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Li Jiaojiao’s fearless spirit even made Ye Caiping look at her with new eyes.
She truly was a girl with strength!
Ye Caiping curled her lips in a mocking smile. “Li Jiaojiao, he’s not your biological father. You’ve seen all the things he’s done.”
“Such a dirty, despicable person—are you really going to protect him? Is it worth it?”
Li Jiaojiao suddenly lifted her head, her eyes wide and bloodshot with anger. “No matter what kind of person he is, if he’s good to me, then he’s a good person! He’s my father!”
Ye Caiping nodded, not at all surprised by her answer.
After all, it was written in the book that Li Jiaojiao wasn’t a purely good person—she was someone who could be both righteous and wicked, and very protective of her own.
But can being both righteous and wicked really mean being unable to distinguish right from wrong?
Ye Caiping shook her head.
What she had just said wasn’t meant to truly change Li Jiaojiao or to advise her to be good.
It was more about planting a thorn in Li Jiaojiao’s heart.
Without space, money, or a superior living environment, she could only eagerly await their future struggles.
“Get out of here already!” Ye Daquan shouted. “Still not enough? Want me to pour another bucket on you?”
Li Zhiyuan and Li Jiaojiao both shuddered.
Li Zimo didn’t care about the filth anymore , holding his breath and rushing over to pull them away. “Let’s go home first.”
Li Jiaojiao gritted her teeth tightly. “Wait, I have something to say!”
She stared at the jade on Ye Caiping’s neck, knowing that if she didn’t get it today, it would be even harder in the future.
“Ye Shi, I know this matter was my father’s fault. But it was just a misunderstanding on his part. Now, he’s been treated this way by your family, so we’re even. The grudges between our families should be settled now!”
“Do you have any manners? Is ‘Ye Shi’ how you address her?” Ye Daquan snapped coldly.
“A so-called scholar’s daughter with no upbringing at all!” The villagers looked at Li Jiaojiao with disdain.
Li Jiaojiao’s small face shifted slightly, and she took a deep breath to suppress her resentment.
“Sorry… I misspoke. Aunty, as the saying goes, ‘grudges should be resolved, not continued.’ Let’s call it quits between our two families, how about it?”
Ye Caiping sneered, “You make it sound like we were the ones who started the trouble. As long as you don’t come causing trouble in the future, we won’t go out of our way to bother you.”
Li Jiaojiao forced a smile, “Actually… when you think about it, we don’t really have deep enmities, so let’s just let this go.”
“I have one request, Aunty, and I hope you’ll grant it. I’d like to buy the jade on your neck.”
At these words, everyone finally realized what Li Jiaojiao had been hinting at.
After all that circling around, she actually wanted to buy Ye Caiping’s jade?
The villagers exchanged puzzled looks. Was that jade really something special?
They all turned to Ye Caiping’s neck, where the jade pendant was hanging.
Everyone knew about Ye Caiping’s jade; it was something she had worn since childhood, not particularly rare or precious. The quality of the jade was only slightly better than that of ordinary stones—if you went to the river, you might find something better just by picking up a random rock and polishing it.
For such an item, Li Jiaojiao actually wanted to buy it?
Li Jiaojiao noticed the curious stares and quickly explained, “The reason I like that jade is because… it reminds me of the one I had when I was a child.”
“When I was little, I had one just like it. It was a gift from my biological father, who passed away many years ago… I want to buy this jade as a memento, to remember him.”
Li Jiaojiao looked at Ye Caiping with an expectant expression, waiting for a response.
Understanding her intentions, the villagers didn’t think much of it.
“Ten wen, how about it?” Li Jiaojiao asked, trying to negotiate.
“Pfft, do you think we need these ten wen?” Ye Daquan snapped angrily.
” Aunty, please set a price! One hundred wen, two hundred wen, it’s all fine!” Li Jiaojiao urged anxiously. “This jade may not be valuable, but for me, it’s a memory.”
Ye Daquan replied, “It’s a memory for you, and it’s the same for my little sister. It’s something she’s worn since childhood, there’s sentiment attached. How could we sell it to you?”
Yan Fang furrowed her brows, adding, “This is the peace jade given to her by the fortune teller. It can’t be separated from her. Don’t even think about it.”
Li Jiaojiao gritted her teeth and looked at Ye Caiping. “Aunt…”
Ye Caiping’s eyes flickered, her lips curling into a slight smile. “I can sell it to you, but you’re being far too insincere. You think a hundred or two hundred wen will settle it? I won’t sell without at least two hundred taels!”
“What?” Not only Li Jiaojiao but even Ye Daquan and the others gasped in shock.
Li Zimo shouted angrily, “Ye… Aunt, are you being too much?! Two hundred taels? A farming family like ours could never save that much money in a lifetime!”
“Besides, with that much money, we could buy all kinds of gold hairpins and fine jade. What’s this… plain jade worth?”
Ye Caiping remained calm and unhurried. “Since you think it’s not worth it, then don’t buy it. After all, I think it’s worth it. Besides, if others can’t earn two hundred taels in their lifetime, surely you, who’ve already earned it, wouldn’t mind?”
The villagers looked between the two. Yes, the siblings from the Li family had dug up ginseng! Everyone knew they had sold it for two hundred taels!
Li Jiaojiao’s face turned pale, this woman must have guessed what money she had in her pocket.
“Jiaojiao, don’t listen to her! Ugh…” Li Zhiyuan spoke but immediately retched.
“Jiaojiao, let’s go!” Li Zimo urged urgently.
That two hundred taels was almost their entire fortune!
For a worthless piece of jade, was it really worth it? Wasn’t this just pure deception?
Li Jiaojiao stared intensely at Ye Caiping’s jade, feeling an inexplicable pull…
No, it couldn’t be wrong. This was her second chance, her opportunity for good luck!
As long as she obtained it, she wouldn’t have to worry about money ever again!
The feeling was strange, but it kept swirling in her mind, urging her to buy that jade!
After struggling for a moment, Li Jiaojiao looked up, her gaze unwavering and resolute. “Fine, two hundred taels, I’ll buy it!”
“Jiaojiao, are you crazy?!” Li Zimo screamed in disbelief.
Li Zhiyuan couldn’t even focus on his nausea as he looked at her. “Jia…”
“Father, brother, trust me!”
Li Zimo looked at her determined expression and paused. He thought back on the decisions Li Jiaojiao had made recently.
Indeed, whenever it was something his sister decided, there was always a reason behind it, and it couldn’t be wrong!
He shouldn’t stop her.
“Alright, brother will trust you.”
Li Zhiyuan felt that it wasn’t worth it. That worthless jade, it should’ve been handed to him for a single coin, but now…
But Li Zhiyuan, having already caused such a public spectacle, didn’t dare to say more.
After making up her mind, Li Jiaojiao pulled out two silver notes from her sleeve. “Aunt, let’s do the exchange—money for goods!”
“Good!” She’s falling for it!
“Young sister, don’t!” Ye Daquan was suspicious. “Something’s off. A random piece of jade found by the river is being sold for 200 taels? There’s no such thing as a good deal. I can tell something’s fishy.”
“Daquan’s right. And this is a peace jade, it’s for protection, it shouldn’t be sold.” Yan Fang also stopped her.
“It’s just a piece of jade. I’m fine without it.” Ye Caipin lowered her voice:
“That’s 200 taels! I was just saying it casually, and yet, she actually agreed. People like this are practically extinct, we must cherish this opportunity.”
“A broken piece of jade for 200 taels—what a huge profit.”
Her voice wasn’t low, and Li Jiaojiao heard it loud and clear.
Look at Ye Caipin’s greedy face, haha…