The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 974 - 220: Putting on an Act

Chapter 974: Chapter 220: Putting on an Act

Upon hearing that Fang Liuming had lost his position, Pei Wendong and the others were taken aback, unable to believe it as they looked at Pei Qian and Fang Liuming, who had followed her in. Wasn’t it said that ever since their third brother-in-law took office, he had been diligently governing Baoning County, performing his duties exceptionally well? How could he suddenly lose his position!?

"Where are Fang Li and that concubine?" Xiao Yong asked, seeing the anger written on Pei Qian’s face and quickly guessing the reason. Those two had followed him for wealth and honor, yet Fang Liuming was known for his integrity and caution. Trouble must have arisen because of Fang Li and his concubine!

Pei Qian snorted, "They still dream of wealth and honor!" she said, and then headed for the inner courtyard.

Xie Yi didn’t step forward to greet her; seeing her coming in, she bent her knees to salute.

Thinking she was a new maid in the household, Pei Qian instructed her as she walked, "Go to the kitchen and prepare a bowl of hot soup for me!" No matter how angry she was, there was still another mouth inside of her to feed; she couldn’t let that one starve.

After giving her orders, she went straight into the inner courtyard.

Xie Yi stood there with a crimson face, hanging her head in humiliated anger, tears suddenly welling up in her eyes.

Xiao Yong took one look at her and said nothing more, following Fang Liuming into the inner courtyard.

Seeing her cry, Pei Wendong hurriedly explained, "My third sister doesn’t recognize you; she must have mistaken you for someone else! Don’t cry; in a while, I’ll introduce you to my third sister!" He also instructed the servants to relay the message to the kitchen.

"It’s okay! I’m just being too sensitive, suddenly being mistaken for a servant..." she said as tears involuntarily burst forth. Holding back her tears, she smiled and added, "I’ll go have a look in the kitchen! Since she is your third sister and sounds like she’s pregnant, it’s right for me to make soup for her!"

Pei Wendong urged her not to go and consoled her a little longer.

Walking behind them, Xiao Yong entered the inner courtyard with a stern gaze, making his way directly to Pei Qin’s room.

Pei Qian was in the midst of furiously recounting to Pei Qin about Fang Liuming losing his position, "...The County Magistrate’s annual salary is only seventy-five taels of silver, and those two despicable beings spent dozens of taels in just one month. Not even ten years’ salaries could sustain their extravagance! After failing to get my silver, they secretly took bribes, even accepting money that was meant to save lives! Those damned curs! The Sir Magistrate knew my brother-in-law had military merits, so instead of directly dismissing him, he allowed Fang Liuming to resign from office himself. That wretch Fang Li even caused trouble, still dreaming of landing a bigger position in Capital Jingcheng, thinking of making even more money!"

The mention of Fang Li made her want to curse.

Pei Qin looked at Fang Liuming. Had this girl gotten used to cursing? Even though Fang Liming was her father-in-law on the surface, she could curse all she wanted in her heart, but she even let it slip from her mouth.

Fang Liuming looked at Pei Qian helplessly yet affectionately, shaking his head. Having experienced such a debacle, he was nearly infuriated to death, let alone her, carrying a child. If cursing made her feel better, she had to be allowed some release, rather than bottling it up inside.

Pei Qin frowned at him, expecting him to restrain Pei Qian more, but instead, he was just indulging her. Turning to Fang Liuming, she asked, "How much did they take?"

Fang Liuming’s eyes were fiercely determined, "Over three thousand taels."

The Waci People hadn’t attacked Baoning County, but many refugees had poured in. Fang Liuming and Pei Qian managed things tightly, and every time Fang Li managed to get his hands on some silver, he was scared out of his wits. When the conflict ensued and Pei Qian became pregnant, Fang Liuming, distracted, lacked oversight, and that was when Fang Li got the idea to target the grain storage.

Pei Qian snorted toward him, "If I hadn’t managed it so strictly, all the grain in the storage would have been gone! So many people would have died! He should have been thrown into jail to rot in a cell!"

Meanwhile, Fang Li was still fantasizing that after returning to Capital Jingcheng, he could have Mo Heng run some connections to get Fang Liuming a better Capital Official position, and then they could stay in Jingcheng for good. Becoming a County Magistrate in a small county was less lucrative and even more remote. Look at how shrewd Mo Heng was—when there was a battle to be fought, he led the troops against the Waci People and earned military merit. Surely, he would rise in rank and make a fortune!

Yet the Fang family was thrown into turmoil.

Pei Qian, having just arrived, didn’t even go home but went directly to see Pei Qin. She was furious not only with Fang Li but also anxious about the news of her eldest sister being wounded and poisoned. She didn’t know how her sister’s condition was and, having no wish to enter the home, let that scoundrel Fang Li return home to spin his version of events and see if he could talk his way out of the inhumane mess he’d created!

She was pregnant, four months along, and her belly was already showing. Having traveled such a long distance while angry, Lady Yu hurriedly sent Fang Liuming to accompany her, and the two made their way there.

Left behind, Fang Li and Yang Yulan indeed managed to put a spin on the story. Fang Li cried injustice, claiming he was framed, and as for the person who framed him, he didn’t dare to directly name Pei Qian.

Yang Yulan played the innocent woman who never made decisions or understood affairs of the household.