AWB Chapter 47 Aunts Fighting
Chapter 47 Aunts Fighting
Aunt Chen obediently retreated behind the screen, took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes, feeling both sour and annoyed.
He thought to himself that he shouldn't have come all this way; he had truly lost both his wife and his army!
Xu Biyun was in need of money at the beginning of the month. When the shop assistant who was supposed to deliver the money did not come on time, she waited another day, but still no one came. She was so anxious that she wrote a letter to ask him, only to find out that Qiao Qingshu had intercepted it.
She was so angry that she didn't sleep all night, but the next day she received news that her monthly allowance had been reduced, which struck her like a thunderbolt.
The contrast was so stark that she was on the verge of a breakdown!
When she was still Xu's aunt, the two shops had a monthly income of one hundred taels of silver. This income was enough for her and her daughter to live a decent life in the Marquis's mansion, with food, clothing and daily necessities just like their master, or even better.
Xu Biyun would often secretly compare herself to Bai Shi. Bai Shi's clothes were not as expensive as hers, her hairpins were not as heavy, and she often secretly ordered food and drinks from restaurants to be delivered to her courtyard. She lived a very comfortable and respectable life.
The pride and satisfaction derived from these comparisons were a major reason why Xu Biyun and Qiao Jizhou continued their affair. Without such abundant material support, how could Xu Biyun have endured such a long and humiliating relationship with Qiao Jizhou?
Now that the support has been cut off, how could Xu Biyun not be furious!
Unable to even eat lunch, he rushed to Zhuqingxuan to demand an explanation.
As soon as Xu Biyun stepped into the room, she saw Qiao Qingshu drinking tea from a teacup, attended by only two maids. Seeing that there were no outsiders, she no longer held back and directly questioned her.
"Did you cut off the income from my two shops?"
Aunt Chen, who was still sulking with herself behind the screen, immediately leaned close to listen intently when she heard the word "income".
Qiao Qingshu raised her eyebrows slightly, feigning surprise.
"Oh dear, Aunt, why are you saying this? I thought you came here for the monthly allowance."
Xu Biyun squinted; Qiao Qingshu was still pretending with her.
She shouted at the top of her lungs,
"Monthly salary? It's only two or three taels of silver. I'm too lazy to waste my time arguing with you. That little bit of salary isn't even a fraction of what I used to earn each month! What I want to talk to you about is the shop!"
But only two or three taels of silver?
Odds?
As Aunt Chen listened to these words, she put the handkerchief in her mouth and chewed on it, making a crunching sound!
That bitch Xu Biyun actually looks down on these monthly wages, which are something she has fought hard for!
Xu Biyun chuckled and continued,
"There are no outsiders here, young lady, why are you playing dumb with me! Let me tell you the truth, those two shops were a gift from Second Master and the Old Madam. The monthly revenue of about a hundred taels of silver is my private property. What right do you have to touch my private property!"
Qiao Qingshu tilted her head innocently and said,
"Private property, Aunt, can you produce the land deed?"
Xu Biyun choked.
When Aunt Chen behind the screen heard that it was one hundred taels of silver, her eyes widened in shock. She had thought that Xu Biyun's previous respectable lifestyle was due to the money she had brought from her hometown, but it turned out that the Qiao family was supporting her all the way!
She, Xu Biyun, is nothing! She wasn't even a concubine before she cheated on her husband; at most, she was just a mistress.
This mistress alone earns a hundred taels of silver a month, while her own concubine is still stingy and plotting to take her son's and daughter's monthly allowance. This stark contrast fuels Chen's burning jealousy.
Remembering the past, when Xu Biyun was on good terms with her, she would complain about being poor in front of her, saying that her husband had died and her family was ruined, and that she was having a hard time. She was staying with relatives and had to be subservient to them.
Aunt Chen felt sorry for Xu Biyun and her daughter, thinking that they were like her, without any background and being bullied. She immediately felt a sense of closeness to them and would send her maid to bring them food and other items during festivals, which they would gladly accept.
Now it seems they were just pretending to be poor!
In the Marquis's mansion, Chen Xiangyu was the poorest and most unlucky one!
Aunt Chen's eyes were bloodshot, and she bit her handkerchief so hard it almost tore.
Qiao Qingshu spoke again slowly.
“Aunt Xu, you used to be a relative of the family, and it wasn’t a big deal that Father and Grandmother gave you some money. I didn’t even ask you for the money back then. But what is your status now? A mere concubine, yet you’re eyeing the income from two shops. You must still be daydreaming. If Aunt Chen and Aunt He found out, they’d cause a huge uproar. Haven’t you had enough of taking advantage of others? You need to recognize your place now and honestly take what you’re entitled to.”
Xu Biyun was not willing to accept this. She had been used to a good life, and now she couldn't even imagine living on only two taels of silver a month.
He collapsed onto the floor in the main room with a thud, kicking his legs and throwing a tantrum.
"You little brat, Shu, bullying my widow and her child! I'm going to sue you! I'll sue you as soon as Master comes back! I'll even sue you in the old lady's room! You think you're all that now that you're in charge of the household, that you can mess with anyone! You've got the wrong idea! I'm the apple of Second Master's eye, and I'm carrying the Qiao family's child! Let's see who dares to slight me!"
"thump!"
A loud bang.
The screen behind Qiao Qingshu was kicked over, and Aunt Chen pounced out like a hungry wolf.
He stepped forward and grabbed Xu Biyun's hair, hurling insults and profanities at her.
"Xu Biyun, you old whore, you heartless, rotten slut! You've never had enough of taking advantage of others! How come I never knew you'd been living such a good life all these years! You're crying poverty in front of me, and I've treated you like a sister!"
Aunt Chen was originally a tenant farmer's daughter. She had been used to doing farm work since she was a child, so she was strong and powerful!
Now, with both fingernails grown quite long and painted with bright red nail polish, he was scratching at Xu Biyun's face with each claw.
Each strike was powerful and forceful, delivered with great intensity, while he kept talking non-stop.
"You fucking cry poor with only a hundred taels of silver, and I haven't even said anything when my three taels of silver turned into two? We're all concubines, so why do you get to live such a good life! I won't be satisfied until I scratch you to death today!"
Although Aunt Chen was reckless, she wasn't stupid. She didn't dare to hit Xu Biyun's stomach, so she grabbed Xu Biyun's hair and started hitting her neck, face, and arms.
Xu Biyun was no match for the tenant farmer's girl; she was scratched so badly she couldn't fight back, only screaming and yelling.
"Ah!!! Ah!!! Help! Help me!!!!"
Qiao Qingshu sat on the couch and watched the battle for a while before getting up and waving her hand dismissively.
"Oh dear, stop hitting her! Stop hitting her, ladies! Please stop hitting her!"
His tone was soft and weak, lacking any strength.
Qiao Qingshu even winked at Wanqiu and Lindong, signaling them to break up the fight later.
Aunt Chen scratched Xu Biyun's face until it bled and her clothes were torn to shreds before several maids came forward to pull her away.
Aunt Chen's body was pulled away, but her feet were still restless. She kicked Xu Biyun's shin again, causing Xu Biyun to collapse to the ground and sob.
Aunt Chen's hair was disheveled, her hairpins were missing, and her makeup was smeared, yet she still uttered harsh words, clearly not satisfied with her outburst.
"You old whore, aren't you afraid I'll expose all your dirty tricks from the past? You've been trying to scheme against me! You'd better give me back all the cloth, food, and New Year's red envelopes and loose change I gave you. If you're missing even one item, I'll tear you apart!"