freenovelworld What's in the box in Chapter 156?
What's in the box in Chapter 156?
Madam Xing's arrogant attitude vanished instantly, and she shrank back and murmured,
"Grandma, I'm doing this for the good of the Qiao family's daughter. These things are worthless now, not even enough to buy a pound of coal..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was scolded by Old Madam Xiao.
"You think you're so bold as to order my guests around? Who gave you the guts!"
After being scolded, Madam Xing was too frightened to utter another sound. She simply lowered her head and pulled Xiao Qianqian and Xiao Yirou back a little.
With a face full of apology, Old Madam Xiao stepped forward and took Qiao Qingshu's hand, saying...
"Shu'er, don't mind them. Don't pay attention to what they say. I'm naturally very happy that you came to see me."
Qiao Qingshu was neither angry nor annoyed, but simply smiled faintly and said...
"Shu'er doesn't mind."
He turned around and ordered his servant to open the four large chests he had brought.
When the box was opened, everyone standing under the eaves stared wide-eyed in fright, and Madam Xing even covered her mouth and screamed.
"what!!"
The women of the Xiao family looked at each other, their eyes shining as they gazed at the four large trunks.
Those were the four largest boxes of the finest walnut charcoal!
Walnut charcoal is extremely durable; one piece can burn for nearly twelve hours.
If these four boxes of walnut charcoal were sold on the black market, they would be worth millions of taels of gold!
Xiao Qianqian and Xiao Yirou, who had just looked down on Qiao Qingshu, now stared at her as if she were a monster.
Xiao Yirou murmured softly,
"How...how did she get so much..."
Xiao Yirou was filled with jealousy. How could Qiao Qingshu be so capable? The things that her mother had been trying to get for two or three days were easily obtained by Qiao Qingshu in four large boxes.
Xiao Qianqian was so shocked that she couldn't close her mouth for a long time. You should know that there has been no charcoal fire in her yard for the past two days, and she has been so cold that she could barely fall asleep in the middle of the night.
Looking at the pile of walnut charcoal, she couldn't help but wonder if she could get some, would she not have to shiver in bed at night?
She had just been looking down on Qiao Qingshu, but now her eyes suddenly held a hint of fawning and ingratiation.
She wondered if she called Qiao Qingshu "good sister" now, would she get more walnut charcoal?
Madam Xing was so shocked that she couldn't speak. She thought Qiao Qingshu's box contained ordinary gifts, but she never expected it to contain walnut charcoal!
Her expression changed rapidly in an instant, and finally she froze, completely unsure of what to say.
She had been scolded by Madam Xiao for several days, and the Xiao family's coal reserves were almost depleted, not enough to last another three to five days.
Old Madam Xiao scolded her for not being able to get charcoal, saying that the entire Xiao family would soon be freezing.
She was extremely anxious and used all her connections, even going so far as to beg her family for help. She managed to get only three to five pounds of charcoal, and it was the lowest quality charcoal available.
Looking at the four boxes of high-quality walnut charcoal piled high on the ground, she felt a complex mix of emotions and wanted to cry.
But she quickly adjusted her mindset, her previous disdainful expression vanished instantly, and she once again revealed that fawning smile.
She took five steps forward in three quick strides to reach Qiao Qingshu's side, took Qiao Qingshu's hand, and smiled so broadly her eyes disappeared.
"Oh dear, Shu'er, I can't accept this. I never expected you to be so sensible and polite. This gift is truly a perfect gift for me, hahaha."
Qiao Qingshu slowly and firmly withdrew her hand, not even glancing at Madam Xing, and said...
"Two of these four boxes of walnut charcoal are gifts for Madam Xiao, and the other two are gifts for my future mother-in-law."
Su Yunzhen, who had been standing behind Old Madam Xiao, couldn't help but tremble, pointing incredulously at herself.
"What? There are two more boxes that are mine?"
Qiao Qingshu smiled and stepped forward, warmly taking Su Yunzhen's hand.
"Yes, Mrs. Su, you are my future mother-in-law. If I don't see you off, who else should I see off?"
Qiao Qingshu raised her face again and smiled at Madam Xing.
"Madam Xing, don't flatter yourself. There's no place for you here."
Madam Xing was speechless with anger, and her body trembled with rage. For the past two nights, she had been burning cheap charcoal in her room, which provided no warmth at all.
The last bit of walnut charcoal was given to my son, but it's all gone today. If we can't replenish it in time, I can't even imagine how we'll get through this freezing night.
She had originally planned to shamelessly ask Qiao Qingshu for some walnut charcoal, but after being choked by these words, she was too ashamed to ask anymore.
She was so angry that she twisted her body and turned her back, not wanting to look at her anymore.
Madam Xing was too embarrassed to speak up, but Madam Gu from the third branch and Madam Yan from the fourth branch were more comfortable doing so.
They hadn't offended Qiao Qingshu, so when they saw she had walnut charcoal, they naturally greeted her with smiles and fawned over her.
Mrs. Gu, with a smile on her face, was willing to give it a try.
"Shu'er, although I'm not your mother-in-law, once you marry into the family, we'll be one of them. Could you spare some coal for us? We're almost out of coal in our third courtyard..."
Madam Yan from the fourth branch also asked for some, her face full of flattery, and she looked at Qiao Qingshu expectantly.
At this moment, dignity and face are not worth mentioning. If that worthless dignity can be exchanged for walnut charcoal, then why not?
Qiao Qingshu looked at them with a smile, and after a long while said,
"We don't have any more, but we can give each person a small box. I'll send someone to deliver it to the Xiao family tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Madam Gu and Madam Yan were so happy that they slapped their thighs and pulled Qiao Qingshu inside to cook, bringing out all sorts of good tea and snacks.
Madam Xing watched as everyone went into the house, and she gritted her teeth in anger.
At this moment, her youngest daughter, Xiao Qianqian, was clinging to her shoulders and shaking her.
"Mother! Mother! Please go and beg Qiao Qingshu! She's already given us the third and fourth wives, why won't she give us the first wife!"
The thought of shivering in bed from the cold at night made Xiao Qianqian shake her mother's arm even more anxiously.
This rash action ignited Madam Xing's fury, and she turned around and slapped him hard across the face.
"Shut up! You brat!"
With half her face swollen from the beating, Xiao Qianqian was clearly stunned and dared not speak again.
She covered her face and sobbed softly, before Xiao Yirou pulled her back into the house.
Madam Xing couldn't bring herself to step back into the main house, seeing Qiao Qingshu and the Xiao family members all enjoying themselves.
She gritted her teeth and angrily returned to the courtyard of the main house.
As soon as I got back, I heard laughter coming from Xiao Chengyan's room.
She stormed in, furious, and immediately saw her son and Liu Wan'er embracing each other on the bed.
The center of the room was filled with burning walnut charcoal!
She herself wouldn't use such precious things, yet her own son is wasting them like this, and this wretched woman can even enjoy them.
Thinking of all this, Madam Xing angrily rushed towards Liu Wan'er!