SFS Chapter 91 Third Uncle
Chapter 91 Third Uncle
Qiao Qingshu then asked Lai Da,
Is my father home today?
Lai shook his head.
"The second master ate breakfast early and went out."
No wonder Miao Fang came at this time; he really knows how to pick his timing. She just wouldn't let them have their way.
Qiao Qingshu raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled.
“Go and invite my father back. Tell him there’s trouble at home again and ask him to come back and settle things.”
Lai Da was taken aback and hesitated, but seeing Qiao Qingshu's determined look, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and hurriedly ordered his servant to go out and find the second master.
As soon as Qiao Qingshu entered Fushou Hall, she saw her third great-uncle Miao Fangzheng sitting upright, holding a teacup and drinking tea.
With a warm smile, he stepped forward and greeted his grandmother and third great-uncle.
Unexpectedly, Miao Fang coldly snorted, "Yin Yang Dao,"
"I dare not accept such a gift. These days, young ladies are so elegant and of such high status. How could we old folks dare to accept your courtesy?"
He had already learned from Miao Qing that Qiao Qingshu was now the adopted daughter of an imperial concubine, and that the three estates managed by Miao Qing's family had been taken back by Qiao Qingshu.
Miao Qing had visited his home several times and cried because of this. Today, he came not only to deal with his own affairs, but also to seek justice and vent his anger for his fourth sister.
Qiao Qingshu didn't take it seriously, just smiled coldly and didn't say anything.
He slammed down his teacup and stared coldly at Qiao Qingshu.
"I've come here today to demand an explanation from you, young lady. I, Miao Fang, have been contracted to maintain the Qiao family's flowers and plants for decades. Why have you cut off my livelihood, young lady!"
He was not in the capital earlier, and it was a servant in his household who informed him that the Qiao family had stopped the renovations. He was so anxious that he didn't even have time to finish collecting the accounts before he rushed back on horseback.
Of all the businesses our family has run over the years, the Qiao family has been the biggest source of income. If this lucrative business slips away, our family's revenue will definitely plummet in the future.
As soon as he returned, he ran into his fourth sister, Miao Qing, who came to his door crying and complaining that Qiao Qingshu had cut off their livelihood and taken back all three estates.
Having no other choice, Miao Qing went to his third brother to cry and beg for help.
Miao Fang then realized that Qiao Qingshu, that wretched girl, was not only trying to cut off his source of income, but also the livelihood of Miao Qing's family.
That brat Qiao Qingshu is just targeting the Miao family!
She wants to ruin the Miao people!
They told Madam Qiao all their suspicions, hoping that Madam Qiao would help them and their sister-in-law get justice.
Madam Qiao agreed verbally, but she was also very conflicted inside.
Over the years, she secretly helped her two half-brothers and half-sisters behind the backs of Old Master Qiao and Qiao Jizhou. After Old Master Qiao died, she became even more blatant and unscrupulous.
In her earlier years, she didn't care much; it was just a thousand or eight hundred taels of silver a year, and helping her younger siblings wasn't difficult.
But now...
She also felt it was a bit too much for her; the Qiao family's wealth no longer allowed her to squander it like this.
It just so happens that Qiao Jizhou isn't home today, and she was planning to take advantage of the day and use Qiao Qingshu's reputation to get rid of these relatives of her mother's.
She didn't want to be the villain, but wanted to drag Qiao Qingshu into being the villain.
Old Mrs. Qiao rubbed her head and frowned.
"Now that Shu is in charge, Third Brother, you should talk to her properly if you have any issues, and don't make a scene."
Miao Fang glanced at Qiao Qingshu with disdain and said coldly,
"You've only been promoted by the Imperial Concubine; you're still a descendant of the Qiao family. If you don't give me an explanation today, even if you're a princess, you won't get away with this!"
Qiao Qingshu smiled faintly, waved for Lai Da to come in, and tossed the prepared receipt to Miao Fang's feet.
"Third Uncle, you should think this through carefully. I won't hold it against you for how much money you've plundered from the Qiao family over the years, but you've come to deliver it to our doorstep."
Miao Fang picked up the receipts from the ground, his face immediately contorting in disbelief. How could Qiao Qingshu have collected all the evidence of his embezzlement?
In previous years, if he spent one hundred taels on flowers and plants, he would report it to the Qiao family as three hundred taels. In order to cover his tracks, he deliberately withheld the real receipts and had someone make false accounts.
He found it hard to believe that these accounts had ended up in Qiao Qingshu's hands so clearly.
"Where...where did you get all these things?"
Qiao Qingshu had already begun a thorough investigation of the accounts, meticulously examining the transactions between her third great-uncle and the merchants he dealt with. She had held these documents in her hands for quite some time.
Now I can finally show my true colors and make my great-uncle lose face.
"Never mind that, Third Uncle, just tell me whether you admit it or not. If you don't, I'll report it to the authorities immediately and have them thoroughly investigate this embezzlement."
Miao Fang stared at Qiao Qingshu, his eyes blazing with anger, then turned to shout at Old Madam Qiao.
"Second sister, is this little brat really in charge of the Qiao family now? Look at her attitude! Are you really going to let her bully us siblings like this?!"
Madam Qiao covered her face and coughed twice. She really didn't want to get involved in this matter. It wasn't that she didn't want to care, but that she couldn't.
If they continue to help their half-brother and half-sister now, how will the Qiao family survive?
"Third brother, don't get angry. Everything can be discussed. My granddaughter is very reasonable. If you have any difficulties, talk to her nicely, and she will definitely help you."
Miao Fang understood what was going on; it meant that Old Madam Qiao didn't want to take care of things anymore and had left it to her granddaughter.
Furious and indignant, Miao Fang shouted angrily.
"Second sister! That's not fair of you. I've been collecting debts for you behind your back all these years! I'm not going to hold you accountable..."
Before she could finish speaking, Old Madam Qiao's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly reprimanded her.
"Shut up! Don't bring up things that are hard to talk about! I didn't say I wouldn't help you with your problem!"
Qiao Qingshu was secretly pleased. These words had hit the nail on the head when it came to Old Madam Qiao's weakness. She had originally planned to stand by and watch, but now she had no choice but to intervene.
All that could be heard was Old Madam Qiao's cold remark.
"Shu'er, you handled this matter unfairly. They are family members after all, why be so ruthless? Let's just leave things as they were before."
Qiao Qingshu, however, began to list them out clearly.
“Since my third great-uncle took over the renovation of our backyard eighteen years ago, he has been embezzling five hundred taels a year. Now, after eighteen years, that's nine thousand taels of silver.”
"My fourth aunt's family embezzles 70% of the estate's income each year, which is at least 5,000 taels of silver over the years."
"Grandmother, you're using the Qiao family's money to support your maternal family. Aren't you afraid if Father finds out?"
Madam Qiao never expected Qiao Qingshu to speak to her in this way.
This granddaughter used to be the most docile, but now she actually dares to question her in public.
He slammed his fist on the table in anger and shouted loudly.
"Shu girl! How dare you! You even scold me!"
"Even the old master never interfered with my efforts to support my maternal family. You little brat, you've got some nerve today, daring to settle scores with me here!"