Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 120 - 120 121 Struck by Lightning_1

?Chapter 120: Chapter 121 Struck by Lightning_1 Chapter 120: Chapter 121 Struck by Lightning_1 Before she had finished speaking, Madam Liu had already pushed the door open and rushed in, with the servant unable to stop her. Thinking that she was the Second Boss of Lady’s Embroidery House, he assumed she must have urgent business with Lady and did not pursue.

Madam Liu staggered into the room, where Muniang had already lit a lamp because she heard Madam Liu’s knocking. Madam Liu was always composed, so why such panic now? Muniang had an ominous feeling in her heart.

“Auntie, what’s happened to you? Coming out in such heavy rain without even an umbrella, come inside quick.”

Muniang hurriedly helped Madam Liu inside. She was so weak; she nearly fainted. But Madam Liu, disregarding everything, desperately grabbed Muniang’s arm, her wet hands soaking Muniang’s sleeves: “Muniang, something terrible has happened at the embroidery room! The screen I just finished today is ruined! What are we going to do? Oh, what are we going to do?”

Muniang’s mind boomed as if struck by a bolt of lightning, and it took her a moment to urgently ask, “What happened, exactly?”

Madam Liu’s eyes were red with tears: “I was restless all night, worried that the heavy rain might have dampened the embroideries in the room, so I got up to check. But who could have known, who could have known… our embroidery room, it’s like it was struck by lightning, the beams have broken, the whole house has collapsed. I was so anxious that I rushed to find you.”

Muniang felt a pain in her chest and called out to the servant: “Call the other lads and come with me!”

After saying this, she dashed into the rain, and Dazhu, quick on his feet, grabbed an umbrella by the door and followed her.

This screen’s deadline was upon them. If this piece was destroyed and they failed to deliver, there would be big trouble. Not to mention the tarnish on the Embroidery House’s reputation, how would they ever afford the ten thousand taels of silver in compensation?

Seeing the collapsed building before her, Muniang nearly passed out.

Madam Liu and Muniang’s servants hurried over as well. Seeing Muniang in this state, Madam Liu also felt a sour ache in her heart: “Muniang, what are we going to do? We have to deliver by tomorrow—”
“Everyone, start digging quickly. We have to see the goods no matter what. Be gentle, there might still be time to fix this,” Muniang’s calm voice rang out, and everyone seemed to wake from a dream and hurried into the collapsed building’s rubble to dig.

Madam Liu looked at Muniang in a daze, forced to admit that she couldn’t compare with her young niece. Under such chaotic circumstances, she herself was helpless, and yet Muniang was still able to issue clear orders; in this regard, she was much stronger than herself.

Muniang only appeared calm on the outside; her heart was just as anxious as Madam Liu’s, but now that everyone was panicking, she naturally couldn’t let the ranks fall into disarray. She had to stay steady no matter what, but the sweat forming in her palms couldn’t lie to herself.

Dazhu took Muniang’s hand: “Lady, don’t be afraid.”

Muniang nodded lightly, and her heart settled slightly.

After what seemed like an eternity, a servant’s voice called out: “Lady, master, we found it!”

Muniang jerked to attention and ran over, no longer caring for an umbrella. The rain dripped down steadily outside, and Dazhu initially wanted to help her with the umbrella, but, looking at the wreckage, he too discarded it and promptly followed to see.

“Where? Is it still okay?” Muniang asked anxiously.

“Lady, it doesn’t look good at all; there’s a huge tear. It must have been cut by a fallen roof tile,” he said.

As Muniang rushed closer to take a look, she realized it was indeed beyond salvation. The embroidery was completely disfigured by the fallen tiles and beams, and even Madam Liu’s skills couldn’t save it now. The delivery was scheduled for early the next morning, and such a screen was difficult to make; it was impossible to produce a new one in such short notice. What was she to do?

Muniang fell silent, her mind racing to find a solution.

Seeing Muniang speechless, the servants didn’t even dare to breathe heavily, for they understood what this piece of embroidery meant to their master, and now that it was ruined, who knew what trouble it could bring!

Muniang’s gaze swept over the wreckage and she quickly noticed the main beam of the embroidery room that had bore the force, a thick column split in two. Madam Liu had said that the beam had been broken by lightning.

With suspicion, Muniang walked over, crouched down, and began to scrutinize the broken beam closely as lightning continued to flash, intermittently illuminating the pitch-black night.

The servants, watching the relentless lightning, grew apprehensive, “Lady, this place was struck by lightning, we better not stay too long; another bolt could hit us.”

Muniang’s expression turned even colder, her eyes filling with malice as her gaze locked onto the fractured beam, her pale hand caressing the broken edges back and forth.

A flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and Muniang’s grim expression struck fear into the eyes of the servants. They shivered, thinking they had angered Muniang with their earlier cowardice, and they quickly said, “We were wrong, lady. It was our cowardice. Please spare us!”

But Muniang paid them no mind, muttering coldly to herself, “Oh, very good! Struck by lightning, indeed! I was wondering what kind of retribution I’ve encountered to deserve such a fate from the heavens. Turns out, someone just couldn’t bear to see me thrive!”

Madam Liu’s eyes widened: “Muniang, what are you saying? What do you mean? Our embroidery room didn’t collapse because it was struck by lightning? Could it be that someone did this on purpose—”
At this point, Madam Liu gasped in shock and began to wail and curse: “Who is the heartless bastard behind this? To commit such a disgraceful act, they’re ruining us!”

Muniang’s hand had already formed a tight fist. Rage churned within her, and she wished she could devour the culprit alive.

But then, she forced herself to calm down. This was no time to ponder who the perpetrator was. Even if they caught the person and executed them, the ruined screen could not be restored. Right now, the most important thing was dealing with the Noble Lady from the capital.

“Daguang, take the men and move this broken beam to our house,” she instructed.

Daguang, a man of understanding, knew this was evidence. He immediately complied, leading the servants to carry the beam back home.

Erliang, feeling sorry for Muniang, said, “Wife, let’s go back inside. It’s raining heavily; don’t catch a chill.” He didn’t understand all the intricacies, nor did he care about how much money was made or how much silver was lost. In Erliang’s world, there was only Qiao Muniang.

Muniang knew it was futile to stay any longer. Looking at Madam Liu, who had become a tearful mess, she couldn’t bear it and suggested, “Let’s go back for now. Auntie, you should head back too. It will be daylight in half an hour, and we can figure something out then.”