CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 118: TROUBLE (1)

"And there’s the money from Brother Mu. You took his white-striped tiger and promised him one hundred and thirty taels. Why haven’t you paid?" Miss Chai pointed at Mu Yuanxiu and said.

"Pay, pay, pay, Bao Sheng, bring it here all at once!" Second Master Chai waved his hand impatiently.

Soon, the Chai Family Servant came holding a wooden box.

Second Master Chai took it, glanced inside, and coldly looked at Miss Chai, "One thousand three hundred and thirty taels, take it yourself!"

The box was filled with a heap of large and small ingots.

Miss Chai glanced at Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu, and whispered, "Let’s go together!"

Li Xing’an was silent in his heart; of course, if he didn’t collect this money, he wouldn’t get his commission!

"I have to count it personally, make sure it’s not short." He shook his sleeves and strode over.

Mu Yuanxiu followed as well.

The ingots were either ten taels or five taels.

Li Xing’an counted each one, while Li Yuzhu helped keep count.

One thousand three hundred and thirty taels, indeed not short.

Miss Chai picked out one hundred and thirty taels and handed them to Mu Yuanxiu, the rest of the money remained in the box.

She shoved the box into Li Xing’an’s hands, "The money is yours; can you give me the IOU now?"

Li Xing’an returned the IOU to Miss Chai.

Miss Chai took it, tore it into pieces in a few swift motions.

She winked at Li Yuzhu and the others and turned to leave.

Everyone followed her and left together.

"Humph, how did the Chai Family produce such an unfilial daughter!" Second Master Chai angrily flicked his sleeves.

The servant said, "Master, don’t you think there’s something off about this IOU business?"

Second Master Chai sneered, "Are you saying that the IOU is some trick colluded by that third girl and others?"

"How did you guess, Master? Why did you still let Miss Chai take the money away?" The servant asked, puzzled, "They are just a few young kids, why would Master fear them?"

"Do you know what day it is today? Many guests have already arrived. If we don’t pay, that dead girl will surely shout it everywhere. Once rumors spread, who would distinguish whether the debt collector is a child or an adult?" Second Master Chai said hatefully.

The servant thought, indeed, many voices make it worse, better to pay them off cleanly.

"Quickly, find a few people and get that third girl locked up for me! Release her after the palanquin has left." Second Master Chai instructed again.

"Yes, Master."

However, the Chai Family Servant caught nothing but air.

Having received the money, Miss Chai already fled with her nanny and Li Yuzhu, out the Chai Family gates.

They did not leave but stayed sitting in the mule cart, waiting for the palanquin.

Near noon, more and more guests arrived at the Chai Family, and the entrance was packed with horse carts, mule carts, ox carts, and sedan chairs.

Amid dozens of carriage frames, the Chai Family Servant sweated but still failed to find Miss Chai.

They had no choice but to return and report.

The eldest young master Chai, upon hearing the news about his sister, said nothing but frowned, ordering people to guard at the entrance, ready to capture the third sister when seen.

Time passed slowly, and at noon, the lively and bustling wedding procession arrived.

According to local customs, the wedding party would dine at the bride’s family, then leave with the bride in the afternoon, arriving at dusk to enter the groom’s home, and hold the ceremony in the evening.

Mr. Luo, dressed in wedding attire, rode a tall horse, joyfully arriving in people’s warm welcome.

Laughter and praises surrounded the area.

The elderly servant driving the cart said outside, "Miss Chai, Mr. Luo is here."

After speaking, he sighed inwardly. Miss Chai causing such a scene, why make it so hard on herself?

Li Yuzhu asked Miss Chai, "Are you going?"

Miss Chai trembled all over, her lips pale.

"Will I faint?" She looked at Li Yuzhu, "Quickly check my body, I don’t want to suddenly faint when I meet him; that embarrassment would be mine alone."

Li Yuzhu checked her pulse, "It seems fine. When you speak, talk slowly, don’t get agitated. If you truly can’t hold on, take deep breaths, big deep breaths, and you probably won’t faint."

Miss Chai nodded, "I remember."

But she still worried about her health, she pulled Li Yuzhu, "Come with me."

She dragged Li Yuzhu outside, forcing Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu to follow.

At this moment, Mr. Luo had just dismounted in front of the Chai Family gates.

Miss Chai clutched her red lacquered box tightly and ran forward.

"Luo Zikun! Congratulations on your wedding!" She raised her eyebrows and suddenly opened the wooden box in her hand.

The pile of things inside spilled out with a clatter.

There were letters, hairpins, prescriptions, and mostly letters.

Mr. Luo’s face suddenly changed color.

From white to red.

"Miss Chai, are you having another episode? Someone, call the doctor!" People sent by Second Master Chai immediately rushed over.

Miss Chai shook out her rope, "Hold on, if I can’t finish speaking, I’ll hang myself at the gate!"

Her temper was fierce, the Chai Family had long experienced it and actually feared she might hang herself now.

Too scared to approach.

The wedding party of the Luo Family stood watching, perplexed.

"What are you going to say? Third sister?" Mr. Luo suppressed his anger, staring directly at her.

"I just want to ask, you broke off my engagement and went to marry my second sister, yet you sent me letters. What’s the idea behind it? You didn’t know I was about to die? Did your conscience suddenly awaken with pity, or did you think I wasn’t dying fast enough and wanted to anger me to death?" Miss Chai picked up a letter from the ground, shaking it open for him to see.

People standing close saw the letter’s content clear and each became amazed.

"This, this, this..."

"How could you do this to my second sister? She had such difficulty snatching a man from her sister, only to find out that man’s heart held other thoughts. I truly feel sorry for her!" Miss Chai coldly laughed.

"You, you... third sister, what are you doing?" The eldest young master Chai suddenly rushed over to grab Miss Chai.

"Nothing, just returning some irrelevant items to Mr. Luo." She said, giving Mr. Luo a cold glance before turning to leave.

Her steps were light, and her back was thoroughly resolute.

As she walked away, the area in front of the Chai Family exploded immediately.

Seizing the chaos with the crowd, people snatched up the letters left on the ground.

These letters mostly came after Miss Chai fell ill from the broken engagement, written by Mr. Luo.

In the love-filled words, there were accusations towards Miss Chai.

Saying that he was not heartless but afraid of being childless, all because of Miss Chai’s grave illness rendering her infertile.

People’s gazes towards Mr. Luo turned strange.

Many whispered quietly, "Miss Chai seems ill, but her spirits look fine, doesn’t seem like someone about to die?"

"Shh... this disengagement, wasn’t it due to illness, clearly because Miss Chai has no parents!"

"Miss Chai is so pitiful."