Chapter 720: Jealous

Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations

Auntie Tian acted shamelessly. “What bill? 1 didn’t ask you to treat her!”

Li Qingyu’s expression turned cold, “If you don’t pay, Xiaoqiu cannot go with you!”

Auntie Tian, playing the victim, challenged, “Li Qingyu, are you determined to oppose me?”

Xu Songnian said, “You’re the one who’s unreasonable. Xiaoqiu doesn’t even live in your house anymore, and you still want to take her away. What do you want?”

Li Qingyu said angrily, “She wants to sell Xiaoqiu to others for five taels of silver as a child bride.”

“That’s inhumane.”

“As expected, you don’t feel sorry for a child who isn’t your own. How old is Xiaoqiu? Becoming a child bride, who knows if she’ll even survive to adulthood? Too heartless.”

“Indeed. At our age, we’ve seen enough child brides. Which one of them had a good ending?”

Even a shameless person like Auntie Tian was a little ashamed by everyone’s words. She stood there and instantly became a sinner!

Tian Xiaoqiu rested on the table and listened to the commotion outside. For a moment, tears rolled down her face as endless sorrow enveloped her.

Xu Zeliang comforted her, “You’re actually lucky to have people standing up for you. Others might have already been sold.”

These words indeed made her feel much better. Tian Xiaoqiu slowly stopped crying.

Outside, Auntie Tian could not take it anymore and shouted, “Stop arguing!”

The scene fell silent, but everyone was staring at her, making her feel immense pressure.

Auntie Tian looked very fierce and said, “Li Qingyu, let me ask you. Are you going to let me take Tian Xiaoqiu away?”

This stalemate was not a solution. Li Qingyu said to Chu Qingning, “Call Tian Xiaoqiu out and ask her what she thinks.”

Chu Qingning nodded and turned to enter the classroom. When she came out, she was followed by Tian Xiaoqiu, whose face was still covered in tears.

Li Qingyu asked Tian Xiaoqiu, “Your aunt wants to sell you to the people in the neighboring village for five taels of silver as a child bride. Are you willing to go? If you’re willing to go, go with your aunt. If not, stay at Third Aunt’s house in the future. Third Aunt will take care of you.”

Tian Xiaoqiu cried again. She knelt in front of Li Qingyu. “Thank you, Third Aunt. 1 don’t want to go back.”

Auntie Tian was instantly furious. She kicked Tian Xiaoqiu hard. “You traitor. I raised you for so many years for nothing?”

Li Qingyu quickly protected Tian Xiaoqiu. “What are you doing? Why are you hitting the child?”

Tian Xiaoqiu scrambled behind Li Qingyu. She was very afraid of Auntie Tian. When she heard her words, her body trembled.

She swallowed and mustered her courage. “You occupied the house my parents left for me.”

Auntie Tian’s aura weakened, but she was really unwilling to let Tian Xiaoqiu off just like that. “Tian Xiaoqiu, it’s just a few houses. What’s so great about it?”

Tian Xiaoqiu said fearfully, “Then give it back to me. 1’11 sell it and give you the money as compensation for raising me.”

Auntie Tian cursed, “Tian Xiaoqiu, you ingrate. After all these years of feeding you, now you’re keeping tabs on me? I should’ve let you starve…”

Seeing that she was going overboard with her scolding, Li Qingyu stopped her. “Alright, Xiaoqiu has expressed her stance. It’s your turn. If you want to take Xiaoqiu away, we have to settle the accounts.”

“What account?”

“The cost of her medical treatment and the damage caused by your family adds up to…” Li Qingyu looked to Chu Qingning.

Chu Qingning said, “Ten taels.”

Li Qingyu clarified, “Of these ten taels, five will be for redeeming Xiaoqiu. You owe me another five, and we’ll call it even.”

Auntie Tian was stunned by Li Qingyu. “Why should 1 give you five taels?”

Li Qingyu said, “You have to compensate for Xiaoqiu’s expenses.”

Chu Qingning added, “Right. You can’t expect to take a well-cared-for person without compensating. Why should we bear the loss?”

“That’s right. Why should you get all the good things?”

“You can send her here whenever you want and take her away whenever you want. What do you take us for?”

“Exactly, Qingyu. Xiaoqiu also ate a meal a day here, used so much stationery; that should be included too, right? After all, your family is selecting talents, not running a charity!”

The villagers rallied in support, leaving Auntie Tian speechless against their collective criticism.

When Auntie Tian heard everyone’s words, she realized that she could not refute a word. Her head was buzzing and she was about to break down. “Enough!”

Everyone fell silent again…

Auntie Tian pointed at Tian Xiaoqiu and asked fiercely, “Are you coming back with me?”

Tian Xiaoqiu shook her head in fear.

“Just you wait!” Auntie Tian said fiercely and turned to leave angrily.

Li Qingyu reached out and patted Tian Xiaoqiu’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Tian Xiaoqiu looked at Auntie Tian’s back and heaved a sigh of relief. She did not want to return to that purgatory-like place. She liked her current life.

Xu Wenlin said, “Third Aunt, let Xiaoqiu come to my house. We’re already sisters.”

Li Qingyu agreed. “If Xiaoqiu is willing, let her go back with you.”

“Thank you, Third Aunt.”

Chu Qingning said, “Break time is over. Everyone, enter the classroom. Let’s continue with class.”

The ancestral hall, which had been noisy for a while, fell silent again.

In the capital, at the Ministry of Justice.

The hall buzzed with curiosity as Ren Buqing and others encircled a small wolf cub at the center.

The cub, recently opened its eyes, was too weak to do much besides crawl. Xu Songnian had been taking care of it, and it looked adorably plump and healthy. Tang Jinghong handed Ren Buqing a piece of paper detailing the cub’s habits and care instructions, “Take good care of it.”

Ren Buqing expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, General Tang.”

Tang Jinghong, having other matters to attend to, left the Ministry of Justice shortly after with his entourage.

An officer eagerly asked, “Sir, who will you assign to take care of the cub?”

Another officer joked, “Don’t even think about it; it won’t be you.”

“Sir, please let me take care of it. 1 promise to do well.”

“Sir, I should be the one, trust me…”

Ren Buqing raised his hand to silence them, “I’ll take care of the cub myself. No more arguing.”

“But sir, there are four cubs. You keep one, and let us take care of the others.” Ren Buqing, trying to quell the clamor, announced, “Listen, I’ll take care of all four for now. The remaining three will go to the three individuals who achieve the most in the next month. Everyone has a chance to compete.”

“I’ll definitely get one.”

“It will be mine.”

The quarrel over the wolf cubs’ ownership at the Ministry of Justice eventually reached the Emperor’s ears.

The imperial palace lacked wolves, and the notion that the Ministry of Justice housed them stirred a bit of envy among the royal circles..