Chapter 42: The Lie Will Be Exposed One Day

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

It was very quiet this morning. There were not many people who came to buy her goods, so it was a quiet time.

There were also beggars in the town. They rarely came to her stall to ask for money because none of them could fill their stomachs.

However, two children came today. Their faces were covered in dirt, and they were so thin that only their big heads were left.

The two children were about the same height and appearance. They should be twins and look like they were five or six years old.

They stood beside Qiao Mai with their hands outstretched and tears streaming down their faces.

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“Auntie, have pity on us. We haven’t had a bite to eat for days.”

Qiao Mai looked at them and thought of her past. It could be said that she and the original owner’s backgrounds were very sad.

“Where’s your family?”

“They’re not around anymore.”

“No relatives?”

“We do, but they didn’t care about us and even seized the family property that Father and Mother left us.

Qiao Mai’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at their skinny appearances, she wanted to give them a piece of corn, but it was not good for their stomachs at this time.

She turned around and shouted at the shop, “Xiu Hong, Xiu Yu, come here.”

“Yes, I’m here!”

The two of them walked over. Seeing this scene, Qiao Mai ordered. “Xiu Yu, go get a basin of water and wash their hands and faces.” “Xiu Hong, go to your restaurant and order two small bowls of noodles.”

“Okay!” The two of them left.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be able to eat in a while.”

“Thank you, Auntie!”

“How old are you?”

“Seven years old.”

Xiu Yu washed their hands and faces. After a serious interrogation, she confirmed that the two children were orphans and decided to adopt them.

She watched the two children wolfing down the noodles. “Will you follow Auntie in the future?”

“Alright, we’ll do whatever Auntie wants us to do as long as we can eat our fill.”

Qiao Mai asked Xiu Hong to take care of the stall for her. She put two watermelons in a basket and took some of the things from the stall. She put them all in the basket and led the two kids to look for the mayor.

It was her first time at the mayor’s house. She stood at the door to calm herself down. She knew the guards on both sides.

“Is there something you need?” “Something came up.”

“Please wait a moment, Lady Qiao.”

The guard came out shortly after he entered. “Please enter.”

When they entered, the mayor was sitting and drinking tea. When he saw Qiao

Mai with the children, he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Mayor, these two children are begging by the roadside. Look at them. If you don’t save them, they will starve to death.”

“You want to buy them and come to me to settle the procedures?”

“No, I’m adopting them. Let them be my sons.” “How old are you? How can you raise such grown sons?” “Mayor, there’s something I need your help with.”

“Speak!”

“It’s my household registration.”

“You have to have a house to register as a household. Aren’t you living in Lady Lu’s house now?”

“Then are there vacant houses in town? I’ll buy them first and leave my household registration there.”

“You can, but why don’t you go to the village chief of Peach Blossom Village?”

“There’s a feud.’

The mayor understood what she meant and raised his eyebrows.

“You are friends with Lu Sanniang, so I will make it clear. Although I can talk to the people in the yamen, I need money to clear the way wherever I go. After the village chief moves the household registration, I have to ask the official to personally go to the countryside.”

“How much do you want? I’ll get it from Sister Lu first and return it to her later.” “At least fifty taels of silver!”

“Sure!”

“Then come over tomorrow and give me the Separation Document. Also, write the names of these two little fellows on a piece of paper and bring them to me.”

“Yes, mayor.”

“Confirm the residence as soon as possible.”

“No need. I’ll just leave it to my house first.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Qiao Mai knew who had come. As soon as Lu Sanniang entered, she pursed her lips.

“You’re so soft-hearted. You can’t stand to see the children suffer and adopted two at once. You’ve only earned some money, yet you’re already raising children.”

Lu Sanniang took out the deed of the house from her purse and stuffed it into Qiao Mai’s hands.

“The deed to the house and the land are all white title deeds, so there’s no need to go through the trouble of changing the name. You have the heart to save them, so an elder sister, I have to help.”

When the mayor saw Lu Sanniang, he laughed. “What a rare guest. I can’t even invite him normally.”

“I’m busy.”

Lu Sanniang touched the hairpin on her head with her hand and then winked at the mayor.

She glanced at the food that Qiao Mai had brought. “Yo, old man, you’re in luck. My sister’s food is all good.”

“I’m the mayor. I’m guarding her stall, so I can just treat myself a little. My servant often buys her things.”

“Alright, I was just thinking of giving you a gift for the holidays. Looks like I don’t have to anymore. Just treat it as us two sisters showing our respect to you.”

“Why are you such a cheapskate?”

“Who asked you to be rich and powerful? I have to deduct some from you and save my own money.”

“Your mouth is still the same as when you were young.”

Qiao Mai watched from the side and knew that there was something going on between the two of them.

The mayor looked at Qiao Mai and said, “You have to give me the title deed and house deed. The official won’t do it without confirming it.”

She hurriedly handed over the title deed and house deed, as well as fifty taels of silver.

“Thank you, Mayor. These two children are twins born on the same month and the same day. One is called Qiao Yunfeng, and the other is called Qiao Fengyun. They are seven years old, and their birthdays are today, the first day of

August.”

“Alright!”

“Thank you, Mayor. If you need anything in the future, just tell me.”

The mayor rolled his eyes at Qiao Mai. “You have a good sister. You should thank her. I don’t dare to order you around.”

Lu Sanniang glared at the mayor. “We sisters are no different from each other. There’s no need to thank me. Let’s go home.”

The two of them each held a child’s hand and left the mayor’s mansion. The mayor sighed helplessly and shook his head.

Qiao Mai did not like to gossip. Even if she saw something, she did not intend to say anything.

When she arrived at the clothing store, she bought two sets of clothes for the two children. Shopkeeper Lu had been following her all this time to cover for her.

If outsiders asked, she would say that she bought them and that the two children were recognized as Qiao Mai’s sons.

Although the lie would be exposed one day, by that time, Qiao Mai would already have a firm foothold and was not afraid of those scoundrels.

When she got home, she boiled a pot of water and mixed it with cold water. She gave the two children a hot bath and changed them into new clothes.

The twin brothers actually looked quite handsome in this outfit.

They all had big eyes and eyelids. When they grew up, they would definitely be handsome men with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes.

The two little fellows were still a little unused to the change of clothes. “Auntie, what do you want us to do? Please instruct me.”

“Silly child, I don’t need you to be my servant. In the future, I will be your mother, okay?”

“Mother?”

“That’s right. I’ll raise you as my sons in the future. I won’t let you go hungry, okay?”

Hearing the latter part of the sentence, the children’s tears flowed down. They immediately threw themselves into Qiao Mai’s arms.

“Mother! We have a mother now. In the future, we don’t have to beg for food or starve.”

Qiao Mai patted their backs and comforted them. “This will be your home from now on.”

“Mother, we will help you do a lot of work.”

“Sure, with my sons, I don’t have to be so tired.”

After coaxing the two children, Qiao Mai vacated a room in the upper room, cleaned it up, and made a bed.

“From now on, the two of you will sleep here. There is a well at home. You are still young, so you don’t have to fetch water.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“There are little chicks in the east and west wing rooms. Try not to go over.

When you have rested well, Mother will tell you what to do at home.” “Yes, Mother.”

“Now, go to sleep. Mother still has to go out and will be back when the sky turns dark.”

“Then let’s help boil water?”

“There’s no need for that today. You just need to sleep today. Rest well. When you’re rested and energetic, you can help Mother..”