I Got Rich in Period Fiction-Chapter 368: Bullying the Weak, Fearing the Strong

"But for some reason," she didn’t dare meet Qiao Qingyu’s eyes and instead exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Oh my, Qingyu is back! If it weren’t for the villagers telling me, I wouldn’t have known you had returned."

Qiao Qingyu glanced at her indifferently, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth before she spoke, "Auntie, it’s been only a few months, and you’ve got a golden bracelet now?"

As soon as Qiao Qingyu finished her sentence, several people in the courtyard looked at her wrist and saw it, indeed, glistening with gold, before she quickly tucked it inside her sleeve. Wang Mei pursed her lips and said nonchalantly, "What, is it only permissible for you to wear gold and silver but forbidden for me to have a golden bracelet?"

"I didn’t say it’s forbidden. I was just wondering, Auntie, you seem different nowadays, have you struck it rich?" Qiao Qingyu continued with a beaming smile.

Wang Guihua was seething with anger, her teeth practically grinding as she hissed, "Wang Mei you heartless creature, you have money to buy a golden bracelet but no money to repay me? Did our money come from the wind?"

"This golden bracelet wasn’t bought, it was gifted to me."

Rolling her eyes, Wang Mei said carelessly, "Besides, it’s not me who owes the debt, it’s Qiao Zhihai. Qiao Zhihai is one of the Old Qiao Family, right? Wanting money from me, what are you thinking?"

In truth, Wang Guihua was also a fierce woman. No one dared to provoke her when she was young and even now, in her fifties, she was much the same.

But Wang Mei had angered her so much that she was left speechless.

Old Lady Qiao thrust open the window and shouted with all her might, "Wang Mei, get out, just get out of here!"

Far from leaving, Wang Mei walked towards the house instead, saying, "Qingyu has come back, what did you buy? There must be something for me, your Auntie, right?"

Qiao Qingyu moved swiftly, blocking her path in an instant, her hand gripping Wang Mei’s wrist. Smiling insincerely, she said, "Auntie, I’m sorry, but there really is nothing for you. In fact, there’s nothing for anyone from your family."

"Why not?" Wang Mei’s face darkened, her shrill voice about to erupt...

Disgusted, Qiao Qingyu sidestepped her, truly nauseated. How did the Old Qiao Family ever get saddled with such a piece of work?

"Just because there isn’t. Try to take anything, and I’ll call the police right away and accuse you of burglary."

"You wouldn’t dare?" Wang Mei shouted, hands on hips.

Qiao Qingyu opened the door, speaking leisurely, "Auntie, before the law, everyone is equal. If you don’t believe it, you’re welcome to try, and see if I can get you thrown in jail. Of course, if my uncle gets locked up, someone will get him out, but if you get locked up, I doubt anyone would do the same for you."

"Qiao Qingyu, what do you mean by that?"

Wang Mei truly wanted to curse Qiao Qingyu out, but she didn’t dare to use foul language.

"No particular meaning, Auntie. If you don’t believe me, just try it. Let me tell you, I bought a lot of stuff for the family, just nothing for you, including your son and daughter-in-law, as well as your grandsons and granddaughters—nothing at all!"

"Why didn’t you buy anything for me?" Wang Mei, fuming, her face turned an ashen hue.

Her expression chilling instantly, Qiao Qingyu’s voice laced with sarcasm, "Why? You know why. Don’t assume just because you’re Qiao Zhihai’s wife, you can throw your weight around. Just try to provoke me and see, I won’t indulge you like the others!"

Wang Mei’s eyes flickered. To be honest, it was the first time she had seen this side of Qiao Qingyu, who seemed cold through and through.

She wasn’t afraid when the Old Lady scolded her, nor when the old man did. Even when Uncle Qiao and his wife scolded her, she remained unafraid.

Because she knew they were all from the same family, she could strut around without fear, for even if they disliked her, they still treated her like one of the Qiao Family.

But Qiao Qingyu before her now didn’t seem to regard her as family at all.

Her icy look was startling, causing a twinge of fear.

Subconsciously, she took a couple of steps back, her eyes greedily glancing outside the window at the goods piled on the kang inside.

She opened her mouth, pointing at Qiao Qingyu...

Qiao Qingyu didn’t give Wang Mei a chance to speak, "Second Aunt, this is the first time I’ve returned to the Qiao Family Team since I got married, and you probably know what has happened. I advise you not to let disaster come from your mouth."

"You, you, you..." Wang Mei pointed her finger at Qiao Qingyu, and after three "yous," she glared at her fiercely, then turned around and walked towards the yard’s exit. In the end, she didn’t dare to utter the curse, mumbling something under her breath that no one else could make out.

Qiao Shengbao’s eyes shone brightly as he quickly darted in front of Qiao Qingyu, sizing her up, "Qingyu, you’re impressive. Second Aunt has become such a nuisance nowadays, and everybody avoids her because she’s too much trouble. Yet you managed to scare her off, you’re amazing!"

He even gave her a thumbs-up as he spoke.

Qiao Qingyu smiled, but she didn’t tell the people in front of her that Wang Mei was afraid of her because Wang Mei knew that Qiao Qingyu didn’t regard her as family and could turn against her at any moment.

But these people in front of her, even if they all had the same nature, still believed in their hearts that they were family.

Otherwise, given Qiao Zhiyuan’s capability, he would have dealt with Qiao Zhihai and Wang Mei long ago.

That was their biggest flaw.

Yet it was also the most precious quality they possessed.

This was also the reason why Qiao Qingyu admired them so much.

Take the original Qiao Qingyu, for instance, who also had a problematic past, but these people still treated her as one of the family, lovingly doting on her as the only girl in the generation.

And with a single phone call from her, Uncle Qiao came to Xichuan without hesitation, bringing a car and people.

They gave her money, brought her so much food, and when she said she needed black soil, they brought her five sacks.

It was that start which led to everything that followed.

Deep down, she was grateful to Qiao Zhiyuan and the whole family.

"... Second Aunt bullies the weak and fears the strong; your hearts are too soft," said Qiao Qingyu, before she continued, "I need to head back, my brother and sister-in-law still don’t know I’ve returned to the Qiao Family Team."

Then Qiao Shengbao, carrying the handbag, accompanied Qiao Qingyu back home.

Uncle Qiao talked to his parents for a bit before telling his wife, "What Qingyu said was out of anger, but instead of giving anything to those two, let’s give some candy and cookies to the little ones."

Wang Guihua glared fiercely at her own husband; after a lifetime together, she knew exactly what he was like.

To be honest, if she had known back then what kind of person he was, she wouldn’t have married into this family.

But then again, among her sisters, she had the most comfortable life.

Kind in-laws, a considerate husband, a filial son...

Life is such, always so helplessly imperfect, never completely flawless.

By the time Qiao Qingyu and Qiao Shengbao arrived at their own front door, the elder sister-in-law was gasping for breath as she hurried back from afar with a hoe on her shoulder.

Now that their household registration was with the Qiao Family Team, naturally, they had their own land.

As long as they stayed, they had to work the land, and they couldn’t afford the luxury of paying to lease it all out.

But at least now, they worked the land for themselves.