhao Shi'an is my son, why won't you let him acknowledge me?"
"Oh, I see. You're clinging to him now that he's successful, aren't you? Dream on! Zhao Shi'an is my son, even in death he's still my son!"
Fang Daniu frowned as he looked at her.
"Don't throw a tantrum. This arrangement is the best for you. If you behave yourself, Shi'an might forgive you in a few years. But he hates this kind of persistent pestering. If you continue like this, I dare say that you and your son are probably doomed to be apart in this life."
Before Mrs. Qiao could say anything more, her daughter tugged at her arm.
The village chief looked at Fang Daniu with embarrassment.
"Da Niu, I'm so sorry, I didn't know she was like this. Sigh, I won't meddle anymore. Tell Shi An not to be angry with me."
The village chief left, and Qiao had no choice but to leave as well.
Qiao stood at the entrance of the alley watching the village chief leave, glaring angrily at her daughter.
Her eldest daughter was named Ma Ru, and her second daughter was named Ma Xiao. Both names were given perfunctorily by her husband.
Ma Ru was shrewd, and Qiao Shi usually listened to her on many matters.
What did you mean by pulling me just now?
“If I don’t stop you, things will only get worse. Since Fang Daniu has already agreed to fix my house, let’s just call it a day. You just saw my brother’s attitude. Asking him to acknowledge you now will only make him more annoyed. Let’s talk to Fang Daniu about it in a few days.”
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Qiao realized it was true and went home cursing.
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