They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 277 Facing Outsiders
Mu Xiang was strong-willed and couldn't stand hearing others say she was incompetent. Although she was a maid, she had no experience as a maid before following Xu Zhichun and had not been trained. Xu Zhichun was not a typical ancient master either, so Mu Xiang was unhappy. Without waiting for her master to speak, she retorted to Han Fengshi, "Who said I'm not strong? I can dig yams!"

Madam Han found it amusing, looking at Mu Xiang as if she were a spoiled child, "You silly girl, I'm helping you, and you're still not happy?"

Liang Cuier glared at Mu Xiang: "How dare you, a servant, speak like that? This is called talking back. Who gave you permission to talk back?"

Mu Xiang was startled and subconsciously looked at Xu Zhichun.

Xu Zhichun stepped forward and gently patted Mu Xiang's shoulder and back, glanced at Liang Cuier, and said lightly, "Mu Xiang is a member of our family. Only I can talk to her. No one else can, and neither can Cuier."

"you--"

Whether Muxiang is a servant or not is none of your business. After all, she is not a servant of your household, and you have no right to order her around, do you?

"Who do you think you are!" Liang Cuier's face flushed red with anger, feeling especially embarrassed in front of Han Fengshi. "You're just showing off because you have a few stinking coins. You immediately started buying servants like landlords and gentry. Don't you know which family in our village is so ostentatious? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

Xu Zhichun: "Does anyone laugh at me? I really don't know. After all, no one comes up to me to laugh at me."

Liang Cuier choked.

Who would laugh at her? She hadn't heard it herself; she'd only heard her mother say it, and in a fit of anger, she blurted it out.

It's obvious that there will always be people gossiping behind your back, but that's just envy and jealousy. What a joke! Absolutely nothing funny.

Mu Xiang was grateful and touched, "You are the best, Madam!"

She doesn't want anyone to bully her, sob sob sob.

Granny Qin Qing said, "Muxiang, how much longer until these yams are dug up? Would you like me to help?"

"No need, Granny and Madam can watch over things, I'll take care of it! It'll be quick!"

Mu Xiang wielded her hoe and continued digging.

Madam Han smiled and said, "Sister Xu, don't take it to heart by taking it to heart by Cui'er. Cui'er is just straightforward and says what she thinks. Actually, she's kind, innocent, incredibly warm-hearted, and extremely hardworking. She's a really good girl. She didn't mean anything by it."

Liang Cuier's expression softened, and she smiled gratefully at Madam Han, even with a hint of shyness.

Xu Zhichun: "."

She couldn't understand it.

Of course, she wouldn't hold it against her, since Liang Cuier's words wouldn't cause her any harm, and what kind of person Liang Cuier was had nothing to do with her.

Granny Qin smiled and said, "This is Madam Feng. My lady and Madam Feng are not acquainted. This is the first time they have met. Madam Feng, please call my lady Madam Xu."

Granny Qin Qing wasn't stupid; she could easily see that Han Fengshi was up to no good. While others might use polite terms like "sister-in-law," "aunt," or "elder sister," the way Han Fengshi called her "Sister Xu" was different. She deliberately sounded very intimate and close, as if they were family.

When did her mistress become so close to her? If her mistress acquiesces to this intimacy today, she'll surely take advantage of it.

Xu Zhichun didn't hide her relationship with the first and second branches of the Liang family from Qin Qing. Qin Qing saw that Han Fengshi and Liang Cuier had such a good relationship, and it was obvious that her mistress and Liang Cuier could never be on the same side.

If there are things that Madam is not comfortable saying, then she can say them.

Madam Han was taken aback, and slightly embarrassed.

Liang Cuier's expression changed again, and she got angry. "What do you mean? Humph, everyone in our surrounding villages calls each other that, right? What? Now that you have a little more money, you look down on people and the villagers?"

Granny Qin Qing said gently, "Miss Liang, you misunderstand. My lady lives alone, so she has to be careful with people outside the village. Otherwise, if she accidentally causes any trouble, it will be hard to explain. This is not directed at Madam Feng, but it is because of my lady's status that she has to be careful. I hope Madam Feng won't mind?"

Han Feng forced a small smile. "No, no."

Liang Cuier was unconvinced and said indignantly, "Status? Ha, I know what you mean, but you are a widow, and Sister-in-law Han has also been a chaste widow for many years. In terms of status, you are the same, so why do you look down on Sister-in-law Han?"

Madam Han was even more embarrassed, her face slightly flushed as she whispered, "Sister Cui'er."

Xu Zhichun was even more confused now. If that's the case, why are you getting involved with her? What kind of behavior is it for an unmarried girl like you to get involved with her? And Zhang Shi doesn't care at all? Is she crazy?

She didn't mean to look down on widows, but that's how times are. A young, unmarried girl getting together with a widow who isn't even her sister-in-law or from the same village—the two of them seem so close and familiar, they must have seen each other quite often. What good would people say if word got out? Who knows what they'd say?

If Zhang didn't care, Xu Zhichun wouldn't say a word.

She wasn't interested in other people's affairs.

Granny Qin Qing said in a gentle tone, "Miss Liang, didn't you understand just now? This has nothing to do with status. My lady always has to be careful around people from other villages."

Liang Cuier sneered, her tone domineering: "What's wrong with people from other villages? Do you look down on people from other villages? Are all people from other villages bad? In the end, isn't it just because they have a little money now—"

"Sister Cui'er, stop talking, please stop talking!"

Xu Zhichun felt that if Qin Qing continued to be so subtle and tactful, it would be useless, as the other person simply wouldn't listen.

Xu Zhichun's eyes darkened slightly as she coldly said, "What kind of image would I have, a widow running around from village to village all day, calling this person 'sister' and socializing with that person? I don't care what others think, but I wouldn't do that myself. If people gossip and it implicates my husband Mingxuan, I wouldn't have the face to see him even if I died. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Liang Cuier was taken aback.

Han Fengshi's eyes flickered uncomfortably; she felt as if Xu Zhichun had spoken ill of her.
Liang Cuier was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized this herself, and angrily stood up for her: "Eldest sister-in-law! Why are you being so harsh? Are you criticizing Sister-in-law Han? Are you implying that Sister-in-law Han shouldn't associate with me? Sister-in-law Han is kind and gentle. Unlike some people who are prejudiced, I'm happy to associate with her. Who can tell me what to do?"

Han Fengshi: "."

Is that how it's said? It seems so, but she didn't feel happy at all; instead, she felt extremely awkward.

She opened her mouth, wanting to stop Liang Cuier, but didn't know what to say.