Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 26: Chapter 026: Raised You in Vain_1 Chapter 26: Chapter 026: Raised You in Vain_1 Upon hearing Mrs. Ji’s words, Old Lady Qiao’s heart instantly understood. She charged at Qiao Yuanming, hitting him while shouting, “You black-hearted wretch, I’ve raised you for nothing! I never expected that you, who appear honest to my face, would be so malicious behind my back, deliberately harming your younger brother’s arm. Now you even try to pin it on your older brother. How could I have given birth to something as heartless and ungrateful as you!”

Qiao Yuanming felt extremely wronged and kept denying the accusations, but with his honest and ignorant nature, how could he know how to defend himself? Now that the couple from the main branch was pushing him away in a united front, he had no choice but to swallow the blame and let Old Lady Qiao beat him.

Qiao Dazhi also glared at him with a look of disappointment and slammed his palm on the table, scolding, “Wicked son. Wicked son! If Yuanzhen’s arm is really affected, I will never forgive you!”

Qiao Yuanming was simply dying of injustice. This matter clearly had nothing to do with him. How could his brother and sister-in-law shift the blame onto him now?

“Dad, I really didn’t do it…”

Finally, Madam Liu of the third branch spoke, “Dad, Mom, Yuanming is always honest and well-behaved. He never stirs up trouble, so how could he do such a thing? The main branch has united their testimony to push him out. You can’t just listen to one side of the story!”

Madam Liu was always astute, and her words hit the nail on the head. Upon hearing her, Old Mr. Qiao and Old Lady Qiao both woke up a bit and looked at the couple from the main branch with suspicion.

Qiao Yuanming immediately sent a grateful look to his wife. His clumsy tongue and muddled head certainly couldn’t clear his name.

Madam Liu, however, didn’t seem to appreciate his look and just gave him a cool glance before continuing to address Qiao Dazhi, “Dad, I just noticed that when my younger brother-in-law came back earlier, he looked particularly upset. If it were just an injured arm, he surely wouldn’t be in such a mood. Could something else have happened?”

The couple from the main branch, who might have wanted to defend themselves moments ago, now became extremely anxious upon hearing Madam Liu’s speculation, looking nervously at their parents.

Old Lady Zhao knew her own children best, and recalling her son’s chilling gaze, her anger surged as she pointed at the main branch couple and Qiao Laosan and shouted, “What exactly happened? If you dare hide anything from us, I’ll flay your skin! What exactly happened to Yuanzhen?”

The main branch couple looked at each other, just hanging their heads in silence without daring to speak. Qiao Laosan felt somewhat panic-stricken, knowing that after he revealed the true reason for his younger brother’s injury, he was immediately framed and set up for revenge by his older brother and sister-in-law. If he told the truth now, they would certainly not spare him, but his parents weren’t easy to fool either. In his hesitation, he could only turn his gaze toward Madam Liu.

Madam Liu glared at him indignantly and whispered lowly, “Speak up quickly!”

Qiao Yuanming then remembered that his wife was the one who had started this line of questioning, and she must have a way to extricate him. Even with his feudal male chauvinism, he was still very reliant on Madam Liu, for he knew his own lack of talent was indeed a fact.

Only then did Qiao Laosan muster the courage to speak, “The villagers mistakenly thought the fourth brother had an affair with the sister-in-law.”

“What?!” Qiao Dazhi jumped up furiously, while Old Lady Zhao almost fainted away.

Madam Liu secretly snickered with glee at Mrs. Ji’s impending doom, but she feigned shock on the surface, “There’s such a rumor? This will greatly impact the younger brother’s reputation. He is a candidate for the imperial examinations; reputation is of tremendous importance!”

Mrs. Ji glared at Madam Liu, and hastily said, “Dad, it’s not like that. It’s all because of that cheap wench Qiao Muniang…”

Qiao Dazhi was ablaze with anger, and with a direct slap to Mrs. Ji’s face, blood streamed from her nose, smearing half her face. Mrs. Ji was obviously terrified and quickly knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

“A woman like you is not worthy to be a daughter-in-law of the Qiao family! Get out!” Qiao Dazhi barked furiously. Qiao Yuanzhen was his Achilles’ heel; anyone who dared to harm Yuanzhen’s reputation would not be let off easily by him.

Mrs. Ji was stunned, knowing that this time Qiao Dazhi was truly furious. Being expelled would be a disaster for a woman’s life.

At this moment, Qiao Yuanshan certainly did not want to wade into these troubled waters. Even when Mrs. Ji gave him a pleading look, he ignored her completely, as what he feared most in life was his father.

As the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Old Lady Qiao spoke up in a weak voice, “That won’t do! If we drive her out, outsiders will think there’s truth to the rumor.” Regardless, Qiao Yuanzhen’s reputation was of utmost importance.

Only then did Qiao Dazhi calm down, his icy gaze sweeping over Mrs. Ji, who hastily begged for mercy, “Yes, yes, we are upright people who fear no slander. We cannot let others suspect us.”

Qiao Dazhi hesitated, and Mrs. Ji quickly pressed her advantage: “Father, this incident truly has nothing to do with me; it’s all Qiao Muniang, that wretched girl. Her husband injured Yuanshan, and she also tarnished Yuanshan’s reputation. It seems they cannot tolerate Yuanshan’s bright future. They are jealous of Yuanshan’s prospects and deliberately want to sever our Qiao family’s future!”

The more Mrs. Ji spoke, the more outrageous her claims became, conveniently blaming all faults on Qiao Muniang. Upon hearing this, the elder Qiaos naturally felt more than a little disgust toward their granddaughter, who had been sent away early on.

Mrs. Ji had escaped calamity this time and breathed a sigh of relief, sneering inwardly, “Qiao Muniang, this time I will make sure you suffer!”

“I’ve said it before, those two, mother and daughter, are a curse, they’ve doomed my son’s life, and now they want to doom Yuanzhen’s career! Such vile creatures; I’m thankful I kicked them out early! Now that they’ve caused such a scandal, it indeed runs in the family. I’ll make sure she pays dearly!” Old Lady Qiao said viciously.

Qiao Dazhi glared at her: “Watch your mouth and accumulate some virtue! Last time you went to their house and made a scene on your own, not only did you not achieve anything, you even got laughed at. Didn’t you smear Yuanzhen’s name as well? And now you want to make another scene?”

Old Lady Qiao shrunk her neck, clearly embarrassed by the previous incident.

Qiao Dazhi said coldly, “Madam Qiao Laosan, go and bring Qiao Muniang back here. I want to question her myself.”

Madam Qiao Laosan was always sensible and knew better than to cause trouble, which was why she was chosen for the task.

Madam Liu acknowledged and left.

“What are you still standing around for? Get out, all of you! I’m getting annoyed just looking at you!” Qiao Dazhi yelled, and instantly the room emptied.

Qiao Muniang naturally knew that the Qiao family would not let things rest, and she wasn’t surprised by Madam Liu’s arrival.