"What are you talking about?" Ms. Niu glared at her. "Those hens are for eggs, we can't kill them to eat. We are not wasting food at home!"
Qiao Xuan snorted. "But Qi of our family is young, and he needs rest. He gets tired too. Our parents feel sorry for him, so do we as brother and sister-in-law!"
Shao Xiaoqi added. "Yes, my legs feel languished after a full day's running. It takes me several days before I am able to completely relax!"
The three of them laughed.
They were obviously teasing Ms. Niu.
Annoyed, Ms. Niu shot back. "You are countering the senior member of the family!"
Qiao Xuan's face sank, as she said coldly, "Second Aunt-in-law… should we try to seek justice with our parents? You are setting us up! Whenever Qi returns with wild animals, you always speak ill about him when you don't get anything from him. Also, me and Taotao… have we ever offended you, Second Aunt-in-law?"
Ms. Niu felt even more angry.
Shao Taotao had never offended her, and they had taken many things from what Shao Xiaoqi had hunted, so she should not be blamed. Ms. Niu felt very annoyed by Qiao Xuan, whilst she could not utter a single word of complaint.
Qiao Xuan was too treacherous!
Ms. Niu mumbled in anger. "I am just saying, what are you being so serious about? I am a senior member and I can, of course, discipline you a little."
Qiao Xuan immediately reacted. "You, as the senior member, can definitely discipline us, if we make any mistakes. But you are ruining our reputation for no reason. Why can't we be upset? Our reputation is important, and it can't be taken as a joke all the time. You can't be deliberately doing it, can you? Will you be happy if my mom keeps ruining Meiling's reputation?"
"They have done nothing wrong, why must they be talked about?"
"Then what have we done, Second Aunt-in-law?"
Ms. Niu became so furious that she shivered. Goddamned Ms. Qiao, she was awful!
Qiao Xuan's eyes looked cold. "Second Aunt-in-law, you have to remember not to spread rumors about others. Don't ever forget that you have your own children and grandchildren too. If you offend us severely one day, I am not sure what I will do, for real."
She was the daughter of the County Magistrate, and if she made such a claim, there would be many people who believed her.
Standing right on the spot, Ms. Niu spat seeing them leaving. "Ms. Qiao, you goddamned woman!"
Qiao Xuan reached home and dropped one rooster and two wild rabbits. Then she took the mushrooms for drying.
She shared the mulberries wrapped in a broad leaf, for everyone to eat.
Ms. Fang tried a few and said that they were tasty. Shao Junyan and Shao Qing felt the same.
Ms. Fang smiled more brightly, when she heard that it was Qiao Xuan's achievement. She said, "Your Fifth Sister-in-law is a very intelligent person, and has knowledge about everything."
Shao Xiaoqi and Shao Taotao nodded in agreement.
Qiao Xuan still felt a bit shy hearing the compliments. She flushed, and ran away with mulberries in her hands, saying that she was going to share them with Shao Yunduan.
Shao Yunduan had become even more devoted to studies, after being humiliated at the Qiao Family. He had sworn that he was going to make it to the next level, so he spent the whole day studying and writing articles.
Qiao Xuan pushed the door and walked in, yet he did not even realize it.
Qiao Xuan did not disturb him either. She closed the door slightly and stood next to him, watching him quietly.
The man did not notice her. And she sized him up straightforwardly.
The way her husband wrote, made him look very attractive.