newbobooks Chapter 109 Heavy Snow
Chapter 109 Heavy Snow
“Yes, he is the legitimate son of the Qiao family, not some servant of the Xiao family. He should return to his original life.”
Qiao Qingshu shook her head and said,
"If we bring our brother out, under what identity will he present himself?"
Bai Chanzi hurriedly said,
"Naturally, it's the eldest son of the Qiao family; he's the sole heir of the Qiao family!"
Qiao Qingshu nodded and said slowly,
"But the Qiao family is already teetering on the brink of collapse. Before long, the Qiao family will be destroyed, and they may even face confiscation of their property and exile."
“If we send my brother back now, wouldn’t that implicate him?”
Bai Zhining frowned, puzzled.
"What did the Qiao family do to warrant the confiscation of their property?"
Qiao Qingshu just smiled and didn't reveal anything more.
"Third Uncle, you don't need to ask any more questions. You just need to know that the Qiao family is destined to perish. It's only a matter of time."
Bai Zhining and Bai Zhiqing exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.
Bai Zhining spread his hands towards his second brother, pouting.
"See? I didn't lie to you. Your niece is incredibly capable these days. She's a prophet, and the other day she ruined her father's career, leaving him with no future."
Bai Zhiqing looked at his niece and was surprised and puzzled to see that she had grown into a beautiful and charming young woman, but her demeanor was unusually mature.
"So, Shu'er, what are your plans?"
Qiao Qingshu gave a faint smile.
"After I have cleaned up the Qiao family, I will naturally bring my brother back from the Xiao family to inherit the family business. My brother will inherit the title and become the new head of the Marquis's mansion."
"The Qiao family at that time will be a completely new Qiao family, a Qiao family where my brother is in charge."
Bai Chanzi looked at her daughter and felt that her daughter was exceptionally capable and intelligent. She had never doubted her daughter.
She smiled and nodded.
"Alright, Shu'er, I believe in you, I'll listen to you."
The two uncles standing to the side nodded in agreement. Qiao Qingshu was no longer the little girl she used to be.
They had all witnessed her transformation; she was composed, meticulous, and dignified, earning the admiration of both her uncles.
After chatting for a while, Qiao Qingshu had lunch with her mother and two uncles.
During the meal, Qiao Qingshu looked at her third uncle and said,
"Third Uncle, did Third Aunt relay my words to you?"
Bai Zhining was taken aback. "What did you say?"
It seems that Auntie really took Qiao Qingshu's words as a joke and did not pass them on.
If she had suggested at that moment that her third and second uncles stop supporting the crown prince and remain neutral, they might not have believed her, a young lady from a sheltered family.
She simply changed the subject.
"Second Uncle, you've returned from beyond the Great Wall. How's the weather up north?"
Bai Zhiqing sighed.
“Oh, it’s freezing cold there. My uncle’s hands and feet are covered in chilblains. I thought it would be better when we came home, but it’s just as cold here.”
This year is a once-in-a-century cold wave.
In my past life, during this year's Spring Festival, there was a massive snowstorm and the temperature was colder than ever before, causing many people to freeze to death.
The cold wave in the north was even more severe, and the official roads were blocked by snow. The government's disaster relief efforts were not timely, and hundreds of thousands of people froze to death on the streets.
The emperor was furious about the snow disaster, and the court punished many officials as a result.
Qiao Qingshu only said,
"Second Uncle, there will be an unprecedented snow disaster this year."
"If you trust me, go back to the North before the Spring Festival and bring disaster relief supplies."
Bai Zhiqing was taken aback, and hesitated for a moment.
"Although it's cold in the north now, the weather isn't particularly bad. There hasn't been any snowfall this year, so what's this talk of disaster relief?"
Qiao Qingshu, however, said seriously and calmly,
"Second Uncle, I know you don't believe me now. But you just need to go back early, and there won't be much of a loss."
“I will provide the disaster relief supplies. I am willing to pay for my uncle to buy quilts, food and other items for disaster relief.”
"I just hope my uncle can take these supplies back to the north as soon as possible to prepare for the extreme cold weather during the Spring Festival."
Bai Zhiqing frowned as she looked at Bai Chanzi, wondering what her niece was up to.
Bai Chanzi, however, said...
"I trust Shu'er, and I'm willing to use my own savings to buy supplies."
Although Bai Chanzi didn't quite understand what her daughter was saying, she knew one thing: she had to support her daughter unconditionally.
She believed in her, trusted her, and unconditionally.
Bai Zhining pondered for a moment and then said...
“I can also contribute some money. It’s better to believe it’s true than not to believe it isn’t.”
He patted his second brother on the shoulder and said,
"Second brother, you should go back as soon as possible. Take these supplies with you as a precaution. If what Qing Shu said is true, then you will have made a great contribution."
Bai Zhiqing sighed deeply. He had originally planned to go home and have a peaceful New Year, but now he was being urged to leave before he could even settle in.
He waved his hand, "Never mind, never mind."
He has spent many New Years in the army, and this time he will just bring back more wine and meat to celebrate the New Year with his brothers!
It's simply a matter of returning to the army early, which isn't difficult at all.
If there hadn't been a snow disaster, there wouldn't have been any loss. But if there had been, wouldn't he have been able to save many lives?
Bai Zhiqing always puts national interests first, and disaster relief and saving people is an extremely glorious thing.
He realized that this matter was entirely beneficial and without any harm, and seeing Qiao Qingshu's pleading eyes, he nodded.
"Alright, alright! I'll go back to the army for the New Year!"
"If it weren't for the snow disaster, I would have helped you find buyers for these supplies and then paid you back."
Qiao Qingshu finally smiled. If her second uncle could really make a great contribution in this snow disaster, then they would not doubt what she said.
This matter will not only gain the trust of my uncles, but also save the people from danger. It is truly a win-win situation.
Qiao Qingshu then turned to her third uncle and instructed him to prepare some cotton quilts and other supplies, as this cold wave would also affect the capital.
Although the losses were not as severe as those in the north, with countless deaths and injuries, it was enough to cause widespread panic among the people of the capital.
Qiao Qingshu stored all the stockpiled supplies at the Bai family's place, not wanting the Qiao family to benefit from it in any way.
After two busy days, Qiao Qingshu was doing accounts in her room when Aunt Chen came to find her.
“Young lady, the carriage is all ready. We can go to the temple to pray and burn incense tomorrow.”
Qiao Qingshu looked out at the sky, a gloomy, dark blue-green horizon, indicating that the first heavy snowfall in the capital would arrive tomorrow.
When the third snowfall occurs, coinciding with the Spring Festival, Beijing will be completely covered in ice and snow, making it difficult for pedestrians to move around.
Qiao Qingshu rubbed her eyes, looked up and said,
"Alright, let's set off tomorrow."
The next morning, two carriages were parked in front of the Qiao family's gate.
The three sisters, Qiao Qingshu, Qiao Qingqiao, and Qiao Qingle, rode in one car, while Aunt He and Aunt Chen rode in another.
While Old Madam Qiao was still bedridden, Aunt Chen, lacking any sense of propriety, asked the old lady if she wanted to go burn incense together. The old lady spit in her face and scolded her.