Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 556 - 554

Chapter 556: 554

"Enough, both incidents aren’t as you think they are. I didn’t jump into the lake on purpose. I used the medicine pill to save my brother’s life! I won’t take it without offering something in return! You all misunderstood!"

"Hmph, who would believe your words!" scoffed Di Junya.

"Since Miss Li insists she didn’t steal it, then let’s say I sold the medicine pill to Brother Di. But, he hasn’t paid me in full yet. Each pill is worth 100,000 taels of silver. Since you took the pill, the payment naturally falls to you! That way, you’re not saddled with the reputation of a thief." Xiao’er continued. She wasn’t going to let the Li family benefit from the pill without an exchange!

Engaging in verbal sparring provided little advantage. Real profit lay in silver!

In the eyes of the world, once a thief always a thief. Even if she gave the pill back, Li Mingfang would always be a thief.

"100,000 taels! That’s highway robbery!" Mrs. Li shrieked.

"I don’t need to rob anyone; your daughter stole from us. Naturally, we need to be compensated!" Xiao’er replied, clearly amused.

"Is your medicine an elixir of immortality? Does it warrant 100,000 taels per pill?!" Li Mingfang retorted.

"Even an elixir wouldn’t have saved your son’s life. My medicine pill is worth much more than that! Or is your son’s life not worth 100,000 taels?

100,000 taels per pill was actually a bargain. She should have brought them to ruin, leaving them without the funds to even buy fireworks.

Mrs. Li had no comeback. Of course, her son was worth 100,000 taels, even a million taels!

But just because she feels so, doesn’t mean she ought to give so much money to someone else!

All their wealth had been earned in blood and sacrifice by the men in her family!

"Silent now, are we, Miss Li? Are you planning on reneging your debts?"

"Duchess of Rui’an County, you are blatantly swindling us!"

"You can refuse to pay. We can just let my big brother turn Li Mingjun back to his deathbed! Then you can repay us a pill!" Di Junya shamelessly replied.

"This is preposterous! Are you a hooligan?" Mrs. Li was so angry, she felt like vomiting blood.

"Yep!" Di Junya shot back, looking every bit the defiant hooligan.

"100,000 taels it is then! But I don’t have that much money on me at the moment." Realizing that more and more people were watching, Li Mingfang gritted her teeth and agreed.

Fu Ranhui looked at Li Mingfang like she was an idiot when she heard her agree.

"Miss Li is quite agreeable! I happen to be free, so I’ll accompany you back to the mansion to collect it!" Xiao’er said cheerfully.

"I’m also free, I’ll go as a witness to ensure no one reneges on their debt!" Di Junya chimed in.

"I’ll go as a witness too!" added Shangguan Wanru.

"We will join as well!" Fu Ranhui, Ruan Weizhen, and Gu Qiqi said.

A disgruntled Li Mingfang left with a reluctant Mrs. Li.

Several young girls tailed not too far behind.

Mrs. Li felt something was off. 100,000 taels was pretty much their entire fortune. How could they just give it away like that!

Besides precious items like gold, silver, and jewelry, they only had about 100,000 taels in cash at home. Giving away that much money would severely deplete their reserves. Mingfang was getting married in a couple of months, where would they get the 100,000 taels of dowry?

"Mingfang, we can’t afford this!" Mrs. Li whispered.

"Mother, I have a plan. For now, let’s pay. Or else, I’ll lose my entire reputation." Li Mingfang said.

She, Li Mingfang, won’t be bullied! She would reclaim the 100,000 taels.

Since Duchess of Rui’an County insists on swindling her, she won’t play nice anymore.

Xiao’er was somewhat alert seeing Li Mingfang’s prompt agreement. But that one pill could save someone’s life. 100,000 taels was a price wealthy folks would pay! Ordinarily, she wouldn’t even sell it! Even if they had the money, they wouldn’t be able to buy it from her!

Li Mingfang handing over 100,000 taels wasn’t a total loss.

Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li walked quickly. When they were passing through an alley, a wooden barrel suddenly flew out from within.

Quick on the uptake, Xiao’er pulled the group back.

Seeing the attack, Li Mingfang shot a palm towards the barrel. It shattered on impact, drenching Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li with the fragrance hidden inside...

Xiao’er and Shangguan Wanru backed away a few steps, then covered their noses with handkerchiefs, and burst into laughter.

"Ew..."

"Ew..."

The foul smell filled their noses. Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li wiped something off their faces. When they figured out what it was, they started vomiting violently.

The people on the street were shocked by this sight, and then some couldn’t help but break into laughter.

The unlucky gatekeeper at Di Shaowei’s house who had been punished to take out the night toilet was hiding behind a wall. Seeing this scene, he finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

Xiao’er had a hunch and looked in his direction. Wasn’t that the gatekeeper from Brother Di’s house? Now he’s been punished to take out the night toilet. He certainly knew how to make good use of it! Xiao’er couldn’t help giving him a big thumbs-up!

When the gatekeeper realized that someone was looking at him, he quickly shrunk his body and then ran off!

Did the gesture from the county master of Rui’an actually mean to praise himself?

Indeed, the people of the Li family had reached a point where both men and gods were angry with them!

After Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li vomited out their bile, they finally realized they were in the middle of the street and they quickly covered their faces and ran away.

Not taking a carriage today was really a miscalculation!

They had no idea that the gatekeeper, who was stationed here every day, had waited for several days to find such a good opportunity to vent his anger!

Di Junya, laughing so hard she could barely breathe, couldn’t help but ask, "Are we going to get that 100,000 taels of silver back?"

"Are you stupid? Not going for 100,000 taels of silver? Do you think it’s just ten coins?" Shangguan Wanru rolled her eyes.

"Hurry up, we must make Li Mingfang give out the silver banknotes before they take a bath, otherwise we can’t wait for them until the next day!" Xiao’er urged.

"Right, we have to move quickly, we can’t let them wash the stuff off their bodies so soon." Di Junya said excitedly.

Today was indeed thoroughly satisfying.

But it really stank!

The group, covering their noses, hurriedly ran off.

When Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li ran back to Li Mansion, the gatekeeper almost didn’t recognize them and nearly didn’t let them in.

It was only after Mrs. Li began cursing loudly that the gatekeeper recognized her voice and opened the door.

"Miss Li, give us the 100,000 taels! We don’t want to wait too long!"

Xiao’er and the others cautiously avoided the filth falling from the two of them and walked into the Li Mansion.

Only then did Li Mingfang remember that there were several debt-collectors following her. She felt as if she had hit rock bottom! This was the most humiliating moment of her life, much worse than losing her reputation!

Li Mingfang casually pointed to a passing maid: "Take the Rui’an county master and her friends to the accounting room and give them 100,000 taels of silver!"

The maid, shocked by the sight of her mistress and daughter, was even more dumbstruck when she heard her words: "Young lady, how much silver did you say?"

"100,000 taels, don’t you hear me? Are you deaf?" Li Mingfang was furious and couldn’t help screaming.

"I heard you!" The maid shrank back in fright.

Li Mingfang’s outburst made her breathe in the stinky air again, and then she couldn’t help but start vomiting violently.

Xiao’er and the others couldn’t help exchanging glances, and then they laughed again.

Li Mingfang and Mrs. Li were so angry their faces turned green!

"Take your silver and get out!" Li Mingfang dropped these words and the two hurried towards their courtyard.

Xiao’er nodded: "We’ll leave as soon as we pick up the silver, Miss Li. You don’t have to rush out to escort us, take your time!"

Poof! They all laughed again!

Li Mingfang ran even faster.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.