Chapter 50: Analysis, an Opportunity Arrives

Deng’s mother didn’t know what Lei Honghua and Qiao Fangfang were whispering, but the Qiao family’s money-grubbing behavior today made her despise them even more.

She deeply regretted not being firm enough with her son and allowing Qiao Fangfang, that good-for-nothing, into the family.

A whole family selling their granddaughter without any shame.

Deng’s mother subconsciously glanced at the four people who were looking up at the sky and down at their feet.

Even if they weren’t born from the same mother, they were still her own children.  Their partiality was extreme; the family was on the verge of collapse.

With such an immoral elder, how could this family expect a good life?

Could she expect Lei Honghua to raise a good daughter?

Deng’s mother sneered, “Heh, you don’t think the Chen family is that easy to get rid of, do you?

Do you think they’ll be satisfied with just getting the 300 kuai back?

Even ordinary people wouldn’t let you off that easily, let alone the domineering Chen family.

After all, it’s not just Xiangcui whose reputation is ruined; the Chen family’s son’s reputation is also damaged.”

Local customs don’t only target women; men are also affected.

After the betrothal gifts are given and then the engagement is broken, people will criticize both parties.

Deng’s mother said coldly, “The Chen family is in the midst of finding a wife for their son.  Don’t they understand the importance of reputation?

They’re willing to endure criticism of Chen Sheng ‘the woman didn’t like him,’ ‘he’s a bad person,’ ‘he can’t find a wife’ all for you to simply return the 300 kuai?”

Lei Honghua’s face darkened, “Then what do you want?  Do you want to extort us in broad daylight?”

Here, Lei Honghua looked suspiciously at Deng’s mother and said sarcastically,

“Or are some people trying to take advantage of this misunderstanding to squeeze some money out of our Qiao family?”

Deng’s mother was about to have a heart attack. She didn’t want to reason with Lei Honghua, that shrew, “I don’t know what they want, but our family’s stance is this: you caused the problem, you solve it!”

Lei Honghua stiffened her neck, “We’ll solve it. Old woman, I’ll go with you!”

They came in a flurry and left just as quickly.

Qiao Jiangxin and the others were watching with relish when the Deng family and Qiao Jiuwang’s couple left.

Qiao Jianguo poked his head out of the main house and met Qiao Jiangxin’s gaze.

He quickly retreated, slamming the door shut.

After bolting the door from the inside, he realized his fingers were trembling.

No one was home, no one was home!  How could his parents forget him?

Wouldn’t those ungrateful people kill him while he was alone?

Qiao Jianguo’s heart pounded. He didn’t want to stay home anymore.  If those ungrateful people continued to run wild, he would be dead.

A strong will to survive made Qiao Jianguo’s mind race, and he quickly hit on the key point.

Division of the family.

Where else could he go if he left home?  Besides, this was his home. Why couldn’t he stay?

The ungrateful people should leave.  Weren’t they clamoring for a division of the family?

Let them all get out.

Before, his father was young and could control Qiao Youfu and Qiao Youcai. Now his father was old, and those two brothers were disobedient and dared to resist. Why keep them?

Moreover, in just a few days, they’d caused so much trouble!

Their family’s assets were depleted.

The Li family’s incident and today’s incident with the Deng family were all related to Daya, that money-losing daughter.

Qiao Jianguo had a premonition that if his parents continued to hold him back, he would be the first to die.

But he didn’t know that Qiao Jiangxin had already anticipated all of this.

In the courtyard,

Qiao Jiangxin was analyzing the consequences of Lei Honghua and Qiao Jiuwang’s trip with her uncle and aunt.

“Don’t even think about it, the Chen family definitely won’t be satisfied. They didn’t get the person, so they’ll at least want the money.

But the Deng family isn’t easy to deal with either. Their daughter was involved in this for no reason; they’re furious and want to eat Qiao Fangfang alive. How could they pay to solve this themselves?

Therefore, the Qiao family must pay. To force them to pay, they might beat Qiao Fangfang in front of Lei Honghua and her husband, forcing the Qiao family to pay.”

Qiao Youfu sighed, “Your grandpa has always doted on your aunt. If the Deng family really does this, your grandpa definitely won’t stand idly by.”

Qiao Jiangxin nodded, “So this is our opportunity.”

Liu Afang turned to her daughter, “Division of the family?”

Qiao Jiangxin’s lips curled slightly upward, “If they have to pay, they’ll definitely eye our money.  Plus, the setbacks Qiao Jianguo has suffered recently will definitely encourage Grandpa to push for our separation.

If I’m not wrong, they’ll ask us to pay, and the condition will be to let us go.”

Liu Afang couldn’t hide her joy, “As long as they let us go, it doesn’t matter if we give them the money.”

Qiao Youcai and Qiao Youfu also smiled at each other, “Yes, as long as they fairly divide the house, land, and everything…”

But Qiao Jiangxin wasn’t happy, “Heh, Mom, you’re still too kind.

If you approach them with that attitude, believe me, Lei Honghua and Grandpa will still try to control us.

They might even make unreasonable demands, like asking us to help them farm or pay a huge amount of money for their support.”

Qiao Youcai and his brother fell silent because they knew that Qiao Jiuwang and his wife were capable of doing such things.

The hope they’d just seen was dashed again. Liu Afang anxiously tugged at Qiao Jiangxin’s sleeve, “Jiangxin, what should we do?”

Qiao Jiangxin remained calm, “It’s not us who are in a hurry, it’s them.  So we can’t show that we’re eager to split up. We need to be calm.  Even if they want to split, we won’t.

This home is so good. We have a place to live, food to eat, we can beat up Qiao Jianguo, and we can amuse ourselves by annoying the old couple. We’ll wait for Lei Honghua to beg us to split up.

And pay us for the split?  Is that possible?

Qiao Fangfang has to bear the consequences of her own actions. If Lei Honghua truly cares for her daughter, they can borrow money.  If all else fails, isn’t there still Qiao Jianhua?”

Qiao Youfu and the others realized she was right.

Qiao Jiangxin’s analysis was spot-on. The Deng family went to town to return the bride price, but the Chen family refused and demanded compensation.

Lei Honghua’s attempt to sell her granddaughter was rejected, and she was even spat on by Mother Chen.

The Deng family didn’t have the patience to watch Lei Honghua act like a shrew.  In front of the Chen family and the Qiao couple, they beat Qiao Fangfang severely.

Qiao Fangfang hit her head on the floor, blood covering half her face, alarming the town leaders.

The Chen family was scared, and Lei Honghua broke down.

Finally, they compromised. The Chen family reduced the compensation from 300 kuai to 100 kuai, demanding it be delivered by tomorrow at the latest.

Qiao Fangfang wasn’t even taken to the hospital; the Deng family dragged her home.

Lei Honghua, wiping away tears, rushed home, planning to use the family split to threaten Qiao Youfu and his brother into giving her the money.