I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 220 Why Didn’t It Work?

Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Why Didn’t It Work?

At this moment, Han Dazhu’s gaze was filled with cautious scrutiny and probing.

Qiao Qingyu merely glanced at Han Dazhu before hurriedly stretching out her neck to peer inside.

And at this time, Han Lishi had already taken a piece of clothing to beat the burning curtains. Qiao Qingyu jumped in fright, how could it have caught fire?

The house’s roof didn’t have any tiles, it was all made of wheat straw. If it caught fire, it would be disastrous, especially with today’s strong wind.

Qiao Qingyu entered the house again.

Unexpectedly, Han Lishi shouted loudly, "Qiao Qingyu, get out of here."

By then, Uncle Qiao had also arrived and pulled Qiao Qingyu aside, whispering, "What trouble are you looking for, you young girl?"

He then called out to the dazed older female cousin who was standing there, "Hurry up and get some water."

It was only then that Han Dazhu reacted and rushed into the house. However, Han Lishi had extinguished the fire, with just half of the curtains burned.

The curtains were made of yellow silk fabric, and now the edges were charred.

One could vaguely see the serpentine sculpture inside.

Han Dazhu quickly turned to look at his daughter lying on the kang bed. Han Liuya clenched her teeth, "What are you looking at!"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Han Dazhu’s eyes. It was a failure.

After so much effort, why had it failed?

Looking at his own mother, Han Dazhu felt some resentment.

Why did she have to do this?

Couldn’t she think of some other way?

Seeing that the Han Family was in chaos, Uncle Qiao politely exchanged a few words with Han Dazhu before leaving with Qiao Qingyu.

Qiao Qingyu stood at the doorway, with Han Dazhu and Han Lishi, who had seen them out, behind her.

Especially Han Lishi, whose gaze seemed to want to bore a hole through her.

Although Qiao Qingyu was ignorant in this regard, signs had already shown that just now, both Han Lishi and Han Liuya were definitely engaging in some peculiar activities, like superstitious schemes.

And what did they want with her "lifeblood"?

Could it be that she still had some connection to the Wu Family?

But wouldn’t it be better to ask directly for her mother’s blood?

Then, Qiao Qingyu recalled the knotted rope held by Second Aunt.

She, too, began to feel superstitious.

Could it be because this rope that had been with her since childhood was suddenly taken by Second Aunt, and then her mother met with misfortune?

...

Meanwhile, at the Qiao family’s old residence, in the east wing room, Qiao Family’s second son’s wife, Wang Mei, took the opportunity while no one was paying attention to sneak out the small cloth bundle hidden underneath a red brick in the corner.

Today was her turn to cook, and all the men had gone out to work in the fields, while the old master and old madam had gone to the neighboring village to see an old doctor reputed to have excellent medical skills.

They were all concerned about Han Xianglan.

Seizing the opportunity, she opened the cloth bundle, which contained ten, ten-yuan banknotes. She counted them over and over, pressing them to her chest after counting, then counted them several more times before carefully placing them back in the cloth bundle. She hid it again under the brick in the corner and covered it with a box, only then standing up relieved.

A smile played on the corners of Wang Mei’s lips. She had never expected that a bracelet braided from a piece of rope by Han Xianglan could sell for one hundred yuan.

Or to be precise, she sold it for 300 yuan.

She gave two hundred yuan to her younger brother at her maternal home, who had set up the deal for her.

Someone took an interest in the knotted rope on Han Xianglan’s wrist, wanting to learn how to braid it, and asked her to help borrow the rope for a look.

She had managed to borrow the item from Han Xianglan and sent it to her younger brother at her maiden home.

But the very next day, her brother came to tell her that someone was ready to pay 300 yuan to buy it. Her heart almost stopped beating at that moment.

yuan, although her family’s days were better now and she had tens of yuan in her hands, that was still 300 yuan.

Even if she gave 200 to her brother, she’d still have one hundred left.

What could she do with one hundred yuan?

She could even marry off her son with that.

Wang Mei agreed without hesitation, but her brother told her not to share the money with Han Xianglan. The Han family wasn’t short on cash, what with such a capable daughter and son-in-law; their wealth was inexhaustible.

They couldn’t compare, so it was best to be cautious and just claim it was lost. After all, it was just a piece of rope; no one would take it seriously.

She thought so too, although the color hadn’t faded and the flowers woven into it were unusually pretty.

But it wasn’t a golden bracelet or silver bracelet.

She just hadn’t expected that before she could even tell Han Xianglan, Han Xianglan fell ill and was taken to the hospital, reportedly at death’s door. That also gave her a sense of relief—if Han Xianglan really passed away, no one would pursue the matter of the item.

It seemed like even fate was helping her.

But just then, she heard voices in the courtyard.

It was Qiao Zhiyuan returning home.

Wang Mei paused, wondering why he was back at this time. Wasn’t he busy with the autumn harvest in the fields?

The five hundred mu of experimental fields, regarded as the apple of the county’s eye, were said to have a bumper harvest this year, with corn cobs growing thick and kernels plump and full.

Many were tempted to steal some corn, but they couldn’t even get close to the cornfields, guarded as they were by militiamen.

Qiao Zhiyuan had been there ever since he returned from the provincial city.

Wang Mei quickly stepped out of her own house but was surprised to see Qiao Qingyu following behind Qiao Zhiyuan.

She asked in surprise, "Qingyu, when did you come back? Didn’t you go to see your mom?"

"I just got back from the provincial city, Second Aunt. I have something to ask you."

"What do you need from me?"

"Second Aunt, that knot you borrowed from my mom—I need it back to take to her."

Wang Mei felt a pang in her heart.

It was just like attracting what she feared the most.

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Qiao Qingyu looked at Wang Mei with surprise, "Second Aunt, I need to return to North City right now. Give me the item."

"...Qingyu, what do you need a piece of rope for?" Wang Mei asked dryly.

"It’s not about whether it’s useful or not. It’s because my mom wore that knot since she was little. I thought, maybe she got sick because the knot wasn’t with her, so I wanted to take it back and see if that was the reason."

Wang Mei, feeling guilty, dared not meet Qiao Qingyu’s eyes, mumbling, "You’re married to a scientist, yet you believe in such superstition?"

"Second Aunt, why are you dawdling? Just give it to me. That thing is useless to you..." Qiao Qingyu was getting impatient.

"I... I lost the knot."

Wang Mei stammered.

"Lost it?" Qiao Qingyu’s head buzzed, "Second Aunt, don’t joke with me. It’s not a golden or silver bracelet. Why would you keep it?"

"I’m not lying to you, I really lost it."

"Didn’t you say someone wanted to learn how to make knots?"

"Yes, yes, but before I could show it to them, it disappeared," Wang Mei explained frantically.