Many people in the tribe were gathered outside the Qiao family’s door. In the center of the crowd, a mean-spirited female beast was cursing loudly.
The Beastmen of the tribe could no longer stand it.
"This is simply going too far."
"Isn’t it? Back then, the Lü Family came time and time again, full of sincerity, to arrange the marriage between Miss Lü and Qiao Er. Our chief didn’t even ask for a high bride price. Normally, it would be two taels of Silver, but the chief only asked for one tael of Silver."
"Now, the chief hasn’t even refused to break the engagement. She just asked for a little more time to return that one tael of Silver."
"I heard that Miss Qiao took that one tael of Silver and spent it. Since the chief can’t produce the money and knows she’s in the wrong, she has no choice but to let the person hired by the Lü Family cause a scene here."
"Sigh, it’s not easy for our chief, either. The family finally longed for a female beast who could support the household, but who would have thought she was a fake heiress? And when her biological daughter returned, she refused to acknowledge her. The Lü Family only dares to bully them like this because they see how things are."
"The Black Cat Clan next door is a bit stronger than our White Cat Clan, and they just look down on our tribe..."
Hearing this, Qiao Suluo couldn’t listen anymore. She stepped forward directly and said, "This is going too far! Does the Lü Family really think there is no one left in the Qiao family to stand up for ourselves?"
Qiao Suluo’s voice was sharp and icy. Although she had been passionate about culinary arts in her past life, she was no pushover. She would never allow others to manipulate or bully her. Furthermore, she had grown up in a loving family with excellent values. Her parents had taught her never to use her privilege to bully others, but also never to let others walk all over her. Now that someone was bullying her own family, she absolutely could not tolerate it.
Upon hearing her voice, everyone turned to look. When they saw Qiao Suluo, they were all stunned.
"Qiao Suluo?"
"It really is her. Why is she here?"
"Yeah, doesn’t she despise and loathe her parents and brothers?"
"She grew up in the Capital City and looks down on us here."
"Alright, stop talking. Qiao Suluo has changed a lot. She even taught everyone first aid methods. I believe she has truly turned over a new leaf. Perhaps she wants to acknowledge her parents and brothers."
Although Lü’s mother hadn’t said a word and only brought the hired Lin Pozi to do the talking, this was exactly her intention: to force the Qiao family to quickly cough up the engagement silver and break off the marriage. However, when Lü’s mother saw Qiao Suluo suddenly appear, she frowned. She was somewhat wary of her arrival. Qiao Suluo had grown up among the nobles in the Capital City. It was said that her Beast Husbands were also from the Capital City and possessed extraordinary statuses. If someone over there remembered old ties and decided to protect Qiao Suluo, Lü’s mother knew she wouldn’t be able to get away with this easily.
The only reason she had arranged for her daughter to marry Qiao Er in the first place was precisely because of Qiao Suluo. But seeing how Qiao Suluo loathed her parents and brothers, making this marriage useless to her, she naturally wouldn’t let her daughter marry Qiao Er anymore. As it happened, she had arranged another marriage for her daughter. The other party was studying at an academy in the county town and was highly educated. If he were to pass the civil service examinations and earn an official title in the future, the Lü Family would ride his coattails to a higher status. Why would they still need to live in the tribe? She, too, would get to experience a prosperous life.
As Qiao Suluo walked to the front, Chief Qiao, Qiao Feishuang, looked at her daughter in disbelief, appearing thoroughly overwhelmed by the unexpected intervention. Qiao Feishuang was normally not a weak person; on the contrary, she had outstanding abilities, handled matters fairly, and held great prestige in the tribe. Precisely because of this, her words and actions were constrained. She couldn’t just hurl abuses like the Lü Family was doing. Furthermore, the engagement silver had been spent on her daughter. Since she couldn’t produce it, she was in the wrong. Moreover, in a broken engagement like this, the male beast always suffered the most. A male beast whose engagement had been broken off would have his reputation ruined. If this blew up, how could her second son ever hold his head high again? Would he even have the face to step out the door in the future? In truth, Qiao Feishuang wanted nothing more than to smooth things over, but the Lü Family, terrified that she was intentionally stalling to avoid paying the Silver and breaking the engagement, had resorted to cursing them out.
Qiao Suluo cast a reassuring glance at her mother. She then turned to Lü’s mother and mocked, "Aunt Lü, you certainly think highly of yourself.
"Even if your Lü Family’s daughter offered to marry into our family, my second brother wouldn’t want her.
"I imagine the reason this Lin Pozi dares to curse and cause such a scene is because of your orders. With a mother like you, Miss Lü’s temperament must not be much better.
"Therefore, my second brother absolutely cannot marry into your family. Besides, there are plenty of female beasts in this world. Lü Caiwei isn’t the only female beast.
"Do you really think she’s such a prize? If your Lü Family hadn’t hired Lin Pozi and shamelessly come to propose time and time again, my mother would never have agreed in the first place. We’ll set a limit of five days; we will return your one tael of Silver.
"After that, we will go our separate ways. Your Lü Family can forget about trying to cozy up to the Qiao family ever again."
Even though Qiao Suluo was still plump and her face a bit dark at the moment, she spoke with an imposing aura that genuinely intimidated the Lü Family. Lin Pozi, who had been arrogantly cursing just moments ago, snapped her mouth shut. She had met many people in her time, and the aura of this Miss Qiao, who had returned from the Capital City, was truly out of the ordinary. As expected of someone raised in a place like the Capital City.
Lü’s mother let out a small laugh. "No matter what I am like, I can’t compare to your temper, Miss Qiao.
"However, please remember your own words, Miss Qiao. Return the one tael of Silver within five days, and my Lü Family will break off the engagement with the Qiao family. From then on, we will have nothing to do with each other."
The smile on Lü’s mother’s face was laced with mockery. She had done her research. Qiao Suluo was completely despised and had been driven out of the Capital City. Her Beast Husbands were all crippled and useless. A person like this couldn’t make any waves. At this moment, Lü’s mother had no idea that she had completely misjudged the situation, to the point where her later profound regret would be utterly useless. By that time, the Qiao family—and especially Qiao Suluo—would be figures so high up that she couldn’t even reach them if she stood on her tiptoes.
After the Lü Family left, the onlookers also gradually dispersed. As they left, however, they were filled with doubts and couldn’t help but discuss the matter in twos and threes.
"Qiao Suluo really feels different from before."
"Yeah, she knows how to protect her mother and brothers now."
"It looks like her temperament has truly improved."
"Maybe she’s finally figured things out..."
Chatting amongst themselves, they all headed home.
Qiao Feishuang looked at Qiao Suluo with excitement. Her eyes were slightly red, but she tried her best to hold back her emotions.
"Mother, I was wrong in the past. Please don’t blame me.
"I’ve thought things through this time. From now on, I will live a good life. I also beg for your forgiveness, Mother."
Fighting back her tears, Qiao Feishuang said, "You are my daughter. How could I ever blame you? It’s all my fault. I didn’t protect you well back then."
"Let’s not talk about that anymore, Mother. It’s all in the past."
"Right, right, hurry inside. You must be hungry. Mother will make dinner for you."
In truth, there wasn’t much food left in the house, but Qiao Feishuang still wanted to give the best to her daughter.
Qiao Suluo followed her into the courtyard, which consisted of four rooms. "Mother, where are Father, Second Brother, and Third Brother?" Her eldest brother had already married out of the family and could only return home during festivals and holidays. It was already evening, yet her father, second brother, and third brother still hadn’t come back.
"Your father took your second and third brothers to visit his maternal family. They’ll be back tonight.
"They will definitely be very happy to see you."
Qiao Suluo nodded. She handed her basket to Qiao Feishuang and said, "Mother, these are steamed buns I made myself. They’re filled with black locust flowers and meat. You, Father, and my brothers can try them and see how they taste.
"Also, the black locust flowers on the small path leading to the county town are edible. You can use them to make dumplings or steamed buns. They’re all natural ingredients."
When Qiao Feishuang saw the steamed buns her daughter had brought, she was utterly stunned. Hearing her daughter’s words shocked her even more. "Black locust flowers can actually be eaten?" It was easy to imagine what it would mean if black locust flowers were edible. There were many black locust trees in various places, which meant an absolute abundance of flowers.