Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 121 - 121 122 Who Dares to Bully_1

?Chapter 121: Chapter 122 Who Dares to Bully_1 Chapter 121: Chapter 122 Who Dares to Bully_1 Though Madam Liu was heartbroken, she saw no reason to let Muniang keep her company in the rain for nothing, so she nodded her head.

Daybreak arrived, and the pouring rain from the previous night had also ceased. Most villagers got up early, and it did not take long for word to spread throughout Tupo Village that the embroidery room Muniang had built in the center of the village now lay in ruins. Villagers gathered around the debris, whispering and pointing in excitement.

“Oh dear, just look at this, the lightning struck their embroidery room so precisely, could it be they did something guilty, and this is a punishment from heaven?”

“Impossible, Muniang seems so decent on ordinary days, how could there be such evil afoot?”

“Humph, who knows, people often show a different face in private. Who knows what she might have done behind the scenes to anger the heavens and bring this lightning down as punishment? Otherwise, why didn’t it strike our houses, huh?

People in ancient times were always superstitious and naturally attributed such a ‘natural disaster’ to divine will.

Xiangcai, however, scolded the idle gossips without a good temper, “Why do you like to make such cold remarks? Their house has been struck by lightning and collapsed. Can’t you show some concern instead of all this idle chatter? Is your heart made of iron? We all live in the same village. Muniang has never been harsh to you, has she? She’s always thought of good deeds for all of us, and now that misfortune has befallen her, you are kicking her while she is down. How can you be so heartless?”

Her words turned the gossiping women red-faced with embarrassment. A slightly bolder woman muttered weakly, “Muniang’s family has so much wealth now, it’s only an embroidery room that collapsed, right? It didn’t strike their own mansion. Our talking here isn’t too bad, is it?”

Xiangcai’s eyes widened more than a pair of copper bells, “Are you hoping for the lightning to strike down their mansion? Would you be happy if it killed people?”

This outburst came because Xiangcai had a good relationship with Muniang and couldn’t stand others speaking ill of her. Knowing full well that Xiangcai was not one to be provoked, and recognizing that they were also in the wrong, the women chose not to argue and awkwardly shut their mouths.

“Humph! No guilty man fears the knock at midnight. You reap what you sow. Qiao Muniang has clearly angered the heavens. As a woman who would even scheme against her own sister, her heart is as venomous as that of a snake or scorpion. It’s only normal that heaven cannot tolerate it!” Qiao Lianhua’s harsh voice rang out, her face full of spite, gleeful at the sight of the debris, a smugness rising in her heart, Qiao Muniang, if you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being unkind!

Xiangcai was about to rebut when a cold voice interrupted, “Whether it is a punishment from heaven or a deliberate plot by someone else is still unknown. There is no need to jump to conclusions so soon.”

Muniang glared coldly at Qiao Lianhua as if she wanted to bore a hole through her face.

Qiao Lianhua’s heart skipped a beat, having not anticipated that Muniang would seriously consider human sabotage, yet she still retorted defiantly, “Who would be so vile to do such a thing? It surely must be a punishment from heaven. You know very well the wrongs you have done!”

Remembering how her reputation was ruined by Qiao Muniang, Qiao Lianhua felt a surge of hatred well up inside her, and the fear in her heart was suppressed somewhat.

Muniang snorted coldly, “It had better not be man-made, or else if I find out who was so despicable, they’d best not blame me for showing no mercy when the time comes!”

The villagers listened to her words in confusion, but Muniang’s current expression was truly intimidating, so they dared not speak further. Those women who had been gossiping behind Muniang’s back also did not dare utter another word.

Muniang had brought her servants to deal with the aftermath. The embroidery room contained more than just a single screen; everyone’s embroidery work was done there. Now that the building had collapsed, most of the embroidery pieces inside were likely damaged. Nonetheless, it was necessary to salvage what could be saved, so she ordered her servants to dig out the pieces that were still intact.

Some villagers saw the commotion and also came to help; after all, they were all fellow villagers, and at such times, one would lend a hand if possible.

While everyone was busily engaged, a luxurious carriage approached from the distance. The coachman brought the carriage to a halt upon reaching the scene, swiftly jumped down, and carried a stool over, bowing and scraping as he helped a portly gentleman alight.

Muniang’s face turned pale, the inevitable had still arrived.

The gentleman was dressed in extraordinary finery, the epitome of opulence. Looking down at the squalid Tupo Village, his eyes could not hide the disdain and arrogance within. If not for an important screen, he would never have set foot in such a place.

The gentleman, looking at the ruins before him, furrowed his brows and asked, “Is this Yuyang Embroidery House’s embroidery room?”

Muniang took a deep breath before stepping forward, “Indeed, it is. A torrential rain fell yesterday, and lightning struck the house, causing it to collapse. Might you be Mr. Ling?”

Mr. Ling’s gaze landed on Muniang, and his eyes lit up; unexpectedly, in this small mountain village, there was such a beauty. Since he had previously discussed the cooperation with Madam Liu, he naturally was unaware of Muniang’s existence.

“The embroidery room collapsed? What about my screen? How is it? I’d placed an order with your Embroidery House for that screen with a deadline of one month. Is it ready to be delivered?”

Despite the beauty before him, Mr. Ling still prioritized the bigger picture. That screen was of great importance, so he cut to the chase without further ado.

Muniang pursed her lips, barely tolerating the old man’s disgusting gaze, and replied, “To be frank with you, I am indeed the owner of Yuyang Embroidery House. Our embroidery room collapsed last night, and the screen, which had been completed yesterday, was destroyed in the collapse.”

“What!?” Mr. Ling almost leapt up, “The embroidery is destroyed? What are you all good for? Do you know how important that screen is to me? I need it urgently. Now you tell me it’s ruined at the last minute, what am I supposed to do?!”

“I truly apologize, but we had no control over such a natural disaster. If Mr. Ling would kindly give us another twenty days, we will certainly rush to produce a new screen for you that will satisfy you.”

“A new one? I needed that screen urgently; what use will it be in twenty days? Now you’re telling me you can’t deliver, right? Then compensate according to the contract! Ten thousand taels of silver!” Mr. Ling raged, clearly unable to accept this reality.

Muniang turned pale, yet still she said, “Our humble Embroidery House cannot produce so much money in such a short time. Perhaps Mr. Ling could grant us a few more days, and we will definitely produce fine embroidery.”

“Quit talking nonsense! Do you know who I am? If you can’t deliver the goods, let me make myself clear: I’ll give you three more days. Either deliver the goods or compensate with money. If after three days you tell me you have nothing, I’ll have the officials come and sell you off to a brothel, do you believe me?”

As Mr. Ling spoke, he leered at Muniang, “Well, a pretty little thing like you could probably fetch a decent amount of silver.”

Lianhua pulled Muniang behind him with one hand and landed a punch on the gentleman’s face, “Who dares bully my wife?!”