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Chapter 323: Getting Rid of the Old Lady 3

There were only three people left in the side hall.

Under the warm overhead lights, the silhouette of the girl under the light carried a touch of ethereal beauty within its shadow.

Qi Qingyao lifted her eyes.

Her voice was calm as she said, “It’s better to not beat around the bush. Otherwise, with my current temper, the two of you will have less time left than a burning stick of incense.”

Qi Boli and Madam Wu exchanged glances, and Qi Boli took the initiative to speak. “You’re indeed not our biological daughter.”

Qi Qingyao, “…”

She lifted her brows slightly, looking impassively at the two of them.

Qi Boli said slowly, “It all started nineteen years ago.”

He passed the rest of the story retelling to Madam Wu as he was clumsy with his words, and the story was a bit long…

Madam Wu began with the scene of a snowy night on the twelfth lunar month.

She told the story of that year in a long-winded yet simple way until she finished speaking.

“It was something like that.”

“Where are the keepsakes?” Qi Qingyao asked.

Madam Wu looked at the girl with forbidding eyes and a poker face, and she quickly said, “It was stolen by Qingzhu, we came to Qingzhou City to tell you that. I’ve told her before that you’re not our biological daughter. That kid probably wanted to steal it and give it to you, so she deliberately went back home a few days ago, after which the jade tablet and white jade ring disappeared.

“Qingzhu is currently serving Jiang Siliu in the Jiang mansion. We have no right to go look for him there, so only you can handle this matter now.

“Aren’t you very close to Master Lu? You can ask him to go to Jiang’s mansion and summon Qingzhu, then you’ll know.”

…

“Why were you two willing to tell me this story?”

Qi Qingyao’s dark eyes were serene.

“I was initially reluctant to talk about it.” Madam Wu stammered, her head hung low.

Qi Boli cast a glance at his wife and said helplessly, “A few days ago, someone took the initiative to come to the village and tell the news to Madam Li next door. We just thought it was odd at that time. I think there are people in Qingzhou City who might want us to come here to vex you.”

Madam Wu continued in honesty.

“If you were to ask us if we ever thought about squatting, of course we did. But… when we thought back to those things, that jade tablet and the white jade ring, I thought again. You should be able to find your biological parents with those two keepsakes.

“We did feel angry and hated you, hated that you got rich but didn’t provide for us. But now, you’ve been able to achieve such a great thing in Qingzhou City and win such a big mansion. Then. I thought, perhaps it really is as they say. ‘If one has great ambitions, one will succeed at the right time and place!’

“Those who are close are jealous of them, while those who are not will admire them.

“Since you’ve been able to start to sink your roots in Qingzhou City, you’re no longer someone we can match up to.

“We used to be mother and daughter, after all. No matter how rowdy our family is, we cannot let ourselves become the pawns of children from noble families or become a knife in the hands of others, which they can then brandish at you.

“Wouldn’t that make us a complete joke?”

She finished her words, rapid-fire.

Madam Wu concluded seriously, “Even if you’re not our biological daughter, as long as you grow into someone better in Qingzhou City, we will take pride in it. We’ll never become other people’s knives!”

After hearing her words, Qi Qingyao actually laughed.

Because those words were indeed Madam Wu speaking the truth.

She thought for a while, then said.

“How much?”

“What?”

Madan Wu was stunned.

Qi Qingyao raised her eyebrows, “How much do you two want for telling me this news?”

Madam Wu quickly shook her head, “We’re not here for the money.”

Although they had said they were not here for the money, this news was still valuable.

Qi Qingyao took a wad of paper money from her sleeves, drew one piece out, and put it in Qi Boli’s hand.

“This is a hundred taels.”

Qi Boli and Madam Wu were stunned looking at the wad of paper money in their hands now. They both stood up and quickly backed away.

They said resolutely, “We’re really not here for the money.”

Qi Qingyao watched them insist on not taking the money, so she did not force them to take it. She said rather seriously, “Since you two are willing to tell me this news, but for the sake of the lives of your entire family, I hope you’ll keep this a secret to everyone.”

Qi Boli and Madam Wu gulped at the same time, then hurried to sit down.

Qi Qingyao thought for a while, then said seriously, “I have gained a lot of enemies recently.”

Qi Boli and Madam Wu were silent for a moment, listening to her with eyes wide open, looking a bit like children.

Qi Qingyao said, “If you go out and talk nonsense, I’m afraid your entire family will meet a tragic end overnight.”

“Understood,” Qi Boli answered.

Qi Qingyao continued with a calm expression, “If those two keepsakes have really been taken by Qingzhu, I’ll just go back and ask her for them. You two go back with the old lady later. Please continue pretending as if you have nothing to do with me. When you’re outside, continue cursing me as you wish, just like before. Please don’t show me any mercy.”

“?” They did not want to pretend not to know her anymore if they did not have to. Even though they were not her biological parents, as long as they had set aside their conflicts… they could have a normal relationship.

Madam Wu was about to speak.

Qi Qingyao rubbed her eyebrows and explained in a leisurely manner, “Firstly, according to what you’ve said about that year, there are two very valuable keepsakes which indicate that my biological parents sent me away. There’s only one possibility why, and it was to avoid a crisis. Since it was to avoid a crisis, once the keepsakes are seen by the eyes of people who recognize them, it will definitely cause a stir. Your whole family might be killed.”

Qi Boli and Madam Wu froze at the same time, listening very carefully.

“Secondly, I’ve made quite a lot of enemies lately. I’ve also just offended the lady of the Jiang Family, and she has to leave Qingzhou City forever! It wouldn’t be surprising for this other party to send someone to assassinate me at any time. I can protect myself, but I can’t protect your family. Therefore, from a strategic point of view, you guys better continue to pretend to have nothing to do with me, just like before. This way, no one will lay a finger on you guys because there would be no point.”

“Understood.”

The two of them grew more serious.

As country people, they had not thought so thoroughly at all.

When they heard her analysis, they realized the seriousness of this matter.

If they made it visibly clear that they had reconciled with Qi Qingyao, it was equivalent to transforming themselves into her weakness.

It was equivalent to giving others ammunition. If someone wanted to assassinate her, even if they could not lay a finger on her, they could still use the family as leverage…

Both of them thought at the same time that, if they really were murdered, Qi Qingyao would only be a little sad and mourn a little. Thus, for the sake of their own lives, they would have to keep up the same attitude as before.

As long as they kept a suitable distance, they could do as she said.

There would be no use for anyone to lay a finger on them.

Qi Qingyao pushed the paper money over again, “Take the one hundred taels.”

“We won’t be taking the money.” Qi Boli persisted.

Madam Wu also explained, “We’ve raised you for so many years, after all. Although we did a terrible job as adoptive parents, you now have a future in Qingzhou City waiting for you. As parents, we’re very proud!”

“Besides, based on your analysis just now, supposing we accept the money, then this money… surely cannot be kept. It must be spent somehow. Once the money is spent, if someone is watching us, they will find out where the money came from. Once they learn it was you who gave it to us, that’ll get us killed as well.”

Qi Qingyao stopped insisting.

After Madam Wu was done speaking, she asked rather tentatively, “Can I call you ‘daughter’?”

Qi Qingyao did not speak, only looking at her quietly. “…”

Madam Wu looked at the girl’s expression, which had become more striking and cold. The person in front of her was no longer a country bumpkin. She reached out cautiously and held Qi Qingyao’s hand.

Qi Qingyao did not pull away.

Madam Wu looked at her fingers, which used to be so rough. After just a short time, her skin had become extremely delicate.

Madam Wu touched Qi Qingyao’s hand and suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

“Daughter, Qingzhou City is huge and chaotic. You and the children must stay safe.”

From today onwards, after they went back, they would probably never see her again.

Even if there had been several clashes and displeasure in the past, at this moment, Madam Wu felt like Qi Qingyao was still her daughter!

She hoped Qi Qingyao would be able to stand tall and survive in this cannibalistic city.

Even though their paths were different, she still wished for her to be safe and for everything to go well.