It had been a long time since Madam Qin had heard any news of Qin Xiao bringing home game.
It had also been a long time since she had managed to get any money out of him.
Naturally, she had no idea that Qin Xiao had been deliberately avoiding her.
When he hunted a wild boar, even though the village butcher would gladly buy it, he would rather make the trip all the way to the county town and sell it directly to a restaurant.
As for deer or muntjac, there was even less chance of anyone finding out. He would take mountain trails straight into town and deliberately travel under cover of darkness, making sure not a single rumor spread.
So when she heard Aunt Pang’s words, Madam Qin instinctively assumed that Qin Xiao must have caught something valuable again.
Otherwise, why would someone suddenly come over and praise him?
Praising her younger son was only natural.
Qin Yue could read and study.
What was there to praise about Qin Xiao?
Unexpectedly, Aunt Pang shook her head.
She had not seen Qin Xiao bring back any game.
What she had seen was a cart loaded with expensive goods.
The other purchases stung Madam Qin’s heart a little, but she could tolerate them.
After all, she could hardly expect Qin Xiao to go without food, clothes, bedding, and hand over every last copper coin to her.
But the moment she heard about the bolt of silk gauze, her entire expression changed.
Throwing down her winnowing basket, she stormed toward the back mountain.
By the time she reached the fork in the road, she spotted Qinghe standing guard beside a mountain of purchases.
As she drew closer and finally saw everything clearly, her heart felt as though it were bleeding.
Her hands trembled as she pointed from one item to another, unable to decide which offended her the most.
It was as if every single thing had been bought with her own money.
“Heavens above…”
Even her voice trembled with heartache.
“Are you some noble young lady? A princess, perhaps? What makes you worthy of using such expensive things?”
“These toothbrushes, this tooth powder, the hand balm, silk handkerchiefs, and this bolt of silk gauze…”
Out of respect for Qin Xiao’s mother, Qinghe did not snap back immediately.
Instead, she answered politely.
“Auntie…”
By all rights, she should have called her Mother by now.
Yet the word simply would not leave her mouth.
“Toothbrushes and tooth powder are good for your teeth. They’ll help prevent dental problems in the future and save money on treatment. They’re worth buying.”
“And the silk handkerchiefs were a gift from the fabric shop owner. They didn’t cost anything…”
“Shut your mouth!”
Madam Qin planted her hands on her hips and glared at Qinghe as though she were an enemy.
Did she not know toothbrushes were useful?
In the entire family, only Qin Yue used a toothbrush.
In fact, she could count the number of villagers who owned one on the fingers of a single hand.
Everyone else chewed willow twigs dipped in salt and stove ash to clean their teeth.
Qin Xiao had lived that way for years.
So why was it that after buying this seductive little vixen, he suddenly knew how to enjoy life’s luxuries?
It was all her fault.
She had corrupted her son.
Instead of handing over his money to his mother, he was spending it all on this fox spirit.
The son she had controlled for over twenty years had been stolen away by some nameless convicted servant girl.
The hatred in Madam Qin’s heart nearly consumed her.
She wanted to tear Qinghe apart with her bare hands.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the bolt of silk gauze and picked up the basin containing Qinghe’s toothbrush, tooth powder, and personal items.
The silk gauze could be sold.
The toothbrushes and tooth powder could be given to Qin Yue.
“I’m taking these.”
There was no way Qinghe would allow that.
She remembered the way Qin Xiao had looked while buying those things, every thought and every glance centered on her.
In that moment, she forgot all concerns about future relations between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Stepping forward, she snatched the items back.
“Auntie, Qin Xiao bought these things. Whether they stay or go should be his decision.”
“Taking them behind his back isn’t appropriate.”
“He already bought fabric for you and Uncle Qin. As for these things, perhaps we should wait until he comes back…”
Smack!
Madam Qin struck her without warning.
The slap carried her full strength.
Caught completely off guard, Qinghe staggered.
She spun twice before losing her balance and falling to the ground.
At that exact moment, Qin Xiao returned.
The first thing he saw was his newly married wife sitting on the ground, one hand covering her face.
She looked as fragile as a withered leaf blown down by the wind.
Meanwhile, his mother stood there clutching the things he had bought, still hurling insults.
“You shameless little whore! All you know is how to please men in bed. You’ve completely stolen my son’s heart!”
“Letting you marry him was already a blessing from heaven.”
“And you still think you’re worthy of using these things?”
“You don’t deserve them!”
Rage exploded inside Qin Xiao.
When he saw his mother lifting her foot, preparing to kick Qinghe again, he moved instantly.
His strides were swift and powerful, so fast that he unconsciously used the light-footed techniques he had learned in the army.
He raised his leg to block her.
Unfortunately, he failed to control his strength.
Madam Qin was sent flying several meters away.
Ignoring her completely, he rushed to Qinghe.
His eyes filled with pain as he helped her to her feet.
Gently moving her hand aside, he revealed the bright red handprint on her pale cheek.
The skin had already begun to swell.
Something slammed heavily against his heart.
Suppressing his anger, he spoke through gritted teeth.
“Did you forget what I told you this morning?”
“When someone hits you, hit them back.”
“If you can’t beat them, there’s a stick on the ground.”
“If there isn’t a stick, use a rock.”
“And if all else fails, fight them to the bitter end.”
“If anything happens, I’ve got you.”
Through tear-filled eyes, Qinghe stared at him in disbelief.
No matter how unreasonable this woman was, she was still his mother.
Yet he was standing entirely on her side.
Without reservation.
Without even asking what had happened first.
He was actually encouraging her to fight his own mother?
“I… I was trying to explain things to her.”
“I didn’t expect her to be so unreasonable. She started taking the things without saying anything.”
“I just told her to wait until you came back. Before I could even finish speaking, she hit me…”
Qinghe was no stranger to punishment.
Back at the Prince’s Manor, whether the masters ordered canings or slaps, servants were forbidden from crying.
They even had to thank their masters afterward.
This was different.
For the first time in her life, she did not have to pretend to be strong.
She could complain.
She could tell someone she had been wronged.
The tears she had been holding back immediately spilled over.
“I tried to dodge, but she moved too fast.”
“She hit me without even listening…”
Her voice dissolved into sobs.
Each tear felt like it was dripping directly onto Qin Xiao’s heart.
The ache inside him grew heavier and heavier.
Wiping away her tears, he gently patted her shoulder.
“You’ve suffered.”
Then he turned around.
Picking up the belongings Madam Qin had dropped when she lost her balance, he carefully brushed away the dirt and sand before putting everything back in order.
Only then did he face his mother.
The fury inside him threatened to erupt, but he forced it down.
“Mother, my wife hasn’t bewitched me.”
“I’m good to her because she’s good to me.”
“If I can afford something, I’m happy to buy it for her.”
“If you don’t like seeing it, then don’t look.”
“We don’t even live under your roof.”
“Can’t you just pretend I don’t exist and leave me alone?”
The fork in the road leading toward the back mountain sat near the center of the village.
Many villagers lived nearby.
By now, quite a crowd had gathered.
People stood in small groups, watching the drama unfold from every direction.
The moment Madam Qin heard Qin Xiao talking about severing ties again, she unexpectedly found courage.
This time, she had an audience.
Straightening her back, she threw her arms wide.
“Everyone, come judge for yourselves!”
“He’s my son! I carried him for ten months and raised him with my own hands!”
“This little fox has only been here a few days. She’s slept beside him for a handful of nights, and suddenly she’s the one who’s treated him well.”
“And now he’s throwing away his own mother!”
As she spoke, she slapped her thigh and began wailing dramatically.
It was as though she had suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
“What sin did I commit to give birth to such an unfilial son?”
“He tells me to pretend he doesn’t exist. How can I do that?”
“He’s flesh from my flesh!”
“My heart hurts so much!”
She wanted the entire village to see Qin Xiao as an ungrateful son.
She wanted Qinghe branded as a seductive temptress.
Once their reputations were ruined, Qin Xiao would never be able to sever ties with the family.
Breaking family relations required appearing before the magistrate.
The village chief would have to serve as a witness.
If Qin Xiao appeared to be in the wrong, the authorities would never approve it.
He might even be beaten with wooden boards.
Qin Xiao closed his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, his jaw tightened.
Then he suddenly roared.
“Mother!”
His voice cut straight through her wailing.
“When I say Qinghe treats me well, I don’t mean those filthy things you’re imagining.”
“She washes my clothes.”
“She cooks my meals.”
“She mends my clothes.”
“She gathers herbs and treats my injuries.”
“As for the silk gauze, I insisted on buying it.”
“She tried to stop me and spent a long time persuading me otherwise.”
“In the end, she only agreed to the cheapest bolt.”
“Mother, when I spent money on you, did you ever try to help me save any?”
“That alone is enough reason for me to spend money on her.”
Madam Qin wiped at her completely dry eyes.
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“You’ve never bought such fine fabric for me.”
Elder Ge had been standing nearby for quite some time, carrying a pair of empty baskets.
At last, he shook his head and sighed.
“Did that brick house with its front and back courtyards fall from the sky?”
“And tell me, if all you did was farm, would Qin Yue have ever been able to study?”
“Lao Guizhi, at least speak with a clear conscience.”
Lao Guizhi was Madam Qin’s full name.
Given Elder Ge’s age, he had no need to show her special respect and addressed her directly by name.
The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable.
Once Elder Ge spoke up, the villagers immediately found their voices as well.
Hadn’t Lao Guizhi asked everyone to judge the situation?
Very well.
Then they would discuss it properly.