Chapter 468: 468: How Many Bad Things Have You Said About Me Before?

Previously, whenever Zhu Cuiying visited Qiao Xiaomai’s house, her small, mung bean-like eyes were always sizing up the three-tiled rooms with malignant intent, and her face was plastered with insatiable greed.

Now the situation had changed. On this visit, her pockmarked face was full of smiles. She sat properly, her eyes not straying around, “Xiaomai, your brother Dazhu’s new house is finished. I’m planning on hosting a banquet to celebrate it tomorrow; make sure to come.”

To build the new house for Qiao Dazhu, Zhu Cuiying had previously borrowed five taels of silver from Qiao Xiaomai

Last time when the spring tax was due, Qiao Changkang and his wife Wu Yinfeng, in an attempt to muzzle Zhu Cuiying and Qiao Changfu, gave them ten taels.

With fifteen taels of silver, in the countryside, one could build a decent house.

After more than a month, Zhu Cuiying and Qiao Changfu had built three tiled rooms, identical to the layout of Qiao Xiaomai’s house.

“The new house is finished? When is brother Dazhu getting married?” Qiao Xiaomai asked.

“It’s done, it’s done. We’ve agreed to wait until after the autumn harvest when we’ll have some spare time for a proper ceremony.” Zhu Cuiying answered with a face full of smiles.

“Who’s going tomorrow?” Qiao Xiaomai asked again.

“Just relatives and the Village Chief.”

Qiao Xiaomai gave a long “Oh” in response, without indicating whether she would or wouldn’t go.

She asked with a smirk, “Auntie, you used to always visit the second daughter-in-law of the Village Chief’s family, what did you two talk about?”

“Huh?” The topic took a sharp turn, leaving Zhu Cuiying stunned.

Once she understood what Qiao Xiaomai was actually asking, her smile froze on her face.

What did they talk about?

Gossiping all about Qiao Xiaomai, of course!

At that time, because of the nickname Qiao Fox that had been given to Qiao Xiaomai, she and the Sun family were anxious that Tong Sanlang might take a liking to Qiao Xiaomai. She saw an opportunity because she came from the same village as Zhu Hongyun’s mother and spared no effort in badmouthing Qiao Xiaomai during her visits.

It seems that she was quite successful with her slanders at that time.

Both Zhu Hongyun and the Zhang family had a terrible impression of Qiao Xiaomai before they had any direct contact with her.

Later, when Tong Tiehu and Tong Sanlang both sided with Qiao Xiaomai, this only worsened the Zhang family and Zhu Hongyun’s impressions of her, even leading to a feud.

Everything was progressing the way she hoped, but right now, Zhu Cuiying just wanted to cry.

She had realised the importance of Qiao Xiaomai, and as such, had come over eagerly to curry favour with her and build relations, but now Xiaomai was bringing up the past and settling old scores!

She took a moment to think, then raised her hand and slapped herself hard, apologizing with a smile, “Xiaomai, I was blinded by ignorance in the past and made many mistakes. I’m sorry, please forgive me!”

After saying this, she slapped herself again.

With a loud “smack”, she’d hit herself hard enough that her cheeks quickly swelled up.

Seeing this, Xiaomai’s lips curled up into a soft smile, “Auntie, what good will slapping yourself do? Most importantly, you have to make amends.”

“Ah? How do I make amends?” Zhu Cuiying asked, enduring the pain.

“For all the ill words spoken in the past, you should now speak just as many kind words.” Xiaomai suggested, a playful eyebrow raised.

“Yes, yes, yes!” Zhu quickly agreed, nodding fervently like a pecking chicken.

This was simple enough. It was just praising her. She’d definitely praise Xiaomai to the skies!

“Auntie, I’ll be waiting to see your results.” Xiaomai added, still smiling.

On hearing this, Zhu Cuiying held her breath and asked cautiously, “What results?”

“The change in your attitude towards me.” Xiaomai did not hide her thoughts.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cuiying blinked her small, green eyes, understanding a bit but also a bit confused.