CHAPTER 117: CHAPTER 117: MADAM YANG MUST BE FEELING THE PAIN NOW

"Qingqing! Ever since you got engaged to your Brother Shan, how has Auntie treated you? You know it in your heart, right? Auntie has treated you even better than her own daughter." The short and plump woman sighed and spoke, "Auntie truly likes you and wants you to be her daughter-in-law. But... fate is against us; you and Shan are not meant to be. Auntie wants to accept you as her daughter-in-law regardless, but Auntie cannot ignore the reputation of the Yang Family."

The neighbors more or less knew what had happened to Luo Qingqing.

To be fair, such a thing could not be blamed on Luo Qingqing.

But after a brief moment of sympathy, their thoughts turned to why it wasn’t someone else, but Luo Qingqing.

That certainly proved that Luo Qingqing had a problem.

Once this idea took root, it would immediately sprout and grow vigorously.

Luo Qingqing suddenly turned from a passive victim into an active one.

A typical case of victim-blaming.

The short and plump woman’s remarks further confirmed everyone’s suspicions.

Meng Yao cast a glance at the spectators, and said coldly, "Qingqing, give them back the things; Chang’an will help you write a document, in duplicate, and from now on, you’ll have nothing to do with each other."

Luo Qingqing took a deep look at Yang Shan, seeing his expressionless, indifferent face, as if all those former affections didn’t exist, her heart turned completely cold.

Luo Qingqing took out the items and said word by word, "Everything that was sent from the Yang Family is here. Since this engagement is void, there is nothing between the two families anymore. So, Aunt Yang, don’t expect to keep anything! And please return the things from the Luo Family, everything I have sewn, good or bad, give them back."

Since the engagement is broken, the relationship ends cleanly, with no ties.

Meng Yao looked at Luo Qingqing approvingly, well done.

In such matters, the biggest taboo is to drag it out; even if it feels bad, it’s best to act decisively and cut through the mess.

One can lick wounds privately later, but must never show weakness before others.

The mother and son of the Yang Family looked somewhat awkward; the clothes they were wearing were all made by Luo Qingqing.

"Qingqing, even if the two families can’t be in-laws, there’s no need to make such a clear separation, right? The friendship between our families didn’t start with the engagement. It wouldn’t do to strip these clothes off on the street, would it? How about this: we’ll change out of them when we get home and send them back to you?" suggested Yang’s mother.

"Does Aunt Yang really feel comfortable using the word ’friendship’?" Luo Qingqing retorted sarcastically.

If there were genuine friendship, would they distrust her like this?

If there were genuine friendship, would they run to the Government Office and break the engagement when she was most helpless?

"Don’t talk about breaking the engagement while still wearing the girl’s clothes? Two options: you can go home now, change clothes, gather anything Qingqing made at your house, and bring them back. Or, convert it to silver," Meng Yao said casually.

Judging from Yang’s mother’s reaction, it was certain that Luo Qingqing had done quite a bit of needlework for them.

Yang’s mother bit down hard; if it were only about the clothes on them, they could strip them off, but the problem was not just those; there were many things, and she even gifted some—not easy to retrieve.

"Let’s convert it to silver, as the lady suggested. Our Yang Family acts uprightly and will not take advantage of anyone!"

Luo Qingqing listed what she had given, and Meng Yao quickly calculated the market price.

Don’t doubt it; after all, she was involved in business dealings with the Hundred Embroidery House.

Clear on fabric prices and such.

Eighteen taels of silver.

Yang’s mother felt a pinch in her heart.

"This only accounts for the fabric costs. So many items, isn’t two taels for manual labor fair? Madame Yang, to make it a round figure, just give twenty taels," Meng Yao said with a smile.

Yang’s mother was a smart person and naturally knew Meng Yao wasn’t deceiving her.

But repeatedly taking out small amounts of silver and taking out such a large sum at once were entirely different feelings.

Yet Yang’s mother also knew that this woman from the Government Office was not easy to provoke. If she hadn’t come, she was confident she could coax Luo Qingqing into quietly retreating from the engagement.

But now...

"The lady isn’t asking for much, not much," Yang’s mother forced a smile.

"It’s not what we want; it’s what you should pay," Meng Yao corrected, "It’s already quite a bit less than what should be, otherwise, with Qingqing’s craftsmanship, the labor alone would be worth at least five taels of silver, no? Just look at the embroidery of the pattern on the clothes you’re wearing, this alone is worth quite a bit!"

This was a piece of clothing Yang’s mother liked very much, even the buttons were delicately crafted with a pattern of five bats, something that the average person couldn’t make so elegantly.

Do you know that the smaller the item, the more skill it requires?

"Qingqing, take this twenty taels of silver; you are a young lady and must think more about yourself in the future. Don’t trust others too easily and end up losing out," Yang’s mother said with meaningful implications.

The underlying message was that Meng Yao might trick Luo Qingqing.

Meng Yao was not annoyed, urging Li Chang’an to quickly write the document.

Both sides pressed their fingerprints and kept their copies.

Meng Yao cleared her throat, "Dear residents, I actually came to the Luo Family today on another important mission, an important task assigned by the County Magistrate! It just so happened that I ran into so many people from the Yang Family coming over; Qingqing is just a young girl..."

Who can’t brew tea?

Knowing she’s all alone, yet so many came; any observant person can see what’s going on, right?

"Fortunately, this matter was smoothly resolved," Meng Yao continued.

A single phrase "an important task ordered by the County Magistrate" successfully piqued everyone’s curiosity.

Including the Yang Family.

"Madame, what did the County Magistrate entrust Qingqing with?" someone couldn’t help but urge.

Meng Yao smiled, "Of course, it’s a good thing. Qingqing assisted Granny Wang in helping the Government Office capture an escaped fugitive, which is a great achievement. The County Magistrate has decided to reward Qingqing with a hundred taels of silver."

There was a collective gasp from the crowd, a hundred taels!

"Moreover, the County Magistrate said he wants to apologize to Qingqing for the scare she suffered. Thankfully, she was unscathed and successfully helped capture the fugitive," Meng Yao added.

Safe and sound, which means Luo Qingqing was cleared.

The County Magistrate specifically vindicated her, so anyone who gossips about this in the future is going against the County Magistrate.

Who among common folk would dare do that?

Yang’s mother’s eyes turned red; a hundred taels!

If this woman from the County Government Office had mentioned this at the beginning, she definitely would have changed her mind.

If the girl were brought into the family, all that silver would become theirs. If the son was willing to be with her, they could be together; if not, they could easily take another wife with that silver.

Plus, the County Magistrate had cleared Luo Qingqing’s name.

She had initially planned that with Luo Qingqing’s engagement broken and such rumors, her reputation would be tarnished.

Then, at the right time, coax Shan to consummate the relationship and bring her home to serve the family.

Now, her plans all fell apart.

It was all this woman’s fault.

Yang’s mother looked at Meng Yao with eyes full of resentment.

Meng Yao was unfazed, "Madame Yang must be feeling quite pained now, right?"