Chapter 14: The Ultimate Troublemaker

“Oh, Third Aunt, where did you get that idea?

Who’s spreading rumors? 

How are we bullying you? I’m telling the truth. Let me explain…”

Li Xiaoping was crying from anger, “I don’t want to hear it!  I tell you, I, Li Xiaoping, am not easy to bully. Today, neither of you is leaving unharmed!”

“Oh, Third Aunt, let me explain.”

“Shut up!”

From the back of the crowd, a sturdy woman rushed over, cursing before she even arrived.

It was Gao Cuilan, Li Sanfa’s wife. Li Xiaoping threw herself into her mother’s arms, sobbing.

Gao Cuilan glared fiercely at Qiao Jiangxin, “Good, you’re lawless! You’re bullying us at our doorstep! How has Xiaoping wronged your Qiao family? You’re trying to drive Xiaoping to her death!”

Just then, Li Sanfa and Qiao Jianhua rushed back from the fields.

“Xiaoping, Xiaoping, what’s wrong?”

Gao Cuilan pushed Qiao Jianhua away, “What’s wrong? I want to ask what’s wrong with your Qiao family! What did Xiaoping do wrong, or how did she offend your Qiao family to be slandered like this? You’re trying to drive my Xiaoping to death!!!”

Qiao Jianhua’s face turned pale, “Mom, what are you saying? I’m here, who dares to bully Xiaoping?”

“Who dares? Are you blind?  Don’t you see that your Qiao family is bullying us at our doorstep? If I hadn’t come back in time, Xiaoping would have been driven to death!”

Qiao Jianhua looked over and saw Qiao Jiangxin and Qiao Youfu.

Qiao Jiangxin looked timid, “Third Uncle, Third Aunt misunderstood.”

Qiao Jianhua, having been humiliated by his mother-in-law in front of so many people, was both angry and anxious. He raised his fist and punched Qiao Jiangxin in the head.

Qiao Youfu, quick-witted, stepped forward and grabbed Qiao Jianhua’s wrist, glaring at him, “Don’t hit Jiangxin.”

Qiao Jiangxin took a step back and shouted at Li Sanfa behind Qiao Jianhua, “What we said is true. You only know how to hit people.  Even if you hit me, I’m not lying. Ask around in Gaoshi Village, everyone knows this. Why are you hitting us?”

Li Sanfa had already heard what happened from the others.  His face darkened as he scolded Qiao Jianhua, “Jianhua, don’t hit her! If you do, Xiaoping will never be able to clear her name.”

“Besides, everyone in the surrounding area knows that Old Li is fair and just. I want to see who dares to cause trouble at my door.”

Qiao Jiangxin breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she was taking a huge risk by bringing her uncle here, but she had also calculated that Li Sanfa would stop them.

After all, his team hadn’t been established yet. He relied on his reputation for building houses in the surrounding area.

If he got a reputation for being overbearing and violent, he wouldn’t be able to get any work.

Li Sanfa’s righteous words instantly quieted the noisy crowd.

He surveyed the surroundings, pleased with his display of authority.

He turned to Qiao Youfu seriously, “Qiao Youfu, why did you come to Lijiagou today?”

“I, I, I…”

Qiao Youfu’s heart was pounding. He didn’t dare look Li Sanfa in the eye. He stammered, unable to explain.

Li Sanfa snorted coldly, about to speak, when Qiao Jiangxin jumped in.

“Father-in-law, can we talk here? Or should we talk privately?  Later, you’ll say we’re spreading rumors and ruining your reputation.”

Li Sanfa’s face twitched, “Our Li family is upright and has nothing to hide.  Just say what you have to say.”

Qiao Jiangxin dramatically sighed, “Do you mean what you say? Then… then I’ll say it? We’re just here to deliver a message. If you’re unhappy, don’t bully us.”

“I mean what I say. Speak.”

“Okay, if you don’t keep your word, you’ll worship Erlang Shen (a Taoist god) as your master!”

“Pfft~,” several onlookers couldn’t help but laugh.

“Girl, just say it. Sanfa is a man of his word.”

“Yes”

Qiao Jiangxin seemed relieved and shouted, “My grandpa told me to call my third uncle home to work. He said my third uncle is an ungrateful wretch, only fawning over his father-in-law, exploiting his parents and brothers, not giving a penny to the family all year round, but taking food home, and giving chickens and ducks to his father-in-law.

Grandpa said he raised this son for nothing, giving him to his father-in-law. He said Third Uncle and Third Aunt are unreliable and that the son Third Aunt gives birth to should be adopted by my uncle.  My uncle came to Lijiagou to see his son. He’s so old, and it’s his first son, so he’s very eager.”

At this point, Qiao Jiangxin shoved the bamboo container into Gao Cuilan’s hand, “This is a secret recipe for having a son. My uncle only wants a son, not a daughter.  Mother-in-law, please feed this to Third Aunt once a day. 

Don’t let Third Aunt go hungry or tired. This is my uncle’s first son.  You must take this medicine properly. Don’t give birth to a daughter; my uncle won’t accept it!”

“By the way, Third Uncle, Grandpa also said that if you don’t come back, you’ll die in Lijiagou. Grandpa also asked me if your father-in-law doesn’t have a son, so he’s keeping your son?  You do so much work for your father-in-law and can’t even get a meal?

Your father is working under the scorching sun to support you. No wonder the Li family is well-off. With this calculating nature, if you have a couple more daughters, you could become a millionaire.”

Now, not only Li Xiaoping and Qiao Jianhua, but Gao Cuilan and Li Sanfa’s faces turned green.

Li Xiaoping asked in a hoarse voice, “What did you say? Your grandparents said they want to adopt my child to Big Brother???”

Qiao Jiangxin nodded, “Third Aunt, didn’t you know? The whole village knows. Don’t worry, my uncle only wants one son. You can have more children later. Besides, what’s yours and mine? We’re family, why are we being so calculative?  The younger brother will still grow up with you. It’s the same.

Also, Grandpa said that Third Uncle is unfilial. If the child is raised by you, he’ll only be close to his maternal grandparents.  This child is from our Qiao family.  Li Sanfa already tricked Grandpa out of one son, we can’t let him trick us out of a grandson.”

At this point, Qiao Jiangxin, as if speaking up for her grandparents, quickly said to Qiao Jianhua, “Third Uncle, what kind of magic potion did your father-in-law give you? Is he stopping you from going home?

Your grandparents raised you, how can you be so ungrateful?”