Chapter 406: Clinging On

Qi Kangping wasn’t very clever, but he had one merit: he listened to his family, especially Gu Daya’s words, taking them to heart, so when he saw He Cui’er fall into the water, he didn’t impulsively go to save her, but instead told Mo Qinzi to do it.

Mo Qinzi simply said, "Brother Qi, don’t believe He Cui’er. This pond can’t drown anyone. If you don’t believe it, let her try drowning in front of us to see."

Then she challenged He Cui’er, "Go on, drown, just try to drown. If you actually die, I’ll take the blame for it."

Hearing this, He Cui’er, who had been flailing, suddenly stiffened for a moment, almost unable to continue acting.

This was a pond used by the villagers to wash clothes and vegetables. It seemed large but wasn’t dug very deep, and the spot where He Cui’er had ’fallen’ was a shallow area, barely over a meter deep. If she stood up, the water would at most reach her neck.

Qi Kangping’s family lived at the edge of the village, and the women from the few houses there all used water from the old well to wash vegetables and clothes, never coming to this pond. Therefore, Qi Kangping did not know that the pond was shallow. Hearing Mo Qinzi’s words, he looked at her in disbelief, "Mo Family sister, are you saying this pond can’t drown anyone? Why is she screaming for help then? She seems like she’s about to drown."

Mo Qinzi laughed, "That’s something you’ll have to ask her."

Then she said to He Cui’er, "Just get up, stop pretending, it’s no use continuing the act."

He Cui’er was livid, but she just wouldn’t get up, only crying incessantly. If she got up now, even the naive Qi Kangping would realize she was trying to scheme against him.

Seeing that she refused to get up, Mo Qinzi promptly said to Qi Kangping, "Brother Qi, you go on home. I’ll watch over her here. Don’t worry, she won’t die."

After hearing this, Qi Kangping responded, "Then I’ll be going. There’s work to be done at home. Thanks for your trouble, Mo Family sister."

Saying that, he gave He Cui’er a concerned glance and then carried his empty basket back home.

He Cui’er’s plan had been exposed by Mo Qinzi. Seeing Qi Kangping leave, she didn’t dare to shout loudly, but just glared at Mo Qinzi and threatened, "You lowly wench who scrambled here during the famine, how dare you ruin my plan. You’re done for, my older and second brothers won’t let you off!"

With a swoosh, Mo Qinzi grabbed a handful of sand from the edge of the pond and threw it directly into He Cui’er’s face.

"Ah, what are you doing? My eyes, ptooey, ptooey!" Sand had gotten into He Cui’er’s eyes, and her mouth was full of it too; she was so angry she could have devoured Mo Qinzi alive.

Mo Qinzi stood on the edge of the pond, watching He Cui’er wash her face with the water and said, "Lowly girl? By using such despicable methods to trick an honest person, who is really the lowly one here?"

Mo Qinzi looked at Cui’er with disdain in her eyes, "Ha, a family of lazy scoundrels, good for nothing but schemes, hoping to live a good life through plotting. Have you no shame? Just because you’re from the He family, you think you can plot against the Qi Family? The Qi Family are relatives of the Gu Family. Aren’t you afraid that the Gu Family will cause trouble for you if you scheme against the Qi Family?"

"Don’t bother threatening me either; I’m a worker at Gu’s Workshop. By helping the Qi Family, the Gu Family will only be grateful to me. If you dare seek revenge, the Gu Family will be the ones to retaliate for me."

After saying this, Mo Qinzi stopped paying attention to He Cui’er and walked away with her bucket.

He Cui’er was so furious she almost vomited blood. Bastard! It was bad enough that the idiot Qi Kangping didn’t fall for it, but then Mo Qinzi, that wretched girl, had to come and infuriate her even more. How was she supposed to live now?

"Achoo!" He Cui’er sneezed after floundering in the pond for a while, and she hurriedly climbed out, fearing catching a cold and falling ill.

Mo Qinzi worried that Qi Kangping might be schemed against again, so after she put down the water bucket at home, she went to Gu Jinli’s house to tell them about He Cui’er falling into the pond and the attempt to plot against Qi Kangping.

"He’s too naive, our Brother Qi. I’m afraid he’ll be duped by scammers again, so I came over to give a word of caution," Mo Qinzi said.

Third Grandma covered her chest and exclaimed, "Oh dear, Mo girl, we owe you big time for today’s affair. Given how simple-minded Brother Ping is, he’d surely fallen victim to He Cui’er’s schemes."

And she cursed He Cui’er, "How can a respectable young lady come up with such a shameless tactic? Can’t she properly find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage?"

Gu Jinli sneered, "Riches blind people’s eyes, she probably saw that she couldn’t climb up to our level and took a roundabout way to plot against our uncle’s family."

After saying her piece, Mo Qinzi did not linger and left.

Third Grandma was very grateful to Mo Qinzi, and gave her a piece of spiced meat that Gu Daya had brought over in the morning as a token of thanks.

Mo Qinzi did not decline and accepted the spiced meat, "Thank you, Third Old Lady Gu."

"No need for thanks, it’s you we have to thank for today," Third Grandma said as she sent Mo Qinzi off. She then turned to Gu Jinli, "I’m going over to your aunt’s place. Your big cousin is so clueless, he probably doesn’t even realize he’s been set up. I need to tell him properly and keep an eye on him, to prevent He Cui’er’s family from taking advantage of him."

Gu Jinli nodded, "Please do."

Third Grandma hurriedly went to Qi Kangping’s Family, and after seeing him, called him over to ask about his encounter with He Cui’er.

When she found out He Cui’er first pretended to twist her ankle, and then faked falling into the water, she was furious and scolded, "What kind of upbringing does the He family provide? He Cui’er is utterly shameless. Does she think you’re a fool? To set you up twice in a row, it’s just too much!"

"No, this can’t be left as is. When your parents get back, we must go to Village Chief He’s house and bring this up with Village Chief He. We can’t let He Cui’er’s family off lightly, or else she’ll definitely plot against you again."

Seeing how upset Third Grandma was, Qi Kangping comforted her, "Grandma, don’t be angry. She didn’t succeed in her scheme, after all. Besides, people need to save face, and she’s already lost so much. How could she have the face to scheme against me again?"

"Brother Ping, don’t be foolish. She dared to plot against you today, which means she’s already thrown her face to the wind. If we don’t have Village Chief He properly punish He Cui’er’s family this time, they won’t learn their lesson and they’ll definitely come back to harm you!" Third Grandma was familiar with the unsound behavior of He Dashu’s family. This matter should not be lightly forgiven; severe punishment was needed to break He Dashu’s family of their ill intentions.

But what Third Grandma didn’t expect was that before she even went to Village Chief He’s house to report He Cui’er’s plotting against Qi Kangping, He Cui’er’s entire family, along with He Cui’er, came knocking on the door creating a scene.

Seeing Third Grandma, He Cui’er’s mother maintained a rather decent attitude, smiling and saying, "Third Old Lady Gu, what brings you to Qi Family’s house today?"

Third Grandma’s face was grim as she spat on her, "This is my niece’s house, why shouldn’t I come? But you, what are you doing here at my niece’s home? Get lost quickly, Qi Family doesn’t welcome you. Don’t you have the slightest clue what your own daughter has done? You still have the nerve to show your face here? Even I’m embarrassed for you!"

After hearing this, He Cui’er’s mother realized that Third Grandma knew about Cui’er’s attempt to scheme against Qi Kangping, but being shameless herself, she immediately started crying, "Third Old Lady Gu, you have to be fair with your words. What’s happened to my Cui’er? She just fell into the pond and was rescued by your Brother Ping, wasn’t she? Although it’s not good for a maiden to be held by a man, but it was a situation where she had no choice after falling into the water, right?"