Xiangzhou Chapter: Soul Transferred to Another World Chapter 22: Not Even Worth Feeding to a Dog

“Ye Qiaoqiao, don’t think just because you’re divorced, you’re some kind of deity descended to earth, playing the fortune-teller here. Spit! Just wait and see if anyone even dares to step foot in your shop!” Zheng Qianjuan shouted breathlessly, full of fury.

Ye Qiaoqiao furrowed her brows slightly, her anger rising as she looked at the disruptive Zheng Qianjuan.

She was earning money honestly through her ancestors’ wisdom—what business was it of hers?

Retorting sharply, she said, “At least I know how to earn by my own skill. Unlike you—looking flashy but with no substance, sleeping on the streets unnoticed, claiming to be cultured but smelling foul. Sooner or later, you’ll be choked by your own stench.”

“You—Ye Qiaoqiao! How dare you insult me with such veiled words!” Zheng Qianjuan instantly lost control, bursting into tears loudly, filling the entire street with her sobs.

Ye Qiaoqiao sighed and rubbed her forehead helplessly. “What’s wrong with me speaking the truth?”

Zheng Qianjuan was unwilling to accept this. Crying, she untied the coarse cloth belt from her waist, pretending she was about to take her own life if Ye Qiaoqiao didn’t give her an explanation.

Then, she tightened the belt around her neck fiercely.

With venomous words, she hissed, “Are you really speaking the truth? Ye Qiaoqiao, you’re truly a jinx! If you don’t explain yourself today, I won’t let you off—even as a ghost, I’ll haunt you!”

“What explanation do you want? That your son buried me alive to marry his mistress? Or that he killed his wife for a bit of money?” Ye Qiaoqiao looked at her coldly, showing no sympathy.

Zheng Qianjuan stammered, unsure how to respond.

Knowing she was in the wrong, she decided to push it further: “Just give me part of the gold and silver, and this matter is settled! I won’t come here to make a scene anymore!”

Oh? So the rotten son handed over the property, then sent his mother to demand money? Quite the clever double strike.

Thinking this, Ye Qiaoqiao smiled slightly and said, “What you’re asking for, I can—”

“Give it to me, right?” Zheng Qianjuan’s grip on the belt loosened, her face lighting up.

Ye Qiaoqiao paused, then changed tone sharply: “I wouldn’t give it to a dog, unless you were one.”

Zheng Qianjuan clutched her chest and stomped the ground, pretending to be dying. “How dare you not even give it to a dog! I’ll hang myself now! Just wait and see, after I die, I’ll come back to claim compensation from you!”

“Everyone, look! This woman’s dying and still demanding explanations,” Ye Qiaoqiao mocked loudly, showing no mercy.

Then she added, “Don’t worry, I’ll burn extra hell money for you later.”

***

Dealing with such a vile woman required crazier measures.

Otherwise, she’d truly think she was easy to bully!

Zheng Qianjuan tightened the cloth belt around her neck again, continuing her act: “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll die right here!”

“Don’t you understand human speech? Throwing a tantrum like a dog—truly boring!” Ye Qiaoqiao said, then turned to Han Xiang nearby: “Call Uncle Zhang, have the doctor check if her brain’s been kicked by a donkey, see if she needs treatment.”

“Yes, Miss.” Han Xiang turned and called out behind her for Uncle Zhang.

Zheng Qianjuan sobbed even louder. “Try and make me leave if you dare!”

“Oh? Then I’ll report you to the authorities, is that okay?” Ye Qiaoqiao said, then ordered a worker who was just taking down the signboard: “Go report it—someone here is threatening to kill herself.”

“Yes, Miss.” The worker responded.

Seeing her tantrums and threats were useless, and being called a dog, and unable to summon anyone to return her son’s assets, Zheng Qianjuan finally loosened the belt from her neck, then raged and cursed: “My son really is cursed for eight generations, marrying into a family with a jinx like you.”

“I walk with integrity and sit with dignity, unlike some who dress decently but bite like dogs. Who’s the jinx, I won’t say,” Ye Qiaoqiao retorted coldly.

“You!” Zheng Qianjuan was truly furious this time—when did Ye Qiaoqiao’s tongue become so sharp?

The crowd watching seemed quite used to Zheng Qianjuan’s antics and saw right through her little tricks.

They muttered among themselves as if watching a play:

“This Ye Qiaoqiao is really unlucky to have such a mother-in-law.”

“Yeah, they’re divorced, each on their separate paths, yet here she is making a scene.”

“Isn’t it just greed?”

...

Seeing no one sided with her, Zheng Qianjuan’s eyes rolled back and she fainted.

Just then, Uncle Zhang, called out by Han Xiang, came out and, seeing someone fainted at the door, hurriedly helped her up.

But when he saw it was Zheng Qianjuan, he coldly and ruthlessly let go.

***

Zheng Qianjuan collapsed again in an instant.

“Miss, why is it her again?” Uncle Zhang sighed.

This former mother-in-law was truly relentless; without being told, everyone knew she had come to cause trouble.

“Take her to the doctor, see if there’s something wrong with her brain,” Ye Qiaoqiao ordered calmly.

Uncle Zhang reluctantly helped Zheng Qianjuan and went to the doctor.

Inwardly, he thought his young lady was beautiful and kind-hearted to still care and spend money on such a troublemaker’s medical care.

Seeing the surroundings quiet, Ye Qiaoqiao turned to the crowd and introduced her signboard: “Hello everyone, that was just a little interruption, please ignore it.”

“Now, let me tell you about myself. My name is Ye Qiaoqiao. This courtyard used to be called the Chen Family Mansion, but it has now been officially renamed the Qiaoqiao Divine Calculation Pavilion.”

“Divine Calculation Pavilion means, as the name suggests, I read fortunes and interpret omens. If you wish to ask about marriage, wealth, exams, career, health, lost items, or missing persons, you can come here for a reading.”

“Of course, fortunes aren’t free—those who come to consult must offer a certain amount of gold or silver.”

As she spoke, the crowd suddenly dispersed, no longer gathering.

Looking at the empty doorway, Ye Qiaoqiao asked Han Xiang in puzzlement, “Why is everyone running off?”

“Probably scared off by the gold and silver you mentioned, Miss,” Han Xiang replied with a look that said, ‘Why do you need money anyway?’ Her expression was complicated.

Ye Qiaoqiao suddenly realized and said, “I was so busy changing the signboard, I didn’t pick an auspicious day.”

She counted on her fingers and indeed, today was a dark day in the almanac, a day of closure—not suitable for celebrations or openings.

Sweat beading on her forehead as she calculated again, Ye Qiaoqiao muttered, “Oh no, someone will come to smash my signboard tomorrow!”

“Really? No way!” Han Xiang was shocked, already wondering how to prevent anyone from vandalizing their signboard.

Ye Qiaoqiao continued to count on her fingers, then said, “Though tomorrow is a day of closure, luckily there’s a noble helper present. No matter what comes, be it soldiers or floods, we will surely be safe and sound.”