USWHC -Chapter 360 Jumping Into One’s Own Trap (Part 10)

“Ah! Auntie Ji! Looks like your family has struck it rich!”

After the county magistrate left, the village grew even more lively. With an exaggerated shout, Ergou’s mother squeezed her way over, rubbing the big red chest as she muttered, “Just this box alone looks like it’s worth a fortune. Officials really are rich!”

“Of course!” Old Madam Ji immediately lifted her chin proudly. “Our Meizi is about to earn even more money soon!”

“What do you mean? Is this money from selling Meizi?” Huā’s mother had somehow also squeezed in, asking excitedly. Naturally, the Huā family had come to join the commotion too—after all, the whole village was here.

Hearing that, Old Madam Ji instantly snapped, “You’re the one who sells daughters! You tried to sell your Huā Feixue cheap and still couldn’t get rid of her! Our Meizi is destined for great fortune!”

Then, with a smug expression, she added, “Let me tell you—our Meizi made that soap, and it caught the eye of a palace consort! The county magistrate is taking her to the capital tomorrow to receive a reward!”

“To the capital for a reward?” Ergou’s mother widened her eyes. “Your Meizi can go to the capital?”

“No way. Wasn’t that soap made by Erhan’s wife?” Huā’s mother said suspiciously.

At that, Old Madam Ji shot her a fierce glare. “Do you think I don’t know my own family’s business better than you? The soap was made by our Meizi!”

Huā’s mother sneered. “You’re stealing someone else’s credit!”

“So what if I am?” Old Madam Ji planted her hands on her hips arrogantly, completely full of herself.

Huā’s mother was burning with jealousy but turned and shot Huā Feixue a resentful glare. “Didn’t you always think you were clever? Why haven’t I seen you make any soap? Can’t even bring your mother a bit of face!”

Hearing that, Huā Feixue only lowered her head weakly. For some reason, Zhu Jie felt she looked far more dispirited than before.

The incident with the Second Madam had indeed dealt Huā Feixue a heavy blow. Even now, when she walked outside, she still felt too ashamed to hold her head high—let alone endure the whispers and pointing fingers behind her back.

Unexpectedly, Old Madam Ji didn’t hold back at all when it came to stabbing at others’ wounds. She waved at Huā Feixue and said, “Come, Xue’er, help us take a look at what’s in this chest. After all, you’ve seen good things before!” Her face was full of malicious glee.

Huā Feixue’s face turned pale as frost, and her eyes even shimmered with tears. Still, she pressed her lips together, forcing a careless smile as she stood there, holding herself together.

Old Madam Ji proudly flung the chest open—

Huh? Why is there only half a chest of stuff?

Everyone froze. Weren’t palace consorts supposed to be rich? After traveling such a long distance to give a reward, how could it be this meager?

Old Madam Ji climbed halfway into the chest. Then came a sharp scream—

“My silver! Why is there only one hundred taels left? Wh-who took it?!”

Not just the silver—everything had clearly been reduced. The pearls weren’t a whole measure at all, just a few scattered ones—not even enough to string a necklace, at best a bracelet. And those silks were obviously of much poorer quality, with patterns so ordinary they looked just like those sold in town!

Even if Old Madam Ji didn’t know much, she knew palace tribute silk wouldn’t look like this. Could it be… replaced midway?

But when Zhu Jie saw it, she couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve always heard that things coming out of the capital get skimmed along the way. Never thought the deductions would be this severe!”

Skimmed? So this wasn’t what the palace originally gave?

With a loud bang, Old Madam Ji’s face flushed red instantly. Someone dared to take her things—were they tired of living?!

“That damned magistrate! He dares to skim my things? He must have a death wish! Let’s see how I deal with him!” She turned and stormed toward the kitchen—was she going to grab a knife?

But after just a few steps, Ji Mei grabbed her. In a soft voice, she said, “Mother, forget it. He still has to take me to the capital tomorrow. If you offend him… I’ll be traveling alone…” Her voice trailed off hesitantly.

Hearing that, Old Madam Ji froze. Right—tomorrow her daughter would be in his hands. If he decided to play any tricks along the way, her daughter’s life could be at risk.

She could only swallow her anger, muttering under her breath, “Fine. I’ll settle the score after you come back.”

The villagers, who had been expecting a full-blown fight seeing Old Madam Ji’s fury, were left disappointed—it was all thunder and no rain.

They immediately burst into laughter, especially Ergou’s mother and Huā’s mother, who felt especially delighted.