Chapter 179 - 179: Kneeling Down

Translator: 549690339

Without hesitation, Qiao Xiaomai replied, “No money, no loans.”

The forced smile on Mrs. Sun’s face instantly collapsed. She took a deep breath, and with a stern face said, “Xiaomai, if your fifth uncle becomes successful, you can surely benefit from it as well.”

This gathering was an exchange meeting hosted by Bailu Academy and the Imperial College.

Due to the headmaster Gu’s influence, Bailu Academy was the biggest and most famous academy in Daqi, but since Gu had already retired, Bailu Academy was only considered a private institute.

While the Imperial College is the official academy of Daqi and the highest place of learning.

Every three years, the two institutes have an exchange meeting, and only the most knowledgeable or noble students are sent to participate.

This year, the exchange was to be held at Bailu Academy, and Sun Junyan, after much effort, had gotten Fan Jia to agree to attend with him.

Therefore, after Sun Junyan returned for the Tomb-Sweeping Festival, he made a request to Mrs. Sun: money.

The exchange meeting wasn’t just about sitting around discussing academics, they would also tour Bailu Town. With so many people attending, he would surely need to spend money to establish relationships with those who were either scholarly or had good backgrounds.

Moreover, he wanted to have a few silk suits made. After all, the right clothes make the man. He looked decent enough and if he wore expensive clothes, people would surely mistake him for a young lord if they didn’t know his background.

Holding such expectations, Sun Junyan exaggerated the importance of this exchange meeting to Mrs. Sun, suggesting that if he missed it, he would lose his chance to climb the social ladder.

Mrs. Sun, terrified by his words, hurried over while Qiao Qinghe was in the fields.

She approached not only politely but also managed to force a smile on her face, patiently explaining the situation to Qiao Xiaomai.

Mind you, she usually just stole what she wanted, her behavior had really changed!

However, her newfound humility meant nothing to Qiao Xiaomai.

“No money, no loans,” she repeated.

“Just fifty taels, just fifty taels. When your fifth uncle becomes successful, he’ll surely pay you back,” pleaded Mrs. Sun with newfound patience. Her face was grim, but her tone was reasonable, as if she were negotiating.

“No money, no loans,” Qiao Xiaomai replied in the same manner.

Considering the thirty taels of silver given by Shopkeeper He yesterday, her savings had finally exceeded a hundred taels. Now, Mrs. Sun wanted to borrow fifty.

Outrageous!

“Xiaomai, this truly involves your fifth uncle’s future. As your grandmother, I beg you, he’ll certainly repay you in the future.” Mrs. Sun gritted her teeth, glanced at Tong Sanlang sitting in the courtyard, and, with a thud, she unexpectedly knelt before Qiao Xiaomai.

Sun Junyan’s initial request was for a hundred taels, worrying that Xiaomai wouldn’t lend him so much, she reduced the amount to fifty.

Who would have thought that Qiao Xiaomai wouldn’t be willing to lend even fifty taels?

The family sat on a mountain of gold and silver, yet coldly watched her own uncle’s future be ruined.

Mrs. Sun cursed inwardly, but she feigned a look of extreme distress on her face – she was truly at her wit’s end. Unable to rob, she could only kneel.

If Qiao Xiaomai still refused even after this, she would definitely sit at the entrance of the village and curse her for three days before filing a grievance about her lack of filial piety in the County Town!

Both Qiao Xiaomai and Tong Sanlang hadn’t anticipated Mrs. Sun’s act.

She used to not treat Qiao Xiaomai as a human being. And now, she was actually kneeling.

Tong Sanlang’s brows knitted slightly as he took big strides towards the exit.

Meanwhile, Qiao Xiaomai internally cursed before quickly stepping aside.

Bloody hell!

As someone familiar with the ‘Daqi Laws’, Qiao Xiaomai knew the implications of this kneeling.. She instinctively ran towards the exit, repeating “Bloody hell! Bloody hell! Bloody hell! What to do now!”